Real Time Data

Attribute	Description
twsuser	The user name with which you logged into the TWS
requestId	The request unique identifier (any positive integer)
symbol	The contract symbol
sectype	The kind of contract
exchange	The exchange from which we want to pull the data from
currency	The contract currency

Initial Request

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqestId]?req?[symbol]_[sectype]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Data Reception

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?bidSize

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?bid

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?ask

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?askSize

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?last

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?lastSize

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?high

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?low

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?volume

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?close

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?bidImpliedVol

Option-specific Ticks

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?bidDelta

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?askImpliedVol

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?askDelta

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?lastImpliedVol

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?lastDelta

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelVolatility

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelDelta

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelPrice

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?pvDividend

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelGamma

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelVega

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelTheta

=S[twsuser]|tik!id[requestId]?modelUndPrice

Historical Data

In the example Receiving the data, you pulled midpoint historical data for EUR.USD from TWS.

Most of the formula’s components are self-explanatory with the exception of duration and bar sizes, which require very specific codes as listed below:

Duration

Time Unit	Formula Abbreviation
Seconds	S
Day	D
Week	W
Month	M
Year	Y

Bar Sizes

Bar Size	Formula Parameter
1 second	1
5 seconds	2
15 seconds	3
30 seconds	4
1 minute	5
2 minutes	6
5 minutes	7
15 minutes	8
30 minutes	9
1 hour	10
1 day	11

For available whatToShow parameters and detailed descriptions, please refer to the Historical Data Types.

Please also be mindful of the Historical Data Limitations.

Contract Definitions

The TWS DDE for Excel API lets you retrieve data for any instrument available in TWS. So far we have been using the simplest instrument of all: CASH. Using slight variations of the same formula, you can define any security type available in TWS.

How to Find the Definition of a Contract

The best way of finding a contract’s description is within the TWS itself. Within the TWS, you can easily check a contract’s description either by double clicking it or through the Contract Info -> Description menu, which you access by right-clicking a contract in TWS:

The description will then appear:

Formulas for Different Security Types

Note: There are two different request types, i.e. "req1" and "req2", that differentiate in defining contracts with underlying Symbol (req1) or Local Symbol (req2) of the contract. While either request type can be used, the Local Symbol is most common for FUT, OPT and FOP.

Please find available contract parameters and sample contracts for each security type below:

FX Pairs

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id1?req?EUR_CASH_IDEALPRO_USD_~/'

STK

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id2?req?IBKR_STK_SMART_USD_~/'

FUT

FUT using the contract’s local symbol

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req2?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id3?req2?ESZ6_FUT_CME_USD_~/'

FUT using underlying’s symbol, multiplier and expiration date

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[underlying_symbol]_[SecType]_[expiry]_[multiplier]_[exchange]_[currency]_~_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id3?req?ES_FUT_201612_50_CME_USD_~_~/'

OPT

OPT using the contract’s local symbol

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req2?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id4?req2?C DBK DEC 22 1300_OPT_EUREX_EUR_~/'

Note: The format of the option local symbol conforms to the Option Symbology Initiative (OSI).

OPT using underlying’s symbol, multiplier and expiration date

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[underlying_symbol]_[SecType]_[expiry]_[strike]_[P/C]_[multiplier]_[exchange]_[currency]_~_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id4?req?DBK_OPT_20221007_13_C_100_EUREX_EUR_~_~/'

FOP

FOP using the contract’s local symbol

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req2?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id5?req2?XTZ6 C1100_FOP_CME_USD_~/'

FOP using underlying’s symbol, multiplier and expiration date

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[underlying_symbol]_[SecType]_[expiry]_[strike]_[P/C]_[multiplier]_[exchange]_[currency]_~_[tradingClass]/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id5?req?EUR_FOP_20161209_1.1_C_125000_CME_USD_~_XT/'

IND

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id6?req?ES_IND_CME_USD_~/'

BAG

Formula

=S[twsuser]|tik!'id[reqId]?req?[symbol]_[SecType]_[exchange]_[currency]_CMBLGS_[num of legs]_[legId]_[legQuantity]_[legAction]_[legExchange]_[legPrice]...CMBLGS_~/'

Example

=Ssample123|tik!'id7?req?

SPY_BAG_SMART_USD_CMBLGS_2_141149249_1_BUY_SMART_0_141149252_1_SELL_SMART_0_CMBLGS_~/'