Frequently Asked Questions

Although I have plenty of disk space, I keep getting an "out of disk space" message when I try to install TFP8. What's wrong?

During installation, I'm having trouble reading Disk 2. What's wrong?

How do I convert TechniFilter Plus 7.1.5 formulas, reports, strategies and lists?

How do I change the default colors for a chart background, scales and tokens?

How do I use a multiline formula in a strategy?

I have a single list of symbols for issues that are contained in several different data folders. When computing a report on that list, TFP8 only reads those issues in the default data folder shown on the Folders tab (Preferences/File menu). Why?

I entered several issues in the Chart Issues dialog so I could view their charts at the same time; but, only the chart of the first issue appeared. What's wrong?

I did the sample session on automation (p. 30) using your sample data, but I got different results for the Average Crossing Report than you described in the book. What went wrong?

The Date column in my Details test results contains five-digit numbers. Why?

How do I see formula values in test results?

When I use a fixed issue in a report formula, the tilde expression does not seem to be computing properly. What's wrong?

How do I chart test details, like $Equity?

Where can I find information about features not covered in my printed documentation?

How do I set ASCII import preferences for an entire folder?

How do I save global chart template preferences for reports?

Can I cut and paste results from TFP8 into other applications?

If I go away for a few weeks - How many days of data is kept for dowloading (GEMPRO users)? 

Missed days. What happens if I don't collect data for one or more days (GEMPRO users)

I recently changed my data folder structure (or re-installed new historical data) and now my Filter Reports crash, or they will not open a chart, and they take ages to compute

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Although I have plenty of disk space, I keep getting an "out of disk space" message when I try to install TFP8. What's wrong?

Clear out of memory all applets on the desktop and exit all open applications. Attempt installation again. It should work smoothly. Also if you have a previous installation there may be READ ONLY files that are preventing the new files from being copied over.

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During installation, I'm having trouble reading Disk 2. What's wrong?

When you get a message that one of the TFP8 disks cannot be found or cannot be read, it probably means that you have a bad disk. E-mail us at sales@technifilter.com to let us know. We can e-mail you replacement files, and/or we can send you a replacement disk.

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How do I convert TechniFilter Plus 7.1.5 formulas, reports, strategies and lists?

For 7.1.5 formulas and reports that you designed, the 8.1 upgrade comes with a conversion utility, which will be installed along with your upgrade during a Typical installation (see p. 9 in your Program Guide). After installation, to run the utility:

Use the Windows Explorer to open the TechniFilter Plus folder, then double-click on the conversion program icon, or

Select Run from the Windows Start menu, then Browse or type in the path to the utility program (TFPConv.exe).

After the utility is launched, the built-in instructions will guide you through the conversion process. (Note that the conversion utility will only partially convert strategies. You must add new rules manually to complete the conversion.)

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How do I change the default colors for a chart background, scales and tokens?

The default colors are part of the default chart template entered on the Charting tab on the Preferences dialog (Preferences/File menu). To change the default colors, you would bring up a chart, set the colors (and any other preferences) the way you like, save the settings in a new global chart template, and then enter your new template as the default on the Charting tab. You also could save the new template under the current default template name, which would eliminate the step of changing the default template on the Charting tab; however, the original template settings would be lost.

Program Guide page references:
For how to change chart properties (including colors), see pgs. 97 and 133.
For how to save global templates, see p. 97.
For how to change the default global chart template, see p. 11.

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How do I use a multiline formula in a strategy?

Multiline formulas are a series of formulas treated as one formula, with the last formula in the series defining the value of the whole sequence. That last value is the only one used in a test; so, a multiline formula only takes up one formula position in a test. To use it, you refer to it by its name, just as you would any single-line formula.

Don't be confused because multiline formulas use [ ]s to refer to lines within its formula sequence. Those [ ]s are applicable only on the Custom Formula dialog where the multiline formula body is entered. They do not affect your use of prior formula reference in the strategy itself. For example, if the eighth formula in your strategy is a multiline formula, you would refer to it as [8] within subsequent strategy formulas. If you add the name of this multiline formula to your Details report, you should see only the last value calculated for the eighth test formula.

