Sean's covered your questions well. I can only add the suggestion that you focus on working with the two years of QuotesPlus data you have on the CD they sent you and updating it with QP #1 data download each day. This way you can focus on learning MetaStock and you'll get stock splits updated also for your entire database.
Start at QP's MetaStock Output module and output one symbol to one file. When you see how that works and can look at it from MetaStock ...
Output a second symbol to that same file.
Now, move on to making a list file. This is a process most of us do alot. A list is just a text file of symbols running down the left margin like:
IBM
MSFT
DELL
Learn to output that using the MetaStock option of outputing more than one symbol to one directory. Here's where that maximum 255 symbols comes in.
Next step is to output more than 255 symbols to several directories using that option in the QP Output module.
We build lists from many sources.... Brian K's IBD list for example ... is a good one to work with. Our scans build lists. Some of us merge lists using TextPad or simple batch files that do it. QuotesPlus builds lists from scans named for the scan that creates the list. This is an area we're always being creative.
Create a directory like D:\USSTocks. But, note ... You don't need to set up the subdirectories as QuotesPlus will handle that, adding just enough subdirectories to contain your list of symbols, no matter how many. That's where the MetaStock Output module gets the name.
(A side note ... You'll notice that to find a particular stock in that directory structure from MetaStock you'll have to look in the particular D:\USStocks subdirectory that contains it.)
Now, an important decision for you to make here. Whether to build a directory structure containing every stock in the QuotesPlus database (10-thousand) or be more selective. Most of us, I think, are more selective. We use scans to ferret out much smaller lists of symbols, maybe only 20 for some folks. Here's how:
SCANS ....
A first scan runs through the entire QP database and builds a list file of symbols that fit a model. Maybe a thousand symbols result. Then that list file is the input for another scan which further refines that thousand into maybe 20 symbols and these 20 are in a second list file that QuotesPlus has created.
Now, were ready to output the history of those 20 symbols into a directory ... let's call it, D:\bustouts ... which MetaStock can read. This will be the list file used in the MetaStock Output module.
Only now do you start MetaStock and start reading charts.
I mention delaying starting MetaStock due to a well-known habit of MetaStock locking a file so that it cannot be updated by QuotesPlus. so, we leave MetaStock exited until we need to look at the charts.
Also, leave SmartCharts turned off in MetaStock. One less complicator.
Approaching the learning of QP and MetaStock this way worked for me ... after going through some of the same flaming hoops as you have and catching my shirt on fire. One gets too caught up in putting out fires to get anything useful done.
About the time you've got a few scans working to select stocks and build the lists, build a template in MetaStock that put your fave indicators automatically (the "Default" template file in MetaStock) on each symbol you put up ....
QuotePlus #2 may be released. Then you'll discover Nirvana is much closer... even obtainable.
Hang in, Theo.
Liam |
