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Templates and Workspaces, Template Security, ESPL Speed |
September 13 , 2006
6:32 Ensign Kimball: Welcome to the Ensign Training Class Today
16:34 Ensign Kimball: Today we are going to review a familiar topic for many. Templates and Workspaces. If you feel that you are already an expert at creating Templates and Workspaces then this will just be a review. One of the great resources that we have to help new users learn the program is Training Videos. I will use 2 short videos today in our training.
Templates
16:35 Ensign Kimball: First....Lets discuss Templates.
16:35 Ensign Kimball: Templates are used to apply multiple Studies to a chart with just one mouse click. For example, a Template could be used to apply a Moving Average, Stochastics, and Relative Strength study to a chart. This is much faster than applying each study one at a time.
16:36 Ensign Kimball: You can setup each study with specific parameters, colors, etc. Then save the whole bundle of studies and settings as your unique Template. I will now start a short Video that explains how to create a Template. Sit back and watch. You will need SPEAKERS on your computer in order to hear the Video and uncheck show so your video will not be interrupted.
www.ensignsoftware.com/video/templates/templates.html
16:41 Ensign Kimball: You can see the Templates panel above.
16:41 Ensign Kimball: The 'All Charts' check box specifies whether the template is applied to all open charts, or just the active chart window. If the ‘All Charts’ check box is checked, then the selected template is applied to all open charts. If the ‘All Charts’ check box is unchecked, then the template is only applied to the active chart.
16:42 Ensign Kimball: Although a template can be applied to all open charts, traders may wish to display just one chart and then apply individual templates to the chart. This allows a trader to define unique sets of studies that are important for analysis, and then quickly view each set. This is much quicker than manually placing studies on a chart each time a set of studies needs to be viewed.
16:42 Ensign Kimball: Place a checkmark in the 'Replace' box, to cause a Template to replace all current studies on a chart. Uncheck the box to cause the Template to simply add its additional studies to an existing chart's studies. This allows you to create templates that can be added to a chart without disrupting any studies that are already on the chart. Each template will remember it's own unique 'Replace' setting when the template is saved.
16:43 Ensign Kimball: Place a check mark in the ‘Sorted’ checkbox to sort the Templates list in alphabetical order. Uncheck the box to arrange the names in a custom ordering.
16:43 Ensign Kimball: You can use the keyboard to apply Templates on a chart.
16:43 Ensign Kimball: Apply one of the first 10 Templates (of the active Tab list) by using Ctrl-1 through Ctrl-9, and Ctrl-0 (10th template) on the keyboard. This allows you to quickly apply any of the first 10 templates based on their position in the templates list.
16:44 Ensign Kimball: For example, if I were to press Ctrl-1, the 'Barton' template above would be applied to my chart.
16:44 Ensign Kimball: If desired, Template files can be e-mailed to other Ensign Windows users. This allows traders to share their Templates with associates and friends. Templates are saved in text files. They are saved in the \ensign\Template folder
16:45 Ensign Kimball: At the bottom of the Template list are 8 Tabs. The Tabs can be useful for users who have dozens of Templates and want to organize them into groups. Click on a Tab to view the Templates that are saved with that Tab.
16:45 Ensign Kimball: The Template files are saved in 8 separate folders on the Hard Disk:
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE2
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE3
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE4
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE5
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE6
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE7
\ENSIGN\TEMPLATE8
16:46 Ensign Kimball: When a Template file is saved in a particular Template folder, the new Template will appear in the specified Template list the next time the Template window is opened.
Template Security
16:46 Ensign Kimball: Some Ensign users have developed complicated and proprietary trading systems. Sometimes users want to share a Template with other users, but they want to prevent other users from seeing the Studies used, the Properties used, and the Settings used.
16:47 Ensign Kimball: This can all be accomplished by using ‘Template Security’. To activate Template Security, click the ‘Studies’ button and select ‘Template Security’ from the studies drop-down list.
16:47 Ensign Kimball: A Template Security window will appear. The Template Security window allows you to chose from 4 different security levels. The Template Security window can only be opened by the original Template creator.
16:48 Ensign Kimball: Privatize Only. Enabled for Anyone - Privatizes the studies, hides the names of the studies, prevents others from viewing the Properties windows, but does not restrict who can use the Template. Anyone can use the Template.
16:48 Ensign Kimball: Enabled until the Expiration Date - Includes all the above, but also prevents access to the Template on a specified Expiration Date. This allows users to access the Template until the Expiration Date. This is a nice feature for Ensign users who charge a monthly fee to use a Trading System. The System will expire on the Expiration Date. The client will be required to pay a new fee and be sent a new Template each month.
16:48 Ensign Kimball: Enabled for an Ensign ID list - Includes all the same as Privatize Only, but access to the Template is allowed for only users whose Ensign ID’ matches a specified Ensign ID list. This allows you to send a Template to specific users, but the Template cannot be used by anyone whose Ensign ID is not on the list. The list is only accessible by the Template author.
16:49 Ensign Kimball: Enabled by Date and Ensign ID list - Template access is controlled by both an Expiration Date, and the Ensign ID list.
