Bill...
Pat has given you an idea that can work to test several stocks. Here's what I do (or did, don't scan much anymore):
Once you've created a system test that you are happy with you simply save as a "Template". You can have any symbol in this template, it doesn't matter. WOW only saves the template with the test and ignores the stock data itself.
Now, I have about 40 directories with Metastock files in each. These range from about 80-90 symbols in some to as little as 45 or so in others. Why I have it this way is another story.
At any rate, now all you do is go to the WOW main menu, click CHARTS, then NEW CHART. Now, pick the template you just saved. It will start with (Sys) in parenthesis, followed by the system name you gave it. Next, click directories and select one of the directories that contains your data. Go to the top of that directory and click on the first symbol, then OK. This will paint the first chart on that template.
Now click TOOLS, SMART SCAN PLUS. At the Scan Options screen you tell WOW to scan "Securities", tell it to scan for a trading system (you will just click these to mark your choices) then tell it how many days to look back. The more days you look back the slower will be the scan. Start with about 5.
Now click on the Securities tab. Check that you're in the directory you want to scan, then "Mark All". Or just go through and click on the ones you want to scan. You don't have to scan them all. On this screen you will need to tell WOW which template to use when scanning. Use the little down arrow then select the one you just saved. You may need to click on "Template Directory" and go hunting for the correct template. This is important!
Now click on the % Change tab and set all to 0.000, even if your trade system looks for a % change. It will override this tab. Then click on Output tab and select your options. Now, click OK and away she goes scanning everything you told it to. It will dump a report to the printer or to a file, your choice.
I just did all this as I wrote, to be sure it will work and it does. I did a simple 5 day momentum scan on a directory of 30 gold symbols. It took about 8 seconds and produced one sell signal for 6/4.
Give it a shot. I had to set the backtest to 10 days to get a signal, so you may have to experiment with that as well.
Good luck and let us know how you do!
Ken |
