Extracting GE Prices with PHP/Spreadsheet?

[CookMePlox]

Hello,

 

 

 

I've been trying to make a comprehensive High-Alchemy calculator with all items in it for a while. The problem is, I'm having trouble getting the Grand Exchange prices to update every day.

 

 

 

As far as I can see, I have two options:

 

 

 

Using cURL to export the data from the GE website. Could someone explain to me how this works? I have a basic understanding of PHP. Would the prices update every day?

 

 

 

Using a spreadsheet software like Excel or Google Docs.

 

 

 

I have checked out Brainymidget's guide on how to do this with ImportHTML on Google Docs, but it only allows 50 ImportHTML functions per spreadsheet, and I really don't want to have to use 20 spreadsheets each with 50 items. So Google Docs doesn't seem to work.

 

 

 

I'm still confused about how to do this with Excel. I tried using "Import External Data" on Excel 2003, but there were two problems: it would import the entire table of data, not just the one cell that I wanted. Also, the prices wouldn't update. It would just stay the same as when I updated it. Google Docs did update.

 

 

 

Could I find a spreadsheet program that allows unlimited ImportHTMLs?

 

 

 

If I can find a way to do either one...

 

Is there a way I could get it to automatically make the items in the table that make a profit green, and the ones that make a loss red? Could I make it so the user could order them by profit/loss? If I can't do either of these, I could always order them and make the profits and losses green and red manually every day.

 

 

 

If I could get a "buddy" that could help me with this table and maybe others, they would be my hero. If someone would take the time to answer these questions, they would also be my hero.

 

 

 

Thanks so much,

 

CookMePlox

[Sindarin00]

When you are Importing Data into Excel, As far as I can tell, you have to do the whole webpage. Now the the GE database, depending on how you sort or whatnot, this could be an issue. If they add an item above yours, it would shift the cell downwards. I suggest using the TIP.IT item page, and although your lookup will be 30-60 lines long you would never have to worry about it moving rows. The only problem with Tip.it is that it has gp or k or m in the numbering.

 

 

 

Now on to your other questions, in your "Import Web Data query box, there is a properties or options box. Inside of that is "Update on Open". This is off by default, so if you turn it on for every webquery you insert, it will update when you open. Be careful with the amount of data though, these spreadsheets can become quite large quite fast.

 

 

 

As for a Green for Profit, Red for Loss, you can use Conditional formatting, where anything above 0 displays as green, and everything below 0 displays as Red.

 

 

 

If you need more help my msn is [email protected], just put in the notes you are from TIP.iT (stupid spammagers) or my rsn is Sindarin00