TimeStamp via RTD Server

[Jiri Pik]

I have implemented a simple function for showing continuously DateTime.Now using a RTD server, but the seconds are not updated regularly, though I have a timer to check the RTD Queue every second. The update is sometimes every 1 second, sometimes every 2 or 5 seconds.

Can you please point me to an example of code which shows the current timestamp with the seconds updated properly? 

Thanks

[Govert van Drimmelen]

Hi Jiri,

You can read more about how RTD works in Excel here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa140060(v=office.10).aspx

Basically the RTD server tells Excel when new data is available, but Excel will only update when it is ready. So even though you might be telling Excel about the new timestamp every second, Excel might be calculating or something, and will control when to retrieve and display the new data.

There is a setting, called the RTD ThrottleInterval, that sets the fastest rate at which Excel will refresh RTD data. The default value is 2000 (2 seconds). Setting this lower will cause Excel to update more often, but can also causes instability and crash the Excel session if Excel is not able to process and recalcule fast enough. The setting is global and persistent, so it's a good idea to take some care.

The Excel-DNA distribution has a sample that shows how you might set the ThrottleInterval - see Distribution\Samples\RTD\RealTimeManager.dna.

Regards,

Govert