I have Pro 8.0 that I just started using very recently. I am working with a little over 7000 symbols. The help section stated that I have to set up folders for these in order to Download the prices (I am using it as EOD only for now) but that each folder can have a max of 2000 symbols. So, I set up 4 different folders...1 for A-C, another D-K, etc. This does not create a problem when updating as I just include all 4 folders but it is a bit of a pain in Metastock when I am pulling up charts. If I just type in a symbol when I have another chart up, it has to be in the same folder for the new one to come up. Otherwise, I have to go to File/Open, change the folder to look in and then type in the symbol. Is this the way it's supposed to be or have I set it up wrong. Thanks for any help on this. Steve

Thanks for the help Patrick. I'll try the favorites folder and see what happens. It's such a good program otherwise...I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing it wrong. Thanks again. Steve

Hayseed, Thanks for the suggestion. I'll give it a try as it sounds like a good idea. I've come to the realization that I should probably add a folder for the stocks I check most often (ones I own and the ones I'm watching closely) and use it. All the others can stay in the alphabetical folders. Thanks again! Steve

The problem I was referring to, occurs when you have more than 2000 securities in your favorites list, it sometimes becomes corrupted and you loose all your favorites ... That is why I said that should make a backup of the file. Now is this going to happen to you? Not necessarily but it does happen ... and when and if it does you will be ready with your backup :D

Patrick, I am backing up all my Metastock data today to be safe. I seem to have everything but the msfavorites.dta folder you mention above. It is not in the Program Files\\Equis folder at all (in the main folder or any of the sub folders). I then searched my entire hard drive for it through WinXP and it did not find it yet all the stocks I added to favorites yesterday are still there in Metastock. Am I supposed to do something from within Metastock to get it in the Equis folder? I should mention that there is no favorites folder in C:\\Metastock Data either...just the 4 folders that I originally created along with Dataondemand cache. Is this right? Steve

I found it. For some reason, it's named simply favorites.dta on my system for whatever reason. I was searching for msfavorites and jumped right down to the m's. In any case, I think I'm all set now. Thanks yet again!! Steve

I am interested in Patrick's last question...sounds like you have a solution to the exploration problem of having to crawl through all the folders to select securities. And the 2000 limit explains equis folder structure. Have you had problems with the single folder with all securities in it for the sole purpose of explorations?

It's worked fine for me so far without any problems and I use it every day. I back it up every time I make any changes but I have not yet needed to restore the backup! I weeded out a lot of the low volume stocks from the original list but I still have well over 2000 stocks in that folder. Steve B