Using VB2008 to acccess the Betfair API: A tutorial

[NFLMAN]

Just wanted to ask the best way to track multiple bot actions:

For example, I have 2 bots running on seperate timers placing bets at various time intervals on different markets and betting criteria.

Bot 1 places async bets and writes the bet details to a log file. I then use this log file later to provide statistics. This works well as I know all the bets in this log file belong to bot1.

When I start using bot 2, I want it to write to the same log file but I want to be able to distinguish which bot placed which bet.

I'm thinking along the lines of passing a parameter containing a botID reference (generated by the timer tick event) through to the PlaceBet sub. I can then link the botID ref to the PlaceBet response's BetID and send this data to the log file.

Am I going about this in the right manner or is there a smarter way to acheive what I need?

[BigSprout]

Hi NFLMan,

I had a similar problem and this is how I solved it:

MyBotId represents the Bot number (Bot1, Bot2,...etc)

Public Sub PlaceMyBets(ByVal MyBotId As Integer)


	' the code

	StateCount += 1
	BetfairExch.placeBetsAsync(oPlaceBetsReq, StateCount + (MyBotId * 10000))

	'if MyBotId = 1 then the number sent is 10,000 + StateCount
	'if MyBotId = 2 then the number sent is 20,000 + StateCount

end sub



Private Sub BetFairExCh_PlaceBetsCompleted(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As BFExService.placeBetsCompletedEventArgs) Handles BetfairExch.placeBetsCompleted

	Dim MyBotId as Integer= e.UserState \ 10000

	'MyBotId = 1 or 2, dependent on which Bot sent the bet
	'this can then be used to differentiate between bots

end sub

I then added this line to "MyTimer", so that StateCount didn't exceed 10,000:

If StateCount > 9950 then StateCount = 0

hope this helps

[NFLMAN]

Thanks BigSprout - that method worked and saved me a lot of extra coding :-)

[Geierkind]

Changing format of Prices

Hi,

I need some help.

You remember the Prices-Sub:

Sub ShowMprices(ByVal MpriceResp As BFUK.GetMarketPricesResp)
        Dim Lay, Back As String

        With MpriceResp
            CheckHeader(.header)
            Print("ErrorCode = " & .errorCode.ToString)
            If .errorCode = BFUK.GetMarketPricesErrorEnum.OK Then
                With .marketPrices
                    Print("MarketID = " & .marketId)
                    For i = 0 To .runnerPrices.Length - 1
                        With .runnerPrices(i)
                            Print("Runner " & i + 1 & "  LPM = " & .lastPriceMatched)
                            Back = ""
                            For j = 0 To .bestPricesToBack.Length - 1
                                With .bestPricesToBack(j)
                                    Back = Back & "  " & .price & "/" & Int(.amountAvailable)
                                End With
                            Next
                            Lay = ""
                            For j = 0 To .bestPricesToLay.Length - 1
                                With .bestPricesToLay(j)
                                    Lay = Lay & "  " & .price & "/" & Int(.amountAvailable)
                                End With
                            Next
                            Print("Back = " & Back & "   Lay = " & Lay)
                        End With
                    Next
                End With
            End If
        End With
    End Sub

This code gives Prices like this:

MarketId = 4324232
Runner 1 LPM=
Back = Lay=
Runner 2 LPM=
Back = Lay=

But I would like to see Prices in the following format:

MarketID Runner 1 Runner 2 Runner 3 Runner 4 Runner 5
4324232 [Backodds] [Backodds] [Backodds] [Backodds]

All those loops are kind of too complicated for me, so I would like to hear some advice how to get this format of Data

Thanks,

Timo

[Camper]

Hi everyone, first I have to say thanks for this thread, very helpful indeed!i

I'm new to VB but I successfully completed all the steps in this tutorial and now I'm trying to make some changes. I would love to have a form to Login and after that a "main" form with the rest of the bot but for now I'm trying to add a textbox to input the password because i dont feel safe having a program with my password on it, the username i don't really care.

I failed at doing this, does anyone have an idea to me?

PS: Sorry for my english.

[Camper]

Hi again, another problem.

I was able to open a new form and close the login form by adding this at the end of "Private Sub bLogin_Click":

With oLoginResp
            CheckHeader(.header)
            Print("ErrorCode = " & .errorCode.ToString)
            If .errorCode.ToString = "OK" Then
                Main.Show()
                Me.Hide()
            End If
        End With

The new form appears but when i click to see the events on the textbox i get this error:

*** Events ***
HeaderCode = NO_SESSION
ErrorCode = API_ERROR

I don't know what I did wrong here.

[Camper]

I've already solved my problems. If anyone has the same problems feel free to ask.

[Geierkind]

Hi,

This code gives Prices like this:

MarketId = 4324232
Runner 1 LPM=
Back = Lay=
Runner 2 LPM=
Back = Lay=

But I would like to see Prices in the following format:

MarketID Runner 1 Runner 2 Runner 3 Runner 4 Runner 5
4324232 [Backodds] [Backodds] [Backodds] [Backodds]

All those loops are kind of too complicated for me, so I would like to hear some advice how to get this format of Data

Thanks,

Timo

First Question: How do I modify the code further, so that the Prices function "calls itself" until all Prices are read?

Second Question: How do I export that big array of all those Prices to Excel the most convenient way?

I have those problems solved If anyone needs assistance in doing the same thing, just write a PM.

What about starting another thread, referring to this one where we can publish our solutions for our little problems so if any other guy has the same problem later he doesn't have to scan through all the pages of this thread.

