API User Guide

An overview of how to use the

exposed Arius functions within
Microsoft Excel VBA
Milliman

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. The software described in this
manual is furnished under a license agreement. The software may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of that agreement.

No portion of the contents of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means without the express written permission of Milliman.

Milliman, Inc.
3424 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1900
Atlanta GA 30326 USA

Tel +1 800 404 2276

Fax +1 404 237 6984

ActuarialSoftware.com

© Copyright 2006-2021 Milliman, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

This document is the proprietary and confidential property of Milliman, Inc.
Arius® is a registered trademark of Milliman, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective
owners.
Milliman

Table of Contents
1. GENERAL INFORMATION .......................................................................................................................................... 1
2. BEFORE YOU GET STARTED WITH THE API ................................................................................................................. 2
3. EXAMPLE EXCEL WORKBOOKS .................................................................................................................................. 3
Example 1: Batch Get Data ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Example 2: Specific Get Data ............................................................................................................................................ 6
Example 3: Get File Properties .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Example 4: Set Data .......................................................................................................................................................... 8
Example 4B: Get and Set Data (includes VBA tutorial) ..................................................................................................... 9
Using the Example 4B workbook to retrieve or write data from/to Arius ................................................................ 9
Modifying the size of named ranges ....................................................................................................................... 10
Updating only the last diagonal in Arius ................................................................................................................. 11
Using this workbook as a VBA tutorial .................................................................................................................... 11
Example 4B (Variation): Get and Set Data with RecalcSegment ..................................................................................... 12
Example 5: Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Example 6: Send triangles in external file to Arius .......................................................................................................... 14
Example 7: Update triangles in Arius .............................................................................................................................. 15
Example 8: Automate TriangleMaker to send input triangles to Arius ........................................................................... 16
TMAutomation module........................................................................................................................................... 18
SetAriusData module .............................................................................................................................................. 19
Main module ........................................................................................................................................................... 19
Example 9: Automate TriangleMaker & update Input triangles in Arius ........................................................................ 20
Example 10: Run Arius Stochastic models ...................................................................................................................... 21
Example 11: Batch Get Data by type: Data, Exhibit, Method, and Report ...................................................................... 23
4. THE ROOT OF ALL API CALLS: THE ARIUSSYSTEM OBJECT ........................................................................................ 25
Create an instance of the Arius System Object (AriusSystem) ........................................................................................ 25
Global scope instances vs. local scope instances of AriusSystem ................................................................................... 25
5. OPENING AND CLOSING FILES WITH FLUSHFILE ....................................................................................................... 26
6. CONSIDERATIONS WHEN NAMING SEGMENTS ....................................................................................................... 27
7. PROPERTIES VS. METHODS ..................................................................................................................................... 28
8. CHECKING FOR ERRORS .......................................................................................................................................... 29
9. SUMMARY LIST OF API METHODS AND PROPERTIES ............................................................................................... 30
Methods.......................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Properties ....................................................................................................................................................................... 31
10. API DETAILS ............................................................................................................................................................ 34
Parameters of Arius API methods & properties .............................................................................................................. 34
Filename as string ................................................................................................................................................... 34
TableType as string ................................................................................................................................................. 34
TableRef as variant .................................................................................................................................................. 34
[PartRef] as variant ................................................................................................................................................. 34
Example code using subroutines and functions .............................................................................................................. 36
Milliman

CloseFile .......................................................................................................................................................................... 37
ColumnLabels.................................................................................................................................................................. 38
CopySegment .................................................................................................................................................................. 39
Data................................................................................................................................................................................. 40
Pull triangle data from Arius to Excel ...................................................................................................................... 41
Push data from Excel to Arius ................................................................................................................................. 42
Recreate an Arius Exhibit in Excel ........................................................................................................................... 43
Duplicate an Arius Method in Excel ........................................................................................................................ 44
Use SetData with blank cells ................................................................................................................................... 46
DeleteSegment ............................................................................................................................................................... 48
DevelopmentPeriodLength ............................................................................................................................................. 49
ErrorCode ........................................................................................................................................................................ 50
ErrorMessage .................................................................................................................................................................. 51
ExposureDate .................................................................................................................................................................. 52
ExposurePeriodLength .................................................................................................................................................... 53
FirstDevelopmentMonth ................................................................................................................................................ 54
FirstExposureYear ........................................................................................................................................................... 55
FlushFile .......................................................................................................................................................................... 56
HasPrior .......................................................................................................................................................................... 57
NumColumns .................................................................................................................................................................. 58
NumDevelopments ......................................................................................................................................................... 59
NumExposures ................................................................................................................................................................ 60
NumRows ........................................................................................................................................................................ 61
OpenFile .......................................................................................................................................................................... 62
PeriodType ...................................................................................................................................................................... 63
RecalcSegments .............................................................................................................................................................. 64
RowLabels ....................................................................................................................................................................... 65
RunService ...................................................................................................................................................................... 66
SaveFileAs ....................................................................................................................................................................... 67
ScalingFactor ................................................................................................................................................................... 68
Segments ........................................................................................................................................................................ 69
TableIndexes ................................................................................................................................................................... 70
TableInfo ......................................................................................................................................................................... 71
TableNames .................................................................................................................................................................... 72
TableParts ....................................................................................................................................................................... 73
TableTypes ...................................................................................................................................................................... 74
WriteFile ......................................................................................................................................................................... 75
ValDate ........................................................................................................................................................................... 76
Milliman

1. General information
The Arius Application Program Interface (API) extends Arius’ capabilities by exposing key functions that
allow you to automate the exchange of data between Arius and other tools such as Microsoft Excel and
Microsoft’s Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Example uses of the API with Excel include

 spreadsheets that import data from Arius, conduct additional analyses or implement their own
workflow, and send results back to Arius; and
 extending the reporting capabilities of Arius by summarizing results from multiple Arius files into
one spreadsheet.
The Arius API focuses on exchanging data with Arius (*.apj) files.

Most users will use the API to extend Arius’ capabilities and integrate with Excel. However, the API can
be used with other tools as well, such as other Microsoft Office products using VBA or with other
programming tools such as Microsoft Visual Basic, C# or C++. It is beyond the scope of this document
to instruct how to use the Arius COM Interop API in environments outside of Excel and VBA, and we do
not provide any examples other than Visual Basic and Excel, but we would be happy to provide
additional technical assistance to help you implement the API in other technical programming
environments.

API User Guide 1

Milliman

2. Before you get started with the API

In order to use the Arius API in your workbooks or the examples provided, you will need to make
certain that there is an Excel VBA Project reference to the Arius API 2.0 Type Library. All of the
examples provided should already include this reference. The location of the library will change
depending on where you have installed Arius on your computer.

The Arius API was designed to work with Excel version 2010 and later (as well as VBA).

You will need to add the reference in Excel to the Arius API library. For example, in Excel 2016, press
Alt+F11 to open the VBA Editor (or go to DEVELOPER | VISUAL BASIC). Then select TOOLS | REFERENCES… and
browse to find AriusAPI.dll (see the example location in the picture above for the most typical install
location).

Each of the Excel examples provided with the system include macros and functions that either wrap
the Arius API or provide additional Excel function calls to build templates and insert formulas. You must
enable Excel macros when you open each example workbook in order for them to function.

If you do not have automatic recalculation in Excel enabled, you will need to press F9 to force the
functions and macros on the Excel spreadsheet to execute.

API User Guide 2

Milliman

3. Example Excel workbooks

Your Arius installation provides several example workbooks demonstrating how to use the API from
within Excel. Each of these examples stands alone and demonstrates techniques that may help you in
customizing your own reports, exhibits, and spreadsheets.

All examples are located under the Documents\Milliman\Arius\API directory in a folder titled ExcelVBA
Samples. Each example is contained in its own subfolder. You can use these examples exactly as they
are, or you may customize them to best fit your needs. Milliman consultants are also available to assist
you in creating custom solutions, as well as in supporting the general use of these APIs.

We recommend that you create a copy of the original folder prior to editing the examples, in order to
preserve the original form and function of the sample files. Should you accidentally delete or edit the
original example folders, reinstalling the software will return the originals to your computer.

The examples introduce only a few functions and perform basic tasks; they were designed to
demonstrate the following capabilities:

 Provide a button that will either populate or modify the worksheet with function and API calls.
 Use Excel to execute functions on the worksheet which exchange data with Arius.
All of the examples were constructed specifically to work with the example data provided. A few of the
samples perform basic operations that are generic with respect to the data, and they will work
regardless of the size, number, and dimension of the Arius sample files. Others adhere to more specific
formatting requirements, and you will need to manually resize the output areas to accommodate the
size of the data being retrieved—for example, Example2 will require size adjustments for the output
range area to account for the number or rows and columns in the file to properly display the Exhibit
triangle and Method column. Where possible, the examples use array formulas, so increasing or
decreasing the output range area (by inserting or deleting rows and columns) is often all that is
necessary to accommodate different file sizes.

To make the APIs easier to use, some of the Excel examples were built with a few VBA functions that
wrap several of the API calls together (as well other native Excel VBA functions to help with
formatting). These Visual Basic functions may be less difficult to call from within Excel, and they allow
you to perform operations such as declaring and instantiating the Arius automation object, which, in
turn, starts an instance of the Arius application object. Using an Arius instance, other Arius APIs are
able to make API calls from inside the function. Normally, the examples instantiate an instance of the
Arius automation object when the workbook is loaded. It is declared as a global variable so other
functions have access to it. As you study the code, you will see how the Excel VBA functions
encapsulate multiple Arius API calls (for example, start Arius, open an Arius file, get the file properties,
close the Arius file, etc.) and embed native Excel function calls in order to format the output. This is
analogous to writing macros in Excel that perform several functions, so that you only need to call the
single macro.

Alternatively, two examples (example 4b which gets and sends multiple data input tables from/to
Arius, and example 11 which gets multiple data Input tables, Exhibits, Methods and Reports from NOTE:
Arius) have been provided which avoid the use of these Excel VBA functions, to the extent possible, to Example 4b is designed
enhance readability of the code. These examples populate the workbook with data values rather than specifically for those who
Excel VBA defined functions. For those who are new to VBA and the Arius API, the code in these are new to VBA and the
examples may be easier to understand. Example 4B in particular includes a VBA and API tutorial for Arius API.

