Product Wish List

Layout - Saving line studies/text behaviour

geoluke — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:15:42 GMT

G'day,

I am a big fan of layouts, they are great for grouping stocks into portfolios etc etc.

However, I frequently find I am moving charts from one layout to another (say from a watchlist to a portfolio). If I want to keep the line studies/text that I have done in the one layout and transfer them to another layout I have to remove the chart from the layout A, save it as a smart chart, then open the layout B and add the smart chart. I find it's a huge hassle.

Ideally, I'd like to have a function (like a radio button) on the "edit layout" window that allows me to define the method for how a layout saves all the line studies/text etc either to the respective smart chart for each layout element, or to save the line studies/text for all the charts within the layout, which is how it currently works as I understand it.

Doing so would allow more functionality for those, like myself, who move charts between layouts regularly while not causing an inconvenience to those who might prefer the current method. This default layout behaviour could be set from the Tools>Options menu.

Cheers

Make Mestastock trading system friendly

Gregor — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:32:25 GMT

From the writer of “Transferring Metastock to new computer” post

I have an excellent idea for a development for Metastock and I it would be great to get some feed back to see if anyone else out there agrees with me.

Do you have to a trading system, do you have to manually change parameters or variables for each security you want to trade, found the input function isn’t the answer? That my world, a trading system, 3 variables, 8 formulas and mind numbing 24 changes per security. Imagine a world where you open your Metastock, click into one box where all these change can be made from one location, but apply to all the formulas in your trading system. Have I sold this idea?

My story; I have programmed a trading system for LONG and SHORT trading which adds up to 2 custom indictors and 6 expert advisors. Why so many? It breaks down like this, for long trading: one custom Indicator for setup signals then Expert Advisors for Entry, Exit and Stop; the same number again for short trading. The important point here is I have 8 separate formulas.

The problem is when wanting to trade I have to manually set 3 parameters (variables) within each formula for each security, that’s 8 multiplied by 3 making 24 changes. There has to be an easier way to do this?

What if from one location I open one box that allows me to make the change from that box which then would apply to all 8 formulas. This would be some kind of editor which I could tag specific lines of code from select formulas in my trading system held in an Expert advisor, Explorer or on the Custom Indicator List. The possibilities for this idea are vast and should be a must do for Equis.

If you’ve got this far in reading this why not leave me a comment and tell me what you think

Gregor

Full Length Horizontal Line Plotting Based On Last Values Only

Dojidog — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:49:49 GMT

Provide the ability to replicate the "drag & drop" horizontal lines on charts based on custom formulas. Currently the lines are drawn by the custom formula from the beginning of the data period zig/zag up/down all across the chart. This creates far to much clutter and compresses Y-price scales unnecessarily. Lines would be based on the last value only. This would allow the horizontal lines to reposition automatically without user intervention while reducing the chart clutter and compressed scaling.

Volume by Price Indicator

axhwan — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 02:01:49 GMT

like the one available on StockCharts.com

Metastock 11

Data — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:41:47 GMT

I don't have it yet, but what I'd really like to see is an improvement of the software's performance. Metastock is a tiny little program but it is often very slow and it can take up to 10-20 seconds to open the Expert Editor. Also, if you've spent the day watching different charts on different timeframes (like GBPUSD/Crude Oil/DAX tick , 1 min, five min, 1 hour, daily charts), it will NEVER close up correctly (weird error message about data server). But that's not annoying given that you don't lose anything. Another technical annoyance is that while almost everything will work fine when working on multiple screens, when trying to edit the color of something (indicator, signal, etc), the color panel will pop up on a different screen then the one I'm working one.

