Datafeed Toolbox™ provides various ways to connect to Bloomberg®. For details, see Comparing Bloomberg Connections. Before connecting to Bloomberg, follow these required steps.
For the latest Bloomberg software, see https://www.bloomberg.com.
After installing the Bloomberg software, add Java® archive (JAR) files to the MATLAB® Java class path and run the Bloomberg Communications Server according to these requirements.
Step | Bloomberg Desktop | Bloomberg Server | Bloomberg B-PIPE® | Bloomberg Data License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Add | Required for connection | Required for connection | Required for connection | Not required |
Add | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required for connection |
Add | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required for connection |
Add | Not required | Not required | Not required | Required for connection |
Run the Bloomberg Communications Server | Required for connection | Required for connection | Not required | Not required |
With the Bloomberg V3 release, install the JAR file blpapi3.jar from Bloomberg.
This JAR file ensures that blp, blpsrv, bpipe,
and other Bloomberg commands work correctly.
If you have already downloaded blpapi3.jar,
find it in a folder such as c:\blp\DAPI\blpapi3.jar or
search for it in the Bloomberg installation folder c:\blp.
When you have found blpapi3.jar, go to step 3.
Note
For each Bloomberg connection, the folder location of the downloaded JAR file can be different. For questions, contact Bloomberg.
If you have not downloaded blpapi3.jar from Bloomberg,
download it as follows:
In the Bloomberg terminal, type WAPI
<GO> to open the API Developer’s Help Site
screen.
Click API Download Center. Download and install the appropriate software.
Once you have blpapi3.jar on the
system, add it to the MATLAB Java class path. There are
two ways to add the JAR file:
Add the JAR file to the MATLAB Java class
path for every MATLAB session using javaaddpath.
javaaddpath c:\blp\DAPI\blpapi3.jarThe JAR file path varies depending on the installed Bloomberg software.
Or, to automate adding this file, add javaaddpath to
the startup.m file or add the full path for the
JAR file to the javaclasspath.txt file.
To decide which way is best for you, see Startup Options in MATLAB Startup File and Static Path.
If you modify startup.m or javaclasspath.txt files,
restart MATLAB.
Add the JAR file bbdlapi.jar to the MATLAB Java class
path using the preceding JAR file instructions. For details, see the
Data License Java SE API folder. Find this folder by entering DLSD
<GO> in the Bloomberg terminal.
If the JAR files are missing from the MATLAB Java class path, one of these error messages display:
Please verify that blpapi3.jar is included on MATLAB javaclasspath.
Please verify that bbdlapi.jar is included on MATLAB javaclasspath.
To add the JAR files to the MATLAB Java class path, follow the preceding instructions.
For issues with downloading and installing JAR files, contact Bloomberg.
The Bloomberg Communications Server is a program named bbcomm.exe.
You can find this program in a folder such as c:\blp\DAPI\bbcomm.exe or
search for it in the Bloomberg installation folder c:\blp.
If bbcomm.exe does not start automatically, double-click
it. An MS-DOS® command window opens and stays open while bbcomm.exe is
running.
To avoid manually starting bbcomm.exe each
time you turn on the computer, add bbcomm.exe to
the startup folder:
Create a Windows® shortcut to bbcomm.exe.
Move this shortcut to the startup folder. An example
startup folder name is C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start
Menu\Programs\Startup.
When you are finished with the Bloomberg connection, stop bbcomm.exe by
running bbstop.exe. You can find bbstop.exe in
the same folder as bbcomm.exe. Double-click bbstop.exe.
The MS-DOS command window closes.