I want to use a certain formula that scans and filters certains securities wheter being true or not. The problem i encounter is that my formula is too long in length. The formula is entered in the filtersection of the explorer. Does anyone have a clue to work around this? Should i split the formula in seperate functions for instance? If so, can someone help me get started how this works?

Bigboom There are a number of ways you can economise on space to get your formula to fit. Splitting the formula and using Fml() calls is one way but not necessarily the best way. I'd suggest that you first shorten variable names. This can make a huge saving. There are, I think, 14 letters in the alphabet that can serve as names, A, B, D, F, G, I etc. Another ploy is to use * as a substitute for AND, and you can also use + as a substitute for OR. Savings with these two methods are usually eroded somewhat by the extra brackets needed to keep the formula logically correct. Eliminate spurious spaces and brackets wherever you can, same for comments if the formula is only for your own use. There are various other tricks that that can also make small space savings or allow you to pack more functionality into the allotted space. Roy MetaStock Tips & Tools

Well thanks already guys! I am happily suprised to get feedback this fast :-) I will check out the Fml() function some more as i already came across this in the manual. And further i will check out the substitutes for AND and OR. Thanks Roy for this advice! Anyway, i am really a newbie to metastock. I have a background as a programmer, therefore my interest in this amazing program! What i try to do is convert my existing code that i've used before in telechart (maybe somewhat familiar to some of you guys) In Telechart i was able to scan securities with an algorithm using so called Personal Criteria Formula's. As far as i've discovered this is the same as you can do with the Explorer. What I thusfar found (with shortened versions of the code) was that it took much more time with Metastock to calculate this formula. The formula I use is to plot different kinds of morning/eveningstars. The code is right now only adjusted to the different syntax. For instance the Close of two days ago i usually wrote C2 and now Ref(C,-2). Because of the limited length you can use in a formula i was thinking of creating a different formula for the seperate stars. The formula below is for all kinds of morningstars (doji, kicker etc.) [code:1:9ad7398d88] (O >= Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-1) = Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) = Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) > Ref(C,-2) AND O < C AND O < Ref(O,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) < Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND O >= Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) < Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND O <= Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) <= Ref(O,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) =< Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND O < Ref(O,-1) AND O < Ref(C,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) = Ref(O,-2) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(O,-2) => Ref(O,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND C > Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= O AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) [/code:1:9ad7398d88]

I am aware of it. The reason i posted is to get as much alternatives as possible to work around this. I am not quite familiar with the syntax of metastock. But indeed, breaking down the formula in more effecitve pieces with the use of variables is certainly a good idea. But my question was not to break it down for me as you stated in your reply. Thanks, i will dig into it.

hey bigboom..... codes are not my forte, yet, but i believe your correct in saying , ' creating a different formula for the seperate stars ' .... it's easier to correct errors when its bite size pieces... noticed you have [color=red:88fa9f2599] =<[/color] several times, should that be reversed to <= .... noticed roy has it the same way, so perhaps its okay.... the explorer has 6 columns, so placing 3 or 4 per, could return the results easy enough and in a manageable form... are you after candlestick formations..... if so, meta already has about 50 common forms preprogramed in an easy to relate manner.... look in the functions section.... most often they are written by name, such as, TweezerTops() or MorningStar() or ShootingStar() or GravestoneDoji() or LongLeggedDoji() .... and it appears you've coded the nightmaredoji() for us..... h

[code:1:593966bf78] (O >= Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-1) = Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) = Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) > Ref(C,-2) AND O < C AND O < Ref(O,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) < Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND O >= Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) < Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND O <= Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) <= Ref(O,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) =< Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND O < Ref(O,-1) AND O < Ref(C,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) = Ref(O,-2) AND C > O AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > Ref(C,-1) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(O,-2) > Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(O,-2) => Ref(O,-1) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) OR (Ref(C,-2) < Ref(O,-2) AND Ref(O,-1) > Ref(C,-1) AND C > O AND C > Ref(O,-1) AND Ref(C,-1) <= O AND Ref(C,-1) <= Ref(C,-2) AND C > Ref(C,-2) AND Ref(C,-2) < Ref(C,-3) AND V > Ref(V,-1) AND Stoch(12,3) <= 30 AND C > 10 AND C >= (((Ref(O,-2) - Ref(C,-2)) * 0.40) + Ref(C,-2)) AND ((Mov(C,30,S) =< C) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) => 0.058) OR (((Mov(C,30,S) - C) / C) =< 0.01)) AND ((C – O) / O) => 0.009) [/code:1:593966bf78] I suspect that the above code is someone's attempt at a practical joke, but for the sake of educational purposes, let's see what we can do to: 1) Make it readable; 2) Understand the logic; 3) Speed up processing.

[code:1:541b6d44a3] { Declare variables } Op1:=Ref(O,-1); Op2:=Ref(O,-2); Cl1:=Ref(C,-1); Cl2:=Ref(C,-2); Cl3:=Ref(C,-3); SMA:=Mov(C,30,S); { Common (universal) condition } cond:=C>10 AND C>O AND C>=((Op2-Cl2)*.4+Cl2) AND (C-O)/O>=.009 AND Cl2<Cl3 AND V>Ref(V,-1) AND (SMA<=C OR (SMA-C)/C>=.058 OR (SMA-C)/C<=.01) AND Stoch(12,3)<=30; { Condition 1 } cond1:=O>=Cl1 AND Op1=Cl1 AND Op2>Cl2 AND C>Cl2 AND Cl1<=Cl2; { Condition 2 } cond2:=O<Op1 AND Op1=Cl1 AND Op2>Cl2 AND Sum(C>Cl1,2)=2; { Condition 3 } cond3:=O>=Cl1 AND Op1<Cl1 AND Op2>Cl2 AND C>Cl2 AND Cl1<=Cl2; { Condition 4 } cond4:=O<=Op1 AND Op1<Cl1 AND Op1>=Cl2 AND Op2>Cl2 AND Sum(C>Cl1,2)=2; { Condition 5 } cond5:=Op1<Op2 AND Op1<=Cl1 AND Op2>Cl1 AND Op2>Cl2 AND C=HHV(C,3); { Condition 6 } cond6:=Sum(O<Op1,2)=2 AND O<Cl1 AND Op2>Cl1 AND Op2>Cl2 AND C=HHV(C,3); { Condition 7 } cond7:=Op1<=Op2 AND Op2>Cl1 AND Op2=Cl2 AND C=HHV(C,3); { Condition 8 } cond8:=O>=Cl1 AND Sum(Op1>Cl1,2)=2 AND C>Op1 AND C>Cl2 AND Cl1<=Cl2; { Plot signals in own window } cond*(cond1 OR cond2 OR cond3 OR cond4 OR cond5 OR cond6 OR cond7 OR cond8) [/code:1:541b6d44a3] jose '-)

bigboom, I have taken a part your code and can save you about two thirds.... just be using better LOGIC. I have to go to golf now, but I will post my code for you, and the explanation of how to make your system better, tonight when I get home, or maybe tomorrow if I have to much to drink tonight! wabbit :D

My advice to anyone wishing to avoid any potential MS problems is simple: Use logical operators (AND/OR) exclusively for logical conditions, and keep mathematical operators (+-*/) for mathematical calculations. jose '-)