I was recently asked how to transfer Metastock to a new computer. Its a good question as the answer isn't in "help" or the "owners's user guide" manual. Here's the answer![Wink [;)]](/emoticons/emotion-5.gif)
Follow the steps listed below to move your custom work in Metastock to a new or different computer:
1. Metastock Data Files: The best way to move Metastock data files is to use The Downloader to copy them. Choose Tools/Copy in The Downloader. Click 'Browse' to locate the folder, highlight all the names in that folder using the Ctrl or Shift keys and then click 'Copy'. You'll then be asked for the destination folder. If the old computer is connected to the new computer, browse for a location on the C drive on the new computer. Otherwise, copy them to a floppy or Zip Disk (Zip Disk would be ideal) and then follow the process in reverse on the new computer to copy them from the disk to the C drive. This process will also copy your smartcharts (check 'Copy Smartchart' on the 'Copy Securities' dialog that prompts for the Destination Folder).
2. Custom formulas that you have created (Explorations, System Tests, etc.): Use the Formula Organizer to export the formulas to the new computer (if the new computer is connected to the old one), or to a floppy or Zip Disk. To access the Formula Organizer, open any of the Advanced Tools in Metastock and click 'Organizer'. Follow the on-screen instructions to export to the new computer or to export to a disk. Once the export is complete, follow the process in reverse on the new computer to import from the location where the formulas were exported to.
3. Custom charts (will have an extension of .MWC) and Layouts (will have an extenstion of .MWL): These can be copied using Windows, however, the Metastock data files from which they were created must be in the same path on the new computer as they were on the old one. For example, if you saved a chart file named IBM.MWC in C:\Program Files\Equis\Metastock\Charts using data stored in C:\Metastock Data\My Data on the old computer, you must copy the data into C:\Metastock Data\My Data on the new computer. The same is true for layouts. The data from which they were created must be in the same place on the new computer as it was on the old. If it won't be feasible to copy the data to the new computer into the same path, save the charts and layouts on the old computer as templates (which can be applied to data in any location), then copy the templates (see below) to the new computer and apply them to the desired symbols.
4. Templates: Metastock Templates will have an extension of .MWT and can be copied to the new computer using Windows. They can be stored anywhere on the hard drive, but the default location for templates is C:\Program Files\Equis\Metastock\Charts.