But that's not that important. I'm looking forward to seeing the new version of my favorite charting software, and it looks like it has got some nice new features. Even tough it looks like it's free if you have a paid version of metastock 10.1 (As a MetaStock subscriber, you are eligible to upgrade to this latest version at no charge.), here are two key features that would make me gladly buy the new version :

1. Fundamental Analysis : even though if looks like Equis made an important effort and gave us a new tool, it doesn't seem like we will be able to chart this data in metastock and apply our technical analysis tools. And more importantly, the metastock fundamental analysis tool seems to be only interested with corporations' data. If only you could give us include real fundamental data like the fed fund rate, the employment rate (unemployment is bogus), the GDP, the Gross private domestic investment... And that brings me to my second feature :

2. Linked technical analysis : it might be already possible but I don't know how to do it. I even asked Jose Silva and he told me that it was really complicated. I'd like to be able to link 2 charts and to build a signal based on indicators existing in both charts. The main trick is to manage different time frames, or different kind of data, like classic daily price data and quarterly fundamental data. It would have been fantastic to have a system that goes long only if the fed fund rate (or the gross private domestic investment) is above its 10 period moving average and only goes short if the inverse is true. The rule for the index (or stock) chart could be pretty simple, like a basic moving average crossover.
And it would be very useful if we weren't limited to such giant timeframes and could link the 1 min chart to the hourly chart, or even the tick chart to the 5 min chart. (Oh, by the way, is there any way to standardize the tick chart to a 10 second chart ?)
And of course, these new features would be extremely useful if we can use them in the system tester. That would most definitely put you way ahead of the competition.

With all that being said, I don't know if my message will ever get through to Equis but I hope I'll be able to use Metastock 11 in the next days. And before that, I think it's time to save all my indicators, systems, explorations, etc.

And what about you guys ? What would you like to see in the next metastock ?

Custom number of ticks bar chart

moco — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:04:38 GMT

Hi,

It would be really good to be able to display bar chartsfor a custom number of ticks per bar, like you can do for minutes and hours already. I see a few other people requesting this feature, dating back to 2005.

Any plans to implement it?

Thanks

system tester - optimize for other than max profit

manatrader — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 01:56:14 GMT

While optimizing in the system tester is a great feature, it is limiting to only have max profit as the goal of optimization - a smooth growth in equity is preferrable to running a jagged up and down gauntlet. Currently, one can only increase the number of results and look at the equity profile of each, but this isn't feasible for large numbers of tests. This is a real gap in an otherwise powerful system for testing.

While adding optimization options could get pretty complicated, with multiple goals and the potential to rank them by preference, simply adding one option - lowest standard deviation of returns - as an alternative to max profit would be a great improvement, indeed
:)

Equis Formula Primer - Suggested Modification/Addition

jhughey — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:31:31 GMT

The Equis Formula Primer is very well written, and I think it goes a long way towards quickly educating the new users to the capabilities of the MSFL.    However, there is one thing that appears to be missing, and I think it is a common source of error among a significant number of MSFL programmers, including myself.

Many of us are not aware that the MSFL is a line-by-line fully evaluated programming language.   Instead of evaluating every line on a specific day, a line of code is evaluated for every day in the entire chart before going to the next line.   Of course, it is perfectly natural for even an advanced C, FORTRAN, Perl, Basic programmer to expect/assume that all lines are executed before going on to the next day, especially if you have never encountered this kind of code.

My recommendation is to include a section at the end of the Equis Formula Primer titled "What the MSFL Can and Cannot Do", or something comparable, that explains this concept. It should especially provide a couple of examples of the line-by-line values of variables to illustrate the kind of mistakes that can be made.    I think this would also give more insight into the properties of indicators.     You could also use this section to make a pitch for the MDK.

What do you think?

Better way to export formulas

C1Miller — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:42:21 GMT

Let say you make a indicator and etc. I would like to add in the export formula wizard a way to export your indicators and all your custom formulas.

MetaStock searches for Security (Ctl F) to default to last searched directory

paddy209 — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:45:40 GMT

It would be nice if when you search for a security to have the last searched directory displayed. At present it shows Drive C, D etc.. Most searches will be in the C:/MetaStock Data.

