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Using the Quote Topic

The Quote topic type enables you to exchange quotes generated by Aspen Systems with any client program that supports DDE. The Quote topic enables you to exchange an individual quote, like IBMs last price, or an array of prices. Since individual quotes are the simpler of the two, lets look at them first.

An individual quote requires that you define the item as follows:

<symbol>.<quote_code>

For example,

IBM.LAST

Defining the item as IBM.LAST creates a link that pastes IBMs last price.

An array requires that you define the item as follows:

<symbol>.<quote_code>,<quote_code>,…

or,

IBM.OPEN,HIGH,LOW,LAST

This item creates an array consisting of IBMs open, high, low and last prices. In a spreadsheet, the array allocates four cells (horizontally) to display these prices. The prices assume the defined order. Array performance in other programs may vary.

You also create arrays that consist of several instruments. For example, you could create a row of high prices for several instruments by entering the item as follows:

IBM.HIGH,NSCP.HIGH,MSFT.HIGH,INTU.HIGH