Registered User
Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 22
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I sent the following to the Blocks discussion, but I assume the trainers do not follow and respond as they do in the "Ask a trainer" discussion area.
I tried to get option chains after opening the TDAmeritrade Stocks Overview tool and loged on only to get loged off when I selected Options. I called TDA and they said that the problem was not with them. After looking at the list of internet tools I realized that there is not a specific tool available for TDA options; there is a specific options tool for OptionsXpress, ETrade, etc.
The TDA web site, when I log on, shows a URL for option chains as:
https://wwws.ameritrade.com/cgi-bin/u/OptionChain
This is a somewhat different format than the URL shown at the top of the TDAmeritrade Stocks Overview block diagram. I note that there are probably two blocks that require change in the block diagram and I do not know how to change them.
Can you help me make the necessary changes to build the TDA browser tool for option chains or can Worden programmers provide the tool in the library.
Thank you,
Freas
P.S. Craig Shipman's training class at White Plains, NY last week was excellent.
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Administration
Joined: 9/30/2004
Posts: 9,187
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You cannot access option chains on the TDA site by passing a symbol into a URL. Their option chains tool is a web app where you have to type a symbol into the form to view the chains.
I tested this with my TDA account and couldn't find a URL that would pull up the chains. Had to key in the symbol each time.
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Registered User
Joined: 10/7/2004
Posts: 12
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You might want to try the following URLs to access Ameritrade option chains:
For Ameritrade Apex:
https://wwws.ameritrade.com/cgi-bin/apps/u/OptionChain?pagehandler=PHOptionChain&source=&symbol={Sym}&type=CP&range=&expire=A&strike=&action=Y
For Ameritrade iZone:
https://wwws.izone.com/cgi-bin/apps/u/OptionChain?pagehandler=PHOptionChain&source=&symbol={Sym}&type=CP&range=&expire=A&strike=&action=Y
The procedure I use is to first load TeleChart, then load the Blocks Player along with the page containing the option chain URL, then a login to Ameritrade pops up and I log on, and finally I return to TeleChart and click on another symbol and the options chain is displayed.
You can log onto Ameritrade and then put the above URLs in the address bar of the browser to get full-page option chains.
The ?pagehandler= routine is what governs here, and the &symbol=, &type=, and &expire= etc. are parameters. This routine and it's parameters are a way of querying data from Ameritrade's servers. I made educated guesses as to the parameter values, and I got lucky!  &type=CP is for Calls and Puts. &symbol={Sym} was easy enough. &expire=A (for All) was the hardest. These are the settings I prefer, which was why I tried to guess them.
By the way, there are two pages: pagehandler=PHOptionChain and pagehandler=PHAnalyticalOptionChain. So, I first set up two sheets, one for the options chain and one for the analytics. Things keep changing and improving at Ameritrade, and now they put the little calculator in the upper right corner above the put or call on the options chain, and clicking on this calculator icon gives the analytics. As a for instance, the URL for the analytics page is:
For Ameritrade Apex:
https://wwws.ameritrade.com/cgi-bin/apps/u/OptionChain?pagehandler=PHAnalyticalOptionChain&source=&symbol={Sym}&type=CP&range=&expire=&strike=&action=Y
For Ameritrade iZone:
https://wwws.izone.com/cgi-bin/apps/u/OptionChain?pagehandler=PHAnalyticalOptionChain&source=&symbol={Sym}&type=CP&range=&expire=&strike=&action=Y
Notice that I've taken the A out of &expire=A, and the result is I have to click on the View Chain button. You, of course, can experiment.
How did I find out about this URL? You know where I said I got lucky on guessing parameter values, well, I got lucky other ways, too.
Ken
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