Retrieve the Previous Close Price with PreviousClose1

The PreviousClose1 function aims to help you quickly fetch the previous market close price for a given stock symbol directly in Excel using MarketXLS. Currently, if you provide an invalid symbol (or if the symbol is not recognized), the function returns "NA". While the base implementation is minimal and needs further customization, it sets the foundation for streamlined stock data retrieval in Excel.

Why Use This Function?

• Quickly Identifies Invalid Symbols: If you pass a symbol that MarketXLS does not recognize, the function returns "NA", letting you know there might be an issue.
• Simplifies Research: Accessing closing prices within your Excel workbook keeps your analysis and data in one place.
• Potential for Integration: Although the current code returns "NA", this function is a building block that can be enhanced to pull live or historical data in future releases.
• Consistent Data Flow: As part of your MarketXLS workflow, this function helps maintain a familiar pattern for retrieving symbol-related information.

How to Use in Excel

=PreviousClose1(Symbol)

1. In Excel, type “=PreviousClose1(” into a cell.
2. Insert a valid stock symbol in quotation marks (e.g., "AAPL" or "MSFT").
3. Press Enter to evaluate the formula, which will return "NA" at this time unless the underlying implementation is extended.

Parameters Explained

Currently, no additional parameters are officially documented or implemented. The function checks if the provided symbol is valid and, if not valid, returns "NA". For now, even valid symbols result in "NA" because the data retrieval process has not been fully implemented.

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. =PreviousClose1("AAPL")
   • Returns "NA" due to the limited current implementation.
   • Once integrated with a data source, this might return the actual previous close price of Apple stock.

2. =PreviousClose1("MSFT")
   • Also returns "NA" at present.
   • Highlights that the function is checking the symbol but not returning price data yet.

3. =PreviousClose1("INVALID")
   • Returns "NA" to indicate the symbol is unrecognized or invalid.

Advanced Scenarios

• Multiple Ticker Analysis: In a future, fully implemented scenario, you might use array formulas to pull previous close prices for a list of symbols in one operation.
• Trading Worksheet Integrations: When integrated with real data, combining PreviousClose1 with other MarketXLS functions could let you build robust tracking or screening tools in Excel (e.g., comparing previous closes across multiple stocks).
• Conditional Formatting: If this function is extended to return real data, you could highlight cells based on thresholds (e.g., highlighting a previous close under a certain price).

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

• Why am I only getting "NA" for valid symbols?
Currently, the backend function Fast_Previous_Close always returns "NA". This indicates the feature to retrieve real or historical data is either not implemented or needs configuration.
• Do I need any special setting or API key?
For now, no. However, once MarketXLS fully supports this function with data, you may need to ensure you have an active subscription or appropriate credentials.
• Can I pass anything other than a ticker symbol?
The function accepts only a single string parameter representing a symbol. Any other inputs are not documented and may cause errors or return “NA”.

Remember:

• The function is a placeholder and will likely be expanded in future versions of MarketXLS or with additional code.
• You can incorporate PreviousClose1 into your larger trading spreadsheets by referencing ticker symbols in other cells, ensuring a consistent workflow.
• Watch for updates or documentation from MarketXLS that may enable real-time or historical price retrieval once the underlying code is complete.