 MetaFix Version 2.4 Help Index

Welcome to MetaFix, the 32-bit Windows application to edit financial data stored in MetaStock or CompuTrac format.

Commands and Topics

	Installation
	Use and Navigation
	Portfolio menu
	Quotes menu
	Important Points
	Legal
	Registering
	Other ShareWare Applications
	What is New


Installation

Simply copy all files to a new directory of your choice. Read the important Legal information before use.

The application is metafix.exe. When launched, MetaFix searches your drive for all occurences of files named "master" (without extension). All CompuTrac and MetaStock data are indexed via files of the name master.

sample.zip is a sample of three stocks in CompuTrac/MetaStock format for those who do not have data in that format yet but wish to give MetaFix a test drive. Suggested use is to create a new directory anywhere, move sample.zip to it, unzip and delete sample.zip. The result will be files: f1.dat, f1.dop, f2.dat, f2.dop, f3.dat, f3.dop and master. When you launch metafix.exe it will automatically find the path to that directory. That's it!


Portfolio menu commands

The Portfolio menu offers the following command:

Split Search	This command launches a modeless dialog box and permits you to search the entire current portfolio for any issues that may have split. The results are built by examining the quote series and identifying anomalies. Suggested split ratios are provided. The function can identify forward (normal) and reverse splits up to a ratio of 4:1 (1:4 for reverse splits). The results are speculative and should be confirmed. A toolbar button can launch this also.


Quotes menu commands

This menu permits you to modify the disk contents. There are five Quotes menu choices and each has a corresponding toolbar button. See the Important Points topic for some detail.

The Quotes menu offers the following commands:

Edit	Edit a single quote starting with the presently selected quote. A dialog box permits editing the supported fields. The date cannot be edited. Note that all possible files are shown even if that field is not actually supported - edits to such fields have no effect on the changes made to the disk. You are responsible for the values entered. The dialog supports sequencing through the quotes series.
Split	Adjusts a quote series for a split. The ratios are user-supplied by entering the "new" shares and the "old" shares e.g. "2" and "1", respectively for a "2-for-1" split. The edit action always takes place from the earliest date on file up to, but not including, the user-supplied date. The user-supplied date is the day the split took effect (i.e. the issue trades at the "new" share valuation). The dialog box ensures that the dates entered are of MM/DD/YY format.
Adjust	Adjust the quote series for Price (O, H, L, C) and/or Volume by a user-supplied multiplier. The multiplier may be real or integer but may not be zero. A multiplier of unity (1) leaves that data set unchanged. A range of dates is user-supplied. The dialog box ensures that the dates entered are of MM/DD/YY format. The edit action affects the quotes starting on the earlier user-supplied date up to and including the later user-supplied date. Note that in the CompuTrac / MetaStock formats there are actually two way of achieving scaling: adjusting the actual Price and/or Volume values; adjusting the scaling factor for each field. MetaFix does the former because many other applications ignore the format's scaling factor. For example, MetaFix's Quotes>About dialog results may show some strange multipliers for certain vendor's data. This is usually because the data vendor uses the default (and it is expected to be ignored by other application, as it usually is). I hope this makes sense to you.
Delete	Deletes a single quote. The quote to be deleted is the presently selected quote on the grid.
About	This command displays relevant facts about the presently selected quote series (symbol) as derived (unaltered) from the .DOP and .DAT files. There is no edit action.


Important Points

You are responsible for changes to your data. While MetaFix is designed to edit data, several protection features help save you from errors.

No edits are ever made to a .DOP file.

The Quotes menu choices can only affect a .DAT file.

No files are ever deleted.

Any edited .DAT file is first saved with the extension .BAK.

Any edited master file is first saved with the extension .BAK.

Master files only need to be pre-saved with the .BAK extension when the a quote is being deleted and that quote is either the first or last quote for that symbol. Any other deleted quote will not need to pre-save the master file as it will not need to be edited.

While there is no “Undo” feature in MetaFix, the relevant data for any edit action is saved in the metafix.ini file found in the Windows directory. There is one section for each of the four major edit actions invoked from the Quotes menu or its associated toolbar buttons.

MetaFix may have trouble editing individual quotes dated earlier than 1960.

MetaStock and CompuTrac support varying number of fields including: Date; Time; Open; High; Low; Close; Open Interest. However, not all of these fields have significance for certain financial data. For example, indices (like the S&P 500) do not have an Open. In these cases the grid will display "N/A" instead of a number. In other cases, the data vendor may include a field but set its value to zero. In these cases, the grid will display zero.


Use and Navigation

MetaFix permits quick and easy editing of financial data stored in MetaStock or CompuTrac format. Menu selections permit:

editing a single quote

adjusting a quote series for a split

adjusting a quote series for Price or Volume multipliers

deleting a quote

displaying underlying facts about a quote series

automatically scanning for potential forward or reverse splits with suggested split ratios

Refer to the Portfolio menu and the Quotes menu topics for details on how do the editing.

Refer to the Important Points topic for general information.

When launched, MetaFix automatically searches the entire current drive for files named "master". This can be a lenghty process (15 seconds) depending on drive size and speed. A dialog box displays the progress of the search.

Thereafter, you navigate by clicking on the listbox or grid entry. Selecting a new drive will cause a delay while it is scanned.


