             The DT Trade Station Data Conversion Utility

      **** PRINT AND READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING ****


The DT Trade Station data conversion utility is an indicator that runs
in TradeStation (TS). It is not part of Dynamic Trader. Once installed,
the TS indicator automatically converts TradeStation data files to a format
that Dynamic Trader (DT) can read. 

The basic steps are:

 The TS part:
  1. Make a folder to store the converted files in (Default is c:\dttsdata\).
  2. Install the 'ela' file.
  3. Add the TS indicator to your TS chart.
     This creates a DT compatible data file for that chart.

 The DT part:
  4. Open DT and add the created data file to a DT portfolio.
  5. Create a new scenario in DT for the data file.


 Here are the steps in more detail:

PART ONE - Make a folder(s) to store the converted Trade Station data files.

 Create a new folder. The suggested folder is c:\dttsdata\.
 You can find out how to make a folder from Windows help if you do not know how.



PART TWO - Install the DT data conversion indicator using the TS Power Editor.

 Go to the TS PowerEditor: From TradeStation Charting, 
 select Tools | Go to PowerEditor

 Select File | Open

 Select the Indicator tab

 Click the Transfer button

 Select Transfer...FROM...Easy Language Archive File (ELA)
 Type in the path and name of the DT data conversion utility
 file on the diskette.

   Example:   X:\DTTS4.ELA and click OK, where X is the drive where
                           the utility is located.

 Select Transfer All and Click OK

 You should receive the message "You have successfully transferred your
 analysis techniques". Click OK

 Select Tools | Verify All (this may take a few minutes depending on the
                            speed of your computer).

 NOTE: the indicator is "locked", do not attempt to open it.

 

PART THREE - Apply the DT data conversion indicator to your TradeStation charts.

 From the PowerEditor, select Tools | Go to TradeStation.

 Select the TS chart you want to create a DT compatible data file for.
   For instance, a SP H8 30 min chart.

 Press the [F7] key to apply the indicator

 Select dtts4.x (where x is the version number)

 Click Plot and set up your chart

 The "Format Indicator: TS2DT2" box should appear.

 Select the Inputs tab

 Specify the path where the converted data files will be stored.
 The path must already exist.  You created this path in PART ONE.
 If not using the default path, click EDIT to enter the correct path.

 The path must end in a backwards slash and be enclosed in double quotes.
 
  Example: "C:\DTTSDATA\"

 Select Properties.
 Select "Hidden" for the subgraph to display the indicator. This will hide
 the indicator and not use a subgraph which may be needed to display other
 indicators.

 Select OK

 


PART FOUR - In Dynamic Trader, add the TS converted data files to a portfolio.


 When you added the TS indicator to your chart, a data file was created which
 dynamic trader may use.

 If it isn't loaded, start Dynamic Trader

 Select Portfolio Manager

 Select New to create and a new portfolio.

 Select Edit to make changes to an existing portfolio.

 The Data Type is - Trade Station via utility.
 The Drive and Directory are where you stored the converted data files
 which is c:\dttsdata  if you used the default suggestion.

 The data files that TS created for DT when you added the indicator to your 
 TS charts will be listed in the "Data files available to add" box.
 Select "Add All" or select the specific files to add.
 
 Make sure to "Save Configuration" and "Save Portfolio" or "Save Portfolio As"
 before selecting Close.

 Close the Portfolio Manager.

 

PART FIVE - Make a new scenario for the data file.

   How to [U]pdate the DT chart with the new bars generated by the TS indicator:

   1. Make a new scenario for the TS data file that you want to monitor.
 
   2. Save the scenario. 

   3. Anytime you want to add the latest bars that TS has saved for DT to use,
      just press the [U]pdate key.
                 

                                     FAQ

Keep in mind that Dynamict Trader is not reading a real-time data feed.
DT reads the data file that is created with the TradeStation utility.
DT must reload the scenario in order to display the bars that have been
updated by TradeStation since the last time the scenario was loaded in DT.
Pressing the [U] key quickly reloads the updated data TS has generated.

Q: When I created the DT data file, I wasn't given a chance to name it.

A: DT automatically names the data files based on the TS data file name
   and bar interval. The March 98 thirty minute US T-bond file would be
   named USH830.DTI for example.

 

Q: I have a 15 minute bond chart loaded in TS and I can see the new bars
   generated every 15 minutes on my TS screen but not on my DT screen.

A: Keep in mind that Dynamict Trader is not reading a real-time data feed.
   DT reads the data file that is created by the TS utility.
   
   DT2 does not automatically update the chart with new bars every time TS
   adds new bars to the data file. To see the new bars on the DT chart,
   press the [U] key. The [U] key works on saved scenarios, not new scenarios.
   If you make a new scenario, save it and then start using the [U] key.

   For DT3 you need to turn on Auto Update and tell DT how often to do the
   update. The Auto Update button is in the upper left corner of the chart.
   Right click the button to set the update frequency. Left click it to
   turn the update on (green button on, red button off).


Q: I made my first TS to DT file converstion today and everthing was updating
   fine until the end of the day. The last bar updated in TS but did not 
   update in DT.

A: That's an anomaly which we are still working on. At the start of the next day
   after the data file was first created, the previous day's last bar will
   update. From then on all bars will update, giving you a complete data file.
   This temporary missing bar problem only happens the first day you apply the
   indicator to the TS chart.


Q: Do my DT data files continue to update if I turn my TradeStation off or close
   the TS chart?

A: NO. Let's use 30 minute S&P as an example. As long as the S&P chart is
   loaded in TS, a new 30 minute bar will be added to the end of the DT data
   file every 30 minutes. If the original DT file had 150 bars, then 90 minutes
   later it will have 153 bars.

   If you turn TS off, close the chart or change the chart from say 5 minutes
   to 30 minutes, the original data file will no longer update.

   If you reload a saved workspace, TS will re-build the DT data files for charts
   that had the data conversion indicator applied.  However, the new file will not
   start with the same day as the original file.

   Important: Unless the re-built data file STARTS ON THE SAME DAY as the
   original data file, you will need to rebuild your swing files or they will not
   match up with the relevant highs and lows. 

 

Q: Can I use tick data with DT?

A: No. DT is set to work with bars that are one minute and above.

 

Q: I created a swing file a few days ago. Today when I loaded the swing
   file on my chart it appears to have shifted. The swings no longer
   line up with the pivots. What's going on?

A: The original data file has been replaced with a newer one and the starting dates 
   are not the same. You don't need to create a new scenario, but you do need
   to build a new swing file for the new data file that was create when the 
   TS indicator was re-added to the chart, TS was turned back on or a workspace
   re-load.


 