FastTrack Export

updated 01/13/20

What is Exporting and Why use It

FastTrack's exports dividend-adjusted data into formats readable by other programs. There is NO provision to export unadjusted data. However, the spreadsheet tab may  compute it's results without dividends and this sheet may be exported.

The data exported is the data of ticker symbols in the Issue List. Exports can be performed automatically on startup without having to interact with Ft4Web manually.

Export Period

The Date range of the data exported is from the date you type in to the current date. This is the "Export Period." There is no provision for exporting to an ending date other than the last date in the FT database.

In the case of existing "MetaStock (6.0 - 11.0) files". The export adds new data starting at the last day in the existing MetaStock data. Earlier FT data will not be prefixed to the MetaStock data. If you wish to extend the early data, then select the "Delete all files" Export Option, below. Exception, when FT4WEB rewrites MetaStock data to to adjust for distributions, the data is rewritten from the start of the Export Period.

Export Options

Add New Update Existing . . .This can be selected only for MetaStock files.

Delete all files then Export . . .
Selecting this Export Option always rewrites everything. Used this when your data folder has become corrupted or you wish to clear out accumulated trash.

Export all data to a single file . . .
The comma-delimited and Fixed length exports can be written to individual files (named with the ticker symbol) or a single file (name defined below). The MetaStock PRN export is always to a single file.

• If the button is NOT selected, then the issues would each be written to a different disk file.
• If the button is selected, then all issues in the list would be written to a single file named XXXX.CSV (Comma-delimited) or XXXX.EXP (fixed). Where XXX is a name of your choosing.

Note: On the FastTrack Export Tab, when you select "Export all list issues to a single file" then the export goes to to a file shown at the top of the Issue List as the "Issue List Name". This allows you to export (step 8 above) multiple families of issues each to a separate export name.

When allowed, you fill this field in yourself. There are many options. This governs how the date is displayed. For some export types, the date format is predetermined and cannot be changed.

Paths for Export

This folder list shows where the exported files will go. You must know where your other programs expect their data files to exist.

FastTrack can remember where to export. Whenever you load a saved export, the path associated with that export displays in the folder list.

• You may change the path temporarily. Choose a new path in the folder list, then click the export button.
• If you want the new path to be permanent,  push the Save Export button.

Remember: Exported files go to the currently highlighted path.

Note: You can export Metastock data to any path for Metastock to use. However you must tell Metastock what path to use to find the data.

Export Button

Click this button when all options have been selected and you are ready to do the export.
The hot key for this function is "E".

Stop Button

Click this button to interrupt the export. The issue currently being exported will complete and then the process will stop.
The hot key for this function is "S".

New Folder Button

Clicking this button will create a new folder under the current folder selected.

The new folder will automatically receive the current family name above the Issue list. If you want a different name, then click on the family name above the Issue List and type in the new name before making a new folder.

The hot key for this function is "N".

Delete Folder Button

The folder currently highlighted will be deleted. Certain checks are made to determine if the folder looks like a data directory. If FastTrack finds programs or a large number of file types, then it will give you a chance to chance your mind. Also, while it won't let you delete the root FT directory, it does not prevent you from deleting other very important folders (like C:\Windows ). Be as careful with FT's folder delete capability.

The hot key for this function is "D".

Load Export Button

When you load an export, FastTrack reads a disk file that contains the all the settings, the family name, the date format, the path to which files are exported, etc. This way you can do the same export every day without having to change settings. Exports are loaded, by default, in the C:\FT\FT4WIN\EXPORT\USERDEF folder . . . but you may load an export from any folder, providing you remember where.

The hot key for this function is "L".

Save Export Button

When you save an export, FastTrack writes a disk file with the extension INI. This file contains the all the settings, the family name, the date format, the path to which files are exported, etc. This way you can load the same export every day without having to change settings. Exports are saved, by default, in the C:\FT\FT4WIN\EXPORT\USERDEF folder . . . but you may load an export from any folder. You cannot save an export in the USERDEF folder when a export file of the same name exists in the lower level EXPORT folder.

The hot key for this function is "S". Note: All hot key functions are performed while the mouse is on the blue or yellow section of the export screen.

Adjusting for Distributions

There is no provision for exporting unadjusted prices or the distributions. All data exported is dividend adjusted data.

When distributions occur, ALL existing exported data must be reexported except that  MetaStock exports automatically export historical adjusted data as required.

Using the Export

Choose the Type of Export. Choose the Export Options. Use "Delete All files" when you wish to clear out accumulated trash or the contents of the folder have been corrupted. Use "Add New and Update Existing" because its is faster when doing a regular day after day export. An example of why you would delete everything might be:

• With the MetaStock export, if the list you export today does not contain all the ticker symbols that you exported yesterday, then the data for the missing symbols will NOT be updated, but the MetaStock data files for them will continue to exist. The MetaStock issue list will continue to show you the missing symbols, but their charts will not be current.

  With any type of export, you no longer care about issues you exported previously.

• Using the "Delete All Files" option for MetaStock deletes everything in the directory. With nonMetaStock exports, "Delete All files" deletes only the data files of that type exported in the target folder and leaves all other files and programs untouched.

1. Set the earliest export date for the data. All FastTrack exporting will start at that date except New MetaStock format will append to existing data unless the "delete all files" option is chosen. In that case the New MetaStock export will start exporting at the earliest date.

2. Highlight the path to which the export files will go.

MetaStock Export

FastTrack's export now used the MSFL65x.DLL library of programs supplied under agreement with Equis. These are routines written by Equis and provided to 3rd parties. Equis does NOT take tech support calls from end users relating to this library. Call FastTrack with your export related questions.

Note: The MetaStock DLL exports a maximum of 2000 issues at a time.

