I need a C# programmer to write a DLL for Downloader v15.

For several years, I used Metalibv50 from Trading Tools, until I upgraded to x64 Excel2016, and it died.  It was only designed for x32 systems.

Last Spring, I bought a DLL (MS4XLS.DLL) that would work in the Declaration portion of my Visual Basic programs.  The DLL was designed to work with “Legacy” Metastock formats (Downloader v10.1).  The code line is “Private Declare PtrSafe Function GetReader Lib "c:\Program Files\MS4XLS\Ms4Xls.dll" () As Object”.  It will not work with Downloader v15.

I run an EOD download of about 25 ultra/contra ETFs, populating a spreadsheet with OHLC (each ETF) for about 400 days, and then I compute charts (using my own indicator) which shows the ETF momentum.  All open source Visual Basic.

Now I have to do 2 Downloads, running both V10.1 and V15.  I would like to pay a C# programmer to write a DLL that works (in the Declarations portion of my VB code) with Downloader v15 exactly like v10.1.  I can supply MS4XLS.DLL and all my VB code as needed.  I have considered writing a VB macro that would convert CSV files in Downloader v15 to a spreadsheet, but I would rather not unless it’s the best solution.

If you are interested, please email me bc.roberts@hotmail.com with your phone number (I live in the LA area) and I will call you for further discussion.  TIA.  Bill Roberts

Thanks for the note.  About 80% of my needs are met with just continuing to use Downloader v10.1.  But your note "Ultimately it would probably be better to start using the MSLocal format" pretty much sums it up.  I can live with Downloader v10.1,  I just prefer not. 

I assume the MSLocal format is public, just like the Legacy format??   If it is proprietary to MetaStock, that would be a problem for a programmer.

I think I need a DLL in the Declarations section of my VB code that works with Downloader v15, even if it is downloaded in a CSV format, and I don't know how to write the code for that DLL.

I hope that a C# programmer would. 

As wabbit says, it is very easy to convert .txt or .csv, don’t be confused because the .txt option is not shown in the V15 Downloader menu. As far as I can see the New Downloader quickly converts all TEXT formats to the new MS format.

What does surprise me is that the New Downloader appears to refer to existing information somewhere in the MS15 platform to perform the conversion. For example today’s .CSV file was simply downloaded as Ticker, Open, High, Low, Close. i.e., no reference was made to the Name of the Fund even in the file name used which was the symbol code (Ticker). Much to my surprise the Downloader linked the Ticker to the Name that I had used in a previous file in another directory. The result was that my local data presents exactly as I like to see it.

I’ve puzzled over these conversion issues for many years and like Bill purchased DLL’s to find a quick, one stop way to convert .txt to MS11 MetaStock Format that worked very well. As far as the V15 MetaStock format I am not aware of any available DLL so I conclude that for the time being we use the privately acquired data in .csv or .txt and simply run the Downloader but there is another way:

You can still use TEXT files directly but it may be slower. Simply file your .txt or .csv file in your selected local data directory. This is all done in a flash by writing a very simple piece of code, my selected means is Visual Studio and it is working very well. The MS exploration of the text file does not appear to take any longer than the patent MS15 file but I’m sure MS15 file format will be quicker with a very large database.

An example of my data, please note the title of the .txt file does carry over to the ‘Chart Display Title Bar’ but this may be related to various experiments I have made with the New Downloader. This is the Format that I require.

Name of Text File: Aberdeen Asia Pacific Equity Acc - AFASPC.txt

Date,Open,High,Low,Close
19990624,43.700,43.700,43.700,43.700
19990625,43.640,43.640,43.640,43.640

I appreciate there is duplication and you only need the 'Close' field but it is easier to leave my Visual Studio format for all sorts of files where the High etc. is preferred. 

Edited by user Sunday, January 29, 2017 7:21:44 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Please allow me to restate my request, although it seems incompatible with MS policy:

1 My macros (all Visual Basic) automatically populate OHLCV for a given security and a range of days.  That requires MS4XLS.DLL, imbedded in the VB code.

2 I purchased that DLL last spring to run with x64 bit Excel 2016, and it works OK with Downloader V10, using the MS Legacy format.  The programmer that wrote that code is not available.

3. It does not work with Downloader v15, since the downloaded data “defaults” the Local Data format, and I must have an “automated” spreadsheet (set up with the macro).

4. I will continue using Downloader v10, but I would like to pay for a DLL (similar to MS4XLS.DLL) that works with Downloader v15.  If anyone at MS would be willing to moonlight the project, I’ll be glad to give you all of my code, if that would help.   TIA    Bill Roberts   (bc.roberts@hotmail.com)

Wabbit, my current solution (just use Downloader v10, don't use Downloader v15) is by far the easiest and fastest.  I'm just nervous that MS shuts down V10.  They seem to have a habit of arbitrarily withdrawing support for some older systems.  But that is another topic entirely (VBG) Bill Roberts

Originally Posted by: mauro

Hello, any update about a DLL or SDK that allow programmers to start Downloader from code and programmatically read data?

Hi,

Outside of launching the executable, there isn't much else one can do to start Downloader. There is a switch you can add to the exe command /express which basically attempts to download the folders added to Downloader previously.

Reading the data programmatically is possible using our MSLocal Data API. We don't really have a web page set up for this product, but you can speak with our Sales team if this is something you would be interested in.