The Excel RTD Function

The RTD Function belongs to the Excel Lookup and Reference category. The function will retrieve real time data from a program that supports COM automation. The RTD function is very useful, as it helps in refreshing values from real-time data servers in Excel spreadsheets.

Standard RTD Function Syntax 

=RTD(ProgID, Server, Topic1, [Topic2], …)

The RTD function uses the following arguments:

  • ProgID (required argument) – The name of the ProgID of a registered COM automation add-in installed on the local computer.

  • Server (required argument) – This is the name of the server where the add-in should be run. If there is no server and the program is run locally, we leave the argument blank. Otherwise, we need to enter quotation marks (“”) around the server name. When using RTD within Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), double quotation marks or the VBA NullString property is required for the server, even if the server is running locally.

  • Topic1, Topic2, … – Topic1 is required argument, however, the subsequent topics are optional. 1 to 253 parameters that together represent a unique piece of real time data.

Note

All the parameters, ProgID, Server or the Topics, must be enclosed in quotation marks “”.

For more information about the RTD function, you can check the documentation from Microsoft, here and here .

Using the RTD function with QST

When the RTD function is used with QST, the main difference from the standard syntax, is that only a single topic is allowed in the RTD function call. Same as with the standard syntax, all parameteres must be enclosed in quotation marks “”.

=RTD(ProgID, Server, Topic)

Possible values:

  • ProgID : “qst.rtd”

  • Server : “”

  • Topic : any of the requests supported by QST, e.g. “quote(ESZ20, bd)”

RTD Function examples in QST

Please check the link with Supported Requests which contain details and examples for each available request.