1 Chicago MetaStock User Group 10-5-04

The Downloader®

Downloader® and MetaStock® Are Trademarks of Equis®

International

Metastockusergroup@hotmail.com

Chicago MetaStock User Group 10-5-04

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DisclaimerThis group is intended only for educational purposes. Nothing in this group, or, at any of the websites which may be posted within this group, should be construed as an investment or trading advice. No representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any information provided is implied. It is up to each person to do proper due diligence before making any investment or trading decisions.

The risk of loss in trading stocks or commodities can be substantial.   You should therefore carefully consider whether such trading is suitable in light of your financial condition.  Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Chicago MetaStock User Group 10-5-04

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Downloader Functions

1. Create MetaStock Security Files (Collect Data)

2. Edit Security Files (Fix Data)

3. Convert files from one format to another

4. Update security files (Collect Recent Data)

5. Test the integrity of security files (Look for Errors)

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Data Format Specifics1. Format is limited to 6 digits of precision

2. Data for up to 6000 securities stored in each folder

3. 32,500 records can be displayed

4. 62,500 records maximum in data file record can be saved for each security

5. Will not recognize bar intervals greater than 60

6. End of Day Data only (No intra-day data collection)

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Downloader Files

1. Master

2. Emaster

3. XMaster

4. Fn.dat (F1.dat)

5. Fn.dop (F1.dop)

6. Fn.mwd (F1.mwd)

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MetaStock Files/Formats

1. Master Index Files up to 255 Files (Symbols)

2. Emaster Index Files with up to 255 Files (Symbols)

3. XMaster for folders with up to 6,000 Files (Symbols)

4. Fn.dat (Fxxx.dat) - Data Stored Here– (Where xxx = 1…..255)

5. Fn.dop (F1.dop) – Variable Length records (No longer used)

6. Fn.mwd (Fxxxx.mwd) – Data Stored Here - (Where xxxx = 256…..6000)

7. Cx.mws – In the MSSmart Folder

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The MASTER file lists the names, trading symbols and miscellaneous information about securities data files of the directory in which it is located.

EMASTER is a similar file (Extended Master file) maintained by MetaStock as an extension to the original Computrac format. The original format had a limit of 255 security files per directory.

Master and Emaster

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1. Total Record Number Highest Record Used

2. Copyright Info

3. Chat values usage

4. File Number

5. Number of Fields, Auto Flag

6. Record Size

7. Symbol, File Name

8. Time Frame (I, D, W, M) Time Interval

9. First Date on Record, Last Date on Record, Present date …

Master file contains the following information

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Date

Time

Open

High

Low

Close

Volume

Open Interest

Fx.dat and Fx.mwd files contain

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TICKER,PER,DTYYYYMMDD,TIME,OPEN,HIGH,LOW,CLOSE,VOL,OPENINT

MSFT,D,19900102,000000,0.6045,0.6152,0.5967,0.6152,530352,0

….

MSFT,D,20040922,000000,27.2300,27.7400,27.0700,27.1200,684116,0

Data Format

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File Command

1. New Security/New Composite (Browse, Look-Up, Name, Symbol, First Date, Periodicity {Intra-day, Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Units, Optional Fields}

2. Open

3. Print

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View Command

1. Toolbar

2. Status Bar

3. Last Collection Report

4. Last Conversion Report

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Tools Command

1. Down Load Prices

2. Express Download

3. Adjust (First Date, Date for Multiple Securities, Start and End Times)

4. Convert (Source File to Destination File)

5. Convert Options (Date Range, Message Limits, Append/Replace)

6. Copy

Continued on next page

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Tools Command (Cont’d)

8. Delete (Security/Data)

9. Merge

10. Sort (Security/Data)

11. Test Data

12. Update Symbol Data Base

13. Application Options

14. Vendor Options

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1. Close All Open Files In MetaStock2. Open the DownLoader3. Select Tools, Sort, Data4. Click The Options Button5. Check Remove Duplicate Dates6. Find the appropriate security7. Click to highlight8. Click the sort button

Sorting Data Files

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Help

1. The DownLoader Help

2. What’s This

3. About The DownLoader

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Test the Securities for Errors

1. A. Open DownLoader.    B. Tools | Test.    C. Click Browse.    D. Change to one of your folders. ex. C:\Equis\Data\A.    E. Click The Test Button.    F. You should see a message "No securities selected Test All Securities".    H. Click Yes.    I. To view a description of the error Click Help and Test Error Messages.

From the Test Report window.    J. Run the test on the next folder and so on until you have tested all of the folders.

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Downloader Hints

1. How To Use The Short Cut Keys (Alt + Key)

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Automatic Data Update

1. Go to Accessories, System Tools, Scheduled Tasks

2. Double Click “Add Scheduled Task”

3. Select “Express Download”

4. Perform this task “Daily”

5. Start time 6:05 PM