Program Guide page references:
For more on multiline formulas, see p. 101.
For how to enter new formulas, see pgs. 102-103.
For how to add a formula column to the Details report, see p. 64.

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I have a single list of symbols for issues that are contained in several different data folders. When computing a report on that list, TFP8 only reads those issues in the default data folder shown on the Folders tab (Preferences/File menu). Why?

Unless you specify otherwise, all reports default to using the data folder selected as the default on the Folders tab on the Preferences dialog. However, in this case, you want your report to use all the data folders that contain your list issues. To do so, you must edit the report. There are several ways to access the Edit Report dialog. One way is to use Edit Report Profile from the Filter menu and open the report from a file-selection window. You also can press Ctrl+W to open the Compute Reports dialog, highlight the report name, then click the Edit button.

When the report profile is open, click on its Data Folders tab. Notice that the only folder highlighted is the first data folder listed on Folders tab on the Preferences dialog. You want to highlight all the folders that contain your list issues. To choose a range, click on a folder, hold down the Shift key, then select the last folder in the range. To choose individual folders, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on folder names. When you are satisfied, click on OK or Compute at the bottom of the Edit Report dialog to save the changes.

Program Guide page references:
For how to edit report profiles, see p. 45.
For how to select folders on the Data Folders tab, see p. 43.

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I entered several issues in the Chart Issues dialog so I could view their charts at the same time, but only the chart of the first issue appeared. What's wrong?

To view charts of several issues at the same time, uncheck the Enable Paging box found just to the left of the Cancel button on the Chart Issues dialog. Then, click OK to see the charts in a cascade view. To arrange the charts so that they don't overlap, select Tile from the Window menu. To move the action from one chart to another, press the Tab key.

Program Guide page references:
For how to set chart viewing, see p. 89.

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I did the sample session on automation (p. 30) using your sample data, but I got different results for the Average Crossing Report than you described in the book. What went wrong?

If you did Sample Session 1, you changed the average crossing parameter from 50 to 20. With that parameter set to 20, you get only one issue with an average downcross. With that parameter set to the original 50, you get three issues as described on p. 33 in the manual. (We apologize for the confusion.)

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The Date column in my Details test results contains five-digit numbers. Why?

Dates are stored as Julian values, which are day counts. For example, if today has Julian date 25000, then tomorrow will be Julian date 25001. You'll also notice that the column format is set to show a numerical value instead of a traditional date. To change the column format, right-click the mouse on the Date column heading to open the column properties menu. Select the Format property, then choose date from the drop-down list. (Tip: You can only filter for dates when they are formatted as Julian numbers.)

Program Guide page references:
For how to change properties from within an open report, see p. 81.

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How do I see formula values in test results?

Access the Details report tab on the Strategy dialog and check the "Include Formulas" box. (To remove formulas you must select them and click Delete. Unchecking this box will not remove the formulas.)

(This box is a new feature mentioned in the 8.1 Readme.doc file. To read about all 8.1 features, open the file using Microsoft Word or WordPad.)

Help file reference:
To go directly to the related help file topic, select Contents from the Window menu, click on the Index tab and enter the phrase: Details report, including formulas

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When I use a fixed issue in a report formula, the tilde expression does not seem to be computing properly. What's wrong?

To use a fixed issue in a TFP8.1 formula, you enclose the issue's symbol within tilde expressions, ~< and >~. If you use a ~< >~ expression in a report formula, TFP8.1 searches for the symbol in one of these ways:

If you explicitly include a pathname within the ~< >~ (e.g., ~<c:\ms\data\ibm>~), the program looks in that folder for the issue.

If no folder is explicitly included (e.g., you enter ~<ibm>~), the program starts searching in the default data folder and searches through all data folders shown on the Folders tab on the Preferences dialog (Preferences/File menu).