API User Guide 3

Milliman

those who are new to programming or working with VBA within Excel. These examples, like all of the
examples, can be used exactly as they are with no modification.

To see the example user defined VBA functions which encapsulate the Arius API calls, do the following:

1. Open any of the Arius example workbooks.

2. Make sure you Enable Macros when the workbook opens.
3. Right-click on any worksheet tab in the workbook.
4. Select View Code.
5. Double-click one or more of the modules listed on the tree inside the Excel VBA editor.
You should experiment with the code by inserting break points, changing values and observing the
results in the Excel sample workbook. You are encouraged to modify the code and experiment.
However, we strongly recommend you make a copy of the workbook first so you can always refer back
to the original (just in case).

Following is a description of each example installed with the Arius automation module.

API User Guide 4

Milliman

EXAMPLE 1: BATCH GET DATA

This example workbook processes two named range tables to demonstrate how to retrieve data from
multiple Arius files. The example provides a simple Excel interface that allows you to easily change
what files and what data are retrieved and placed on the DATA output tab, without any further
programming.

There are two tabs in this example workbook, CONTROL and DATA.

The first table on the CONTROL tab, FILENAMES, identifies a list of Arius files from which to retrieve
data. You may insert or remove rows to increase or decrease the number of Arius files (the key here is
to increase/decrease the named range). Since the Arius install program is flexible and the user can
choose any directory structure, we have leveraged an Excel API to determine the current location of
the workbook so we can find the sample files for this example (we are assuming the sample files are in
the same folder as the workbook). Replace the file name and path in order to specify your own files.

The second table on the CONTROL tab, TABLENAMES, identifies what data to retrieve from each Arius
file specified in the FILENAMES list. Again, you can expand or shrink this table as appropriate.

Lastly, pressing the Run Sample button will execute the macro RunSample. When the macro executes,
it will create two loops. The outer loop will open each file name specified in FILENAMES. The inner loop
will retrieve each table name specified in TABLENAMES and write the results on the second tab of the
workbook called DATA.

The result of this example will be a worksheet where the specified data is exported (and formatted
using Excel functions).

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

API User Guide 5

Milliman

EXAMPLE 2: SPECIFIC GET DATA

NOTE:
Example 2 is the simplest
of all the examples to
learn how to wrap API
calls, and to expose the
VBA functions.

This example workbook demonstrates how to retrieve specific pieces of data from one Arius file. The
example provides a simple Excel interface to specify different Arius files and data objects.

There are two tabs to review in this workbook. The first tab, EXHIBITS, demonstrates how to use the
API to retrieve the various elements of one Arius development exhibit. Knowing how to pull one exhibit
from an Arius file will allow you to design your own solution to retrieve multiple exhibits (including the
different parts such as statistics and development factors). The second tab, METHODS, demonstrates
how you might use the API to retrieve individual columns of data from multiple Arius methods (or Arius
reports) and assemble them in one Excel table, say a Comparison of Ultimates report.

Each tab provides a named range, Location, where you can specify the Arius file path. A second named
range, FileName, allows you to supply the file name from which to retrieve data. As mentioned in
Example 1, we have leveraged an Excel API to determine the current location path of the workbook so
we can find the sample file for this example.

Each of the tabs in this example workbook is populated with Arius-specific functions that will retrieve
data from the specified Arius file. Two buttons exist on the EXHIBITS Tab: Paid LDM and Incurred LDM.
Pressing these buttons will switch the formulas on the spreadsheet to change between Paid and
Incurred data.

API User Guide 6

Milliman

The METHODS tab has similar functionality and uses three buttons to switch between Segments (HO,
GL, and WC). Pressing each button will adjust one of the input fields on the spreadsheet with a new
parameter and all the functions will recalculate using this Segment.

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

EXAMPLE 3: GET FILE PROPERTIES

This simple example workbook contains one tab, EXHIBITS, and demonstrates how to retrieve general
file property information from an Arius file (*.apj). The information is normally found under Project
Settings in an Arius file, and includes the number and size of both exposure periods and development
periods.

The worksheet allows you to specify a file path and then select one of the Arius files that exist in that
directory (you will notice a drop down list available for the filename field). Once a file name has been
selected, the embedded functions will execute and pull all the file information available from the
specified file. Simply changing the file name will force Excel to recalculate all the functions.

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

API User Guide 7

Milliman

EXAMPLE 4: SET DATA

This example workbook contains two tabs, EXHIBITS and DATA. This workbook demonstrates how to
use the API to both retrieve a triangle of data from Arius and also send data back to an input triangle in
Arius. The example is sending only one piece of data back to Arius, but it can be modified to send
several pieces of data back to Arius (or even populate most of an Arius file).

As in previous examples, on the EXHIBITS tab, you supply a file name and path, as well as the Segment
and data object name. (The example is designed to work with Arius Input triangles but can be modified
to handle any type of Arius object that accepts data.)

Pressing the Read Data from Source File button will insert a table on the DATA tab and the table will
have a function that opens the specified file and retrieves the data. Also, notice that the results of this
operation on the data tab contain an array formula.

The second button, Write Data to Source File, will insert the data from the DATA tab into the Arius file.
Note that the Read Data from Source File button creates a triangle with an array formula, hence you
will not be able to change any values in the table after you click on it. Therefore, we have provided a
button on the data sheet that will copy the array formula on the data sheet and paste only the values
into the named range, allowing you to edit the values (you could do this yourself, but we just made it
easier). Pressing the Read Data from Source file again will quickly validate that the Set Data worked (or
you can just open the Arius file using Arius and see for yourself).

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

API User Guide 8

Milliman

EXAMPLE 4B: GET AND SET DATA (INCLUDES VBA TUTORIAL)

This example workbook was created to replicate the functionality of Example 4 with the alternative of
multiple table reads/writes using VBA code that is easily understood by those who are new to
programming or VBA. Yet, this workbook will function without any need to understand or access the
VBA code. However, if desired, this workbook does provide a tutorial on how to use VBA with the Arius
API for those who wish to learn. In addition, this workbook will allow you to change the sizes of named
ranges around your data.

The workbook contains two tabs, VBA_API TUTORIAL and SET PARAMETERS. This workbook
demonstrates how to use the API to retrieve one or many Data tables from Arius and send data back to
a Data table in Arius. These tables could be columnar or triangular in shape.

Tip to Improve Performance:

NOTE:
This workbook allows for the retrieval and writing of one or multiple tables from one or multiple Tip to improve
Arius project files. If this workbook is used to write a significant number of tables in a batch, you performance when
may experience performance issues. This code is written as a generic example where a different retrieving large
Arius project could be named on each row of the Set Parameters grid, so an Arius project is batches of tables.
essentially opened and closed for each table requested. It is possible to dramatically speed up
performance when retrieving a large batch of tables by limiting the list of requested tables to a
single Arius project in a batch and modifying the VBA WriteDataModule to move the line of code
shown below down 3 lines until it is just BELOW the code “Next i” rather than above. This will
prevent excessive manipulation of the Arius project files.
PublicDeclarationsModule.AriusProject.WriteFile FullPath

Using the Example 4B workbook to retrieve or write data from/to Arius

On the SET PARAMETERS tab, in the light blue User Defined Parameters Grid, supply file names and
paths, as well as the Segments and data object table names you wish to retrieve from or write to Arius.
Table and segment names must match Arius exactly. Long or abbreviated table names may be used. In

API User Guide 9

Milliman

addition, you can specify cumulative or incremental data and a customized range name (especially
helpful when the Arius table name contains a character that is not valid for an Excel range name).

The light blue User Defined Parameters Grid found on this tab has been assigned the named range
DataRequirements through Excel. To list more or fewer tables for your batch, you can insert or delete
rows from this grid and the code will function normally, as long as the range name DataRequirements
continues to define the light blue area of grid rows.

Pressing the Retrieve Data button will create a new tab for each segment. Each table requested for a
particular segment will be retrieved from Arius and will populate that segment’s sheet. Unlike Exercise
4 after which this exercise is modeled, data values are displayed on the segment tab rather than array NOTE:
formulas. If a tab for the same
segment already exists in
When retrieving data from Arius, range names will be assigned to the data section of the retrieved the workbook, the tab will
table (not including row or column labels) using the custom range names provided in column G of the be deleted from the
User Defined Parameters Grid or, if column G is blank for a given row, then a unique default range workbook before data is
name will be assigned for this data. Default range names will be a concatenation of Arius file name, retrieved.
segment, table, and either _C or _I. A border will be placed around the named range applied to your A warning message is
data. displayed allowing the
user to cancel the retrieval
When writing data to Arius, data existing within the named range specified for a row on your User
process.
Defined Parameters Grid (as described in the paragraph above) will be written to the table in Arius.
This named range must match the size of your tables in your Arius project (same number of rows and
columns).

Note: Arius will not write to a calculated table.

To write data to Arius, your Arius project must be closed and the data table you are writing in Excel
must be the same size and shape as the data table in your Arius project. You will be notified if any of
the Arius projects included in the light blue User Defined Parameters Grid are open, and the process
will halt before any data is written to any of the Arius projects specified.

When writing to Arius, the range name for the retrieved data will be used to identify the data in the
Excel workbook which is to be set in Arius when clicking Write Data to Arius. Retrieving data from
Arius as a first step will set-up the current Arius structure (row/column labels) and range names for
your use, if desired. Note that column and row headings are for reference only and are ignored when
writing to Arius. However, you can create and populate your own named ranges on any sheet within
the Excel workbook, specify the range name in column G and then write that data to Arius without first
retrieving data from Arius.

Also, unlike Exercise 4, because the retrieved data is displayed as values, you can make changes to the
data directly in the Excel named range for your data table and write this modified data to Arius.
Although this workbook retrieves actual data values to the cells in Excel, if desired you can populate
the Excel named ranges with formulas pulling data from elsewhere in your workbook to populatethe
Excel triangles for writing to Arius.