Regards,

Timo

[Camper]

Hi, i will only use my bot on tennis markets. I was able to do a treeview with only tennis markets and now I'm trying to put it like this:

Tournament

• Hour: Player 1 - Player 2: Match Odds

I read here in this topic about filtering the information but i was unable to do it

Any idea?

[NFLMAN]

Hi Camper,

I don't use a treeview but you can filter for specific market types like filtering for "match odds" like this:

Dim AllMarkets As New UnpackAllMarkets(oMarketsResp.marketData)
      With AllMarkets
            For i = 0 To .marketData.Length - 1
                 With .marketData(i)
                       If .marketName = "Match Odds" Then
                              Code for Get Market Prices and placing bet etc.....
                       End if
                 End With
            Next i
      End With

This will select all singles match odds markets and also any doubles match odds markets. You can filter out the doubles matches too with a bit more code but there are relatively few of these so I don't bother.

[Camper]

Hi, thanks for the help it worked just fine. I was able to Print only the match odds markets on a texbox by doing this like you said:

With AllMarkets
                    For i = 0 To .marketData.Length - 1
                        With .marketData(i)
                            If .marketName = "Match Odds" Then
                                Print(.marketId & " " & .marketStatus & "  " & .marketName & "  " & .menuPath)
                                PopulateTreeView(AllMarkets, tvMarkets)
                            End If
                        End With
                    Next
                End With

I want to do another thing, i want to Print only this information, for example:
I'm getting this:
103361258 ACTIVE Match Odds \Tennis\Group A\Mercury Insurance Open 2011\First Round Matches\Vesnina v Erakovic
And i want this:
103361258 ACTIVE Match Odds \Tennis\Mercury Insurance Open 2011\Vesnina v Erakovic

Is that possible? By doing this i will get to the match odds far more faster on the treeview, too many clicks the way i have it now.

Thanks for the help NFLMAN, I'm getting close to what i want

[Camper]

Suddently my code stoped to work.

 Private Sub bMarkets_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles bMarkets.Click
        Print("*** Markets ***")
        Dim oMarketsReq As New BFUK.GetAllMarketsReq
        Dim oMarketsResp As BFUK.GetAllMarketsResp
        With oMarketsReq
            .header = oHeaderUK()
            ReDim .eventTypeIds(0) : .eventTypeIds(0) = 2 'For Tennis Matches
            .fromDate = Today
            .toDate = Today.AddDays(1)
        End With
        oMarketsResp = BetFairUK.getAllMarkets(oMarketsReq)
        With oMarketsResp
            CheckHeader(.header)
            Print("ErrorCode = " & .errorCode.ToString)
            If .errorCode = BFUK.GetAllMarketsErrorEnum.OK Then
                Dim AllMarkets As New UnpackAllMarkets(.marketData)   
                PopulateTreeView(AllMarkets, tvMarkets)
                With AllMarkets
                    For i = 0 To .marketData.Length - 1
                        With .marketData(i)
                            If .marketName = "match odds" Then
                                Print(.marketId & " " & .marketStatus & "  " & .marketName & "  " & .menuPath)
                            End If
                        End With
                    Next
                End With
            End If
        End With
    End Sub

I get this on the tLog:

*** Markets ***
HeaderCode = OK
ErrorCode = OK

It doesn't print .marketid, .marketStatus, .marketName or .menuPath
I dont recall doing anychange related to this

[Camper]

Solved, I feel idiot now, I logged in at betfair website and change the language to other than English so if .marketname = "Match Odds" couldnt work

[Camper]

I spoted a strange situation today. I have the best price to back and lay to both players displayed on textboxes.

The first player has the right values on both Back and Lay but I founded a mistake on the second. The Back and lay prices are not the best ones, they show the second best price i don't know why. The same for the avalable amount.

The code I use is this one:

    Sub ShowMprices(ByVal MpriceResp As BFUK.GetMarketPricesResp)
        With MpriceResp
            CheckHeader(.header)
            Print("ErrorCode = " & .errorCode.ToString)
            If .errorCode = BFUK.GetMarketPricesErrorEnum.OK Then
                With .marketPrices
                    bMstatus.Text = .marketStatus
                    bMarkid.Text = .marketId
                    With .runnerPrices(0)
                        bSelecid.Text = .selectionId
                        With .bestPricesToBack(0)
                            aBodd1.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            bBacka1.Text = y
                        End With
                        With .bestPricesToLay(0)
                            bLay1.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            bLaya1.Text = y
                        End With
                    End With
                    With .runnerPrices(1)
                        bSelectid1.Text = .selectionId
                        With .bestPricesToBack(1)
                            TextBox5.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            TextBox3.Text = y
                        End With
                        With .bestPricesToLay(1)
                            TextBox2.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            TextBox1.Text = y
                        End With
                    End With
                End With
            Else
                Print("ShowMprices Error")
            End If
        End With
    End Sub

I cant spot any error here

[BigSprout]

Camper,
I think the reason why you are getting 2nd best prices is because that is what you are asking for, try changing:

.bestPricesToBack(1) to .bestPricesToBack(0)
bestPricesToLay(1) to bestPricesToLay(0)

                    With .runnerPrices(1)
                        bSelectid1.Text = .selectionId
                        [B][COLOR="Red"]With .bestPricesToBack(0)[/COLOR][/B]
                            TextBox5.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            TextBox3.Text = y
                        End With
                        [COLOR="Red"][B]With .bestPricesToLay(0)[/B][/COLOR]
                            TextBox2.Text = .price
                            Dim y As Integer
                            Dim x As Double = .amountAvailable
                            y = Convert.ToInt32(x)
                            TextBox1.Text = y
                        End With
                    End With
                End With