Registering

MetaFix is distributed as Shareware. It is not free or public domain. This means you may copy and distribute it freely but should you find it useful and use it beyond an initial evaluation period of 30 days you are obliged to pay the license fee.

The single user license fee is US$15. More is accepted if you find this software of superior value!

You can register this program by mail. Cash or checks/cheques can be accepted in any major currency, equivalent in value to US$15 per copy. Cash is preferred. Please use the Shareware Registration form.

Registered users will be sent a registration number to disable the reminder box. This number will be good for all subsequent Shareware versions of the program that may become available.

If you enjoy this software, do the decent thing and register!

I would be pleased to receive any comments, bug reports or suggestions for future releases. I may be contacted by e-mail at pgerhart@voicenet.com.


Other Applications

Other ShareWare Applications by the Author

QuickChart

QuickChart permits quick and easy viewing, printing and navigation for financial data stored in MetaStock or CompuTrac format. The user is presented with crisp, clean charts.

The color scheme of the chart may be user configured. Charts may show volume and user-defined moving averages.

Toolbar buttons, arrow keys and a right mouse popup menu enable navigation among the charts. In addition, a SlideShow mode is supported to automatically sequence through a portfolio.

QuickChart is small and fast - an alternative to financial fatware.

FullDisk

FullDisk permits quick and easy profiling of the contents of a local or network drive. Menu selections permit:

rescanning as needed

choosing the units for display results (bytes, kilobytes or megabytes)

When launched, FullDisk searches your drive for all sub-directory trees and the file sizes therein starting with the currently selected drive. A color-coded list box shows the results and a pie-chart depicts the usage within that tree / drive.

Contact me by e-mail at pgerhart@voicenet.com.


Registration Form

Print this form and send it with your remittance to:

Paul Gerhart

101 Magella Court

North Wales, Pennsylvania

19454 USA

Please give an e-Mail address if you have one so I can inform you of your registration code as soon as I receive your order, and give timely information on upgrades.

MetaFix Registration Form.

I wish to register ____ copies of MetaFix .

I enclose a check for $US______	($15 per copy)

I enclose cash for $US______	($15 per copy)

Name(s)	_______________________________________________

Company	_______________________________________________

Address	_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

_______________________________________________

Code	___________________

Country	___________________

E-Mail	___________________

Where did you obtain MetaFix from? _____________________________

It would be helpful for me if you could tell me how you use the program. I can then use this information when planning new features for future versions. Also provide any comments/suggestions.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Thank you!


Important Legal Stuff

Disclaimer and Agreement

Copyright

Registering

License


Disclaimer and Agreement
Disclaimer of Warranty

Users of MetaFix must accept this disclaimer of warranty. If you do not accept this

disclaimer, do not use MetaFix.

"MetaFix IS SUPPLIED AS IS. THE AUTHOR DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM THE USE OF MetaFix EVEN IF THE AUTHOR HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES."


Copyright

MetaFix is protected by US and international copyright laws.

MetaFix is distributed as Shareware. It is not free or public domain. This means you may copy and distribute it per the License but should you find it useful and use it beyond an initial evaluation period of 30 days you are obliged to pay the license fee.

Unregistered use of MetaFix after the 30-day evaluation period is in violation of federal copyright laws.

Click here for Shareware Registration form. If you find MetaFix useful, do the decent thing and register!

MetaStock is a registered trademark of EQUIS International. CompuTrac is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Telerate.

MetaFix Copyright © 1996.


License

You should carefully read the following terms and conditions before using this software.  Use of this software indicates your acceptance of these terms and conditions.  If you do not agree with them, do not use the software. All presumption of warranty is disclaimed - see the Disclaimer of Warranty for the specific language.

You are hereby licensed to:  use the Shareware Version of the software for a 30-day evaluation period; make as many copies of the Shareware version of this software and documentation as you wish; give exact copies of the original Shareware version to anyone; and distribute the Shareware version of the software and documentation in its unmodified form via electronic means.  There is no charge for any of the above.

You are granted a limited license to use MetaFix, to copy and distribute it, provided the following conditions are met:

1.	No fee may be charged for such copying and distribution other than actual costs incurred, except for a nominal distribution fee.
2.	MetaFix may ONLY be distributed in its original, unmodified state, complete with data files and this documentation.
3.	MetaFix may not be distributed as part of a package or group of programs.
4.	The paid registered version may NOT be distributed.


What is New

What is New in 2.4

Added

Saving split search results to file.

Improved

Dial Data makes a less-than-ASCII .DOP file - not nice. Version 2.4 overlooks their faux pas.

Changes to Version 2.3

Added

Separate multipliers for Volume and Open Interest when scaling.

ASCII file export.

Improved

Fixed

Bug in edit quote.

Changes to Version 2.2

Added

Ability to handle data series without the .DOP file. (Thanks, Denis.)

Improved

Improved Progress Control when loading quotes.

Removed limit of 127 DAT files (issues) per master file - limit is now 255.

New registration encoding.

Removed the 3:4 and 4:3 splits in the automatic search - too many false positives reported (at least that’s what MetaFix customers said and they’re the boss).

Fixed

Fixed bug in auto-search which would declare read-only master directories as hits.

Fixed this Help file - it stated that ctl3d.dll was required for MetaFix which was incorrect.