Note: You can export Metastock ver. 6.0-11.0 data to any path for Metastock to use. However you must remember where you put the files so that you can tell Metastock what path to use.

The volume exported with the price data is the same for every issue. It is the data from FT symbol $TVOL, the volume of the NYSE.

Comma Delimited Export Type - Export data in comma-delimited format.

The data elements are separated by commas. This is the most efficient way to export single funds in a single file to spreadsheets and databases. Data is exported to a text file named SYMBOL.CSV where SYMBOL is replaced by the fund's 5-letter NASDAQ symbol. The file is placed in the FastTrack directory. Data is exported in the following format:

DATE, JJJJJJ, CCCC.CC, DDDD.DDD, N

• DATE is the date as specified in the date format. Click to see date formatting options. When in doubt use MM/DD/YYYY.
• JJJJJ is the julian date, i.e. the number of days since 12/31/1899.
• CCCC.CC is the Net Asset Value.
• DDDD.DDD is always 0000.000. Formerly with FastTrack for DOS, it was the sum of all distributions paid on that day. FastTrack for the Web exports only adjusted prices without dividends. The field was retained for compatibility purposes.
• N is always the letter "N". It has no specific meaning. Also retained for compatibility.

The lines of text are only as long as necessary to contain the values. The spacing of the fields and commas will vary according to the data. The lines of data are not all the same length although they always have the same number of fields. Values are rounded to the third decimal place.

This format is suitable for import as a CSV into spreadsheets and for input to a variety of PC programs.

Fixed Length - Export data in fixed length format.

This is an ASCII text format without any carriage returns at the end of each line. The data values occur at fixed length intervals. Short number fields are padded with blanks or zeros. This is often the best way to export data that will subsequently be processed by a mainframe or database program that is unable to accept comma-delimited formats. Data is exported to a text file named SYMBOL.EXP where SYMBOL is replaced by the fund's 5-letter NASDAQ symbol. The file is placed in the FastTrack directory. Data is exported in the following format:

MM/DD/YYYY_JJJJJ_CCCC.CC_DDDD.DDD_N

Note: If you set the date format to something other than MM/DD/YYYY, then the above line will be different. For field definitions click here or see above

FastTrack Format (FNU) - Export into the FastTrack Import Format (FNU)

This exports data into a FastTrack ASCII text file with the extension FNU. See Importing Data for more information on this format.

The benefit of using this type of export is that you could export an issue, change the data (perhaps the most recent distribution is missing), and the display it with corrections. By default symbols exported will end in a $ so that the FNU file name does not duplicate a name already in the database. In prior versions of the export, we appended an "A" to the name, but this assumed that we were dealing with mutual funds whose symbols all end in X. Now that the database also includes stocks, simply appending an A may make an unintended valid symbol.

FundMaster Prn

This export creates individual files in any folder you specify. The file named is the  Symbol.PRN. The file contains lines of ASCII text in the form. Fund Master was a popular DOS program in the 1980's and many current analysis programs can still import FundMaster format data.

    MM/DD/YY, AAAA.AA

where,

• MM/DD/YY is the date
• AAAA.AA is the distribution- adjusted closing price in dollars and cents.
• Symbol is the ticker symbol

Spreadsheet - Export in a multi-row/multi-column comma-delimited text file.

This format is for importing FastTrack data into spreadsheets. The data is in ASCII, comma delimited, text in columns.

• The first column contains a Date in the form specified by the Date Format. Click to see date formatting options
• The top row contains the comma-delimited, 5-letter text symbol for each issue.
• Note that we use the CSV format since this format is compatible with Excel, Quattro Pro, Lotus 1-2-3, and other spreadsheet and database programs.
• Older spreadsheets cannot handle FastTrack's huge quantity of data. For example, Microsoft Excel 97 is limited to 256 columns. AND . . .You better have at least 64MB of memory and patience import anything close to a 256 column x 2000 row spreadsheet.

MetaStock Format (PRN) - Export an ASCII text for import by MetaStock's MSU or Downloader utility.

In addition to exporting FastTrack data via New MetaStock export type, FastTrack can export an ASCII text file that is compatible with MetaStock pre-Version 6. The MetaStock MSU data import utility and Downloader (Newer MS versions). Other programs like FundMaster can read this file format as well. Contact Equis for details on how to use MetaStock.

AutoExport Feature

When FastTrack starts it will automatically perform a saved export if you wish. Here are the steps.

In the instructions below use saved file names that are simple. That is, no spaces,  no punctuation except for the a period, no network path names

1. Save an export as discussed above in the path C:\FT\FT4WIN\EXPORTS\USERDEF\ assuming that C:\FT\ is where you installed FastTrack.
2. In the following steps, we assume the saved export is named XXX. Test the export manually to ensure that it works before going further. The  auto-exported data will go to same path as when you tested manually. Check to ensure that this test worked.
3. Start the Windows Task Scheduler. "Create a Basic Task". Do the Trigger, Action, and Finish parts of the creation process.
   
   
    
4. Create a task named FTExport (or your choice of a name)
5. Set the "trigger" schedule for it to run.
6. Set the "Action" entering the "Program/Script"  as C:\FT\FT4WIN\FT4Win.exe, this is the charting (and exporting) program.
7. Add the "arguments"----> /CMD XXX[then optionaly],YYY,ZZZ
   No quotes, no periods, space before and after /CMD. The XXX, YYY, and ZZZ are one or more  saved FastTrack exports separated by commas. All  must be saved individually in the standard export file location (typically C:\FT\FT4WIN\EXPORTS\USERDEF\).
8. The are a number of additional Task Manager properties that you can set Please refer to the Microsoft provided documentation.

When the export completes, you may use FT normally or just shut it down. Using the task manager you can also cause additional tasks to run  after the export.