Retrieve Total Option Volume with MarketXLS

The MarketXLS opt_TotalVolumeOptions function allows you to instantly fetch the total volume of options in Excel—whether you want the combined total of all calls and puts, or just a subset filtered by option type, expiration date, or strike criteria. By using this function, you can streamline your option analysis workflow without leaving Excel.

Why Use This Function?

• Quickly view the total options volume for any symbol, including popular US stocks, indexes (like SPX or NDX), and ETFs.
• Filter by option type (call/put), a specific expiration date, or even focus on a single strike (or a range around the current price if you pass a fractional strike).
• Ideal for gauging market interest or liquidity in particular strikes or for overall sentiment (calls vs. puts).
• Saves significant time by aggregating volume data directly in Excel, letting you build real-time dashboards or integrate into complex analyses.
• Simplifies advanced trading strategies by focusing on high-volume expirations or strikes.

How to Use in Excel

=opt_TotalVolumeOptions(Underlying, [OptionType], [ExpirationDate], [Strike])

1. Type the function into any cell.
2. Provide the stock or index symbol (e.g., "AAPL", "AMZN", "SPY") as the first argument.
3. Optionally specify whether you want "PUT" or "CALL" data; if you omit or pass an empty string, the function will return the total volume of both call and put options combined.
4. Optionally include an expiration date (as a valid Excel date) to narrow your focus to a specific contract maturity.
5. Optionally provide a numeric strike or ratio. (If you pass a number < 1, it will be treated like a +/- percentage from the underlying’s last price; if ? 1, it filters by that exact strike.)
6. Press Enter. The function will return the total options volume based on your criteria.

Parameters Explained

Example Usage

Basic Examples

1. Get total option volume for all AAPL options (calls and puts combined) across all expirations and strikes:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("AAPL")

2. Get total PUT volume for MSFT across all expirations and strikes:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("MSFT", "PUT")

3. Get combined call/put volume for SPY but only for expiration on January 19, 2024:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("SPY", , DATE(2024,1,19))

Advanced Scenarios

1. Filtering by a fixed strike:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("AAPL", "CALL", DATE(2024,1,19), 180)
   This returns the total call volume for Apple’s January 19, 2024, expiration at exactly the 180 strike.

2. Filtering by a strike range around the current market price:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("SPY", "PUT", DATE(2024,1,19), 0.05)
   This fetches the total put volume for SPY with a January 19, 2024, expiration date for strikes within ±5% of SPY's last price.

3. Omitting all optional parameters:
   =opt_TotalVolumeOptions("TSLA")
   Returns the total volume of all TSLA options, across all expirations and all strikes (calls and puts).

In each case, the function taps into MarketXLS’s data feeds to retrieve and sum the appropriate options’ volume directly in Excel.

Common Questions and Troubleshooting

1. “Call/Put flag has invalid format. Please check your inputs.”
   • Ensure you pass valid text like "CALL", "PUT", or an empty string for OptionType.

2. “NA” Result
   • This indicates an issue retrieving the data. Check for valid ticker symbols, date formats, or internet connectivity.
   • Could also occur if the internal backend fails or if the ticker is not recognized.

3. “Refreshing”
   • The data is being updated at the moment. Try again in a few seconds if you see this message repeatedly.

4. Edge Cases

   • Passing an invalid expiration date or leaving it blank defaults to no expiration filtering.
   • Passing “0” as Strike is the same as leaving it out entirely.
   • Certain indexes (e.g., ^SPX, ^NDX, ^VIX, ^XSP) remove the caret symbol internally.
   • License validation failure returns a licensing message rather than the volume data.

By leveraging opt_TotalVolumeOptions, traders and analysts can seamlessly track option volumes across an expansive range of contracts in Excel, accelerating the decision-making process for both short-term trades and broader market assessments.