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Scheduler/Quote Page/Playback Basic QnA |
August 17 , 2005
16:33 @Ensign_Kimball: You are invited to join our Ensign Training Class today at 4:30 (Eastern Time). Three basic topics will be covered today, 1) SCHEDULER 2) QUOTE PAGES, and 3) Playback Basic.
16:33 @Ensign_Kimball: Hi...and welcome to the Ensign Training Class today. I will be covering three topics. Please hold your questions until the end of the class
| Ensign Scheduler | Quote Page | Playback Basic |
16:33 @Ensign_Kimball: Select 'Setup | Scheduler' from the Ensign menu to open the Scheduler screen.
16:33 @Ensign_Kimball: I have posted a screen capture of my screen above. The Scheduler is used by traders as both a REMINDER tool, and a tool to automatically do something at a certain time. There are 8 entry boxes on the Scheduler screen. Each box has a TIME box and a Check box associated with the row. In the example screen above, you can see that a simple TEXT message was typed on the first row.
16:34 @Ensign_Kimball: "The Stock Market will close in 10 minutes"
16:35 @Ensign_Kimball: This message will be posted to the Ensign screen at 13:50 each day. The checkbox will ENABLE or DISABLE the message. If I uncheck the box, then the message will not be displayed at the specified time. The TIME box is used to specify the time that you want an action to occur. Normally, the TIMES are entered in military format. Example: 09:00 is equal to 9 AM --- Example: 15:00 is equal to 3 PM. These times should be your local time, as specified by your 'Setup | Computer' Time Zone setting.
6:38 @Ensign_Kimball: The Time box can trigger an action every hour, if you omit the HOUR. Example: an entry of :05 will trigger the event each hour at 5 minutes past the hour.
16:39 @Ensign_Kimball: I have reposted my Scheduler screen. It now contains a sample MESSAGE that will display at 5 minutes past the hour (every hour). Playing a Sound File. The Scheduler can also be used to PLAY a sound file. .WAV files are supported. You will notice on the 2nd row of the posted screen above, that the TADA.WAV file will be played at 14:30
16:40 @Ensign_Kimball: Make sure that you enter the appropriate Path and Filename for wherever the sound file resides on your computer. (To avoid the character length restrictions, it is recommended you create a wave file in your Ensign directory and then copy the wav files to that folder....as seen on the example.
6:41 @Ensign_Kimball: In my example, I have copied the TADA.WAV file into my \ENSIGN folder. A sound file, and a Message can be triggered on the same minute. Note that both the 2nd and 3rd rows above share the same TIME
16:42 @Ensign_Kimball: The Scheduler can also be used to do the following: 1) Open a workspace, 2) Run an ESPL program, and 3) Run an External Program. The 5th row above is an example of opening a WORKSPACE at a specified time.
6:43 @Ensign_Kimball: I have a Workspace named 'Test'. The Workspace will automatically open at 14:29
16:44 @Ensign_Kimball: ESPL programs can be run by using the 'SCRIPT' command. Example: Script=Kimball 1 would load the KIMBALL.SPT file at the specified time, and run the ESPL program with an ESPL value of 1
16:46 @Ensign_Kimball: Lastly, the Scheduler can be used to run an exterior program by using the 'RUN' command. Example: Run=C:\CALC.EXE would run the CALC.EXE program at the specified time. This allows you to start other programs, based on the Time in the Scheduler.
16:47 @Ensign_Kimball: Any questions on the Scheduler before I move to the next Topic ? Most users use the Scheduler as a Reminder to do something. Text messages are used the most.
16:48 Merv: the script file was called Kimball 1 but you said it would load the Kimball.spt ?
16:49 @Ensign_Kimball: The scheduler will load the ESPL file named KIMBALL.SPT. It will run as if you had clicked ESPL button 1. It assumes the KIMBALL.SPT has programming logic to handle an ESPL value of 1
16:49 @Ensign_Kimball: example:
16:49 @Ensign_Kimball: begin
16:49 @Ensign_Kimball: if ESPL = 1 then writeln('Buffy is Great');
16:49 @Ensign_Kimball: end;
16:49 Merv: ok thanks
16:48 @Ensign_Kimball: Ok. Next I am going to discuss the basics of a QUOTE page.
16:51 @Ensign_Kimball: I have posted a sample Quote page above. The quote prices are not current....so don't bother with the prices. Notice at the bottom of the Quote page. There are several TABS . Each TAB has the name of a different Custom Quote page. If I click on a TAB then the Quote page will display a different set of symbols.