Please be careful to create a copy of your Arius project (s) before using this workbook.

Modifying the size of named ranges

If you are using the same workbook to populate data tables in Arius each period, it will be necessary to
adjust the size of the named ranges for the tables to accommodate new exposure and/or development
periods. You can accomplish this in three ways: manually alter the named ranges, append a new

API User Guide 10

Milliman

diagonal in Arius then retrieve the Arius data, or use the built-in feature of this workbook to change
named range dimensions.

To use the built-in feature to change the size of specified Excel named ranges in the workbook, enter
the number of exposure and development periods desired in cells D8 and D9 on the SET PARAMETERS
worksheet then click the Change Range Sizes button.

This process will reference the light blue User Defined Parameters Grid to determine which named
ranges to alter. If you have made an entry in column G of the User Defined Parameters Grid this
named range will be altered. If column G is blank for a given row then the named range which is
identified by a name concatenating the Arius file name, segment, table, and either _C or _I, will be
altered.

The range dimensions will be changed to a rectangle with the number of rows in cell D8 and the
number of columns in cell D9. Also, the border around the named range will be changed to encompass
the new range. If the new range size is larger than the existing range size, then rows and columns will
be inserted around the new range to avoid overwriting data in nearby cells. If the new range size is
smaller than the existing range size, no cells will be removed from the workbook when resizing the
named ranges. This process will resize named ranges on any sheet in the workbook where they might
exist.

Note that this process will not resize the project settings within your Arius project.

Please be careful to create a copy of your Excel workbook before modifying your range sizes.

Updating only the last diagonal in Arius

To add only the last diagonal of a triangle to Arius, all cells of the Excel triangle except the last diagonal
must be blank. Any blank values will be ignored when writing to Arius, preserving the values in the
Arius triangle for the blank exposure/development periods. Please note that zero is not considered
blank; a value of zero in the Excel triangle will write a zero to the Arius table.

Using this workbook as a VBA tutorial

The worksheet VBA_API Tutorial provides details on how to use Example 4B as a VBA and Arius API
tutorial. Here you will find instructions about how to view VBA code in Excel and components that
must be added to your Excel workbook to function with the Arius API. You will also be instructed how
to open and review the heavily commented VBA code for retrieving data from Arius with step-by-step
instructions about the code and logic employed. A lightly commented version of the same code is also
provided so that you can follow the code and refer to the heavily commented version where you have
questions. This is all explained in detail on the VBA_API Tutorial worksheet.

API User Guide 11

Milliman

EXAMPLE 4B (VARIATION): GET AND SET DATA WITH RECALCSEGMENT

This variation of EXAMPLE 4B: GET AND SET DATA (INCLUDES VBA TUTORIAL) is identical except that it
includes recalculation of all segments when each table is written, for those projects which take
advantage of calculated segments in Arius. When data is updated in Arius, it is necessary to recalculate
all of the segments to update these calculations. Within Arius, this is accomplished by clicking a button
to recalculate all segments. Within the Arius API, this is accomplished by using the subroutine
RecalcSegments. Using this example, segments are only updated as each table is updated in Arius. The
segments are not recalculated when data is retrieved.

API User Guide 12

Milliman

EXAMPLE 5: SUMMARY

This example workbook contains two tabs, INPUT and SUMMARY. This workbook demonstrates how to
retrieve specific pieces of data from multiple Arius files and create a summary report in Excel. The
interface allows you to change what files and what data are being retrieved. The example does not
leverage any API or function calls on the spreadsheet, but instead demonstrates how to use the Arius
API entirely using VBA functions.

To make this example useful, we chose to demonstrate how to create a simple summary of ultimates
from multiple Arius files. The example has many attributes similar to Example 1 (file list table, table list
to process, segment names) but the output is very different. The example will demonstrate how to use
the Arius API to extract one column of data from an Arius method table and then use Excel VBA to
build a summary table containing all the ultimates processed.

Looking at the INPUT tab, you could identify multiple Arius files to be processed by specifying them in
the Source Files table (again we are assuming the Arius files are in the same path as the workbook, so
we are using a simple Excel API to identify the active directory). The Source Tables table allows you to
identify what Arius method tables to use. The Column table identifies what common column to
retrieve from each Arius Method (e.g., we are using the column titled Ultimate Loss since it is common
to all Arius Methods and has values for this example). Lastly, we specify the Arius table type (e.g.,
Method) so the API knows which table to open in Arius (the example is designed to assume the data is
a table of columns so you should limit your experiments to Arius Methods and Reports for this
example). Pressing any of the Segment to Retrieve buttons will change the Segment parameter the
GetData function passes to the API, invoking the function to retrieve the data from the specified Arius
file and create a summary table on the SUMMARY tab/output sheet. (Note: results from previous runs

API User Guide 13

Milliman

are currently cleared, but you can modify the code to keep appending the results below one another
for each SegmentName).

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

EXAMPLE 6: SEND TRIANGLES IN EXTERNAL FILE TO ARIUS

This workbook contains two tabs: SETUP and WORKAREA.

There are three VBA modules: DataModule, SetAriusData, and Main.

 The TriangleMaker Module is not needed for this example.

 This example is mostly the same as Arius_TriangleMaker_API_SendData.xlsm, but it skips the
TriangleMaker step and works directly with a CSV file which contains the input triangles.
Sub-Folders/Files required to run:

 Subfolder Arius_Input – Arius Template file, Template10yr.apj, with a default segment

“VoidSegment”. Triangle data input file, TriangleSample10yr.csv.
 Subfolder Arius_Output –Arius output file path.

API User Guide 14

Milliman

EXAMPLE 7: UPDATE TRIANGLES IN ARIUS

This workbook contains two tabs: SETUP and WORKAREA.

There are three VBA modules: DataModule; SetAriusData; and Main.

 The TriangleMaker Module is not needed for this example.

 This example is mostly the same as Arius_TriangleMaker_API_Update.xlsm, but it also skips
the TriangleMaker step, working directly with the CSV file which contains the input triangles.
Sub-Folders/Files required to run:

 Subfolder Arius_Input – Arius Template file, AriusData_11yr.apj, with a default segment

“VoidSegment”. Triangle data input file, TriangleSample11yr.csv.
 Subfolder Arius_Output –Arius output file path.

API User Guide 15

Milliman

EXAMPLE 8: AUTOMATE TRIANGLEMAKER TO SEND INPUT TRIANGLES TO ARIUS

Before running this example:

 Open the file TM_ClaimSample.tpj (found in the …\ EXAMPLE8_TMSETINPUTDATA\

TM_Input folder) with TriangleMaker.
 Select the TM_ClaimSample10yr.csv file (in the same folder at the .TPJ file) as the CSV input
file.
 Properly configure the various TriangleMaker tabs as shown below:

API User Guide 16

Milliman

DATES TAB VALUES TAB

PROFILES TAB OUTPUT TAB

 Choose the following path for the TM_10yrTriangleSampleOutput.csv output file:

\Milliman\Arius\API\ExcelVBA Samples\EXAMPLE8_TMSETINPUTDATA\TM_Output.
 Save the TriangleMaker project file.
This workbook contains two tabs: SETUP and WORKAREA.

There are four VBA modules: TMAutomation, DataModule, SetAriusData and Main.

API User Guide 17

Milliman

Sub-Folders/Files required to run:

 Subfolder Arius_Input
Contains the Arius Template file, Template10yr.apj with a default segment VoidSegment.
 Subfolder Arius_Output
Contains the Arius output file (once created).
 Subfolder TM_Input
Contains the CSV Input File TM_ClaimSample10yr.csv and the TriangleMaker project file
TM_ClaimSample.tpj.
 Subfolder TM_Output
Contains the TriangleMaker output, no input file needed.

TMAutomation module
Subroutine GenerateTM
Purpose:
To automate TriangleMaker to process transactional data to generate triangles.
Details:
Creates TriangleMaker COM object and initializes it by providing the serial number.
Set sdk1 = New PWCTMCOM.ITMSDK
InitFlag = sdk1.Initialize("EB0F4B6D-011C-44AB-AFFB-B9408521735E")

Opens TriangleMaker Template File, TM_ClaimSample.tpj in this example.

result = sdk1.OpenProject(Range("TMLocation").value & "\" & Range("TMTemplate").value)

Updates TriangleMaker settings, see VBA for details.

Runs the TriangleMaker API to generate Triangles and save to output CSV file, output is saved to
TM_Output folder in this example.
result = sdk1.Run()

Subroutine ClearTMData
Purpose:
Clears the contents and formats the WORKAREAtab.
Subroutine RetriveTMDataFiles
Purpose:
To retrieve the TriangleMaker generated output files from workbook.
Details:
Input Parameter is the file name with full path.
 Calls ClearTMData routine first to clear existing results, then Query data.

API User Guide 18

Milliman

SetAriusData module
Subroutine WriteFile
Purpose:
To send individual triangles found in WORKAREA tab to Arius one at a time.
Details:
There is a formula in the worksheet that will determine the Arius file name and segment name.
 In this example, file name is Arius_Company Name.apj, segment name is Coverage, they
change based on the working triangle (Table Index).
 When file name changes, it saves the Arius template file as a new Arius file.
AriusProject.SaveFileAs TemplateFile, AriusOutLocation & "\" & Filename

 When the Arius new segment name changes, it will copy the default segment
DummySegment to a new segment called LOB_Coverage, and then save the file.
AriusProject.CopySegment AriusOutLocation & "\" & Filename, DummySegment
AriusProject.WriteFile AriusOutLocation & "\" & Filename

 Then it will send the triangles to Arius.

AriusProject.Data(FullPath & "\" & Filename, LOB, TableType, TableName, TabProperty) =
TriangleData.

 TriangleData is the triangle to be sent to Arius.

