Link Syntax

Parameters <service>
The operative executable. When you install Aspen for Windows, the installation program adds the following line to the [Embedding] section of the WIN.INI file:

QMASTER=Aspen Research Group,,C:\APEX\QMASTER.EXE DIR C:\APEX

ASPEN=<service>,,<application> dir <database path> <display monitor>,,

i.e.,

ASPEN=Aspen Research Group,,C:\APEX\QMASTER.EXE DIR C:\APEX\DATA

The Aspen DDE Service Name is QMASTER, regardless of the operative executable.

<topic>
The type of DDE link. The program supports three kinds of topics:

Topic	Function
Quote	Exchanges a quote or quote array.
Hist	Exchanges an array of data from your database files.
Update	Enables you to update your database files with a Microsoft Excel array. Due to the interplay between Aspen Systems and Microsoft Excel, you never see a link created using the Update topic.

<item>

Specifies the information to be displayed by the link. The content of the item depends on which topic you use.

Examples =QMASTER|QUOTE!IBM.LAST

This example creates an instrument link using IBM’s last price.

=QMASTER|QUOTE!IBM.OPEN,HIGH,LOW,LAST

This example creates an array consisting of IBM's open, high, low and last prices.

=QMASTER|HIST!IBM

This example creates an array consisting of IBM daily data from your database files.