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erics  
#1 Posted : Monday, November 25, 2013 7:34:53 AM(UTC)
erics

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Using my old downloader, I was able to obtain the quotes for my local data files for vers 13& then convert them to the csv/txt files in order to view the local charts. This is thus a 2 step process.
I was under the assumption when upgrading, that we would be having the option again of being able to download & use the data like the older versions if we wished. I am wondering why with the new version, why a new downloader wasn't supplied that could directly download/save your data that could be read directly.It's especially nice to be able to have 2 differently files with the same security in it, & have 2 different layouts, 2 different notations on the charts - which having local data on your computer allows you to do. It currently is a somewhat more cumbersome process to do this, compared to the older versions. Am I missing something, or is this the only way to populate/use your local data files?
Thanks.
John S  
#2 Posted : Monday, November 25, 2013 11:53:48 AM(UTC)
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The emphasis for MetaStock 13.0 and all versions of MetaStock going forward will continue to be with On-demand data (aka cloud data or online data). With our old DownLoader product, it will be a 2-step process indeed--download then convert. Any current Reuters DataLink or XENITH subscriber can have a free copy of The DownLoader. Subscribers that are grabbing data from 3rd party sources can use The DownLoader's "Convert" feature to convert to the CSV format that 13.0 will read. There are also download programs that I've seen which pull data from sources like Google and Yahoo and write irectly to the CSV format. This would be a 1-Step process.
erics  
#3 Posted : Monday, November 25, 2013 12:31:54 PM(UTC)
erics

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Thanks for the reply. To clarify, if I currently use datalink, then is there a new downloader that doesn't require the conversion process?
John S  
#4 Posted : Tuesday, November 26, 2013 4:58:44 PM(UTC)
John S

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No. There is not a new DownLoader. To use local data from Reuters DataLink will require two steps using the old DownLoader (1. Download; 2. Convert to CSV).
KenKsp  
#5 Posted : Thursday, November 28, 2013 9:13:06 PM(UTC)
KenKsp

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I'm reading this thread and have a question. If I get the end of day Datalink subscription, is the data also cached to the local machine? I travel quite a bit and study charts while in flight. What would this mean for me? Also, I usually manually enter a few quotes in about 5 minutes before the close of the day and run the system tester. This tells me to go long or short and then I place the trade right at the close of the day. Will I still be able to add the next days close manually using the prior Datalink nightly collection? Thank you
Justin  
#6 Posted : Friday, November 29, 2013 10:23:20 PM(UTC)
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Online data in v12 and v13 is stored in RAM, not on the hard drive. When you close the chart, the data is flushed from memory. Any form of local data will need to be put in a CSV file for 13 to be able to read it. The "Manage Custom Lists" button allows you to reference properly formatted CSV files (.TXT files will work if they are in the comma separated format).

As John mentioned, what this means for a Reuters DataLink user is you would have to collect the data using The DownLoader 10.1 (or 11 if you owned MetaStock 11), and after downloading the data, you would then have to use the Tools-->Convert feature in The DownLoader. There is a video that explains the process:


In regards to your last question, you can edit the CSV file and put in your own values as long as they maintain the proper format for the data.
TomHam  
#7 Posted : Wednesday, December 4, 2013 2:47:14 PM(UTC)
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Maybe its just me, but isn't it just a little strange that MetaStock 13 doesn't read MetaStock format local data? I guess the business model (as John pointed out) is toward a data subscription model. But I see an big opportunity for an enterprising programmer to sell an easy to use, one step data conversion program, going from MetaStock local data into CSV local. It should be an easy program to write. "Just Say-in" :)
John S  
#8 Posted : Wednesday, December 4, 2013 4:13:40 PM(UTC)
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Well...I would be shocked if such a product was not developed actually at some point. A program that has been around a long time, YLoader, will download data from various sources (Google, Yahoo) and writes to a CSV format that MS 13 will read natively.
TomHam  
#9 Posted : Wednesday, December 4, 2013 5:33:45 PM(UTC)
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I'm sure there are some work arounds, but the unanswered question is "Why should there be?". I, like many other long time users, already subscribe to 3 other "MetaStock formatted" databases and I really don't need any more. (why so many? they all are different in there unique applications . . FasTrack, HGSI, TeleChart etc.) Sorry, but IMHO you're going to drive a number of users away. Besides, there are a few general charting programs that directly read MS format, and have more features (AmiBroker for one). Guess it's time to learn another program. Take Care & Good Trading.
Jacques_ms  
#10 Posted : Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:37:27 AM(UTC)
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I am a little bit confused! I just bought MetaStock XIII and I am not familiar with Downloader. Do I need another software to be able to create a .csv/.txt file with stock information and place it in Metastock Local Data?

