TradeStation FAQ
Some versions of TradeStation and ProSuite have the
ability to read data from Premium Data, Data Tools and Premium Forex.
This FAQ has
a number of categories:
TradeStation versions compatible with MetaStock format data
Opening a chart within TradeStation
The current deliveries are missing in certain contracts with TradeStation 2000i
Decimal Places in TradeStation 2000i
TradeStation versions
Some versions of TradeStation have the ability to read our data in "MetaStock" format. The "MetaStock" data format has had many revisions over the years. They are:
(i) Pre-1996 - Computrac/"MetaStock" format - supporting up to 255 securities per folder.
(ii) "MetaStock" 2000-securities-per-folder format - Introduced with MetaStock v6.5 around 1997.
(iii) Y2K-compatbile "MetaStock" 2000-securities-per-folder format - Introduced with MetaStock v6.52 in 1999.
(iv) "MetaStock" 6000-securities-per-folder format - Introduced with MetaStock v8 in 2002.
TradeStation 2000i only supports the first MetaStock format - i.e. only 255 securities per folder. Therefore TradeStation 2000i is only compatible with our SGX stock data, Futures Data and Forex data.
However, it is very disappointing that
Omega Research have not updated their support of the MetaStock format since the early 1990s, considering that the product
retailed for several thousand dollars. This means that TradeStation 2000i is NOT compatible with our ASX or US stock data, which has greater than 255 securities per folder.
In 2001, Omega Research Inc changed their name to TradeStation Technologies and went down a brokerage subscription model which had no support for third party data formats. However, in late 2005, TradeStation Technologies Inc. released version 8.1 Service Pack 1 which now supports the fourth format - i.e. 6000-securities-per-folder format. Therefore TradeStation v8.1 Service Pack 1 is compatible with all of our data. Note that TradeStation version 8.1 and above are only available through a brokerage subscription model.
Opening a chart within TradeStation
Click File -> New -> Tradestation Chart
Select 3rd Party Directory
Click New Dir
In the directory put the path you want to search - eg. c:\Trading Data\Futures\Continuous Futures\Back Adjusted
Data Type: Metastock
The current deliveries are missing in certain contracts with TradeStation 2000i
Since TradeStation 2000i can only support the first 255 securities in a folder, there are a few folders within our Futures data that contain more than 255 deliveries - specifically, Brent Oil (292 deliveries), Crude Oil (299 deliveries) Heating Oil (339 deliveries). To work around this issue, DataTools can cut down the number of monthly deliveries in each of these folders by removing the oldest ones from the database. For example, with Brent Crude we have 292 monthly deliveries dating back to Sept 1988. By reducing the monthly deliveries to a total that Tradestation 2000i can handle (255), the history would start at the Oct 1991 delivery. To do this in DataTools, click Program Utilities -> Reduce Number of Securities in Folders.
However, If you need to view the entire history of any of these commodities, it is recommended you either upgrade to a later version of TradeStation, use a different charting package, or view the chart in a Continuous Contract basis.
Decimal Places in TradeStation 2000i
By default, TradeStation 2000i displays data up to to 3 decimal places. If you are looking at certain futures contracts or forex prices, these are often priced down to four or more decimal places. You need to make two changes to show the correct number of places on a chart and also have your indicators use the full accuracy of the data.
Step 1: Charts
To get around this limitation, click View then Chart Options, click the Symbol tab, then untick the "Display MetaStock data 1/1000 for new charts". Close down any open charts and open them again and you will now see them down to 5 decimal places, as shown below:
Step 2: Minimum Move
To ensure that your indicators and formulae work correctly, you will also need to modify the "minimum move" value. When you open a new chart, click the "Universe" button and change the "Min Move" to 0.0001 as shown below:
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