Option Chain

[ayman]

Newbie question:
Given a stock symbol, how do I get the symbols of all options currently trading on it using DDE or VBA? I do not need the option prices, just the symbols.
Thanks,
Ayman

[Guest]

There is no way to do it via DDE.

We may add some functionality in the Desktop API to support something like this.

[ayman]

Can it be done with VBA? I know applications written in VB that obtain the option chain and the detailed data of each option in the chain that use eSignal.
Thanks,
Ayman

[Guest]

Once you've done a RequestSymbol for the short option symbol, you should be able to get the option info in XMLGetBasicQuote. It is not extremely easy to accomplish this in VBA, as it can be tricky to use the COM object. VB would be a safer bet, but VBA could work.

[wscully]

Robi, I have tried XMLGetBAsicQuote to get option information but have not had success. I am able to retrieve open, high, low, change but not the Option data. Do you have a VB code example that retrieves a specific option ticker?

Thank you

[Guest]

What type of data are you looking for? Are you looking for the option chain?

[wscully]

Robi. am trying to get current bid/ask for specific options. I have tried using tickers in two formats. For example, I have tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain bid/ask for Black and Decker (BDK) Nov 50 Call using "BDK KJ" and "BDKKJ" formats.

[Guest]

Have you tried using Time and Sales data instead of Quote data?

[notoad]

Robi,

I also do not see a way for retrieving option symbols when all I know is the stock symbol.

Is there a method that can be called to return the option symbols for the passed stock symbol?

Also, is news available from the desktop api?

Any solutions or possible workarounds to obtain the option symbols would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[notoad]

Does anyone monitor this forum?

If anyone, user or tech support can help answer the question I posted a few days ago in this thread it would be much appreciated.

[GenSpoo]

There is not currently a method in the API to return the option symbols for a given stock symbol. News is not available via the API.

Cheers... George

[Guest]

Genspoo is correct, options can only be retrieved by the symbol, not the underlying equity. News cannot be retrieved via the Desktop API.

[notoad]

Thanks for reply. I have a workaround for the option issue.

Is news thru the desktop api on the list for an upcoming release?

[Guest]

The next set of features deal with additional broker integration functionality, but there's a chance news will be added. I haven't had a chance to discuss it with the manager of our news contracts, but I have been thinking of adding that functionalilty. I'll keep you posted.