Importing symbols and security names

[Overload]

I am running Vista

Yes, I should have known this was happening on Vista, as this sounds like a classic Vista security headache. For anyone else reading, this is completely a Windows Vista issue and has absolutely nothing to do with StrataSearch.

The Deluxe MSN Screener operates as a plug-in within your web browser. Well, Internet Explorer when run from Vista contains a security mechanism called "Protected Mode". Protected Mode prevents any of the Internet Explorer plug-ins from saving any files or data to your hard drive. The idea is that this will make your web browsing more secure, since plug-ins cannot save viruses or other problematic files to your computer.

In this case, however, Microsoft has a bit of a conflict. Their MSN Screener allows one to save a file to their hard drive, but by default their security mechanism in Vista doesn't allow that to happen.

Here's what you can do: Within Internet Explorer, open the Tools > Internet Options menu, and then click the Security tab. For the Internet Zone, you can then uncheck the "Protected Mode" box. You'll then need to restart Internet Explorer, but you should then be able to save the file to your hard drive after running the screener again. When you're done with your screening, you can then go back and recheck the Protected Mode box. And, of course, you'll see to restart Internet Explorer so that Protected Mode is re-enabled.

Did I mention this sounds like a classic Vista security headache?

Pete

[taowave]

This bring me to a realted topic.When creating sectors,we have to scroll thru the securities and click each one individually.It would be alot easier to simply multiple symbols seperated by a comma.Most programs allow one to do that.

Getting back to the main topic,I know with Amibroker,I can simply import the names in excel into a list.Could we possibly have that functionality?

Thanks,

Allan

I am running Vista

Yes, I should have known this was happening on Vista, as this sounds like a classic Vista security headache. For anyone else reading, this is completely a Windows Vista issue and has absolutely nothing to do with StrataSearch.

The Deluxe MSN Screener operates as a plug-in within your web browser. Well, Internet Explorer when run from Vista contains a security mechanism called "Protected Mode". Protected Mode prevents any of the Internet Explorer plug-ins from saving any files or data to your hard drive. The idea is that this will make your web browsing more secure, since plug-ins cannot save viruses or other problematic files to your computer.

In this case, however, Microsoft has a bit of a conflict. Their MSN Screener allows one to save a file to their hard drive, but by default their security mechanism in Vista doesn't allow that to happen.

Here's what you can do: Within Internet Explorer, open the Tools > Internet Options menu, and then click the Security tab. For the Internet Zone, you can then uncheck the "Protected Mode" box. You'll then need to restart Internet Explorer, but you should then be able to save the file to your hard drive after running the screener again. When you're done with your screening, you can then go back and recheck the Protected Mode box. And, of course, you'll see to restart Internet Explorer so that Protected Mode is re-enabled.

Did I mention this sounds like a classic Vista security headache?

Pete

[Overload]

When creating sectors,we have to scroll thru the securities and click each one individually.It would be alot easier to simply multiple symbols seperated by a comma.Most programs allow one to do that.

I know with Amibroker,I can simply import the names in excel into a list.Could we possibly have that functionality?

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll put these on the list as possible future enhancements.

Pete

[taowave]

Hi Pete,
Do you think Zacks is an isolated case,or will MSN and Morningstar have the same issue?I am going to take a look at Morningstar..

An update follows in regard to Allan's Import Sector question ...

After being coverted from Excel to Text, the "Zacks" file had extraneous tab characters at the end of each line ... which caused Import Sectors to not work as desired. So, we tried something that bypassed the troublesome conversion:

1. Open the Import Sectors window by entering the File-->Import Sectors menus;
2. Set Source Type to ASCII;
3. In the Sector File window, type a name for a new sector list with a ".txt" extension, e.g. Zacks.txt, and then click "Edit";
4. Copy & paste the first column of the Excel file (which has the symbols) into the new Notepad file that opened in step (3);
5. As mentioned earlier in this thread, sector names are identified by a line beginning with "###", so add that line to the file, e.g., ###Zacks;
6. In the Notepad window, open the Save As window by entering the File-->Save As menus, and then click "Save";
7. Close Notepad; and,
8. In the Import Sectors window, click "Cancel".

When Import Sectors is re-opened, the new sector list is visible in the Sector File drop-down box and ready to be used in Import Sectors.

[Overload]

Do you think Zacks is an isolated case,or will MSN and Morningstar have the same issue?

I've only heard of the issue with Zacks, but I've not specifically tried MSN or Morningstar. Let me know how it goes.

Pete

[taowave]

Zacks seems to be an isolated case,but this Vista issue is a major pain in the butt.Do I have to save the CV files in an SS directory?

Do you think Zacks is an isolated case,or will MSN and Morningstar have the same issue?

I've only heard of the issue with Zacks, but I've not specifically tried MSN or Morningstar. Let me know how it goes.

Pete

[Overload]

Zacks seems to be an isolated case,but this Vista issue is a major pain in the butt.Do I have to save the CV files in an SS directory?

The Vista issue I mentioned previously is indeed a major pain, but it's unrelated to StrataSearch. There may be other ways of getting around that security issue, but you would need to investigate that on your own. The ones I mentioned are the only ones I'm aware of.

As for where the CSV files can be stored, they can only be imported from the \Sector directory off the StrataSearch program directory. So that's where they ultimately need to exist to complete the import.