 The first argument FullPath & "\" & Filename is the working Arius file name with the full
path.
 The second argument, LOB is the working Segment Name.
 TableType is the triangle data type.
 TableName for the stochastic table names; check the StochasticTableAPIName list for
details.
 Clears memory using the FlushFile function after the Arius Project file is saved.
AriusProject.FlushFile FullPath & "\" & Filename

Main module
Purpose
User Defined Excel function apiPath, used to retrieve the working directory of the open workbook.

CreateAriusFiles – call all 3 modules to automate TriangleMaker, retrieve TriangleMaker output csv file
from workbook and send triangles to Arius.

API User Guide 19

Milliman

EXAMPLE 9: AUTOMATE TRIANGLEMAKER & UPDATE INPUT TRIANGLES IN ARIUS

This workbook contains two tabs: SETUP and WORKAREA.

 It is the similar to Arius_TriangleMaker_API_SendData.xlsm, the only difference is that the

segments are included in Arius Template file and a different input file is used.
Sub-Folders/Files required to run:

 Subfolder TM_Input
CSV Input File TM_ClaimSample11yr.csv, TriangleMaker Template file TM_ClaimSample.tpj.
 Subfolder TM_Output
TriangleMaker output location, no input file needed.
 Subfolder Arius_Input
Arius Template file, AriusData_11yr.apj, that has all segments to work with in place.
 Subfolder Arius_Output
Arius output file path.

API User Guide 20

Milliman

EXAMPLE 10: RUN ARIUS STOCHASTIC MODELS

This workbook contains two tabs: SETUP and UNPAID GRAPH

This is an example of gettings data from Arius, setting data to Arius and Running Arius Stochastic
modeling functions.

Sub-Folders/Files required to run:

 Arius_Sample1.apj
Function GetAriusTable
Purpose:
User defined VBA function to retrieve results from an Arius File

API User Guide 21

Milliman

Subroutine RunArius
Purpose:
To send inputs/assumptions to an Arius File and run stochastic modelling functions.
Details:
 Save working Arius file Arius_Sample1.apj as Arius_Sample1_withRes.apj
 Run Arius to suggest hetro groups.
Call AriusProject.runservice(FolderName & "\" & NewFileName, Segment, "SuggestedHetero").

 Excel use embedded User define function to get the suggested hetero group number from
Arius
GetAriusTable(FolderName,FileName,SegmentName,"ODP Paid","Hetero","SuggGrp").

 Select suggested hetero group.

Range("HeteroGrp").Value = Range("SuggHeteroGrp").Value
AriusProject.Data(FolderName & "\" & FileName, Segment, "ODP Paid", "Hetero", "Grp") =
Range("HeteroGrp").Value

 Run Diagnostics
Call AriusProject.runservice(FolderName & "\" & NewFileName, Segment, "Diagnostics").

 Copy Mack suggested Loss Ratio and CoV.

AriusProject.Data(FolderName & "\" & NewFileName, Segment, "ODP Paid",
"BF_ModelAssumptions", "PriorLR") = WorksheetFunction.Transpose(Range("PriorLR").Value) '
Copy Prior LR from suggested value.

AriusProject.Data(FolderName & "\" & NewFileName, Segment, "ODP Paid",

"BF_ModelAssumptions", "PriorCoV") = WorksheetFunction.Transpose(Range("PriorCoV").Value) '
Copy Prior CoV from suggested value.

 Run Simulation
Call AriusProject.runservice(FolderName & "\" & NewFileName, Segment, "Simulation")

 Save Arius file:

AriusProject.WriteFile FolderName & "\" & FileName

Ultimately, the Excel embedded functions retrieve results from the Arius file, including: Cash Flow and
Unpaid Graph data from the Incurred Bornhuetter-Ferguson Method.

Recalculate: When data within your Arius project file has changed, Excel will not perceive that this
data has changed and will not automatically recalculate your Excel workbook. Press the Recalculate
button to refresh the data in your Excel workbook from your Arius project file.

API User Guide 22

Milliman

EXAMPLE 11: BATCH GET DATA BY TYPE: DATA, EXHIBIT, METHOD, AND REPORT

This example workbook is set up to retrieve (Get) multiple data objects for all data types except scalars
and will function without any need to understand or access the VBA code.

This workbook contains four tabs: SET DATA PARAMETERS, SET EXHIBIT PARAMETERS, SET METHOD
PARAMETERS, and SET REPORT PARAMETERS.

 This example demonstrates how to use the API to retrieve data input triangles/columns, methods,
reports, individual columns from methods or reports, LDFs from Exhibits, or specified rows of
statistics from Exhibits. These objects could be triangles, rows, or columns.
On the SET PARAMETERS tab for each object type, supply file names and paths, as well as the
Segments and table names that you wish to retrieve from Arius. Table names must match Arius exactly,
using either the long or abbreviated name. Range names will be assigned to the retrieved object’s data
using a unique default range name, or you can specify a customized range name. Each parameters grid
has been assigned a named range through Excel. To list more or fewer tables in a grid, insert or delete
rows in the grid and the code will function normally as long as the range name continues to define the
list area of the grids’ rows.

Data type objects:

Data is assumed to be cumulative. See Example 4B for an example of how to specify cumulative or
incremental.
Exhibit type objects:
Exhibit Statistic may be specified. If specified, the retrieval will return only the requested row of
statistics from the exhibit. If not specified, the triangle of LDFs for the exhibit will be returned.
Method and Report type objects:
An individual column may be specified. If specified, the retrieval will return only the requested
column. If not specified, the entire method or report will be returned.
Pressing the Retrieve button will create a new tab for each segment, with the tab name identifying the
data type (Data, Exhibit, Method, or Report). Each object requested for this segment and type will be
retrieved from Arius and will populate the appropriate worksheet. If the range name (either user
specified or default) already exists in the workbook, then this range will be cleared before data is
retrieved from Arius. A warning message is displayed allowing the user to cancel the retrieval process.

API User Guide 23

Milliman

Object values, rather than array formulas, are displayed on the worksheets. When worksheets are
deleted, the range names remain so that external references to these range names will not be broken.

Tip to Improve performance:

This workbook allows for the retrieval of one or multiple tables from one or multiple Arius projects. If NOTE:
this workbook is used to get a significant number of tables in a batch you may experience performance Tip to improve
issues. This is because the code is written as a generic example where a different Arius project could be performance when
named on each row of the Set Parameters grid. Therefore, an Arius project is essentially opened and retrieving large
closed for each table requested. It is possible to dramatically speed up performance when retrieving a batches of tables
large batch of tables by limiting the list of requested tables to a single Arius project in a batch and
modifying the VBA for each object type as shown below. This will prevent excessive manipulation of
the Arius project files and enhance performance.

Code #1 should be identified in the DataModule, MethodModule, ExhibitModule, and ReportModule.

Replace Code #1 with Code #2.

Code #1 Code #2
For i = 2 To ParamRows For i = 2 To ParamRows
Segment = Params(i, 3) Segment = Params(i, 3)
Worksheets(Segment & " DATA").Select Worksheets(Segment & " DATA").Select
Range("A1").Value = "" Range("A1").Value = ""
Next i
Filename = Params(i, 1) Filename = Params(1, 1)
Location = Params(i, 2) Location = Params(1, 2)
FullPath = Location & "\" & Filename FullPath = Location & "\" & Filename
AriusProject.FlushFile (FullPath) AriusProject.FlushFile (FullPath)

Next i

API User Guide 24

Milliman

4. The root of all API calls: the AriusSystem object

CREATE AN INSTANCE OF THE ARIUS SYSTEM OBJECT (ARIUSSYSTEM)
Before you can begin using any of the exposed Arius APIs, you must first instantiate at least one
instance of Arius by creating a variable of type AriusSystem. Instantiating an AriusSystem object by
creating an AriusSystem variable starts a hidden copy of Arius (note that it is not visible on screen, and
some of Arius’ full functionality is not available).

For those just getting started, we recommend that you do this at the very top of your module so the
variable has global scope and will be available to all functions in the entire module. You can see this in
each of our examples by looking at the top line in the VBA module.

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Alternatively, as you develop more advanced modules, you are encouraged to create local scope
variables of type AriusSystem that go in and out of scope with either the module or routine. One way
to do this is to simply dimension a variable of AriusSystem inside a subroutine. (There is no reason to
create multiple instances of AriusSystem, as AriusSystem allows you to work with multiple data files.)

GLOBAL SCOPE INSTANCES VS. LOCAL SCOPE INSTANCES OF ARIUSSYSTEM

The main reason to create local scope instances of AriusSystem is for automated file management and
garbage collection. Almost every property and method exposed by AriusSystem requires a file name to
be identified. If that file is not currently loaded into memory, AriusSystem will open the file, load it into
memory and close the file (similar to using File Open in Arius). This file data will remain in memory until
you either call FlushFile or the AriusSystem object goes out of scope.

A routine that processes a large number of files using a global instance of AriusSystem will keep each
instance of the file loaded in memory for the life of the variable AriusSystem if you do not call
CloseFile. However, if you use a local instance of AriusSystem to process each file, AriusSystem will be
destroyed when it goes out of scope and it will automatically purge the Arius file from memory,
resulting in more efficient memory management.

API User Guide 25

Milliman

5. Opening and closing files with FlushFile

Almost every method and property exposed from the Arius API requires a file name to be supplied. The
internal code will check if the file is already open and if not, the file will be opened, loaded into
memory, and then closed. When processing a group of files, remember that each file will remain in
memory.

We provide several ways to clear these files from memory when you finish with them.

 The first and easiest way is to call FlushFile. FlushFile will delete the file from memory. You can
include a call to FlushFile in your logic at the appropriate time for your function.
 The second way to remove files from memory is to let the AriusSystem object go out of scope, as
previously discussed. Using GlobalScope (where the AriusSystem object is available for the life of
the workbook) would necessitate calls to FlushFile. Using local scope (where the AriusSystem is
instantiated and deleted within a function) would limit the lifetime of the files in memory;
however, local scope instances of AriusSystem might still require calls to FlushFile if the routine is
processing a large number of files.

API User Guide 26

Milliman

6. Considerations when naming segments

Arius incorporates segment names into the names of PDF files it creates, to make sure your segment
data is uniquely identified. In addition, segment names are used for Excel worksheet names. They can
also be incorporated into Excel defined range names in the API sample Excel workbooks and perhaps in
your own Excel workbooks.

