Metastock FAQ

[andrew_c2o]

MODERATOR'S NOTE: This thread is for general Metastock discussions. If you have a specific project or complicated issue in mind which may require extensive replies please feel free to start a new thread on the topic; but remember to search the forums first to make sure there aren't any existing threads on the topic.

Is there a free website with metastock tutorials? Especially to do with formula creating/scanning ?

Thanks

[andrew_c2o]

So no one knows?

How could I create a function that will show me stocks that have gone up say 10% in the last month?

[andrew_c2o]

Oh actually by clicking the Edit feature on the inbuilt exploring functions I can see how they are built!

[wabbit]

Go the Equis website, and check out the forum there. Patrick has (at least) four multimedia shows for MS training on the site.

wabbit :D

[BenW]

Hello all, I have metastock 9.0 should I be worried about the new(ish) 9.1 or am I fine in sticking with my current 9.0? thanks

[Happy]

From what I heard 9.1 has some bugs taken out and if you have purchased 9 from a reputable firm, you could ask for free update, you might be lucky.

[Freddo]

Hello

Would anyone know how I can refer to the highest high for last 5 bars
using metastock's language.

Regards

Freddo

[Freddo]

Found it !!!
hhv function

[yogi-in-oz]

:)

Hi Freddo,

hhv(H,5) ..... is probably what you require.

Are you developing an indicator, a filter or an exploration???

happy trading

yogi

:)

[wayneL]

Depending on what you want to do Freddo, you may need to use it like this:

REF(HHV(H,5),-1)

Cheers

[macca]

I love MS language, so easy compared to Amibroker :(

Too bad my MS won't work on XP

[yogi-in-oz]

:)

..... what version MS do you have and what version
of Windows did it run in previously, Macca??

happy days

yogi

:)

[Freddo]

Thanks Wayne and Yogi also to the person who shifted my post to this thread
I didn't find it when I did a search

[tech/a]

I love MS language, so easy compared to Amibroker :(

Too bad my MS won't work on XP

Just Use 2000 or 98 for running Metastock.

There is a metastock formula primer. I have hard copied the tutorial.
Found it on Google.
Invest $120 a year and get Roy Larsens Metastock tips and Tricks.
Fantastic value.

[macca]

Hi Yogi,

Been through all the tricks to try to get it to work :)

Long story...........................

I don't do much experimenting now and I can find what I need for AB so I just leave it at what I have , works for me :)

thanks for asking tho........

[RichKid]

Can anyone who has MS 9 or higher pm me please? Thanks!


---
btw, these links may be helpful:
http://www.equis.com/customer/resources/ (MS formula guides and some other stuff)
http://www.meta-formula.com/Metastock-Programming-Study-Guide.html

[bingk6]

I have what I would hope would be a very simple question for experienced Metastock users. With the explorer, is there a simple way to scan all stocks in my asx folder. At present, there are lots of subdirectories beneath the asx folder (eg those beginning with A,B,C etc etc), but I can only select one sub-directory at a time. What I want to do is to select just the asx folder, and for metastock to then select all securities in all folders beneath the asx folder.

TIA

[tech/a]

bingk6

There is a simple solution.

However you have to load all folders once.
So.
Make an exploration up and in filter place Close.
Load all the folders individually (Thats the pain).
Once completed run the exploration.

When finished click on Reports---then to the right youll see --Save list.

Save it and call it ASX.

You then have the full list ready to load with any explorations.
A little imagination and you can see how you can make up and save all sorts of lists

[MichaelD]

Tech - an interesting solution to this annoying MetaStock limitation.

I worked around the same problem differently - I created a Favorites folder called "Entire Market". I then added the contents of all 26 directories under my base ASX data folder to this folder, one letter at a time. Now, I have a Favorites folder with the whole ASX market contained therein which is easy to load.

[tech/a]

Same pond different Ducks.

[bingk6]

Tech - an interesting solution to this annoying MetaStock limitation.

I worked around the same problem differently - I created a Favorites folder called "Entire Market". I then added the contents of all 26 directories under my base ASX data folder to this folder, one letter at a time. Now, I have a Favorites folder with the whole ASX market contained therein which is easy to load.

Michael,

Did you move the files or did you copy the files (ie duplicate still remained). I initially tried to copy the files with the downloader which was OK, but then when I loaded up the days data, the original files were updated but the copied files weren't

Tech,

Tried your suggestions, worked well, many thanks

[MichaelD]

Did you move the files or did you copy the files (ie duplicate still remained). I initially tried to copy the files with the downloader which was OK, but then when I loaded up the days data, the original files were updated but the copied files weren'tNeither. I went into each individual data directory, selected all securities, right mouse clicked and chose "Add To Favorites" and then highlighted the appropriate Favorites directory.

