PowerPlus Pro Study Guide

Version 1.2

PPPro Introduction Study Guide

Table of Contents:
Objectives...................................................................................... 3 Ex.1 Drag and Drop (RtGet) ........................................................... 4 Ex.2 Real-Time Speedlist ............................................................... 6 Ex.3 Real-Time Speed Snap ........................................................... 8 Ex.4 Real-Time Chain Assistant ...................................................... 9 Ex.5 Real-Time Quotes Assistant ...................................................16 Exercise Answers ...........................................................................20

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Objectives
Demonstrate the 3 main ways of bringing data into Power Plus Pro (PPPro): Drag and drop; right click functionality; and Reuters Assistants. Use the 3 main real-time functions in PPPro: RtGet; RtUpdate; RtChain. Identify how cell referencing works within each of these functions. This study guide is to be used along side the Power Plus Pro e learning modules 1-5. The answers to the questions can be found at the back of the Study Guide.

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In these exercises when the chevrons < > are used this indicates a RIC is within the chevrons. In the exercises input the RIC only, not the chevrons.

Ex.1 Drag and Drop (RtGet)

Call up a quote object and insert the page code <ICAPGBP>. This shows FRA and Swap data from the broker ICAP for GBP.

Drag and drop the 1X4 Bid or Offer rate from the Quote Object to PPPro. You should get an output like that below.

Note that the whole row of data has been dropped into PPPro. This is because <ICAPGBP> is a page, not a logical record. The function =RtGet is what PPPro uses to retrieve real-time data. The components of the function are (i) the Source; (ii) the RIC or Page code; and (iii) the Field (for logical records) or Row (for pages).
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Now try using the Select Area icon on the Quote Object to select the piece of data that you wish to extract. You will need to click the icon to highlight the area, but then click the icon again to turn the Select Area functionality off. The area you have highlighted should stay in place, and this area can then be drag-and-dropped into PPPro.

Note that the embedded function is the same as before, but a new function, =AdConvert, now defines the part of the row to be displayed. This is a way of extracting parts of page-based data into PPPro. Insert the RIC <GBPFRA=ICAP> into a Quote Object.

This is a logical record of the same FRA data from ICAP. Now drag and drop the same piece of data as before into PPPro.
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The function you get is also =RtGet but although the Source is the same, this time the RIC <GBP1X4F=ICAP> comes into the function, as does the Field SECOND ACTIVY 1 for this instrument it is the Offer price. Try drag-and-dropping some more real-time data from Kobra into PPPro.

Ex.2 Real-Time Speedlist

Insert the RIC <EUR=> into cell B2, and the Fields BID and ASK into cells A3 and A4 respectively.

Right click and select Real-Time Speed List. What function do you get, and how does it work?

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The function returned should again be =RtGet but this time instead of looking for hard-coded RICs and Field names in the arguments the function uses cell referencing of the RICs to the left and the Field names above to retrieve the data. This allows more flexibility to the end user. Change the RIC code to GBP= The data changes to reflect the new instrument. Add a number of extra currency RICs in column B then repeat the rightclick functionality, again selecting Real-Time Speed List.

Each updating cell has the same function in, each referencing the RICs to the left and the Field names at the top of the table. The search for reference RICs goes left from the cell where the right-click is activated until an empty column is hit. The column to the right of this empty column is then referenced for the RIC codes. The same happens for the Field names the referenced row for Field names is the one below the empty row going upwards from the original cell. Care should be taken when using the right-click functionality. There needs to be a space all the way around the proposed table, so that incorrect RICs or Field names are not referenced. REMEMBER - MIND THE GAP!

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Ex.3 Real-Time Speed Snap

Now delete all of the data in the updating cells. Use the right-click functionality, this time select Real-Time Speed Snap. What function do you now get, and where does it sit?

This function sits outside of the data delivery area and allows retrieval of multiple instruments with multiple fields using a single connection to IDN. It is only a snapshot of the real-time data, but this can be updated by clicking the Refresh Snap icon on the PPPro toolbar Widen the column with the function in to see when the Snap was taken. Now try to Refresh Snap. What happens to the Snapped timestamp?

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Ex.4 Real-Time Chain Assistant

The next exercise looks at retrieving real-time data for a chain. Chain is Reuters terminology for a set of linked instruments, for instance the constituents of a stock market index. A simple chain to view would be the constituents of the banking sector in London. The chain for this sector is <0#.FTBNK>, which can be seen in a Quote Object by typing in the full RIC and hitting Enter, or by typing in the RIC root <.FTBNK> and hitting F3.

To take this set of data into PPPro each RIC and Field could be drag-anddropped separately, or the Select Area functionality could be used. However, within PPPro there is an Assistant which allows a user to bring in the data directly without first having to go into Kobra.

In PPPro open a new worksheet. From the Reuters drop-down menu select Assistants > Real-Time Chain.

An Assistant takes a user through the steps required to bring in the data.

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There are 3 steps to all the Assistants in PPPro. 1 Select the RICs you wish to use 2 Select the Fields you require 3 Chose how you wish the data to be displayed Step 1 input the RIC <.FTBNK> and click the Add button.

