Problem with TWS API "edemo" account

[Yamato]

Has IB Demo data stopped working for TWS API?

In the weekends, the edemo account is the only one available so I can't use the paper trading account for testing and debugging my excel automated systems.

It used to work with excel if I used "edemo" instead of my user account, but now it doesn't work anymore. Does anyone know if it stopped working?

Here's what I get now (yet I did "enable the DDE clients"):



Wait... if I access it from here, the excel workbook works fine!
http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/software/twsDisclaimer.php?ib_entity=llc&twsdemo=1

Ok, now it works on my workbook as well (not the twsdde.xls, which I used earlier) and it works even if I start the TWS application from the link on my desktop (rather than from the IB's web site link posted above).

So it must have been some java files which I downloaded via the IB's link, that have made it work again.

All solved. Luckily I didn't write an email to the IB guys at the address here:
http://www.interactivebrokers.com/en/p.php?f=tws&p=d&ib_entity=llc

 

[nine]

Note that this is not the real problem.

The real issue with edemo is that it is designed to demonstrate TWS functionality and not to provide market data and/or testing. In fact it is designed specifically to be poor at that because IB doesn't want a bunch of people using ib data without being account holders.

If you want decent data from IB (within definitions of data being decent for ib = what you trade with) then you need to open an account and use the customer demo.

FWIW.

 

[Yamato]

Yeah, I know. Thanks. (I've had an account for years).