[RichKid]

Can anyone suggest the best FREE source for MS compatible data for:

1) ASX200 stocks (Daily to monthly)
2) FX (including hourly data)

Hoping you can recommend it from experience in terms of data accuracy (clean) and ease of use (ie no need for editing data, can load straight into MS).

I'm fiddling with MS and trying to find the best source for data. There are a few general threads and links on ASF on free data but I'm interested in those users who have consistently used a particular free source for MS.

btw, I tried the IPO australia site (ex float.com.au) but it's gone, see the last post in this thread: http://www.aussiestockforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2362&highlight=free+data

I am probably asking for too much here but thought I'd post in case someone can help.

[Kauri]

RK,
For Fx and a few other indicies you could try....
http://www.akmos.com/software/
Is free, data not too bad, the only thing is you need to revalidate your free demo account monthly but they send a timely email reminder.


Or their is the Metaquotes setup, mainly FX.
http://www.metaquotes.net/

I use Amibroker and have used both via Metastock Data and had no problems.
Cheers
Kauri

[RichKid]

RK,
For Fx and a few other indicies you could try....
http://www.akmos.com/software/
Is free, data not too bad, the only thing is you need to revalidate your free demo account monthly but they send a timely email reminder.


Or their is the Metaquotes setup, mainly FX.
http://www.metaquotes.net/

I use Amibroker and have used both via Metastock Data and had no problems.
Cheers
Kauri
Thanks very much Kauri!! Will give it a go, here's another site with free membership, haven't checked it out properly yet but it has global indices and lots of others including customisable features: http://www.downloadquotes.com

Might separate this topic into another thread if there's enough info.

[bingk6]

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of assistance using the ref function in metastock. Eg. Ref(C,-5) returns the closingprice 5 periods ago. What I want to do is to refer to the closing price n days, whereby n is a variable and not hardcoded.

Eg n:=5
ref(C,-n)

instead of ref(C,-5).

The manual states that the ref function will only take in a constant in the PERIODS field. Therefore is there some other way I can refer to past data using a variable???

[Shane Baker]

What determines your variable?

[tech/a]

N:=Input("Periods",1,500,10);
ref(C,-N);

Cut and paste this into indicator builder.

1 is the minimum value.
500 is the maximum value.
10 is the default value.

Change as you wish.

[weird]

Have a look at the forum dll by Patrick from

http://forum.equis.com/

in the files section.

"3) Variable Reference Function

This is the same as the MetaStock reference function except that it allows you to use a variable as periods. It references a previous element in a DATA ARRAY.
PERIODS references "n" periods ago.

The syntax:

ExtFml(“forum.VarREF", Data Array, Periods)

Example 1:

ExtFml(“forum.VarREF", Close, 10)
{This returns the close value 10 periods ago}

Example 2:

ExtFml(“forum.VarREF", Stoch(5,3), Mov(C,10,E))

{This returns the stochastic(5,3) value going back the integer result of the Moving average function. Here I want to point out that we are using integers only so if my moving average or any other variable I use returns a value similar to 10.2354 the dll will use 10, if my variable returns 17.987 it will return 17}


What does it do, Why is it useful?

This is for people who are looking for adaptive indicators. Most trading gurus will tell you that no system will work forever, because it is dependant of the current market trend. Adaptive indicators attempt to correct this problem by adjusting themselves based on some other variables.

The VarREF function in itself might not represent much but when creating your own adaptive indicator it might come in handy.

And mostly it calculates 100 times faster than the LastValue(Variable+Prev-Prev ) trick

IMPORTANT: I do not let the dll use forward reference, the dll will always convert your variable to look backwards. Why? Well it is my belief that reference in the future as useless and that people make huge mistakes when using these."

"This product includes software developed by MetaStock Forum Crew
(http://forum.equis.com)"

[bingk6]

Have a look at the forum dll by Patrick from

http://forum.equis.com/

in the files section.



Hi weird,

Many thanks for your help. I downloaded the forum.dll as it works a treat.

Tech, the standard ref function refused to accept the variable and I couldn't get what you suggested to work.

[bingk6]

Hi all,

Just another question on Metastock.

For the results that I get from doing the systems testing, is there a way in which I can "export" the results out so that they can be analysed with a spreadsheet (eg excel ?). At the moment, the only stats I have are what Metastock provides.

TIA

Bingk6

[rms20565]

Please help me to import formulas without invoking organizer in tools. I saw many of them are using self-extracting exe which uses formula organizer self-extractor that automatically imports experts and indicators into metastock. Please help me

[nizar]

Hi all,

How do you enter an entry trigger as an all time high close in the metastock explorer?

