FAQs

What is DATAFEED™?

DATAFEED is a software interface that facilitates the downloading of Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data's universe of securities data to PC-and workstation-based software. DATAFEED offers a number of data formats, that transmit information in the form of "packets". A packet consists of a single data item or group of related items - such as high, low, close, and volume - for a given security. Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data organizes formats to ensure that your vendor is coding to the right data items for a specific application. We can also bill at different rates based on the type of security and grouping of items.

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Who are DATAFEED's vendor partners?

Our vendor partners are software developers of PC- or workstation-based software applications: Portfolio Accounting, Trust Accounting, Money Management, Personal Finance, and Technical Charting. Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data partners with these vendors so that the vendor can provide an efficient way for customers to collect pricing and other types of security information.

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How does vendor software request data from DATAFEED?

A vendor does not typically offer all the formats (or data within formats) that DATAFEED has to offer. Instead, the vendor selects the formats that make the most sense for its customers. The vendor programs to the appropriate format for each function offered through its software; these can include latest and historical pricing, dividend/split information, descriptive and factor data, and the ability to conduct namesearch. The vendor writes a user-friendly, menu-driven interface for each function so that the DATAFEED format packet requests and responses are seamlessly integrated into the software. These data retrieval functions and the communications interface become part of the vendor's software application.

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How does vendor software communicate with DATAFEED?

The vendor can write its own DATAFEED communications interface and incorporate it in the software offering. The vendor may also simply incorporate the Windows or DOS DATAFEED Communications Interface (DCI) into its software offering.

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What are DATAFEED's available communications networks?

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Who are DATAFEED customers?

DATAFEED's format are designed to serve the following audience: Portfolio Managers, Investment Analysts, Trust Accountants, Brokers and Traders, Technical Chartists, and Individual Investors.

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How does a customer access DATAFEED?

The customer installs a supported software vendor application on a PC or workstation and adds security holdings to the application. The customer then contacts the Business Development Support Group for a DATAFEED Services Agreement. After filling out the services agreement, the customer receives a Userid and Password, which he or she inputs - along with other parameters, such as, telephone number (for dial-up), baud rate, and communications port - in the Parameter Settings area of the vendor's software application.

The customer then selects the appropriate menu selections, e.g., "Portfolio Pricing", in the vendor's application. The software underlying each menu selection dials the phone number, connects to DATAFEED, requests the data, and receives and processes the data responses into the software application.

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Why do Interactive Data Pricing and Reference Data vendor partners and customers choose DATAFEED?

DATAFEED provides a number of benefits to vendor parters and their customers:

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What types of securities does DATAFEED cover?

North American

Non-North American

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Does DATAFEED deliver historical data?

DATAFEED delivers historical data from as early as 1968 for U.S. equities, 1972 for U.K. equities, 1976 for other major Non-North American Markets, and various start dates for fixed income securities.

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What security identifiers does DATAFEED recognize?

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What types of data are available through DATAFEED?

Pricing

Announcement Information

Descriptive Data

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