16:52 @Ensign_Kimball: To create a NEW Quote Page....do the following. Up in the top left corner of the Quote Page screen is a White entry box. My Quote page currently has the word 'Custom' displayed in the entry box
16:53 @Ensign_Kimball: Click your mouse into the Box and then type Hello - then press ENTER. A new BLANK quote page is opened. This custom Quote page is named Hello and a new TAB at the bottom of the screen is created and named Hello
16:54 @Ensign_Kimball: To add Symbols to your new page, simply click the 'Add Symbol' button. For those of you have a live Data-Feed, you can enter a symbol.....like IBM and then press ENTER - then enter MSFT then ENTER - then DELL then ENTER - then GE then ENTER. You could also enter an Index symbol like the Dow Jones $INDU then ENTER
16:55 @Ensign_Kimball: If you press ENTER twice, then the 'Add Symbol' window will close
16:55 @Ensign_Kimball: Assuming that you have a live data-feed, each of the entered symbols would then be added and listed to the quote page.
16:58 @Ensign_Kimball: Here is a screen capture of the newly created Custom Quote page. You are welcome to group symbols that you follow on a Custom quote page. This makes it easier for you to see all of your favorite symbols.
6:59 @Ensign_Kimball: The Custom Quote page has lots of additional features. One of the most commonly used use of the Quote Page is to OPEN A CHART for a selected symbol.
17:00 @Ensign_Kimball: Example....if I double-click my mouse on the Last price for IBM, then an IBM Daily chart will open. You can specify a Default chart time (when double-clicking a quote page) by select 'Setup | Charts' from the Ensign menu. The 'Double-Click' entry box on that screen should contain a Time Frame. Mine has a D in the box. This will open IBM.D (daily) if I click on the IBM symbol. If I were to change the default time entry box to 30 then an IBM.30 minute chart would open if I double clicked on the IBM row on the Quote page.
7:03 @Ensign_Kimball: Since there are lots of different Time Frames to chose from, there is another way to quickly a select a Time Frame and to open a Chart from a Quote Page.
17:03 @Ensign_Kimball: It involves to quick steps.
17:03 @Ensign_Kimball: 1) Click once on a row in the Quote page. Example, I could click on the MSFT row. A blue highlight box will appear on that row to show that I have selected that symbol.
7:04 @Ensign_Kimball: 2) Click the TIME FRAMES button up on the Chart toolbar, and then select a TIME
7:05 @Ensign_Kimball: The Time Frames panel displays 30 different Time Frames that you can choose from.
17:05 @Ensign_Kimball: So, if I clicked on the MSFT row, then clicked selected 60 from the Time Frames panel....then a 60 minute MSFT chart would open. Once a chart is open, you can use the Time Frames panel to change to the chart Time Frame to another time frame whenever you want.
17:06 @Ensign_Kimball: One other nice feature of a QUOTE page is the ability to SCROLL or BROWSE through a CHART for each symbol on the Quote page.
17:07 @Ensign_Kimball: For example, my little Custom Quote page currently has 5 symbols on the page. If I double click on the IBM row, then an IBM.D chart will open.
17:07 @Ensign_Kimball: Once the chart is open, I can press the HOME and/or END keys on the keyboard. This will scroll to the next symbol on the Quote page......so a MSFT.D chart would replace the IBM.D chart. I could continue to press the END key to view charts for DELL, GE, and $INDU
17:09 @Ensign_Kimball: Press the HOME key on the keyboard to move back up the list.....or just keep pressing the END key and it will wrap back up to the top of the list again.
7:10 @Ensign_Kimball: One last item before we move to the next topic......
SELECTING AND MOVING QUOTE PAGE COLUMNS
17:10 @Ensign_Kimball: At the top of each quote page are the Column Titles for each price column. After the Symbol....my quote page has the Last, Net, High, Low,.....etc. If you want to re-arrange the columns, simply DRAG the column title with your mouse....to a different column position.
7:12 @Ensign_Kimball: In the posted example above, I have dragged the HIGH price column to the left edge. Drag a column to the right or left to move it.
17:12 @Ensign_Kimball: There is also another way to select your Columns - Double click the Mouse on the any of the Column titles, and a Column Title window will open. You can select from this list of possible Quote fields.
17:13 @Ensign_Kimball: Select 'Clear' if you want to BLANK a column
7:14 @Ensign_Kimball: After, you select a price field, click the OK button. The selected price field will then appear in the column.
17:15 @Ensign_Kimball: Lastly, to make a Column WIDER....simply move your mouse to the DIVIDER between two column titles.....then DRAG to the right.
7:15 @Ensign_Kimball: There are lots of other nice features that Quote Pages can do, but that's all we are going to review today.
7:16 @Ensign_Kimball: Any questions on the Quote page....before we move on to the Playback Basic feature ?
17:17 @Ensign_Kimball: The Play Back feature allows you to replay (on a chart) the tick by tick Trading that occurred for a symbol. Tick data for the specified symbol (on a specified day) is used to create a Play Back file. The file can then be played at anytime (just like a Tape Recorder can replay its recordings).
