Getting Started
To follow this How To you will need Databoss version 4.2 or higher and the Metastock Downloader.

• The Databoss version is displayed when you start the program. You can upgrade, if necessary, by clicking on Utilities, then Databoss Update.

• The Metastock Downloader is a free product offered by Equis. You may be able to download the software by clicking here [equis.com]. If the direct link does not work, you can go to the equis.com home page, find the Free Downloader product, and install it. This How To has been tested with the Downloader version 7.21 and may not work with older versions.

General Notes
Please note that by following these instructions you will turn Databoss into a downloader only. You will need to use the Metastock Downloader for all file maintenance, updating, etc.

This How To will give you specific instructions which will demonstrate how to convert InvestorLink historical data to Metastock format and update that data with InvestorLink daily update files. Please use this How To as a demonstration and not necessarily as an example of the best way to set up your own data. Specific items, such as the locations where your files will reside, can be set at your discretion.

Databoss Setup

1. Start Databoss.

2. Click on Setup on the main navigation bar.

3. Click on User Info on the sub-navigation bar. Enter your assigned InvestorLink Username and Password if you haven't done so already. Click Save.

4. Click on Download Directories on the sub-navigation bar. For each of the four data types (stock, stock index, futures, funds) type in the path "c:\msotest\hist" without the quotation marks. For the EOD Data path, type in the path "c:\msotest\eod" without the quotation marks. Click on Save.

   This setup tells Databoss that any historical data you download should be put into the 'c:\msotest\hist' folder, and daily updates should go into the 'c:\msotest\eod' folder.

5. Click on the Custom ASCII button on the sub-navigation bar. Within the Pre-set box, click on the dropdown arrow and select Metastock. Still within the Pre-set box, click the small Set All button. Click on Save.

   This setup will allow InvestorLink's ASCII files to be converted into a format acceptable to the Metastock Downloader.

Download Some Data

1. Connect to the internet. Start Databoss if it is not running already.

2. Click on Download on the main navigation bar.

3. Click on Stocks on the sub-navigation bar. Add a couple of tickers to the download queue by finding them on the ticker list and double clicking them.

4. Click on EOD on the sub-navigation bar. Set the data date back one day by clicking on the left arrow beneath the date. For example, change 20011224 to 20011223. Click on the Stock button to add the end of day stock file to the download list.

5. Click on Download on the sub-navigation bar. Click on Download on the Utility screen to retrieve the files you have queued.

Convert Historical Data

1. Start the Metastock Downloader.

2. From the menu bar, click on Tools, then Convert.

3. Click on the Options button, then the Source tab.

   In the Date Range section of the tab, leave the 'First Date' and 'Last Date' items alone. Leave the 'Use todays date' checkbox unchecked.

   In the Periodicity section, make sure Daily is selected.

   In the 'Message Limits' section, change the number for warnings and errors both to 25000.

   Leave 'Traverse source folders' unchecked.

4. Click on the Source tab.

   In the 'If file exists' section, select 'Append data to end of file' and check 'Replace matching dates.'

   Check the boxes 'Include Open & Open Interest' and 'Create New Files'.

   Leave everything else unchecked then click on Apply then Okay.

5. You should still be looking at the Convert Securities dialog.

   In the Source section of the dialog, change the File Type to 'ASCII Text.' Click the Browse button and browse to the folder 'c:\msotest\hist.' This should display the tickers you downloaded previously. Click on one then click Open.

   Tip: you can select more than one file at a time by holding down the CTRL or SHIFT keys on your keyboard while clicking on the files in the above dialog.

   In the Destination section of the dialog, make sure the File Type is set to 'Metastock.' Set the Folder to "c:\msotest\msdata" (without the quotation marks).

   Click Okay to convert the file(s) you selected.

At this point you should have some Metastock formatted data available to you in the folder c:\msotest\msdata. You can try opening these files with your charting application to make sure you're on the right track.

Updating Your Data

1. Start the Metastock Downloader.

2. From the menu bar, click on Tools, then Convert.

3. Click on the Options button, then the Destination tab.

   Uncheck the 'Create new files' box. Leave everything else the same, click Apply, then Okay.

4. Start Databoss.

   Click on Utilties on the main navigation bar, then Software Helper on the sub-navigation bar.

   Click the 'Adjust Metastock Errors' button.

   Close Databoss.

5. You should still be looking at the Convert Securities dialog.

   In the Source section of the dialog, click on the Browse button and browse to the folder 'c:\msotest\eod.' Select the end of day file then click Open.

   Tip: you can select more than one file at a time by holding down the key on your keyboard while clicking on the files in the above dialog.

   Click Okay to apply the current data to your historical files.

Concepts to Understand

1. When adding historical files to your database, you need to have the 'Create new files' option checked.

2. When updating your data you do NOT want the 'Create new files' option checked.

3. You will find that the daily routine is much simpler than it might appear because most of the settings we've adjusted are persistant - the Downloader will remember them. Just take care to have the 'Create new files' option set properly.

4. This is extremely important if you want to make sure all of your data is updated: The Max Errors setting must be set to above 30000 for the data updating to function properly. This poses a problem because the Downloader will not let you set the property above 25000 - which is where the Databoss software helper comes into play. Using this utility, as described previously, it will set Max Errors to 64000 so that the updating will work.

   You should not have to use this utility on a daily basis. Once you have the historical files you want, you can update them simply by selecting the end of day file as described in Updating Your Data. You only need to use the software helper between adding historical files to your database and updating them.

   A word on these 'errors' - they are not really errors at all. When the Downloader is processing the daily update file, it generates several errors for each ticker it contains that doesn't have a corresponding historical file. In other words, if there is a ticker that you are not interested in the Downloader generates some errors.

The Daily Routine
This section assumes that the last action you have taken was 'Updating Your Data.'

1. Connect to the internet.

2. Start Databoss.

3. Click on Update on the main navigation bar, then Update again on the sub-navigation bar.

4. Click on Start!

5. Close Databoss after the download has completed.

6. Start the Metastock Downloader.

7. Click on Tools, then Convert.

8. Click on the Browse button in the Source section of the dialog.

9. Select the daily update file(s) you just downloaded, then click Open.

10. Click on Okay to start the updating.

Final Comments
Explore the Metastock Downloader and it's documentation for more information about it's utilties and options. For example, you can hide the bogus error messages by applying a Filter. If you have any problems, drop us a note.