STOCK UPDATER V1.0 - DEC. 24, 1999

PURPOSE:

Stock Updater downloads historical stock data from the Yahoo! Finance(tm) website based on a list of stock symbols and a date range provided by you, the user.  The user may also select a single stock from the list to download.


INSTALLATION:

Unzip the file stkud1.zip to a temporary directory then run the setup.exe file to commence with the automatic installation of the program.

STATUS:

Stock Updater is SHAREWARE.

To register Stock Updater, please use the Registration window to create the Registration Form.  Print out the completed form, attach a certified cheque or money order payable to Darren Dzikowski.

The cost of registration is as follows:

Canadian Residents - $30 dollars CAN
Residents Outside of Canada - $20 dollars US

Mail or courier the form and enclosed cheque to:

Darren Dzikowski
184 Douglas Glen Heath SE
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T2Z 2N1

email: darren.dzikowski@home.com

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS ON THE REGISTRATION FORM AS THIS IS HOW I WILL SEND YOUR REGISTRATION SERIAL NUMBER TO ENABLE YOUR PROGRAM COPY.  DISK COPIES OF THIS PROGRAM ARE NOT AVAILABLE.


DISTRIBUTION:

The user may use the Unregistered Software on any number of computers at any one time; and copy and distribute verbatim copies of the Unregistered Stock Updater Shareware Distribution as you receive it, in any medium, provided that you do not modify it any fashion, keep intact all the notices that refer to this License and to the absense of any warranty, and do not pass on any User Registration details which you have received. If you distribute copies of this software, you shall not charge anything except the cost of the media and a fair estimate of the costs of computer time or network time directly attributable to the copying.





FEATURES:

Settings for Daily, Weekly, or Monthly Data

Stock Updater downloads historical stock data based upon your selection of daily, weekly or monthly price closings.

Downloads Stock Data Automatically

Stock Updater downloads stock data at a daily time specified by you...just leave the application running and come back when you are ready to import the data into your technical stock analysis program.

Maintains Files In Common Import/Export Formats

Stock Updater maintains stock data files in .csv, comma delimited format, ideal for Microsoft Excel or other applications that can manipulate this format.

Databases Your Stock List

Stock Updater maintains your stock symbol list in a database and allows addition, editing and deletion of stock symbol information in the database.

Text File Viewing and Editing

Stock Updater has a built in text file viewer and editor so you don't have to jump to another program if you want to check out those historical stock data files before you import them.

File Printing

Stock Updater prints text files on your printer or to file.

Download Progress Indication

Stock Updater has a progress indicator during download so you know exactly what's going on rather than guessing if the program is complete or still working.

Proxy Server Flexibility

Stock Updater is configurable for proxy server connections to the internet.

Remembers Your Custom Settings

Stock Updater remembers your custom settings by saving them in the Windows registry, so that the next time you use the program, your download directory, automatic time settings and date ranges are already set for you.

Simple, Logical GUI Layout

Stock Updater has a simple, logically laid out graphical user interface...it's so straight forward you will likely not need to read this help file.

This section describes the various windows you will encounter when running Stock Updater.

Stock Updater Window

This is the main window for the program.  From this window you can do the following things:

-input and edit the stock symbols you are following.
-input the start and end dates of the historical data you want to download
-specify whether the download data should be daily, weekly or monthly price closings.
-browse your hard drive to select a download directory for your stock data.
-by pressing the Get Historical Data button, you tell the program to start retrieving the stock data based upon the list of stocks shown.
-by selecting the Single Stock checkbox, and clicking on a symbol in the symbol list, you can download the chosen stock as a single file.
-from the Toolbar you can open text files from your hard drive for viewing.
-from the Menu controls at the top of the window you can do the following things:

File:
-Open a text file from disk
-Exit the program

View:
-Toolbar enables or disables the Toolbar buttons
-StatusBar enables or disables the Status Bar at the bottom of the window.
-Options opens the Options window where you can set the automatic download time and proxy server information.

Help:
-Contents opens the Help file window
-Register opens the Registration window where you can enter the information required for registering this program.
-About opens the About window which provides information on the version and author of this program.

Set Directory Window

From this window you can specify which disk drive and directory you would like to store the historical data files after they are retrieved.  The program will remember the download directory for future use.  You can create a new directory if you do not already have a proper directory available.

Options Window

AutoDownload Time:
From this window you can input the automatic download time setting in the format hh:mm:ss AM or hh:mm:ss PM.  Once the time is set, the program, if left running, will download the historical stock data at this time every day.  The program will remember the time setting for future reference.

Proxy Server:
If you click on the check box to the left of the Proxy Server text box, the Proxy Server text box will be enabled and you can type in the name of your proxy server, if you use a proxy server to connect to the internet.  You should try to connect without specifying a proxy server before changing this setting.

Proxy Port:
If you are using a proxy server, you will have to specify the port your proxy server will use.  Usually port 80 or 8080 are used by proxy servers, if you are not sure, contact your administrator.

View/Edit File Window

From this window you can browse your disk drives and directories to view or edit text files.  This window is useful for checking on your downloaded stock data in case you are suspicious of the data in the files.  The controls in this window are standard so we'll skip over them.

About Window

This window provides information on the program name, author, version and copyright.

Registration Window

This window contains a list of text boxes for which you will be required to enter your personal information if you wish to register Stock Updater.   After your payment has been accepted, a registration number will be provided to you which will fully enable the program.  Please refer to the Registration Topic in this Help file for further information on registering Stock Updater.

You will be informed of updates to Stock Updater via email if you desire.

Thank-you and I hope you enjoy this program.  Questions and comments are welcome.

Best regards,

Darren Dzikowski, P. Eng.
Calgary, Alberta




	



 


