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Mike Glenn

I will take a guess and suggest the invalid function call is because you only have the READ version of the MDK, not the READ/WRITE version which would be required to update securities?  Equis were very careful to whom the R/W version was distributed, and unless specifically requested and paid for through their licencing policy, most users will only have the READ version of the MDK.  If you have the R/W version, then check the results of the record locking to ensure the required record locking is Full or Write; if PRevent Write then you will not be able to amend the record, but I would think the error message would be different?

Hope this helps.


wabbit

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MS: 6.52 EOD, 7.x EOD, 8.0 PRO, 9.2 PRO w/QC, 10 PRO w/QC & MDK
For custom MetaStock programming : http://www.wabbit.com.au
My SkyPE status :
My SkyPE account : wabbit.com.au

Correct, you'll get that message when you try to use a write method (such as update) if you haven't initialized the read/write version (meaning you have the read only version). With the read only version, you can't make any changes at all to the security. You're only able to read the information from the security.

Wabbit is also correct about we almost never sell the read/write version and then only in special circumstances.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Thanks,

That is the problem. I made an attempt to get the write version and was turned down even with agreeing to sign any agreement they wanted that stipulated it was for personal use only.

I don't understand their reluctance to give me write capabilities and it leaves me with a resentment towards Metastock.

 

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Mike Glenn

I understand your resentment and frustration.

We used to sell both versions to anyone. However, due to the small number of people that actually need the read/write version and the big problem of it getting pirated a lot, it was decided to rarely, if ever, sell it. There may have also been other factors, I'm not sure since I wasn't involved in the decision, but that's about what it seemed to me.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

thanks for the explanation.

I will see if I can come up with some other approach short of manually going through folder by folder, but that may be the only way.

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Mike Glenn

What is it that you're trying to accomplish? Maybe someone here on the forum can suggest a way to do it.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Convert security files created for QC for use with the Reuters data feed. I need to remove the us; or ca; from the symbol name and change the number of zeros in the volume data. One example is I have set up my own files for the IBD 197 groups. I have done it once and don't particularly want to do it again.

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Mike Glenn

I'm sorry, you did mention that in your first post.

I think I've written a utility that'll do that for you. I at least tried to set time to do that a while back. Let me look for the utility in a little bit and I'll see if I can find it for you. If not, maybe I can find some spare time this weekend to write you one.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

If I do have a utility that does the symbol change, I know it doesn't change any of the data. What needs to change with the zeros in the volume?

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Reuters DataLink data collected via the DownLoader (not Data on Demand) truncates the last 2 digits from the volume, whereas data collected from QuoteCenter does not.

I'm sorry, it's a very busy day today here at work. I'll have to see if I have some free time over the weekend to write you a utility. It doesn't look like I can find one.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

I've been using the following library to read/write Metastock data:
http://www.trading-tools.com/metalib.htm

It works very well - I use it in Visual Basic (which is impossible in the MDK too)

John.

stocktrader8:

I've been using the following library to read/write Metastock data:link removed
It works very well - I use it in Visual Basic (which is impossible in the MDK too)

John.

That is incorrect. The MDK will work just fine with VB. VB is not capable of compiling a Win32 DLL, so it is not able to build an MSX DLL. You can use VB to write an MSFL program though, since it can compile an .exe. You can use many languages with the MDK, they just have to compile a Win32 DLL if you wish to write an MSX DLL with it.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Thanks John,

I was just going to ask about that. I ran across it while searching for alternative approaches. I have downloaded the trial version and it looks pretty straight forward. It costs about what I paid for the mdk and the write functions aren't disabled!!

I was also considering working on the metastock files directly. the master, emaster, and fx.dat.

Mike

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Mike Glenn

Please note: this post has been edited by the EIOC forum administrator. The original message/information was restored.

In my internet search travels I've found the following resources on the metastock file format:

Metastock v6.52 format (2000 securities per folder)
http://www.purebytes.com/archives/metastock/2001/msg04890.html

Description of the old 255 securities per folder format and C file headers:
http://tinyurl.com/2wytyu

http://sourceforge.net/projects/meta-all

Here are some modules for reading/writing in Perl:
http://www.geniustrader.org/

In Java:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/javastock/

Another free library in development here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mstockfl/
(includes a PDF file describing the format)

Another free one here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/ezmetastocklib/

Two sets of descriptions of the Metastock file format here:
http://www.wotsit.org/list.asp?al=M

This might help you out with some of what you're trying to do.
If you provide it a CSV file with the symbol to change and the symbol to change it to, it'll go through the folders and change all the symbols it finds.