Pete

[taowave]

Hi guys,
I have attempted to import Zacks number 1 stocks again after a long hiatus,and it isnt working as it did in the past.I saved the file as a Text file and followed the instructions without success.In Notepad,I did name the file ###Zacks,but it does not come up when I look under ASCII files..Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Allan

An update follows in regard to Allan's Import Sector question ...

After being coverted from Excel to Text, the "Zacks" file had extraneous tab characters at the end of each line ... which caused Import Sectors to not work as desired. So, we tried something that bypassed the troublesome conversion:

1. Open the Import Sectors window by entering the File-->Import Sectors menus;
2. Set Source Type to ASCII;
3. In the Sector File window, type a name for a new sector list with a ".txt" extension, e.g. Zacks.txt, and then click "Edit";
4. Copy & paste the first column of the Excel file (which has the symbols) into the new Notepad file that opened in step (3);
5. As mentioned earlier in this thread, sector names are identified by a line beginning with "###", so add that line to the file, e.g., ###Zacks;
6. In the Notepad window, open the Save As window by entering the File-->Save As menus, and then click "Save";
7. Close Notepad; and,
8. In the Import Sectors window, click "Cancel".

When Import Sectors is re-opened, the new sector list is visible in the Sector File drop-down box and ready to be used in Import Sectors.

[Overload]

Nothing has changed lately in this area. But based on your comment, you might be misunderstanding how it works. A ###Zacks line should preceed the symbols that are to be included in that sector. Naming your file ###Zacks will not do anything for you. For example, you might name your file "MySectors.txt", and then have the following data within it:

###My Four Stocks
AAPL
MSFT
GE
BA

When entering the File > Import Sectors menu, you should then be able to select "MySectors" as your ASCII import. After running that import, you should then have a new sector named "My Four Stocks".

Hope that helps.

Pete

[taowave]

I see the problem.In step #3,you instructed

In the Sector File window, type a name for a new sector list, e.g. Zacks, and then click "Edit";

I believe it should be Zacks.txt,as simply typing "Zacks" doesnt work..

Is it normal for SS to automatically "Rebuild Sector Index " on everything after adding 1 sector like Zacks??

Nothing has changed lately in this area. But based on your comment, you might be misunderstanding how it works. A ###Zacks line should preceed the symbols that are to be included in that sector. Naming your file ###Zacks will not do anything for you. For example, you might name your file "MySectors.txt", and then have the following data within it:

###My Four Stocks
AAPL
MSFT
GE
BA

When entering the File > Import Sectors menu, you should then be able to select "MySectors" as your ASCII import. After running that import, you should then have a new sector named "My Four Stocks".

Hope that helps.

Pete

[Overload]

I believe it should be Zacks.txt,as simply typing "Zacks" doesnt work..

You're right on that. I'll go back and revise that post. Thanks for the info.

Is it normal for SS to automatically "Rebuild Sector Index " on everything after adding 1 sector like Zacks??

Yes. Then entire Rebuild Sector Index process is always run, regardless of whether you import 1 or 1000 sectors. Fortunately, it's something that's normally run just once per day.

Pete

[taowave]

Pete,if I import 10 txt files,do I have to rebuild sector index 10 times,or will it automatically run all 10.I ask as only one sector is shown in the pop up box "Ascii import>import file..

Thanks,

Allan

I believe it should be Zacks.txt,as simply typing "Zacks" doesnt work..

You're right on that. I'll go back and revise that post. Thanks for the info.

Is it normal for SS to automatically "Rebuild Sector Index " on everything after adding 1 sector like Zacks??

Yes. Then entire Rebuild Sector Index process is always run, regardless of whether you import 1 or 1000 sectors. Fortunately, it's something that's normally run just once per day.

Pete

[Overload]

Pete,if I import 10 txt files,do I have to rebuild sector index 10 times,or will it automatically run all 10.I ask as only one sector is shown in the pop up box "Ascii import>import file..

A Rebuild Sector Indexes is run for each import, not for each txt file. So if you only ran one Price Import for those 10 files, it would only run the Rebuild once.

I'll also mention that the Processor does a look-ahead. If there is an additional Price or Sector import waiting out in the queue, it will bypass the Rebuild until the final price or sector import is complete. So it will only run the Rebuild once if 10 imports are placed in the Processor Queue at one time.

Pete

[taowave]

Thats good...

I think I have asked this before,but if I create a custom sector/index,am I able to run a system on the index as opposed to the individual stocks in the index??
I do notice in charting that when I bring up certain charts,the buy and sell arrows are there,which leads me to believe I could perform the backtest.If not,could you put it on the wishlist?

Allan

Pete,if I import 10 txt files,do I have to rebuild sector index 10 times,or will it automatically run all 10.I ask as only one sector is shown in the pop up box "Ascii import>import file..

A Rebuild Sector Indexes is run for each import, not for each txt file. So if you only ran one Price Import for those 10 files, it would only run the Rebuild once.

I'll also mention that the Processor does a look-ahead. If there is an additional Price or Sector import waiting out in the queue, it will bypass the Rebuild until the final price or sector import is complete. So it will only run the Rebuild once if 10 imports are placed in the Processor Queue at one time.

Pete

[Overload]

I think I have asked this before,but if I create a custom sector/index,am I able to run a system on the index as opposed to the individual stocks in the index??
I do notice in charting that when I bring up certain charts,the buy and sell arrows are there,which leads me to believe I could perform the backtest.If not,could you put it on the wishlist?

It's not possible to backtest buying and selling the sector indexes at this time, but such a feature is already on the list of possible future enhancements.

Pete