windowsforms-17023-controls-and-libraries-spreadsheet-formulas-functions-real-time-data-rtd-function.md
The Real-Time Data (RTD) function retrieves data in real time from programs that support COM automation. For details on how to create a COM Automation server for use with the RTD function, refer to this article: How to create a RealTimeData server for Excel.
View Example: Use the RTD Function in the Spreadsheet Control
The following properties allow you to control real-time data updates:
SpreadsheetControl.Options.RealTimeData.RefreshMode - Specifies whether to update data manually or to use a timer for automatic updates. The default mode is ByTimer. If you use the Manual mode, call the RealTimeData.RefreshData method to retrieve data from the server.
SpreadsheetControl.Options.RealTimeData.ThrottleInterval - Specifies the time interval between automatic updates.
RTD(ProgID, server, topic1, [topic2], …)
The following table describes the function’s arguments:
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| ProgID | The data server’s programmatic ID. |
| server | The name of the machine on which the real-time data server is running. If the RTD server is running locally, the server name is an empty string or can be omitted. |
| topic1, topic2, … | Specifies the data to retrieve from the real-time data server. At least one topic is required. |