It's not quite what you're after, but will do some of the job.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Thanks Branden but that still looks like too much work.

I was able to update the symbols by working directly on the Master file. It was a bit of a workout but I can now work directly on the emaster, master and data files.

However, after changing the symbols to Reuters compatibility, when I run the downloader to update my security data I get an Invalid date error. Is it possible that Quotecenter downloads a different date structure or some such thing?

I am still curious about why Equis does not release the write functions. Metastock is prirated and they don't stop selling Metastock.

Thanks

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Mike Glenn

The idea is that you're not supposed to work directly with those files. I think it's in the license agreement that you agreed to that you won't do that. I cannot support you with doing so. Generally, when you're reverse engineering things, you're doing so illegally.

I'll answer the question, since you do have the MDK and the question is a valid MDK question that if you read the manual, you could find out. No, the date structure is identical between vendors.

Again, I'm not sure to the exact reason why we stopped selling the read/write version of the MDK. Pirating was just a guess. Most people, if they use MSFL at all, only use it to read some extra data for their MSX DLL. Not a reason in itself not to sell the read/write version, just a bit of justification.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

Sorry, the date problem had to do with the Canadian securities. They are not as straight forward as the us securities which just need the us; removed. The Canadian need a .TO appended and in some cases even the symbol is slightly different. I also notice that Reuters data link is case sensitive for the downloader but not for Metastock. This is just an fyi as it doesn't have much to do with the mdk.

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Mike Glenn

I didn't realize that about working with the files. Which licence agreement are you referring to? Is it also illegal to buy third party software that writes directly to those files?

Sorry about the date structure question. I seem to be getting on your nerves. I think I am finished with this issue of changing the symbol names although I hate to think that I did it in an illegal manner.

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Mike Glenn

ThrushCreek:

Sorry, the date problem had to do with the Canadian securities. They are not as straight forward as the us securities which just need the us; removed. The Canadian need a .TO appended and in some cases even the symbol is slightly different. I also notice that Reuters data link is case sensitive for the downloader but not for Metastock. This is just an fyi as it doesn't have much to do with the mdk.

Oh, well, that would make things more difficult than just writing something to change the symbol. I had only ever thought of writing a utility that would work based on a list you give it or for prepending the country code. I knew some symbols may be different, but there isn't too much I can do about that in the program.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

I'd imagine it's in both the MetaStock and MDK license agreements not to reverse engineer or other such things with the files. I haven't actually read them myself, but that's generally in every license agreement.

I'm no expert at law, nor am I familiar with our agreements, so I can't say for sure that it's illegal to use software like what was linked to in this thread. However, I'm pretty sure it is. I reported the company to our legal department and will let them decide. They (that company selling that tool) are not authorized by us, which means they're likely to be selling (illegally) our MDK under their name or they've reverse engineered the files and have written all their own code, which should also be illegal.

You're not getting on my nerves. I've spoken with my managers here, trying to see what I can do to help you with your situation. I only pointed out what you were doing is probably illegal since people didn't seem to realize it. I apologize if I came across as anything but helpful. That's really all I'm trying to be. I sent you a PM yesterday, in hopes of helping you. Please let me know if you didn't get it.

When speaking with my manager, the question came up as to why you're in need of having Reuters Datalink data changed to QuoteCenter. Are you one of those that are doing that because QuoteCenter is slow to get EOD data? If so, could you tell me about how much slower? Is there another reason? Maybe there is something we can do about you needing two services that's better than trying to help you convert the symbols.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101

I have been using Quote center for several years for real time data but I am backing away from real time trading because the market is too erratic for my nerves right now. I didn't see any reason to pay the QC subscription price just for EOD so I switched to the more economical Reuters Data link since I also have an EOD version of Metastock. During my QC time I have built up a number of folders of securities that I use for creating indices and monitoring market breadth. Hence the unforseen problem of symbol differences between the data feeds. There are a small enough percentage of Canadian stocks that I can manully correct them with the downloader. My main issue was the thousands of us stocks with the 'us;' in front of them spread among many folders and I thought the MDK was the ideal approach, not realizing that the write functions were disabled.

Well the damage is done now and I just hope the 'software police' don't come after me for my workaround to the disabled write functions.

Thanks for your help. I appreciate it.

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Mike Glenn

I hope everything works out for you and don't worry about anyone coming after you.

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Equis International, Inc.
A Reuters Company
90 S. 400 W Suite 620
SLC, UT 84101