If yes, were do I get that downloader software?
John S  
#11 Posted : Tuesday, December 10, 2013 10:52:38 AM(UTC)
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You only need DownLoader if you have old legacy MetaStock data that you would like to read into MetaStock 13. Otherwise, you can create and maintain new CSV files using any program (i.e., Excel) that MetaStock 13 will read directly.
Jacques_ms  
#12 Posted : Tuesday, December 10, 2013 6:14:12 PM(UTC)
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My problem is that when I put a file in C:\Users\Jacques\Documents\MetaStock\MetaStock Local Data folder it does not appear when I try to open it with "manage custom list>new>local insrument>browse..........the window is empty....even is a file is there......
thiyan8045  
#13 Posted : Monday, December 30, 2013 1:40:38 AM(UTC)
thiyan8045

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I am very disappointed by Metastock 13 bus I had understood that one could read the old data which one can read with Metastock 11. Unfortunately this is not possible. I will give a simple example.
I have in Metastock 11 a value which I named this 956Ble | DJUBS Wheat $ with code DJUBSWH after conversion with Downloder 10.5 gives D_DJUBSWD.
Therefore it is impossible for me to find this value with Metastock 13.
MS Support  
#14 Posted : Monday, December 30, 2013 10:22:37 AM(UTC)
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Couple of points with the Local CSV file.

You can include both a symbol and name in the Manage Custom Lists area of the Power Console. The name of the actual CSV file should be formatted as follows:

(Symbol#Name.csv)

For example: DJIA#Dow Jones Industrial Average.csv

That said, MetaStock will still display a letter (i.e. D) for the periodicity of the data.

As for referencing this data, you can use the "P" variable in your formulas. The "P" variable works off the selected object in MetaStock. So if you open a chart of your local CSV data and select the price plot, you can then open the explorer and run a formula like: C / P for example to divide the closing price of the security into the selected price (object) on the chart.
John S  
#15 Posted : Tuesday, December 31, 2013 10:25:48 AM(UTC)
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If the file is not appearing then it means the file is not properly formatted. The format is pretty flexible but there are some things that need to be in place.

Here are some common issues:
  • Extra or missing comma
  • Out of order dates/times
  • Missing header line
  • Incorrect Header line
  • Incorrect date/time format

Below I've copied/pasted the documentation on proper Local Data CSV formating from the MetaStock Help. This explains the formatting requirements pretty well.

___________________

Local Data File Format

A compatible local data file must start with a header. The header declares the fields and the order they will occur on each row in the file. The fields can be listed in any order desired but must include at least the date and closing price.

The following is an example of a header:

<DATE>,<OPEN>,<HIGH>,<LOW>,<CLOSE>,<VOL>

The remaining lines in the local data file contain the actual data. A maximum of 65,550 lines of data is supported.

The field names in the header row are not case sensitive. They can be enclosed in quotes, angle brackets, square brackets or left open. Therefore the date field, for example, could be listed in any of the following ways:

DATE, “DATE”, <DATE>, [DATE], “Date”, date, <DaTe>

The date and time fields must contain a date and time respectively, in a proper format, or MetaStock will be unable to properly read the data. All other fields can contain any numerical value.

[date]. The date of the data contained on the line of the file. Each line of the file must have a date and the dates must be in ascending order (i.e., the most recent date is listed on the last line of the file). The date field has three valid names. Any of the following can be used in the header row:

  • DATE

  • DTYYYYMMDD

  • DTYYMMDD

The DATE field name is the most flexible with respect to the date formats supported (shown below).

2008-01-21

Sat, 21 Jan 2008

21 Jan 2008

12/21/2008

20080121

080121

Important: if the Date field name is DTYYYYMMDD or DTYYMMDD then any time field MUST be named HHMMSS.

[time]. The time of the data contained on the line of the file. This field should only be used if the file contains intraday price data. The following field names are supported for the time field name:

  • TIME

  • HHMMSS

Time values should be entered using a 24 hour clock (e.g., 3:30 PM = 15:30).

The TIME field name supports the following formats:

18:45

07:10:27

Important: The HHMMSS field name must be used if the date field was named DTYYYYMMDD or DTYYMMDD

The first hour digit may be omitted for hours 0 - 9. Thus fields formatted this way could use either of the following for the time 9:45 AM:

094500

94500

[open]. The opening price of the instrument.

[high]. The high price of the instrument.

[low]. The low price of the instrument.

[close]. The closing (last) price of the instrument.

[vol]. The volume of the instrument.

[open interest]. The open interest of the instrument. This field name could also be written as [o/i].

