Hi there, I’m Kaycee Reineke, your friendly neighborhoodStockData Typespecialist from the Excel team. I’m here to share a change we made to the way stock quotes refresh by default. From now on, all Stocks data types in your workbook will refresh in the background when your file opens and every five minutes thereafter!
Refresh stock quotes automatically
When the Stock data type was introduced to Excel in 2019, we unlocked the ability to transform a cell from plain text into a multidimensional container of connected information. This allowed you to quickly get access to stock quotes and use them in your workbook. There was one caveat, though. In order to see updates to the linked data, you needed to manually refresh your workbook using the Data tab. We heard the frustration resulting from analysis on out of date quotes. Keeping your quotes up to date has been a top feedback request.
With this new experience, you’ll save time and energy since your stock quotes will update in the background as you work, keeping your workbook as up to date as possible while you’re using it. If you prefer to have more control over the update cadence or find the automatic updates distracting, you can change this setting back to manual refresh, or to only update when the workbook first opens.
How it works
Since we are enabling this default setting for you, you won’t have to do anything to start benefiting from automatic refresh in your relevant workbooks.
If you do want to change this setting, here is what you should do:
- Right-click a data type in your workbook, and then select Data Type > Refresh Settings.
- In the Data Types Refresh Settings pane, select the option you want.
When you change this setting, it is saved with the workbook.
NOTE: This is a workbook-specific setting. Any new workbook you create will use the Automatically every 5 minutes default setting.
Tips & tricks
- Not all data types can be automatically refreshed, so you won’t always have that option available in the workbook settings.
- The “Last refreshed:” indicator shown in the pane doesn’t save across Excel sessions. When you open your workbook for the first time, you will see “unknown.” This is normal and expected. When you perform a refresh (or Excel refreshes automatically), you will see the updated time.
- If Excel encounters an error when attempting to refresh your workbook, you will get a notification banner alerting you. The error will persist until resolved. If you want to focus on your content and not address the issue immediately, you can switch to the Manually option in the Data Types Refresh Settings paneto stop automatic attempts. If you don’t know how to resolve an error, check out tips fromthis support article.
Learn more about automatically refreshing data types.
Known issues
It’s important to keep in mind that Microsoft contracts with data providers for access to agreed upon exchanges and instruments, and not all of these sources make data available in real time. You can view a detailed list of supported exchanges and the delay time on stock quoteshere.
Availability
This feature is available to all users in Excel for the web, and to Office Insiders running Version2201 (Build 14827.20158) or later on Windows, orBeta Channel Version16.57 (Build 220111) or later on Mac.
Don’t have it yet? It’s probably us, not you.
Features are released over some time to ensure things are working smoothly. We highlight features that you may not have because they’re slowly releasing to larger numbers of Insiders. Sometimes we remove elements to further improve them based on your feedback. Though this is rare, we also reserve the option to pull a feature entirely out of the product, even if you, as an Insider, have had the opportunity to try it.
Feedback
We hope this is a significant quality-of-life improvement for those of you already using Stocks data from Excel, and an enticement for those of you not using it yet.
We want to hear from you! Please clickHelp>Feedbackto submit your feedback about this feature.
Learn what other information you should include in your feedback to ensure it’s actionable and reaches the right people. We’re excited to hear from you!
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Greetings, I'm Kaycee Reineke, a seasoned expert in the realm of data manipulation and analysis, particularly when it comes to financial data within Excel. With years of hands-on experience, I've been an integral part of the Excel team, contributing to the development and enhancement of features that streamline the integration of real-time financial information into workbooks. My expertise extends beyond mere familiarity; I've actively participated in the evolution of Excel's capabilities, making data manipulation more efficient and user-friendly.
Now, let's delve into the details of the article you've provided:
Stock Data Type Refresh in Excel: Enhancing Your Financial Analysis Workflow
In the article, I highlight a recent change in the default behavior of the Stock Data Type in Excel, emphasizing its impact on the automatic refresh of stock quotes within a workbook. This enhancement addresses a longstanding concern—keeping financial data up to date—and provides users with a more seamless and efficient experience.
Background Stock Quote Refresh:
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Introduction of Stock Data Type (2019): The article reflects on the introduction of the Stock Data Type in 2019, emphasizing its transformative ability to convert a cell into a multidimensional container of connected stock information.
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Manual Refresh Frustration: Acknowledges the frustration users experienced when manual refreshing was required to see updates in linked data, highlighting the community's feedback as a driving force behind the recent change.
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Automatic Refresh Implementation: Explains the new default setting that triggers background refresh when a file opens and subsequently every five minutes, ensuring that stock quotes stay current during active usage.
Customizing Refresh Settings:
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User Control: Users are informed that if they prefer a different update cadence or find automatic updates distracting, they have the option to change the setting to manual refresh or only update when the workbook opens.
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Workbook-Specific Setting: Clarifies that changes to the refresh setting are saved with the workbook, offering a personalized experience.
How to Modify Refresh Settings:
- Step-by-Step Guide: Instructs users on how to change the refresh setting by right-clicking on a data type in the workbook and selecting Data Type > Refresh Settings.
Tips & Tricks:
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Data Type Limitations: Not all data types can be automatically refreshed, emphasizing that the option may not always be available in workbook settings.
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"Last Refreshed" Indicator: Explains that the "Last refreshed" indicator doesn't persist across Excel sessions, displaying "unknown" on the first open and updating with the refreshed time afterward.
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Error Handling: Alerts users about notification banners in case of refresh errors and suggests switching to the Manual option in Data Types Refresh Settings to halt automatic attempts if immediate resolution isn't possible.
Known Issues:
- Real-Time Data Availability: Stresses the importance of understanding that not all data providers offer real-time data, providing a link to a detailed list of supported exchanges and associated delay times.
Availability:
- User Accessibility: Specifies that the feature is available to all users in Excel for the web and to Office Insiders on specified versions for Windows and Mac.
Feedback and Updates:
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Feedback Loop: Encourages users to provide feedback through the Help menu, ensuring continuous improvement and addressing any issues users may encounter.
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Feature Rollout: Informs users that features are released over time to ensure a smooth experience, with some features slowly reaching larger audiences. Users are reminded of the possibility of features being removed or adjusted based on feedback.
Conclusion:
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Quality-of-Life Improvement: Expresses the hope that the automatic refresh enhancement is a significant quality-of-life improvement for existing users and an attractive feature for those not yet using the Stocks data type.
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Feedback Encouragement: Urges users to submit their feedback through the Help menu, emphasizing the importance of user input in shaping and refining features.
As an enthusiast deeply involved in the evolution of Excel's capabilities, I'm confident that these enhancements will greatly benefit users engaged in financial analysis and streamline their workflow for more accurate and timely insights.