When Arius creates Excel and Acrobat files, Windows’ standard naming conventions must apply.
Therefore, it is important to consider these Microsoft constraints when choosing your segment names.

 Excel worksheet names (i.e., tab names) have a maximum length of 31 characters. Arius’ Export to
Excel and the API examples provided with Arius use the segment names as Excel worksheet
names. Be aware of this Excel constraint when naming your segments, as characters beyond the
31st will be truncated in any resulting XLSX tab names.
 The following special characters and words violate Windows’ naming conventions for file names,
Excel worksheet names, and Excel defined range names. They should not be used in segment
names:
< (less than) \ (backslash) NOTE:
> (greater than) | (vertical bar) Segment names are case
: (colon) ? (question mark) sensitive when using the
" (double quote) * (asterisk) API.
/ (forward slash) Also, avoid using a period.

 The following Windows reserved words should be avoided as separate words in your segment
names: CON, PRN, AUX, NUL, COM1, COM2, COM3, COM4, COM5, COM6, COM7, COM8, COM9,
LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, LPT4, LPT5, LPT6, LPT7, LPT8, and LPT9.
 If you intend to use your segment name in an Excel defined range name, or if you will be using the
Excel API examples provided with Arius, then the following rules are recommended when
choosing your segment name:
 Begin your segment name with a text character, not a number or special character.
 Only four special characters are allowed in Excel’s defined range names: underline, question
mark, period, and back slash. However, all except the underline character violate file naming
conventions, therefore only the underline character is recommended as a special character
for use within your segment names.
 Do not begin your segment name with something that could be interpreted as an Excel cell
address. For example, R2_Mysegment will return an Excel error as a defined range name
because R2 is an Excel cell address.
 Note: API examples provided with Arius use the segment name to create Excel defined
names. However, EXAMPLE4_B_BATCHGETSETDATA_VBATUTORIAL.xlsm and
EXAMPLE11_BATCHGET_DataMethodReportExhibit.xlsm allow you to choose unique range
names which do not incorporate the segment name. Also, in the remaining API examples and
your own VBA code it is possible to strip all special characters from a segment name prior to
incorporating into a defined range name.

API User Guide 27

Milliman

7. Properties vs. methods

AriusSystem exposes all of its functionality as either a property or a method. In general, properties
represent information whereas methods represent actions. A property can be regarded as a variable
exposed by Arius and a method can be regarded as a function exposed by Arius. Generally speaking,
methods require you to pass in one or more variables as parameters of the function call to get and set
data.

Properties and methods require an AriusSystem object. Here are some examples of properties and
methods:

Dim AriusProject as AriusSystem ’starts hidden Arius instance

Dim AsOfDate as String

AriusProject.OpenFile(“C:\Sample1.apj”) ‘this is a method of AriusSystem

Eval_Date= AriusProject.ValDate (“C:\Sample1.apj”) ‘example retrieving a property value

AriusProject.Data(…) = MyRange.value ‘example changing value of a

property

AriusProject.CloseFile(“C:\Sample1.apj”) ‘this is a method of AriusSystem

AriusProject.FlushFile(“C:\Sample1.apj”) ‘this is a method of AriusSystem

API User Guide 28

Milliman

8. Checking for errors

Each of the API methods and properties are capable of throwing an error if one should occur. In order
to test for errors, you need to check the Err.Number property. If the API call is successful, Err.Number
will equal ZERO, otherwise Err.Number will contain the error code.

Since error codes do not tell us a lot (other than an error occurred) we also provide an API call to
return the error message associated with the error code.

Property ErrorMessage(long ErrorNumber) As String

You may use this API to retrieve the error message string for any error code. Below is an example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

On Error Resume Next
'Make a call to the API
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

Alternatively, you may decide to use On Error Goto if you decide you do not need to check for an error
on every API call. It is completely up to you to decide how robust you want to make your code. Here is
a list of the current error types (ErrorType):

E_UNKNOWN E_FILE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
E_FILE_OPEN_FAILURE E_DATA_SOURCE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
E_DICTIONARY_LOAD_FAILURE E_TABLE_TYPE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
E_NAME_NOT_RECOGNIZED E_TABLE_PART_NOT_RECOGNIZED
E_TABLE_NOT_FOUND E_WRONG_FILE_TYPE
These are defined as constants in the IDL file and are recognized by VBA when you add a reference to
the AriusAPI 2.0 Type Library. These are not the actual error codes returned by Err.Number in VBA. To
get that exact value, the user needs to use the ErrorCode property and pass one of these constants as a
parameter. Here is sample code that uses both ErrorMessage and ErrorCode to show all the possible
error messages.

Dim AriusProject As New AriusSystem

Sub ShowAllErrorMessages()

Dim etype(0 To 10) As ARIUSAPILib.ErrorType

etype(0) = E_DATA_SOURCE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
etype(1) = E_DICTIONARY_LOAD_FAILURE
etype(3) = E_FILE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
etype(4) = E_FILE_OPEN_FAILURE
etype(5) = E_NAME_NOT_RECOGNIZED
etype(6) = E_TABLE_NOT_FOUND
etype(7) = E_TABLE_PART_NOT_RECOGNIZED
etype(8) = E_TABLE_TYPE_NOT_RECOGNIZED
etype(9) = E_UNKNOWN
etype(10) = E_WRONG_FILE_TYPE
For i = 0 To 10

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(AriusProject.ErrorCode(etype(i)))

Next i

End Sub

API User Guide 29

Milliman

9. Summary list of API methods and properties

Almost every API Method and property requires a filename (fully qualified with drive letter and path)
as the first parameter. This is needed because the API allows multiple files to be in memory at the
same time. The API was designed to simplify things for the developer. If the filename specified does
not exist in memory, the filename will be automatically opened and loaded into memory (internally the
API will call OpenFile and CloseFile automatically as necessary). You will be responsible for calling
WriteFile and FlushFile when you wish to save the changes to the file and remove it from memory
when done.

Once the file is loaded into memory, all operations will occur on the file in memory. Any changes to
the files in memory will need a call to Write Files to save the changes.

Note: This list includes all functional components exposed via the API. Methods and properties visible
within the VBA editor but not listed here are remnants from legacy systems and are not currently
functional or supported.

METHODS

METHOD NAME PARAMETERS DESCRIPTION

CloseFile (filename As String) Closes the specified file. Only needed for files opened
with OpenFile. File will still remain in memory and will
require call to FlushFile to purge file from memory.

CopySegment (filename As String, Makes a copy of the specified segment in the

SegmentName As String, specified file.
NewSegmentName As String)

DeleteSegment (filename As String, Deletes the specified segment from the specified file.
SegmentName As String)

FlushFile (filename As String) Purges the specified file from memory. Does not
delete it from the disk.

OpenFile (filename As String) Opens the specified file and reads contents into
memory. Be sure to call CloseFile when done.

RunService (filename As String, Run the specified service for the specified segment in
[SegmentName As String], the specified file. If SegmentName is null, then the
ServiceName As String) service will be run for all segments found in the file.

SaveFileAs (filename1 As String, Makes a copy of the source file. The source file does
filename2 As String) not need to be previously opened or loaded into
memory. Calling SaveFile will rename the file in
memory so only one file will exist (as opposed to
two). You will need to call FlushFile on the renamed
file.

WriteFile (filename As String) Writes the contents of the file in memory to disk.
Overwrites what was there previously. WriteFile will
automatically call OpenFile and CloseFile if necessary
(assuming the file is already loaded in memory).

API User Guide 30

Milliman

PROPERTIES

PROPERTY NAME PARAMETERS RETURN TYPE DESCRIPTION

ColumnLabels (filename As String, Array Read only. Returns the text

SegmentName As representing the column labels
String, TableType As for the table or table subpart
String, TableRef, specified.
[PartName])

Data (filename As String, <depends on Sets and gets specified data for
SegmentName As request> specified object.
String, TableType As
String, TableRef,
[PartRef])

DevelopmentPeriodLength (filename As String) Long Read only. Gets the

development period length
from the specified file.

ErrorCode (type As ErrorType) Long Read only. Returns the exact

error code for a particular
error type. This is useful when
you want to check for a
particular kind of error.

ErrorMessage (ErrNum As Long) String Read only. Returns a

formatted error message
based on the error code
supplied as a parameter.

ExposureDate (filename As String) Date Read only. Retrieves the date

of the first exposure period
from the Arius file in PROJECT
SETTINGS | DATA STRUTURE | DATE
PARAMETERS.

ExposurePeriodLength (filename As String) Long Read only. Retrieves the length

of the exposure periods in an
Arius file.

FirstDevelopmentMonth (filename As String) Long Read only. Returns the month

number of the first
development period.

FirstExposureYear (filename As String) Long Read only. Returns the year of

the first exposure period.

HasPrior (filename As String) Long Read only. Returns zero if no

prior row, otherwise a nonzero
value indicates there is a prior
row.

API User Guide 31

Milliman

PROPERTY NAME PARAMETERS RETURN TYPE DESCRIPTION

LenLastCalPeriod (filename as String) Long Read Only. Returns the length

(in months) of the last
calendar period.

NumColumns (filename As String, Integer Read only. Returns the number

SegmentName As of columns for any table in a
String, TableType As particular file. Will also return
String, TableRef, the number of columns for the
[PartRef]) subpart specified for a
particular table (e.g., Exhibit
statistics).

NumDevelopments (filename As String) Long Read only. Returns the number

of development periods
specified for a particular Arius
file.

NumExposures (filename As String) Long Read only. Returns the number

of exposure periods specified
in an Arius file.

NumRows (filename As String, Integer Read only. Returns the number

SegmentName As of rows for the specified table
String, TableType As in an Arius file. When
String, TableRef, PartName is supplied, will
[PartName]) return the number of rows for
that subpart of the specified
table (e.g., Statistics).

