North America should be built into the symbol database already. You don't need a sym file for it. In the DownLoader from the Tools menu, select Update Symbol Database. Depending on your vendor, it may be split into US and Canada or it may be North American.

I realize the symbols are different. That is why I said depending on your vendor. Reuters DataLink, QCharts, eSignal, and QuoteCenter all have North American stocks built in. All but QuoteCenter call it US and Canada. QuoteCenter calls it North American.

Oh, I think I see your problem now. You have QuoteCenter and Reuters DataLink as your vendor? Equis support may have a work around for you, but you will have to contact them to find out. This is the best solution I can think of for you, but support may have something better. I believe MetaStock and the DownLoader look at the same symbol database location (which is specified in the DownLoader under Tools | Options | File Locations ). So, you could install MetaStock for QuoteCenter and DownLoader for Reuters DataLink (which you can request from support). Then you could download EOD data in the DownLoader and real time data in MetaStock. The problem is that (if I remember correctly) they look at the same location. Solution to that is: MetaStock looks at the symbol database file every time it opens, not any time again while it is running. The DownLoader looks at the symbol database file every time you change the Type or Group drop downs in the Symbol Lookup dialog. So, you could open MetaStock with the QuoteCenter database location specified. Then, in the DownLoader, specify the Reuters DataLink symbol database location (just pick a location, Update Symbol Database to get the DataLink symbols).

There isn't a patch. I have a better solution than my previous post though. This gets rid of having to change the symbol database location every time you want to look at the other vendor. Have 9.1 MetaStock and Downloader installed for QuoteCenter. Contact Equis support and they will get you Downloader 8 for Reuters DataLink. The different versions can have different folders so 9.1 will be QuoteCenter and the 8 will be Reuters DataLink.

hey jason..... i am obviously are missing something here..... qc and reuters and even esignal all should work hand in hand.... the same data base should work with all 3 ..... there should be no switching between....... esignal does send volume differently but the data base is the same..... you should be able to download from qc today and esignal tommorrow using the same data folders.... just remember the volume discrepancy...... the only difference is in the qc real time including the 'us;' , but that should not interfere with nitely reuters downloads..... there is one minor difference in data suppliers, with no work around, the broad market data and indices.... the only solution is to have seperate folders for each data supplier..... that no big deal, its only a couple small folders....... i am curious of how did you establish the data [color=blue:001f349c95]'folders'[/color] your using now...... was it with a historical cd.... was it qc version 9.1 historical cd or perhaps version 9..... if 9, do you by chance still have that historical cd, the one that came with version 9..... do the securities in your local data folders, the ones you use offline, contain the us; prefix.... building data [color=blue:001f349c95]'folders'[/color] is easy the second time..... i ever few months completely rebuild from scratch and never use the supplied cd, as it contains too much that has no interest to me.... my folders are streamlined and purpose built type..... here are the sym files and instructions, have quite a few more if you need them.......h edited for clarity, changed data [color=red:001f349c95]'base' [/color]to data [color=blue:001f349c95]'folders'[/color], meaning local data folders....

You are somewhat mistaken. Update Symbol Database updates the symbol database. It updates the list of symbols you see in MetaStock under the vendor button or in the DownLoader in Symbol Lookup. It isn't only for realtime symbols. It is also for Reuters Datalink which is EOD. No, it doesn't have any effect on folders or symbols you create on your hard drive.

The problem is QC puts the country code in front of the symbol. If your default country code is us;, then us; isn't needed in the symbol, but the Symbol Database will always include the country code. So, if you create the symbols without the country code and that is your default country code, then you don't need it to download data. Which can make RD US stock symbols work for QC, but not the other way around unless you are removing the us; off each symbol. However, if you have the country code specified in the symbol, then Reuters DataLink won't recognize it. With a QC version of the Downloader, you're going to get QC symbols (with country code) and they won't be able to download with RD. The work around is to have a 9.1 version of QC MetaStock and the Downloader and an 8.0 version of RD the Downloader. Then you can have two symbol databases and can create the correct symbols that you need.

hey g.... always had esignal also..... the reason for now 2 would best be sent pm style..... its comin at ya......h

If you're different vendors aren't the same version, that is why you didn't have problems. It is the same solution I am pointing out to use. You can install and use different versions seperatly