Currently to get there you need to:

1- Click Browse

2- Select drive C

3- Go down to MetaStock Data

4- Click OK

If the last directory was shown, the above would not be needed

Regards

My suggestion

Trader4x4 — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:44:32 GMT

It would be great to have in MetaStock a simple stock screener. So it would be possible to find stocks by some technical criteria, let say all stocks for which fast MA crossed above slow MA, etc., for example of the functionality I'm talking about look at http://www.marketinout.com service.

loops

slam — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 12:02:34 GMT

loops! loops! loops!

Local Data - Different Time Periods

Gus7 — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:16:52 GMT

It would be nice to download data to your local machine and be able to see in different time frames - 60 minutes, 30 minutes, 10 minutes, etc.

TD Sequential & TD Combo

Crusier — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:28:00 GMT

I sincerely hope that Reuters could strike a deal to Tom Demark and acquire TD Sequential & TD Combo

3D equity surface

zigzag — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 20:59:35 GMT

i think a nice addition to MS would be the capabililty of displaying a 3D equity surface as a function of three optimized variables of user's choice (one on each axis). display in graph and table format.

like to see........

rajeev — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:14:05 GMT

A way to copy and save the ever changing indicators as data on the currency markets gets downloaded during any 24 hr cycle.

This would allow an individual to study input data and indicators that allowed him to take on a position and then he can follow what happened subsequently, how the indicators flipped in the opposite direction or post positional analysis etc.

Watching the action as it unfolds ...at a later stage than live...would allow one to study the fluctuations logically and detect patterns that one may miss.

Automatic Download of Data at a specific time

paddy209 — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:45:54 GMT

As far as I can see, a facility to automatically download Data from Reuter at a certain time is not available. It would be a nice addition as the download could run during the night when the internet is not too busy

Forum.dll revision

wabbit — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 06:46:36 GMT

The MetaStock Forum Crew originally wrote the Forum.dll back in 2005 (let's be honest, Patrick wrote the Forum.dll back in 2005). Since then a number of issues have been raised about the existing functions and some people would also like to have some more functionality added. Its time we reviewed the file and gave it a freshen up.

I have just finished another semester at University and now have some time to dedicate to updating the Forum.dll and the documentation.

I need your assistance to find out what you would like changed. What errors / bugs have you discovered that you want fixed? What functions just don't quite do what you want them to do, or don't behave like you think they should? What new functionality would you like to see?

(Please note: this is not the opportunity for you to ask for custom functions for yourself (you can pay to have these written) Any new functions must be "globally useful" to the majority of MS users. Applications to write data or interface with the MS user interface will NOT be considered for inclusion.)

The updating / fixing of existing functions will be afforded a higher priority than new functions.

Add your comments and requests here. Please make sure to provide as much detail as possible. If I have to ask questions to try to find out what you think you meant in the request, then I will simply ignore the request.

This is your opportunity to get something for nothing and help your fellow MS users, so get those thinking caps on!

wabbit

Time & Price Counter/Projection

theghost — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:30:54 GMT

hello All,
Is it possible to create a time/price counter?

An example;
Say I'm using real time 5 minute chart.
A few hrs ago the price had approx a 200pt move in the Dow (Chart I'm examining).

It seems to have based.
What I want to do is be able to click on any bar,, so for this example I click on the high of the last major move,, then drag the cursor to the start of that move,, it's low on another bar.
I release the mouse.
Then an indicator window appears (Or this could already be appeared if say I clicked an icon that was for this "Time & Price"
It would show me data,, like,,

No. Of Bars. 36
Time to complete move: 180minutes
Price Move: 206 pts (Low to High)

This means then I know that for my next entry I can expect a possible 206pts and it should take an estimated 180 minutes to complete.

In day trading,, this kind of time approximation is critical,, and I don't want to be counting bars and prices,, 2 mouse clicks could do this for me:-)

Hope something like this could be implemented as it isn't a huge programming project I feel,, and does have value.

Many Thanks
TheGhost

3 suggestions

satishbansal — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:17:33 GMT

1. capability to exit positions on days last bar in system tester
2. support of loops in formulae
3. trailing stops in system tester as per the formula also (like i want my trailing stop on the basis of ATR but i can test it automatically)

"anti zig zag advantage mode" in system tester

Bisto — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 11:25:52 GMT

I would put in mestastock 11 wishlist an option in the system tester to run the tests loading data bar per bar to not let to zig zag based system to give fantastic results.