PeriodType (filename As String) String Read only. Returns whatever

information is stored in
PROJECT SETTINGS | DATA
STRUTURE | EXPOSURE PERIOD TYPE

RowLabels (filename As String, Array of Read only. Returns a string

SegmentName As Strings array with the row labels for a
String, TableType As particular table in an Arius file.
String, TableRef, When PartName is supplied, it
[PartName]) will return the row labels for
that subpart of the table (e.g.,
Exhibit Statistics).

Scaling Factor (filename As String) String Read only. Returns the scaling
factor assigned inside an Arius
file.

Segments (filename As String) Array of Read only. Returns a string

Strings array with the segments in an
Arius file.

TableIndexes (filename As String, Array of Read only. Returns an array of

TableType As String) Integers integers containing all the
indexes for a particular table
type in the file specified. Any
of the values returned can

API User Guide 32

Milliman

PROPERTY NAME PARAMETERS RETURN TYPE DESCRIPTION

then be used for the TableRef
parameter.

TableNames (filename As String, Array of Read only. Returns an array of

TableType As String) Strings strings representing all the
names of all tables for a
particular table type.

TableParts (filename As String, Array of Read only. Returns an array of

TableType As String, Strings strings representing all of the
TableName As String) table parts of the specified
table type for the specified
table name.

TableInfo (filename As String, Array of Read only. Returns a two-

TableType As String) Integers and dimensional array containing
Strings information on the table
names and indexes in the
particular file.

TableTypes (filename As String) Array of Read only. Returns an array of

Strings strings representing each of
the table types.

ValDate (filename As String) String Read only. Returns a string

representing the evaluation
date of the Arius Project File.

API User Guide 33

Milliman

10. API details

PARAMETERS OF ARIUS API METHODS & PROPERTIES
All properties and methods supported by the API accept parameters. Since the API is designed to
provide access to Arius files, it is required that every function accept the filename as the first
parameter. The API string parameters are not case sensitive. The following is a list of common
parameters that are shared by multiple properties and methods.

Filename as string
Most properties and methods require the filename as the first parameter. It must contain the fully
qualified path name of the file. The acceptable extension when selecting the file must be the Arius
extension (*.apj).

C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.apj

TableType as string
The following are valid values for this parameter:

“Input”
“Exhibit”
“Method”
“Report”
“Scalar”

TableRef as variant
This parameter requires either a number or a string type to be passed into the receiving function. In
the case of a number, it is assumed that the number represents the index number of the table. If a
string is used, then this parameter would contain the name of the desired table. The string can be
either the Arius table full name or the abbreviated name.

[PartRef] as variant
This is an optional parameter that can be used to expand on or drill down into a particular set of table
values. For example, you can use this parameter to access the selections in an Arius exhibit or an
individual column in a method or report. In the case of triangular data, this parameter can also be used
to specify whether to return the data incrementally or cumulatively. The following are valid entries for
this parameter:

API User Guide 34

Milliman

Inputs
“Incremental” (return data incrementally; this is the default for triangle data)
“Cumulative” (return data cumulatively)
“IgnoreBlanks” (ignore blank cells in source data; set only cells with valid amounts;
see Data section of this document for details)
"Cumulative,IgnoreBlanks"
"Incremental,IgnoreBlanks"

Exhibits
“Statistics”
“TFA” (tail factor analysis)
“Selected” (selected development factors)
“Selected Interpolated” (selected interpolated development factors)

Individual exhibit statistics

This is not a complete list, as the number of combinations is endless; treat these as examples.

“Cumulative Selected”
“Ratio to Ultimate”
“Selected Interpolated”
“Cumulative Selected Interpolated”
“Ratio to Ultimate Interpolated”
“Avg”
“Average Excluding High/Low”
“Volume Weighted Average”
“3 Year Average”

Selected Interpolated development factors:

Arius can fit curves to your Selected Development Factors to help you estimate Selected Interpolated
Development Factors. You can use GetData with the API to retrieve the Selected Interpolated Factors,
as well as the related Cumulative Interpolated and Ratio to Ultimate Interpolated Factors.

However, for certain technical reasons, the API cannot retrieve the fitted curves themselves.
Specifically, you cannot use GetData to retrieve the following interpolation statistics from an exhibit:

Linear – Cumulative
Linear – Ratio to Ultimate
Exponential – Cumulative
Exponential – Ratio to Ultimate
Weibull – Cumulative
Weibull – Ratio to Ultimate
Inverse Power – Cumulative
Inverse Power – Ratio to Ultimate

API User Guide 35

Milliman

EXAMPLE CODE USING SUBROUTINES AND FUNCTIONS

You will notice that many of the sample code fragments will be implemented using a Function while
others are implemented via a subroutine. This is a matter of style and how you might need to use it.

 Functions were chosen because they can be embedded within a spreadsheet.

 Subroutines cannot be embedded as part of formula on a spreadsheet and must be called by
another subroutine.

API User Guide 36

Milliman

CloseFile
Syntax:
Sub CloseFile(filename As String)

Description:
Closes the specified file. Only needed for files opened with OpenFile. File will still remain cached in
memory and will require call to FlushFile to purge file from memory.

Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub CloseFile (Filename As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.CloseFile Filename
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error closing the file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 37

Milliman

ColumnLabels
Syntax:
Property ColumnLabels(filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef,
[PartName]) As Variant

Description:
Read-only. Returns the text representing the column labels for the table or table subpart specified.

Return:
Variant containing an Array of Strings

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetColumnLabels(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableName As

String)

On Error Resume Next

GetColumnLabels = AriusProject.ColumnLabels(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableName)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function NOTE:

Usage: Since all the factors use
the same labels, we can
Entering the following as an Excel array formula: query any factor for the
labels; therefore, we hard-
= GetColumnLabels(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ”,
“GL”, “Input”, “Paid Loss”)
coded the routine to use
the GL segment and the
returns a string array with the column labels of the Segment in filename. Paid Loss input table

API User Guide 38

Milliman

CopySegment
Syntax:
Sub CopySegment(filename As String, SegmentName As String, NewSegmentName As String)

Description:
Makes a copy of the specified segment in the specified file and creates a new segment using
NewSegmentName.

CopySegment should always be immediately followed with WriteFile and FlushFile to avoid unexpected
results.

For example: NOTE:

Alway follow
AriusProject.CopySegment FileName, SegmentName, NewSegmentName CopySegment with
AriusProject.WriteFile FileName WriteFiles and
AriusProject.FlushFile FileName FlushFile
Return:
Adds a new segment.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub CopySegment(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, NewSegmentName As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.CopySegment(Filename, SegmentName, NewSegmentName)

AriusProject.WriteFile(FileName)
AriusProject.FlushFile(FileName)
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error copying the segment in the file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 39

Milliman

Data
Syntax:
Property Data (filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef, [PartRef]) As
Variant

Description:
Gets and sets the specified data for an Arius object. By specifying the optional parameter (PartRef), the
user can drill down into exhibits, methods, and reports. This property when being read always returns
a two-dimensional array containing the data values from the Arius object referred to by the
parameters of the Data property. When using the write version of the property, the value being
written must also be a two dimensional array containing either numbers or empty strings. By default,
empty strings in the source XLS file will be translated to blanks in the Arius system. (See Using SetData
with Blank Cells below for more information on working with blanks.)

Keep in mind that a single row or single column of data is still represented as a two-dimensional array.
The only difference in this case is that the size of one of the array bounds is one. When the size of both
array bounds are one, then the array basically represents a single cell. Only scalars in Arius can contain
single cells, and this property can also be used to read and write values to these objects as well.

Return:
Variant containing a two-dimensional array of numbers or empty strings (when property is being read).

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA Examples:
See the following pages for several specific examples.

NOTE: For Scalar objects set TableType=”Scaler”.

API User Guide 40

Milliman

Pull triangle data from Arius to Excel

Assume the following data is in an Excel spreadsheet:

FIGURE 1

Also assume the following code is contained within a module in the workbook:

Dim AriusProject As New AriusSystem

Function GetData(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef As Variant,

Optional PartRef As Variant)

On Error Resume Next

GetData = AriusProject.Data(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableRef, PartRef)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

If you wanted the data in the sheet to come from Arius, you could use the following array formula in
the range B2:H8:

{=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", "GL",
"Input", "Paid Loss")}

If you also wanted the labels to come from the Arius file, then you can use the array formulas below
assuming you also have the following additional code in your workbook.

Function GetRowLabels(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef As Variant,

Optional PartRef As Variant)

On Error Resume Next

GetRowLabels = AriusProject.RowLabels(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableRef, PartRef)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

API User Guide 41

Milliman

Function GetColumnLabels(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef As

Variant, Optional PartRef As Variant)

On Error Resume Next

GetColumnLabels = AriusProject.ColumnLabels(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableRef, PartRef)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B1:H1 {
=GetColumnLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development")}

A2:A7 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\
DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development"))}

Notice that we need to use the Excel TRANSPOSE function on GetRowLabels. The reason for this is
because GetColumnLabels and GetRowLabels return a one-dimensional array as opposed to GetData
which returns a two dimensional array. Values in a one-dimensional array flow across the sheet
(horizontally). In the case of column labels, this is desired. For row labels, however, we want the labels
to flow down the sheet (vertically). In order to do this, we must use the TRANSPOSE function.

Push data from Excel to Arius

Refer back to Figure 1 and now assume that the data came from somewhere else (perhaps you
manually typed it into the worksheet), and you wanted to set this data into an Arius file, you could call
the following macro to write the data to the Paid Loss input triangle in the specified segment:

Function SetAriusData()

Filename = "C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ"
AriusProject.Data(Filename, “GL”, "Input", "Paid Loss") = Range("B2", "H8").Value
AriusProject.WriteFile(Filename)

End Function

Note that the actual range for the data on the spreadsheet is B2:H8. Do not include any row or column
labels. You cannot write these back to the file as these are read-only properties determined by the file
structure. You must also call the WriteFile method at some point after setting data otherwise your
changes will be lost. For efficiency, all changes are made to the copy of the file in memory.