Thanks.

[buggalug]

Hi all,

How do you enter an entry trigger as an all time high close in the metastock explorer?

Thanks.

Have a look at HHV, BarsSince or just something like:

C > Ref(Highest(C), -1)

[nizar]

Have a look at HHV, BarsSince or just something like:

C > Ref(Highest(C), -1)

Thanks buggalug.
I'll give that a go.
What does the "-1" mean?

[buggalug]

Thanks buggalug.
I'll give that a go.
What does the "-1" mean?

The REF(..,-1) means look back one bar, because you don't want to include the current bar.

Otherwise if your happy with it being the equal high ever you can just do:
C >= Highest(C)

[nizar]

Have a look at HHV, BarsSince or just something like:

C > Ref(Highest(C), -1)

Damn its not working i get this message:

This is not a recognized name, constant or operator.

Can you type it exactly as its meant to appear.

Many thanks.

[buggalug]

Damn its not working i get this message:


Can you type it exactly as its meant to appear.

Many thanks.

Not quite sure, I copied and pasted it into my explorer and it worked fine:

[nizar]

Not quite sure, I copied and pasted it into my explorer and it worked fine:

Oh so you put it under filter?
If that is the case then what do you put for EntryTrigger in column A ??

[buggalug]

Oh so you put it under filter?
If that is the case then what do you put for EntryTrigger in column A ??

Good question, I guess you have a newer version. I have v9 and it doesn't appear to have that

[nizar]

Good question, I guess you have a newer version. I have v9 and it doesn't appear to have that

Oh sorry.
My misunderstanding.

I am using version 9 as well but i think for exploring for all time high closes, then you put the condition in the filter as you have shown.

What Im trying to do is create a system which i can back test.
I want the entry of the system to be to:

BUY tomorrows open if todays close is an all time high.

Lets take the Tradesim (turtle breakout system) for example. This comes with the metastock.
See how the criteria for entry/exit is in column A.
Instead of this:

EntryTrigger:=H>Ref(HHV(H,40),-1);

I want the entry trigger to buy all time highs.

[Bacchus]

Hello all, I have metastock 9.0 should I be worried about the new(ish) 9.1 or am I fine in sticking with my current 9.0? thanks

If you have bought metastock v 9.0 from paritech,they might give you the v9.1
for nothing.Give them a call on 1300652511.

[nizar]

My previous query has been resolved.

Now i have another.

After running an exploration, then Reports, im getting alot of Rejects.

They all have the reason as:

Error in column A: Invalid time period (zero or negative) passed to HHV() function

My column A HHV function is:

EntryTrigger:=H>Ref(HHV(H,40),-1);

Can anyone see the problem and how can I fix it?
Thanks

[rnr]

Hi Nizar,

When you say all time high do you mean in the last 30 bars, 6 months, 1 year or what?
For example if you mean in the last year and you are working on a daily search (system) then try as below:-

EntryTrigger:=HHVBars(H,253)=0;

I believe this will filter out those stocks where today is not the highest high in the last 253 bars (equiv. to 1 year).

[nizar]

Hi Nizar,

When you say all time high do you mean in the last 30 bars, 6 months, 1 year or what?
For example if you mean in the last year and you are working on a daily search (system) then try as below:-

EntryTrigger:=HHVBars(H,253)=0;

I believe this will filter out those stocks where today is not the highest high in the last 253 bars (equiv. to 1 year).

Thanks for that rnr.
I was referring to all time highs (ever).
But I will try everything I can (including 52-week highs) to see which one works best.

[nizar]

This should be an easy question.

After running an exploration, how do a view a chart that has come out of that exploration?

Where you can see not only the price action but entry and exit signals, and initial and trailing stops?

Thanks.

[tech/a]

Gee does David know Tradesim is expected to do that!

Youll have to code up an EXPERT and then look at every single trade you want through M/S.

[nizar]

Gee does David know Tradesim is expected to do that!

Youll have to code up an EXPERT and then look at every single trade you want through M/S.

LOL i think you misunderstood me.

I mean like a picture of a chart with the trailing stop on the same chart and where you entered and exited the trade.

Iv seen charts posted up like this several times on this forum and others.

[tech/a]

You could code it up as a template then it will attach to all charts.

[moleman]

I'm a new user of Metastock and have v9.0. I've copied some share symbols to a folder of buy candidates which I want to scan using TradeGuider. I think I need to copy the shares to another folder else TradeGuider doesn't find them if I save them say to a favourites list. But then the downloader doesn't update this folder?! Does anyone know how to do this?

thanks