Automatic import of Spread sheet data

Hi,

I am dealing with a spreadsheet which is linked to Bloomberg and therefore it is updating like every 1 min or so. I would like to find a way how i can automatically import the spreadsheet into a Matlab table every time the Spreadsheet data changes. Any suggestions how i can proceed on this issue?

best regards,

Answer 1

[Iain]

It is possible to use a macro in excel that will tell matlab, in some way, if it has been updated.

It is also possible to just check the spreadsheet, from matlab, every "n" seconds. ("pause" & xlsread, being the commands you'd want)

It is also possible to control the spreadsheet's operation from matlab via an active x server.

[Paul]

Hi lain, thanks for the fast reply. I think the second alternative is the most convenient for my use. Would you be so kind and elaborate a bit more on how to do this. (Sorry for my ignorance i am quite new to Matlab)

best regards,

[Iain]

I'd use a while loop:

 while true
 [numbers text rawdata] = xlsread(filename,sheetno); % reads 1 sheet out of the excel file
 do stuff  % do stuff here...
  if something_happened
   break % stop.
  end
 pause(55) % waits 55 seconds...
 end

[Paul]

great, thanks I'll start with that.

[Iain]

tic & toc, or "now" or "clock" might give you better timing control than pause. Pick the right tool.

[Paul]

tic & toc, or "now" or "clock" might give you better timing control than pause. Pick the right tool.

where would i put these commands you are referring to?

[Iain]

It depends what you're doing.

This:

 tic 
 do stuff
 a = toc;

Makes "a" store how long it took to "do stuff".

now & clock both return the current time, so you can calculate how long it took to:

 a = now; or clock...
 do_stuff
 b = now; or clock...
 time_taken = b-a;

With those you can make sure you only read the excel file at specific times. (say, once every minute, at 25 seconds.)