Loading data day per day would simulate the reality, of course the simulation will be slower but it could be acceptable giving to the user the chance to consciously choice this "anti zig zag advantage mode".

A slow result it's a lot better then a fake result!

3 Suggestions

chestnut — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:51:51 GMT

I have 3 suggestions for MetaStock:

In the Enhanced System Tester, make the Trade Execution selection (Buy and Sell at Open, Close, etc.) a part of the SYSTEM definition, NOT a part of the setup of the Simulation. I have models that buy on the Open and others that buy on the Close. I am constantly having to go in and change this in the Simulation setup (and it is buried pretty deeply in there). It really should be an inherent part of the SYSTEM itself and not something you have to adjust when setting up a "New Simulation".
I have several posts elsewhere about the fact that I am buying at the Close, yet the Stop conditions are being checked for that day. So the Simulator is occasionally selling at the High or Low of the day I enter, even though I am not entering until the Close. This is obviously impossible. A Moderator (kindly) tried to explain, but honestly I see no rationale why the Stops should be enacted on the day you buy, if it is at the Close. OK, maybe some ticks happen in the AftMkt. But 99.99% of the time this will be meaningless for most users. Whereas having the Simulator kill a play before it has even been entered is just wrong and is creating havoc with my (and I assume anyone else) who buys at the close and wants to use stops. Yes, I understand you can use formulas to get around this, but IMHO we should not have to resort to that when it would be very simple for the Simulator to start looking at Stops the day after a Buy-at-Close order.
I understand that Meta will not display tick or time charts for the PreMkt and AftMkt. Yet this data is readily available (I use eSignal and can easily get this). For more powerful intraday modeling capability, it would be helpful to have the actual ticks/timed trades for ALL market hours, not just the core hours (plus a single lumped bar at the beginning and end for outside core hours).

Thanks!

Some Suggestions

jacquesj — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:34:42 GMT

Some Suggestions

Upgrade Metastock backend to .Net Object Based type environment SDK

SDK freely available to licensed Metastock users (Activation Key …. )

Allow end users to develop improve functionality

Most of the interface requests on the forum, could be developed by end users (Faster)

If need have a certification process

Automated trading systems

This is the latest trend internationally

Metastock / QuoteCenter interface

(Formulas Charts ….) VBA type / .Net compatible
Both use same application same look and feel
Make use of the Microsoft/Yahoo widgets gadgets type functionality

Could also be end user developed

Application Interface Templates available (Web or Standalone)

Some countries do not have fast internet access – Web interface does not work

Use off the shelf database with open data exchange standards

This example is outside your industry but the open data principle applies http://www.opengeospatial.org/
Run the data component as a standalone computer service

Expand the Indicator Builder

ironcondor — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:02:37 GMT

I have been waiting over ten years for improvements to the Indicator Builder. The IB has severe limitations for professional traders that build their own formulas. I have sent suggestions to tech support and even talked to managers at some of the trading shows (Vegas). The only real improvement that I have seen is the larger custom indicator window.

SUGGESTIONS:
Ability to easily assign a custom formula value as a constant for use in some of the indicators (i.e. periods), similar to what programming languages do.
No limits on the number of variables in a custom indicator.
No limits on the the amount of text in a custom indicator.
Ability to use the value assigned to an input variable instead of only the default value in a custom indicator..

If anyone from Metastock is reading this, take a look at Tradestation and offer Metastock users the same custom trading system programming capabilities as that program. Thanks!

Is someone is taking note forum suggestions ??

jacquesj — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:10:30 GMT

Everyone is submitting great suggestions, I am just wondering if someone is taking note "action" re these suggestions. Other similar organizations have dedicated development teams to improve their products “also interact with users”, is this also the case with Metastock ??? Does not seem to be so, except if there is a huge surprise product in the near future. I hope I am wrong and can someone please clarify this issue

Regards

Jacques