1. Log in to Bloomberg
2. Open Excel
3. Select the Install Excel Add-in shortcut from the desktop.
4. If it does not appear, from the task bar select Start > All Programs > Bloomberg > Install Excel Add-in
5. Click Install and then close Excel.
6. Next time you open Excel a new Bloomberg tab will appear.

If the add-in does not appear try logging out, logging back in, and restarting the process above.

1. Use the Spreadsheet Builder

Spreadsheet Builder makes it easy to import Bloomberg data into a spreadsheet by automatically generating the appropriate functions through an easy step-by-step process.

You can launch the Import Data wizard by, selecting Spreadsheet Builder from the Bloomberg Menu or by clicking on the Import Data icon on Excel toolbar. 

Select the type of data you want download, then follow the steps. 

2. Use Worksheet Functions in Excel

Bloomberg’s worksheet functions provide intermediate to advanced Excel users flexibility to construct their own formulas to customize the way Bloomberg data is delivered and organized in the spreadsheet. 

In the Excel Add-in, Bloomberg functions are consolidated with flexible optional parameters:

• BDP (Bloomberg Data Point) is for current data.
• BDH (Bloomberg Data History) is for historical end of day and historical intraday data.
• BDS (Bloomberg Data Set) is for large data sets/ bulk data. 

When using any of the formulas, you must specify the security for which you want to retrieve data (Security), and you must specify the data item you want to retrieve (Field). The Security must be represented as (Ticker) (Market Sector), for example TGT Equity.

Fields are represented by mnemonics. Use the Field Search tool in Excel to search by category or keyword. 

Copying and pasting tables from Bloomberg to Excel

1. Place cursor at the corner of table in Bloomberg.
2. Click and drag the data you would like to copy.  Bloomberg will copy text/data automatically without Ctrl + C.
3. In Excel, press Ctrl + V to paste the data.
4. Click on Data menu from the top in the Excel screen and select "Text to Columns..."
5. Select "Fixed width-general."

Screenshots

To save a screen go to Export, click on Grab Screen. Not all screens can be saved.  You can also type GRAB <GO>

Export from Bloomberg into Excel

The exporting capability is limited to certain data within Bloomberg. When available, exporting will be listed under Options.  Note: Not all data can be exported.

API Support

Enter DAPI <GO> for access to all API support documents, including the Desktop API Guidelines, which include important information about Bloomberg's policy on downloading and using data. 

Error Codes

Downloading data from a Bloomberg terminal using the Excel API is subject to limitations. Once a terminal reaches its daily or monthly limit, further downloading will remain unavailable until the next month. The Excel API will return error codes (e.g. #NA Limit) when these limits are reached.

Additional help is available on the terminal using this command: LPHP DAPI:0:1 1489652 <GO>