So, to answer your question, if your ~< >~ expression is not computing correctly, check that the correct issue is being loaded. For example, if the program loads SPX from the outdated sample data folder that came with TFP8.1, the resulting calculation will not be what you expect.

You have two TFP8.1 options to ensure that the correct issue is being used: (1) include the complete pathname within the ~< >~ expression as noted above, or (2) remove the data folder that contains the outdated issue.

Help file reference:
To go directly to the help file topic on tilde expressions, select Contents from the Window menu, click on the Index tab and enter the phrase: fixed issues, use in formulas
Program Guide page references:
For how to remove a data folder, see p. 11.

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How do I chart test details, like $Equity?

To graph a Details report item when Details results are charted, click the Test Detail button on the charts toolbar. On the dialog that appears, choose one of the numerically formatted columns, then choose a placement for the chart (current scale, new scale or new chart). Click OK to draw the item.

Help file reference:
To go directly to the related help file topic, select Contents from the Window menu, click on the Index tab and enter the phrase: Test Detail toolbar button
Program Guide page references:
For how to chart a test detail, see pgs.77-78.

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Where can I find information about features not covered in my printed documentation?

Based on feedback from 8.0 users over the past few months, we've made some program adjustments and added some new features. Some of the 8.3 features, like named formula reference, are covered in the supplemental books, but most are only explained in the Readme file, and in the program's updated help file.

To print out the Readme file, double-click on the Readme.doc filename in the Windows Explorer. Windows automatically should attempt to open the file using Microsoft Word or WordPad. If you are prompted to choose an application for the file, choose WordPad.

To access the help file from within TechniFilter Plus, pull down the Windows menu and select Contents. Then, to see a new features list, open the Getting Started book on the Contents tab and double-click on the Printed Documentation Update topic.

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How can I set ASCII import preferences for an entire data folder?

The ASCII tab (Preferences/File menu) defines the default ASCII data that TechniFilter Plus will recognize and use. For individual files, you can override the default content setting by inserting a content line as the first line in the individual file. With TFP8.3, you also can specify content for an entire folder by creating a special text file that contains just two lines: a content header line and a file suffix line (the suffix must include a leading period). Use any text editor to create the file and save it using this name: header.hdr. Place the file in the folder containing the applicable ASCII data. For example, the file might read:

DHLCV

.prn

Another example is:

DC

.asc

Help file reference:
To go directly to the related help file topic, select Contents from the Window menu, click on the Index tab and enter the phrase: ASCII importing, preferences
Program Guide page references:
For more on ASCII importing, see pgs.12-13.

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How do I save global chart template preferences for reports?

When you first chart from filter report results, TechniFilter Plus displays the issues using a default global template. To use a different global template for a specific report, right-click within the report to open its properties menu. Select Chart Info to open the Chart Issues dialog. Click on the Global radio button to see a list of your global templates. Choose the global template you want to use to chart these report issues, then click Open to return to the Chart Issues dialog. Click OK to return to the chart. When you close the report, say "yes" when prompted to save your settings. The next time you chart from this report, your issues will be displayed using the saved global template.

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Can I cut and paste results from TFP8 into other applications?

Yes! When you select and copy a section of text from an open report or test, the information automatically is copied to the clipboard in a tab-delimited format. That makes it easy for you to quickly paste the selection into spreadsheet cells (or even into a word processing document). To quickly grab a chart for your document, press Ctrl+C when the chart is open, then paste the chart where you want it in the other application.

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If I go away for a few weeks - How many days of data is kept for dowloading?

The data that is kept for downloading depends on the method of collection. If you collect via direct modem collection, the limit is 20 trading days, If you collect via the Internet the limit is 5 months. After this you would need to get an update on disc

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Missed days. What happens if I don't collect data for one or more days

No problem. The next time you log in, the missed days of data will automatically be downloaded to your computer.
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