API User Guide 42

Milliman

Recreate an Arius Exhibit in Excel

Now let’s assume you wanted to recreate an Arius exhibit in Excel (see Figure 2).

FIGURE 2

Use the following array formulas to create the exhibit in Excel as shown in Figure 2. Assume you have
the GetColumnLabels, GetRowLabels, and GetData functions defined correctly. You will also need to
format the sheet. The API currently does not handle any formatting. You would need to either
manually format the data yourself or utilize VBA macros. A discussion on how to format data is beyond
the scope of this document.

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B1:H1 {
=GetColumnLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development")}

A2:A7 { =TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\
DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development"))}

B2:H7 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development")}

B9:H13 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development","Statistics")}

A9:A13 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\
Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss
Development","Statistics"))}

API User Guide 43

Milliman

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B15:H17 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development","TFA")}

A15:A17 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\
Arius\DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development","TFA"))}

B19:H19 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Exhibit", "Paid Loss Development","Selected")}

Duplicate an Arius Method in Excel

FIGURE 3

This method can be created in Excel in three different ways. The most direct way is to retrieve the data
(excluding labels) in one formula array. We would also like to get the labels as well. Use the following
formula arrays to accomplish this. Remember that you will also need to format the sheet in order to
resemble Figure 3.

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B1:E1 {
=GetColumnLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development")}

A2:A8 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\
DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development"))}

B2:E8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development")}

API User Guide 44

Milliman

We can also retrieve each column individually using the following arrays instead:

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B1:E1 {
=GetColumnLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles
\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development")}

A2:A8 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\
DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development"))}

B2:B8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", 1)}

C2:C8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", 2)}

D2:D8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", 3)}

E2:E8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", 4)}

You should notice here that we are getting each column one at a time by specifying the column
number using the PartRef parameter for GetData. We can specify which column to retrieve if we are
only interested in a subset of the method or report. In the example above, however, it is better to get
the data all at once.

In addition, we can also use the following formula arrays to arrive at the same result on the sheet:

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

B1:E1 {
=GetColumnLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development")}

A2:A8 {
=TRANSPOSE(GetRowLabels("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\
DemoFiles\Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development"))}

B2:B8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", "Cumulative Paid Loss")}

C2:C8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\

API User Guide 45

Milliman

RANGE ARRAY FORMULA

Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", “Selected Development
Factors”)}

D2:D8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", “Cumulative
Development Factors”)}

E2:E8 {
=GetData("C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ", “GL”, "Method", "Paid Loss Development", “Ultimate Loss”)}

You will notice in the formula arrays above that we are referring to each column of data by name
rather than by number. The names are the same as what would be returned from GetColumnLabels.
The above example is for illustrative purposes only. If you wanted to retrieve the entire method or
report, you would normally use a single formula array to get all the data at once.

Use SetData with blank cells

The default behavior for SetData replaces the existing data in the Arius table with whatever is in the
source data, even if the source data contains blank cells. Also, the API does not support setting data in
individual cells; the entire table must be set at one time.

In certain situations, it may be more appropriate to ignore blank or empty cells in Excel when using the
Data property to set data in an Arius file.

 For example, suppose you have a new diagonal of data in Excel as shown in Figure 4 below, and
you want to set it into the Paid Loss triangle in Arius as the latest diagonal (see Figure 5).
 The default action of SetData would erase any data not in the latest diagonal in the Arius Paid Loss
table.

FIGURE 4

API User Guide 46

Milliman

FIGURE 5

Arius does, however, provide a way to add the new (Excel) diagonal to the existing (Arius) triangle. The
IgnoreBlanks pseudo PartRef of the Data property makes the API ignore the blank cells in the Excel
source array and only set the cells containing data.

You can use IgnoreBlanks in one of the three ways below, depending on whether the data should be
interpreted as cumulative or incremental.

AriusProject.Data(Filename, “GL”, “Input”, “Paid Loss”, “Cumulative,IgnoreBlanks”) = Range(“B2”, “H8”).Value

AriusProject.Data(Filename, “GL”, “Input”, “Paid Loss”, “Incremental,IgnoreBlanks”) = Range(“B2”, “H8”).Value

AriusProject.Data(Filename, “GL”, “Input”, “Paid Loss”, “IgnoreBlanks”) = Range(“B2”, “H8”).Value

When IgnoreBlanks is used by itself, the data is assumed to be incremental. Since the example is
setting cumulative data, we would use the first statement above. The resulting Paid Loss input triangle
would look like the one in Figure 6.

FIGURE 6

It is still important to call WriteFile after changing data to ensure that the Arius file is correctly
updated. The Arius file you are updating must not be open in Arius at the time, or the call to WriteFile
may fail.

API User Guide 47

Milliman

DeleteSegment
Syntax:
Sub DeleteSegment(filename As String, SegmentName As String)

Description:
Deletes the specified segment in the specified file.

Return:
Deletes segment

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub DeleteSegment(Filename As String, SegmentName As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.DeleteSegment(Filename, segmentName)
Exit Sub

errHandler:
MsgBox "There was an error deleting the specified segment from the file" & Filename
Resume Next
End Sub

API User Guide 48

Milliman

DevelopmentPeriodLength
Syntax:
Property DevelopmentPeriodLength(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Gets the development period length from the specified file.

Return:
Long

1 = Months
3 = Quarters
6 = Half-years
12 = Years

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetDevelopmentPeriodLength(filename As String) As Long

On Error Resume Next

GetDevelopmentPeriodLength = AriusProject.DevelopmentPeriodLength(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
=
GetDevelopmentPeriodLength(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Sample.APJ”)

returns the development period length for filename.

API User Guide 49

Milliman

ErrorCode
Syntax:
Property ErrorCode(type As ErrorType) As Long

Description:
Read only. Returns the exact error code for a particular error type. This is useful when you want to
check for a particular kind of error.

Return:
Long

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub SetCompanyDescription(Filename As String, Description As String)

On Error Resume Next

AriusProject.Description(Filename) = Description
If Err.Number = AriusProject.ErrorCode(E_FILE_NOT_RECOGNIZED) Then

Handle when file not recognized for the particular API call

End If

End Sub

API User Guide 50

Milliman

ErrorMessage
Syntax:
Property ErrorMessage(ErrNum As Long) As String

Description:
Read only. Returns a formatted error message based on the error code supplied as a parameter.

Return:
String

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

On Error Resume Next
' Make a call to the API
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

API User Guide 51

Milliman

ExposureDate
Syntax:
Property ExposureDate(filename As String) As Date

Description:
Read only. Retrieves the date of the first exposure period from the Arius file. This date is found in
PROJECT SETTINGS | DATA STRUCTURE | DATE PARAMETERS.

Return:
Date

Applies to:
*.apjJ files

VBA example:

Function GetExposureDate(Filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetExposureDate = AriusProject.ExposureDate(Filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Entering the following as a single cell Excel array formula:

= GetExposureDate(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ”)

returns a date.

API User Guide 52

Milliman

ExposurePeriodLength
Syntax:
Property ExposurePeriodLength(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Retrieves the length of the exposure periods in an Arius file.

Return:
Long

1 = Months
3 = Quarters
6 = Half-years
12 = Years

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetExposurePeriodLength(filename As String) As Long

On Error Resume Next

GetExposurePeriodLength = AriusProject.ExposurePeriodLength(filename)

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Entering the following formula into a cell:

=GetExposurePeriodLength(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ”)

returns the ‘length of the exposure period’ in filename.

API User Guide 53

Milliman

FirstDevelopmentMonth
Syntax:
Property FirstDevelopmentMonth(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Returns the month number of the first development period.

Return:
Long

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetFirstDevelopmentMonth(Filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetFirstDevelopmentMonth = AriusProject.FirstDevelopmentMonth(Filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Entering the following formula into a cell:

= GetFirstDevelopmentMonth(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
SomeFile.APJ”)

returns the first development month for the Arius file.

API User Guide 54

Milliman

FirstExposureYear
Syntax:
Property FirstExposureYear(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Returns the year of the first exposure period.

Return:
Long

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetFirstExposureYear(filename As String) As Integer

On Error Resume Next

GetFirstExposureYear = AriusProject.FirstExposureYear(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Entering the following formula into a cell:

=GetFirstExposureYear(“C:\Users\Your_Username\Documents\Milliman\Arius\DemoFiles\
Arius_Sample.APJ”)

returns the ‘year of the first exposure period’ in filename.

API User Guide 55

Milliman

FlushFile
Syntax:
Sub FlushFile(filename As String)

Description:
This method purges the specified file from memory only and does not delete or modify the file on the
disk.

Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
Any file type in memory.

VBA example:

Sub FlushFile(Filename As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.FlushFile Filename
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error removing the cached file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 56

Milliman

HasPrior
Syntax:
Property HasPrior(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Determines whether first exposure period includes All Prior row. Returns zero if no prior
row, otherwise a nonzero value indicates there is a prior row.

Return:
Long (0 = false, 1 = true)

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetHasPrior(filename As String)

If AriusProject.HasPrior(filename) Then

GetHasPrior = TRUE

Else

GetHasPrior = FALSE

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then:

=GetHasPrior(filename)

returns TRUE or FALSE based upon the presence of a prior row in filename, and the wrapper function
as defined in example above.

API User Guide 57

Milliman

NumColumns
Syntax:
Property NumColumns(filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef,
[PartRef]) As Integer

Description:
Read only. Returns the number of columns for any table in a particular file. Will also return the number
of columns for the subpart specified for a particular table (e.g., Statistics).

Return:
Integer

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetNumColumns(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef As

Variant, Optional PartRef As Variant) As Integer

On Error Resume Next

GetNumColumns = AriusProject.NumColumns(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableRef, PartRef)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula. Enter the following as a single cell Excel array formula:

 This formula returns an integer with the number of columns in the Paid Loss input table for the
SegmentName in filename.
= GetNumColumns(filename, “GL”, “input”, “Paid Loss”)

 This formula returns an integer with the number of columns in the statistics block within the Paid
Loss Development exhibit for the SegmentName in filename.
=GetNumColumns(filename, " SegmentName ", "exhibit", "Paid Loss Development", "statistics")

API User Guide 58

Milliman

NumDevelopments
Syntax:
Property NumDevelopments(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Returns the number of development periods (columns) specified for a particular Arius file.

