FAQs

Appendix 2: Troubleshooting and other FAQs

Downloads fail, I get messages from WWW/LX saying:

Problem receiving data!
Cannot create file
Closing PPP connection...
Hanging up...

Most probably an extra space character has been inserted in one or more of the template URLs in CHART.CFG. This occurs if CHART.CFG is edited in the built in Memo application. The solution is to restore the original CHART.CFG from the distribution file.

Editing of CHART.CFG should be done with an editor such as PalEdit from D&A Software. If PalEdit is used for editing CHART.CFG, the right margin should be set to 255 to avoid line wrapping.

Downloads fail:

Disk space may be the issue. Downloads of stock data can take significant amounts of disk space - especially if many new stocks are being processed.

Each new 12 month stock takes about 60Kb of disk space during download and processing. After download succeeds, the disk space required to store the processed data drops to about 40Kb.

Also keep in mind that using MaxDOS requires an additional 600 to 800 Kb of disk space to save the state of the system. The use of MaxDOS on a system with less than several megabytes of free disk space is not recommended.
Downloads fail:

WWW/LX must be licensed to download any interesting amount of information. Unlicensed demo copies of WWW/LX are limited to downloads of 16Kb. If your copy of WWW/LX is unlicensed, please contact D&A Software for a licensed copy.
Error message "Configuration file not found" from programs in the StockChart™ system.

Either the CHART.CFG file is missing from the directory with the StockChart™ executable programs or the PATH statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT does not contain an entry for the directory where CHART.CFG resides.

If the PATH statement does not specify the directory for the executable programs, the current directory must be set to the directory containing the StockChart™ executable programs before any of the data acquisition software is executed. This can be accomplished using MaxDOS by setting the -d switch when MaxDOS is executed or use the optional parameters when executing RUNNER.BAT.

Error message "Out of Environment Space" from RUNNER.BAT.

RUNNER.BAT version 3.2 and above uses two environment variables to set or override default directory paths for StockChart™ executable files and WWW/LX executable files. If there is not enough environment space, DOS actually issues the error message. If you have several applications that set environment variables (SET command in AUTOEXEC.BAT), the space could be too small by the time RUNNER is executed. To increase the space, use:

c:\maxdos.com command /e:512 /c runner.bat
to execute RUNNER if you are using MaxDOS.

command /e:512 /c runner.bat
to execute RUNNER if you are not using MaxDOS

Both of these statements initiate a new command processor with environment space of 512 bytes (default is 256 bytes). If you still get the message, increase the /e:512 to /e:1024.

The StockChart™ Lotus 1-2-3 viewer comes up in "Ready" mode rather than displaying a graph of Microsoft stock prices.

The Autoexecution mode in Lotus 1-2-3 is turned off. Start execution with ALT G. StockChart™ should run normally. StockChart™ is programmed to turn on autoexecution, so that the next time the viewer is loaded, it should run automatically. Make sure the worksheet is saved by using the Main Exit menu items to exit StockChart™.

The StockChart™ viewer cannot find the STOCKS.STK index file.

StockChart™ as delivered expects that all of the data files reside in C:\STOCKS. If the data files have been moved to another location, the StockChart™ viewer will need to be told where to find the data files by using the Options Data Default menu items. After changing Options Data Default, the spreadsheet must be saved on exit to be able to remember the change.

Another possibility is that the STOCKS.STK index file does not exist. It can be rebuilt at any time by entering the Stocks database and running the [Fn][F8] (Sav-Stk) macro.
Some of the price graphs do not show a maximum or a minimum price even though the MaxMin option is turned on.

The Separate parameter in CHART.CFG defines a window behind the latest closing price in which maximum and minimum prices will not be displayed. The default is 30 days, but this can be changed. The purpose of the window is to keep maximum or minimum prices from overlapping the closing price on the graph. Such overlap makes both numbers unreadable. Please refer to CHART.CFG - Fine tuning chart processing for more information.
There are data gaps in the history files accumulated by StockChart™.

StockChart™ is designed to work best if it is run every day that the market is open. If this is not desired or is not possible, there will be missing data. Any stock histories may be downloaded in total "on demand". Simply change the "Exchange" field in the appropriate stock database from NYSE or Nasdaq to History then save the index file by executing the [Fn][F8] (Sav-Stk) macro. This technique should be used keeping in mind the 60Kb disk space required to download each stock each time you log in.
All stock, index, and foreign exchange databases are updated at each login - how is it possible to select which databases are updated?

Delete or rename the <portfolio>.STK file in C:\STOCKS. This will keep it out of downloads until it is restored either by renaming or rebuilding with a [Fn][F8] (Sav-Stk) macro.
Is it possible to select only certain stocks for updating from a given database?

The macro [Fn][F7] (Sel-Stk) or Select-Stock can be used to select certain stocks for updating. The stocks must be highlighted and selected before the [Fn][F7] macro is executed.

**Important**
If you select stocks, you will need to remove the reference to the CLEANUP program from the end of RUNNER.BAT. If you do not remove or comment the CLEANUP.EXE /C /D line, CLEANUP.EXE will delete all files related to stocks NOT selected.
After a stock split, the historical numbers are not recast to show values in terms of the post split shares.

New in version 3.3 is the capability to automatically recast historical stock prices to reflect the post split share prices. In the portfolio data base entries for each stock are fields to enter the Date of a stock split and the Ratio of the split (e.g. 2:1, 3:2). If a split date is scheduled for a stock and the portfolio database is saved using [Fn][F8], the historical price will be recast no sooner that the market day following the date of the split.

Another way to get the recast prices is to force a new download of historical data using History for the exchange. This approach is not as attractive as scheduling a stock split since it requires downloading a new copy of the stock's historical data. Also, the service providing the stock history may not recast the historical numbers for several days after a split actually occurred.
Is it possible to download and maintain different data lengths for the same stock symbol?

Yes, in order to download and maintain different data lengths for the same stock symbol, there must be multiple entries for the stock symbol in a stock database. Each entry must have a different number of months entered in the Months field. For example, If you wanted 3, 6, and 12 months of data on Microsoft (MSFT), MSFT would be entered in the database three times. One entry would have 03 in the Months field, one entry would have 06 in the Months field, and one entry would have 12 in the Months field. The Exchange field could be different on each of them. For example, Exchange on one MSFT entry could be Nasdaq, it could be History on the second MSFT entry, and it could be OldNasdaq on the third entry.
Can stocks from other exchanges such as the American or Philadelphia exchanges be accessed?

Yes, any listed stock can theoretically be accessed. The history downloads come from Yahoo!. If Yahoo! has data on the stock it can be downloaded. However, there are currently no specific accesses for AMEX or other exchanges in CHART.CFG. The easiest approach is to "lie" to the system by telling it that, for example, and AMEX stock such as TWA is a NYSE stock. If such lies bother you, please feel free to copy the NYSE URL in CHART.CFG, rename the copy to AMEX, enter a AMEX=Entry statement in the [Type] section, and try it.
Where else can I get help or support?

Contact Decision Point Systems by email at dps@leive.com or call, fax, or write to us at the numbers listed for Technical Support. Also, check the web site: http://www.leive.com/dps.htm for new information and FAQs on StockChart™.

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