17:17 @Ensign_Kimball: This is a great way to PAPER TRADE
17:18 @Ensign_Kimball: A lot of Ensign Subscribers use the PlayBack feature to practice and improve their Trading methods, systems, and skills. Ensign Windows has 2 flavors of the PlayBack feature. 1) Playback Basic, and 2) Playback Advanced
17:19 @Ensign_Kimball: Click the 'Setup' menu in Ensign to see the 2 menu items of 'Playback Basic' and 'Playback Advanced'
17:20 @Ensign_Kimball: Well.....the 'Playback Advanced' screen has a lot of parameters that you can use to Download, build, and customize your own Playback file. You can SYNC (start at the same time) your Playback files so that multiple Traders can follow along with a Playback session at the same time. This is nice for a group discussion or Training session....for a particular trading method.
17:22 @Ensign_Kimball: The Playback Basic feature is much easier.....to get going and use. However, you don't have any control over the playing of the Playback file.....except for the playback SPEED.
17:23 @Ensign_Kimball: Select 'Setup | Playback Basic' from the menu to view the basic screen.
17:23 @Ensign_Kimball: When you open the screen, it takes a few seconds to load some FILE names.
17:24 @Ensign_Kimball: You can click the drop-down list box and select a Playback file to play. These files are saved on the Ensign Web site. The files are updated once per week.
17:25 @Ensign_Kimball: I have selected an E-mini Nasdaq futures file from June 10th, 2005 (NQ is the Symbol). See the screen capture above.
17:25 @Ensign_Kimball: You can select from 3 different playback speeds 2 x 4 x and 10 x
17:26 @Ensign_Kimball: If I were to select 10x , then the Playback would proceed at 10 times the normal minute by minute speed.
17:26 @Ensign_Kimball: This is a nice way to Buzzzzzzzzzzz through a day of trading really fast. Some files would be really slow....if you replayed them at the actual speed.
17:27 @Ensign_Kimball: Once you have selected a FILE, and a SPEED, click the Play Back button to start the play back session.
17:28 @Ensign_Kimball: A chart will open, and the DAY of trading will go into action. The Playback files always use a Chart named DEMO to play the file. In the example above, a DEMO.1 minute chart is updating with the contents of the NQ symbol that really traded on June 10th, 2005
(At this point you can also open your regular saved demo workspace. If you are an IB user, make sure to adjust demo workspace to esignal TFs if playing downloaded playback files.)
17:30 @Ensign_Kimball: If you replay the file at 10x speed, you can get through a full day of trading in 1/10th of the time.
17:30 @Ensign_Kimball: While the Playback is playing, you can add Studies and Lines to the Chart. You can open additional DEMO charts at the same time. So....I could be looking at a DEMO.1 DEMO.5 and DEMO.30 minute charts at the same time. They will all be updating. If you have a particular trading method....or Template....or system.....then you can quickly see how your Trading would have done for that day.
7:32 @Ensign_Kimball: Practicing with the Playback feature is a good way to discover your own Trading techniques and emotions. Of course, actual Trading in the heat of battle...with real bullets produces more anxiety. But, the PlayBack feature can give you confidence in your methods by using actual trading and a simulated day of trading....without any real losses or gains. Consider it your own personal trading BOOT CAMP.
17:34 @Ensign_Kimball: Any questions about the PlayBack feature?
(You may click on a chart - right click - and click on simbroker to track your paper trades and mark the chart.)
www.ensignsoftware.com/help/simbroker.htm
17:35 @Buffy2: well done Kimball
17:35 cc_k: thank you Kimball
17:35 @Ensign_Kimball: Well.....I know that some in this room are already experts at using the Scheduler, Quote Pages, and the Playback feature. But, it is nice to get a quick refresher.
17:36 @Buffy2: it sure is and great to have for a class in archives
17:36 @Ensign_Kimball: If you have further questions, feel free to e-mail me at Kimball@ensignsoftware.com Thanks for coming.
17:36 @Ensign_Kimball: Have a nice day.................................Good bye. I have to run.............
17:36 Biggo: @Ensign_Kimball, is it possible to get more historic data on playback i.e past weeks data to get a view on past PA ?
17:37 @Buffy2: two days is all but you must have the prior trading days file for playback to use it
7:37 Biggo: Thanks Buffy
17:38 @Buffy2: welcome
7:39 tt2: does anyone know if can Ensign overlay a box showing the 15 min price range on a 3 min chart?
17:39 @Buffy2: yes
17:40 @Buffy2: the yellow lines outline the 15m bars
DYO to do it..........
17:40 tt2: very nice. thanks Buffy
17:40 @Buffy2: welcome
17:41 tt2: can the 15 min box be set to use a 3 line break study to color the overlaid box? on the 3 min chart?
17:42 @Buffy2: 15m 3 bar break on a 3min? Is that right?
17:42 tt2: yes
www.ensignsoftware.com/help/transfer.htm
17:43 tt2: I have a friend using another charting package and he has one super system I'd like to try it on ensign
17:43 @Buffy2: also search the QnA knowledgebase - it can be done
17:44 tt2: thanks I'll give it a spin
17:44 @Buffy2: the Quick Tips sections GV and DYOs are a great place to look things up also in addition to past classes in archives.