Return:
Long

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetNumDevelopments(filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetNumDevelopments = AriusProject.NumDevelopments(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then:

= GetNumDevelopments(filename)

returns the number of development periods in filename.

API User Guide 59

Milliman

NumExposures
Syntax:
Property NumExposures(filename As String) As Long

Description:
Read only. Returns the number of exposure periods (rows) specified in an Arius file.

Return:
Long

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetNumExposures(filename As String) As Integer

On Error Resume Next

GetNumExposures = AriusProject.NumExposures(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then:

=GetNumExposures(filename)

returns the ‘number of exposure periods’ in filename.

API User Guide 60

Milliman

NumRows
Syntax:
Property NumRows(filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef,
[PartRef]) As Integer

Description:
Read only. Returns the number of rows for the specified table in an Arius file. When PartName is
supplied, will return the number of rows for that subpart of the specified table (e.g., Statistics).

Return:
Integer

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetNumRows(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableName As

String)

On Error Resume Next

GetNumRows = AriusProject.NumRows(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableName)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula to an Arius file, then entering the following as a single cell Excel array formula:

= GetNumRows(filename, “GL”, “input”, “Paid Loss”)

returns an integer with the number of rows in the Paid Loss input table for the SegmentName in
filename.

API User Guide 61

Milliman

OpenFile
Syntax:
Sub OpenFile(filename As String)

Description:
Opens the specified file and reads contents into memory. Be sure to call CloseFile when done.

Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub OpenFile(Filename As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.OpenFile Filename
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error opening the file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 62

Milliman

PeriodType
Syntax:
Property PeriodType(filename As String) As String

Description:
Read only. Returns the text stored in the Arius file for PROJECT SETTINGS | DATA STRUCTURE | EXPOSURE PERIOD
TYPE.

Return:
String

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetPeriodType(filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetPeriodType = AriusProject.PeriodType(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula to an Arius file, then:

= GetPeriodType(filename)

returns the text for Period Type for filename.

API User Guide 63

Milliman

RecalcSegments
Syntax:
Sub RecalcSegments(filename as a string)

Description:
This method will refresh calculations in segments where the project identified by filename is using
calculated segments. This is intended to be used where data is updated through the API in data tables
which are the basis of calculated objects in calculated segments. This refreshes calculated segment
objects in the Arius project which is temporarily loaded into memory for use by the API only. It is still
important to call WriteFile after recalculating segments to ensure that the Arius file on disk is correctly
updated.

VBA example:

Sub RecalcSegments(Filename As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.RecalcSegments Filename
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error recalculating segments for " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 64

Milliman

RowLabels
Syntax:
Property RowLabels(filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableRef,
[PartName]) As Variant

Description:
Read only. Returns a string array with the row labels for a particular table in an Arius file. When
PartName is supplied, it will return the row labels for that subpart of the table (e.g., Exhibit Statistics).

Return:
Variant containing an array of strings

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetRowLabels(Filename As String, SegmentName As String, TableType As String, TableName As
String)

On Error Resume Next

GetRowLabels = AriusProject.RowLabels(Filename, SegmentName, TableType, TableName)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as an Excel array formula:

= GetRowLabels(filename, “GL”, “input”, “Paid Loss”)

returns a string array with the row labels for the Paid Loss triangle.

Alternatively, you can modify this function to include the PartName parameter to return the names of
the different parts of an exhibit. For example:

= GetRowLabels(filename, “GL”, “exhibit”, “Paid Loss Development”, “statistics”)

would effectively return the names of the statistics in the Paid Loss Development exhibit.

API User Guide 65

Milliman

RunService
Syntax:
Sub RunService(filename As String, [SegmentName As String], ServiceName As String)

*SegmentName is optional

Description:
This method runs the specified service for the specified segment name found in the specified filename.
If the SegmentName string is empty, the specified ServiceName is run for all segments within the file.

The available services include:

Diagnostics
Simulation
SuggestedHetero
Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub RunService(filename As String, [SegmentName As String], ServiceName As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.RunService Filename, SegmentName, Diagnostics

Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error running the specified service for the cached file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 66

Milliman

SaveFileAs
Syntax:
Sub SaveFileAs(SourceFileName As String, DestinationFileName As String)

Description:
Makes a copy of the source file. The source file does not need to be previously opened or loaded into
memory. Calling SaveFile will rename the file in memory so only one file will exist (as opposed to two).
You will need to call FlushFile on the renamed file to remove it from memory.

Warning:
This routine will use the .apj file format to write any data to disk and thus will generate an error
message if the destination file does not have an .apj extension.

Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub SaveFileAs(SourceFileName As String DestinationFileName As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.SaveFileAs SourceFileName, DestinationFileName

Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error saving the file " & Filename1 & " with the name " & Filename2
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 67

Milliman

ScalingFactor
Syntax:
Property ScalingFactor(filename As String) As Double

Description:
Read only. Returns the scaling factor assigned inside an Arius file.

Return:
Double

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetScalingFactor(filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetScalingFactor = AriusProject.ScalingFactor(filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as a single cell Excel formula:

= GetScalingFactor(filename)

returns the scaling factor used in filename.

API User Guide 68

Milliman

Segments
Syntax:
Sub Segments(Filename As String)

Description:
Read-only. Returns the text representing all the segments for the given Filename.

Return:
Variant containing an Array of Strings

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetSegments(Filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetSegments = AriusProject.Segments(Filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

API User Guide 69

Milliman

TableIndexes
Syntax:
Property TableIndexes(filename As String, TableType As String) As Variant

Description:
Read only. Returns an array of integers containing all the indexes for a particular table type in the file
specified. Any of the values returned can then be used for the TableRef parameter in other API calls
such as RowLabels where TableRef is required. The list returned is sorted low to high.

Return:
Variant containing an array of integers

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetTableIndexes(filename As String, TableType As String) As Variant

On Error Resume Next

GetTableIndexes = AriusProject.TableIndexes(filename, TableType)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If
End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as an Excel array formula:

= GetTableIndexes(filename,”Input” )

returns an array of integers containing all of the table IDs for all the Input tables.

API User Guide 70

Milliman

TableInfo
Syntax:
Property TableInfo(filename As String, TableType As String) As Variant

Description:
Returns a two-dimensional array containing information on the table names and indexes in the
particular file. The first column of the array contains the table indexes. The second column contains the
corresponding table’s long name. And the third column contains the abbreviated or short name if one
is available. The TableType can be Input, Exhibit, Method, or Report.

Return:
Variant containing a two-dimensional array of strings and numbers
Applies to:

*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetTableInfo(filename As String, TableType As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetTableInfo = AriusProject.TableInfo(filename, TableType)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as an Excel array formula:

= GetTableInfo(filename,”Input”)

returns a two dimensional array containing IDs and names of all the input tables.

API User Guide 71

Milliman

TableNames
Syntax:
Property TableNames(filename As String, TableType As String) As Variant

Description:
Read only. Returns an array of strings representing all the names of all tables for a particular table
type. The arrays are returned in alphabetical order.

Return:
Variant containing an Array of Strings

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Function GetTableNames(filename As String, TableType As String) As Variant

On Error Resume Next

GetTableNames = AriusProject.TableNames(filename, TableType)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as an Excel array formula:

=GetTableNames(filename,”Input” )

returns an array of strings containing all the table names for all the Input tables.

API User Guide 72

Milliman

TableParts
Syntax:
Sub TableParts(Filename As String, TableType As String, TableName As String)

Description:
Read-only. Returns the text representing the various parts table parts of the specified table type of the
specified table name of the specified Filename.

Return:
Variant containing an array of strings

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetTableParts(Filename As String, TableType As String, TableName As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetTableParts = AriusProject.TableParts(Filename, TableType, TableName)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

API User Guide 73

Milliman

TableTypes
Syntax:
Property TableTypes(filename As String) As Variant

Description:
Read only. Returns an array of strings representing each of the table types for a particular file.

Return:
Variant containing an array of strings. The table types listed here represent those used within the Arius
Deterministic module. All other table types returned by this function are limited in use to the Arius
Stochastic module (for example “Correlation,” “ODP,” “Aggr,” etc.)

“Input”
“Exhibit”
“Method”
“Report”
“Scalar”
Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Dim AriusProject as New AriusSystem

Function GetTableTypes(Filename As String)

On Error Resume Next

GetTableTypes = AriusProject.TableTypes(Filename)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then

MsgBox AriusProject.ErrorMessage(Err.Number), vbCritical, "Error"

End If

End Function

Usage:
Suppose filename is a cell’s range name, and the cell contains a fully qualified path name string or
formula, then entering the following as an Excel array formula:

= GetTableTypes(filename)

returns an array of strings containing all the hard coded table types.

API User Guide 74

Milliman

WriteFile
Syntax:
Sub WriteFile(filename As String)

Description:
Writes the contents of the file in memory to the disk. Overwrites what was there previously. WriteFile
will automatically call OpenFile and CloseFile if necessary (assuming the file is already loaded in
memory).

Warning:
This routine will use the .apj file format to write any data to disk and thus will generate an error
message if the destination file does not have an .apj extension.

Return:
Nothing is returned.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub WriteFile(Filename As String)

On Error GoTo errHandler

AriusProject.WriteFile Filename
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error writing the file " & Filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 75

Milliman

ValDate
Syntax:
Property ValDate(filename As String) as String

Description:
Read Only. Retrieves the As of Date for specified Arius filename.

Return:
The API will return a string whose contents are the evaluation date of the Arius file, formatted
according to your local settings.

Applies to:
*.apj files

VBA example:

Sub GetAsOfDate(filename As String) as String

On Error GoTo errHandler

GetAsOfDate = AriusProject.ValDate(filename)
Exit Sub

errHandler:

MsgBox "There was an error retrieving the As Of Date from the file " & filename
Resume Next

End Sub

API User Guide 76