Then click the Next button at the bottom of the Assistant. Step 2 select the Fields required. Use the single chevron button to move the selected field to the right hand side. In the screen shot below the fields selected are from Common Realtime Fields > Prices folder.

When happy with the selected fields click the Next button.
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Step 2a this step does not appear for every Assistant. For this Assistant it is necessary to specify when the data updates a Frequency of X second(s), minute(s) or hour(s), or as a once-off Snap. Select an appropriate update frequency for the instruments.

Click on the Next button to go to the final step. Step 3 define how the data should be returned. Formatting options are in the top right hand corner. Note the No. of Rows field to the bottom right. This relates to the pieces of data in the chain, the number of which the Assistant cannot pick up. There are 9 stocks in the London banking sector so 10 rows is fine but this would not be enough to return the constituents of the CAC, DAX, Dow etc.

Click on the Finish button to see the final output.

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The returned table should look similar to the screen shot below.

The top left cell of the data returned holds the chain RIC <.FTBNK> Click into the cell below the RIC. What is the function in this cell?

Click on the icon (Insert Function) on the toolbar to see the arguments associated with this function.

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Notice that every argument except the first uses cell referencing to find which data to return. This makes it easier for the user to amend what they wish to return because they can change details on the spreadsheet without having to go into the function every time. Try to work out what the various parts of the function are doing: Source Alias

Instrument Code

Destination Cell

RtMode

Close the Function Arguments pop-up and then click into the cell immediately below the =RtChain function. What is the function in this cell? Have you seen this function previously?

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Click on the

icon to see the arguments associated with the function.

Use the scrollbar to the right to see the final argument (RtMode). Notice that this is the only part of the function that is hard coded the rest of the arguments again use cell referencing. Try to work out what the various parts of the function are doing: Source Alias

Instrument Array

Field Name Array

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Destination Cell

RtMode

How does the FRQ:5S part of the RtMode argument affect the function?

The =RtUpdate function that has come in with the Real-Time Chain Assistant is similar to the right-click Real-Time Speed Snap used earlier. If this earlier function is still available try to spot the differences between the two =RtUpdate functions that have been returned.

HINT look at the RtMode part of the arguments.

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Ex.5 Real-Time Quotes Assistant

This exercise demonstrates how to bring in real-time data for a number of instruments using the Real-Time Quotes Assistant. Click on Reuters > Assistants > Real-Time Quotes.

As with all the Reuters Assistants, there are 3 steps to go through. Step 1 select the instruments. This could be from an existing portfolio or a new set of instruments the user wishes to get real-time data for. The screen shot shows motor manufacturers in the instrument list but use whatever instruments you wish. Remember that you may need to know the field names as well if looking at bonds or FX and money instruments.

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How is it possible to make the list into an easily accessible Favourites list?

When all the instruments have been selected click the Next button. Step 2 select the appropriate Fields for these instruments. This can be done under the Fields by Category or All Fields tabs. Have a look at both to see what the differences are, then add some fields.

Again, if these fields are going to be used often then it may be worth saving them as Favourites. Click Next once all required Fields are selected.

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Step 2a as with the Real-Time Chain Assistant there is an extra step where the user specifies the type and frequency of data updates. In the Update Mode area click between Streaming, Frequency and Snap to see what the different options are. Click on Streaming (RtGet) and then Next.

Step 3 formatting the output. In this case everything can be left as per the defaults. Click Finish. The result should be similar to the screen shot below.

Is the data live and updating?

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Where are the functions sitting?

What function is being used? What does it cell reference in its arguments?

You have now completed the study guide. Please review your answers to the questions on the following page.

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Exercise Answers
Ex. 2 What function do you get, and how does it work? The function is RtGet, and it cell references the RIC to the left and the Field name above to return the real-time data. Ex. 3 What function do you now get, and where does it sit? The function RtUpdate is returned, sitting to the top left of the table. It sits outside the table and pushes the data into the area as an array where the top left cell of the array is the Destination Cell in the Function Argument. What happens to the Snapped timestamp? It should change to the time of the Snap refresh the PC clock time. Ex. 4 What is the function in this cell? The function RtChain is used to return the constituents of the chain. Source Alias IDN the feed to take the data from Instrument Code The chain RIC. Destination Cell Top cell of the returned data RtMode Extra details how many rows to return, whether the chain is live, etc.

What is the function in this cell? Have you seen this function previously? RtUpdate same as from right click Real-Time Speed Snap.

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Source Alias IDN as before Instrument Array Set of RICs to get data for Field Name Array Set of fields required for those RICs Destination Cell Top left cell of returned data array RtMode Extra details such as frequency of update, layout, and updates stopped, etc. How does the FRQ:5S part of the RtMode argument affect the function? This is from step 2a of the Assistant and is the frequency of updates in seconds for this particular function.

Spot the differences between the two =RtUpdate functions that have been returned. The main difference is that in the earlier example of Real-Time Speed Snap there is the keyword UPDATE:SNAP in the RtMode argument.

Ex. 5 How is it possible to make the list into an easily accessible Favourites list? Use the button at the bottom of the selected list to create a new list.

Is the data live and updating? Yes Where are the functions sitting? Within cell they return the data into themselves. What function is being used? What does it cell reference in its arguments? RtGet. References RICs to the left and Field names to the top of the table.
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