Note: The fields other than Date and Time could be used to store any numerical data. However, if the data does not meet the following criteria, the standard prices styles will display in an unexpected manner, if at all

  • the High must be equal to or greater than the Open, Low, and Close.

  • the Low must be equal to or less than the Open, High, and Close.

  • the Open and Close must be between the High and Low

Indicators applied to the chart expect Open, High, Low, and Close prices in the above relationship and run the calculations accordingly. It the data does not meet this criteria, the indicators will produce unexpected, and possibly unusable,results.

Example 1:

<DATE>,<OPEN>,<HIGH>,<LOW>,<CLOSE>,<VOL>

20070103,38.6800,39.0600,38.0500,38.7000,124412

20070104,38.5900,39.1400,38.2600,38.9000,63286

20070105,38.7200,38.7900,37.6000,38.3700,66238

20070108,38.2200,38.3100,37.1700,37.5000,67846

20070109,37.6000,38.0600,37.3400,37.7800,57030

Example 2:

This shows how the time must be formatted in conjunction with the DTYYYYMMDD date field name

<DTYYYYMMDD>,<HHMMSS>,<OPEN>,<HIGH>,<LOW>,<CLOSE>,<VOL>

20111013,100000,9.8600,9.8800,9.8500,9.8580,98230

20111013,100500,9.8570,9.8800,9.8500,9.8790,231170

20111013,101000,9.8800,9.8900,9.8700,9.8800,297725

20111013,101500,9.8800,9.8800,9.8400,9.8600,165220

20111013,102000,9.8650,9.8700,9.8500,9.8600,112426

Example 3:

The following is the minimum number of fields needed for a data file

Date,Close

7/24/2008,125.51

7/25/2008,125.48

7/28/2008,123.64

7/29/2008,126.28

7/30/2008,128.53

<DTYYYYMMDD>,<OPEN>,<HIGH>,<TIME>,<LOW>,<VOL>,<CLOSE>

20111013,9.8600,9.8800,100000,9.8500,242543,9.8580

20111013,9.8570,9.8800,100500,9.8500,231170,9.8790

20111013,9.8800,9.8900,101000,9.8700,297725,9.8790

*Note that the typical order is changed in this example (i.e.; time appears after open and high). The data does not have to be in a specific order as long as the data matches the order in the header row.


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TomHam  
#16 Posted : Tuesday, December 31, 2013 2:30:04 PM(UTC)
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"Stay Tuned" local M.S. data users. I know of at least one programmer who is finishing up an easy to use, one step, batch conversion utility program. It should be out shortly (I already use the Heiken Ashi version to convert into that format and it's truly easy to step up and use). Cheers & Happy New Year to All. .. Tom ...
T712  
#17 Posted : Wednesday, January 8, 2014 9:35:59 AM(UTC)
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I have been using metastock for over 5 years and witnessed (and "upgraded") the changes alone the way. my biggest concern is still that of offline data analysis which is very important for serious traders/analyst. I hope the downloader will still be updated and upgraded and support offline analysis as before. I know Retuers concern is about data fees but user satisfaction must not be compromised especially those loyal customers.

otherwise folks like with some programming skill can continue to keep older versions of metastock alive by developing opensource downloader from google or yahoo. if Reuters knows they cannot forbid this to happen why not just officially develop and maintain the downloader in the future? is customer satisfaction more important? any ideas?
John S  
#18 Posted : Tuesday, January 14, 2014 2:32:05 PM(UTC)
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I understand your challenge. By opening up MetaStock to standard CSV files, we feel we've gone a long way to helping those that need local data access. And this also helps those that need access to third-party vendor data.

I suppose another step would could take is to put the file conversion functionality (available in the old DownLoader) inside MetaStock. We'll see.

Thanks for the feedback!
TomHam  
#19 Posted : Thursday, February 27, 2014 8:11:21 PM(UTC)
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Reuters Datalink and it's derivatives are known for providing clean data, and that's a good first step in technical analysis. Of issue with many users of MetaStock 13 is the multi-step process of conversion IF you're not using Reuters.

But there is no need to pull your hair out; as John mentioned "this is an opportunity for third party programmers". One such product recently became available by Kevin Nelson at www.learnmetastock.com. You may want to check it out; inexpensive, easy to use and saves conversion time if you need to do that.

Now . . . we're all set for MetaStock 14 and beyond. :) Take Care & Good Trading.

John S  
#20 Posted : Friday, February 28, 2014 10:07:06 AM(UTC)
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This is a very good program that Kevin has put together. It's only $29.95. I'd recommend it for anyone wanting to convert and maintain their old legacy MetaStock file.

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