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RTD function in Excel

Retrieves real-time data from a program that supports COM automation

=RTD(ProgID, server, topic1, [topic2], ...)

RTD syntax and parameters

Four arguments, three required.

  • ProgIDstringRequired

    The name of the ProgID of a registered COM automation add-in that has been installed on the local computer. Enclose the name in quotation marks.

  • serverstringRequired

    Name of the server where the add-in should be run. If there is no server, and the program is run locally, leave the argument blank. Otherwise, enter quotation marks ("") around the server name. When using RTD within Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), double quotation marks or the VBA NullString property are required for the server, even if the server is running locally.

  • topic1stringRequired
  • topic2stringRepeating

RTD examples

Formulas you'll actually reuse.

  1. A live quote from a COM add-in — the ProgID and topics are the vendor's vocabulary:

    =RTD("bloomberg.rtd", , "AAPL US Equity", "LAST_PRICE")

  2. Convert a EUR amount at a rate that ticks live:

    =RTD("myserver.rtd", , "FX", "EURUSD") * B2

RTD in Google Sheets

No direct equivalent — here's the way around.

Try RTD in the playground

Edit the example — nothing to install.

Preloaded with the RTD formula from Example 1 — change anything and watch it respond.

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RTD errors

What they mean — and the fixes.

  • #N/A

    The COM add-in isn't installed or registered on this machine — RTD servers are local, so the same workbook shows #N/A elsewhere.

Related functions

More ways Excel gets this done.