16:49 Ensign Kimball: To enter an Expiration Date, just select a Date from the 'Expiration Date' box. If you know the 'Ensign ID's for people that you are going to share the Template with, then enter the 'Ensign ID's in the 'Allowed Ensign ID List'. Select Setup | Security from the Ensign menu to view the Ensign ID for each customer. Enter the last 8 characters of the Ensign ID. Do not include the first letter of the Ensign ID. Example: XW592184
16:51 Ensign Kimball: Privatize All - Place a check mark in the ‘Privatize All’ box before closing the window. This will cause all the studies that are currently on the chart to be Privatized and included in the Template Security object. Make sure that you create and save a Template that will include the Template Security object. This feature was developed to help system developers hide the fact that they are using standard Ensign studies. The settings and properties for the studies are hidden. The studies are all renamed to be ‘Custom’. Access to the Template can be restricted by an Expiration Date and by specific Ensign ID numbers. For more information, a training video on this topic can be viewed on the Ensign web site.
16:52 Ensign Kimball: We won't play the video at this time. But here is the link if you want to watch it later.
http://www.ensignsoftware.com/video/privatize/privatize.html
16:53 Ensign Kimball: Any Questions about Templates ?
Workspaces
16:54 Ensign Kimball: Ensign Windows can be used to open several charts, quote pages, and windows at the same time. A collection of open windows is called a Workspace.
16:54 Ensign Kimball: Ensign allows you to save a Workspace so that it can be easily restored and viewed. Workspaces remember the window locations and sizes, and enable traders to view their favorite charts and quote pages without having to repeatedly open, size, and move windows to the locations they are accustomed to.
16:54 Ensign Kimball: The software will remember the window locations and restore them when a Workspace is opened. Workspaces also remember the 'State' of the Lock Studies, Lock Lines, and Price Magnet buttons. Workspaces can be customized with different charts, quote pages, news windows, and trading accounts.
16:54 Ensign Kimball: How to Create a Workspace ?
16:55 Ensign Kimball: The first step in creating a new Workspace is to open several windows and position them on the screen. You can apply specific studies and draw lines on the chart windows. The Workspace will remember every detail of each window that is opened.
16:55 Ensign Kimball: To save the Workspace, click the Workspaces button on the main Toolbar. The Workspaces window will appear.
16:55 Ensign Kimball: Click the Save As button, and then enter a Workspace name in the entry box. The Workspace name will be added to the list box. The screen will be memorized with all the open windows, studies, and tools.
16:56 Ensign Kimball: There is no limit to the number of Workspaces that can be saved. Click the Save button to resave a Workspace after making changes to the windows. To save a Workspace under a different name click on the Save As button and enter a new Workspace name.
16:56 Ensign Kimball: After a Workspace is created, you can make changes to the Workspace at anytime and resave the Workspace.
Save Options for Workspaces
16:56 Ensign Kimball: There are three save modes: Manual, Prompt, and Automatic.
16:57 Ensign Kimball: Select 'Manual' if you want to manually save Workspaces and not be prompted to save.
16:57 Ensign Kimball: Select 'Prompt' if you want Ensign to prompt you to save when a Workspace has been changed.
16:57 Ensign Kimball: Select 'Automatic' if you want a Workspace to automatically save (with no prompting) whenever you make a change to a Workspace.
16:57 Ensign Kimball: To delete a Workspace, click the Workspaces button and then select the Workspace name in the list box. Click the Delete button to remove the Workspace name from the list box.
16:58 Ensign Kimball: To reposition a Workspace name within the list box, select the Workspace name and then click the blue Up or Down arrows.
16:58 Ensign Kimball: Place a check mark in the ‘Sorted’ checkbox to sort the Workspaces in alphabetical order. Uncheck the box to arrange the names in a custom ordering.
16:59 Ensign Kimball: Place a check mark in the 'Auto Open' box to cause the 1st Workspace in the list to auto-open when Ensign runs. (This is not recommended in case the workspace becomes corrupt for some reason.)
16:59 Ensign Kimball: I will now start a short Training video on Workspaces that demonstrates how to create and use Workspaces.
www.ensignsoftware.com/video/workspaces/workspaces.html
17:06 Ensign Kimball: As mentioned in the Video..
17:06 Ensign Kimball: If desired, Workspace files can be e-mailed to other Ensign Windows users.
17:06 Ensign Kimball: This allows traders to share their Workspaces with their associates. Workspaces are saved in text files in the \ENSIGN\WORKSPACE folder. The filename extension is .MAC (example: MYSTOCKS.MAC ).
17:07 Ensign Kimball: When a Workspace file is saved in the \ENSIGN\WORKSPACE folder, the new Workspace will appear in the Workspaces list the next time the Workspace window is opened.
17:07 Ensign Kimball: This concludes the Training on these 2 topics today. I can now take questions on Templates or Workspaces......or some other topic at this time.
17:08 DivMA: I have an ESPL question Kimball
17:09 DivMA: I run large ESPL programs for back-testing (ESPL=0) and need to improve their speed. 1) Can Ensign take advantage of dual core CPUs in a manner that will speed up ESPL programs if Ensign is the only program running? 2) Ensign writes to a file named "esplback" while my ESPL program runs. Does this slow the ESPL program speed? If so, would running Ensign on a RAM disk speed it up? (assuming the computer is not RAM limited).
17:09 Ensign Kimball: 1) ESPL does not have any specific hooks into hardware and CPU. Your computer will be as fast as it can be, but you can't specify how you want (or where you want) ESPL programs to run.
17:10 Ensign Kimball: 2) This does not slow down the program speed.
17:10 Ensign Kimball: The most important speed factor will be Program Design and If you are using the best ESPL commands for the task that you are doing.
17:11 DivMA: I see - does the answer to 1) mean that Ensign is able to take advantage of dual core cpus? Yes - - I have done what I can to speed up the program via the commands it contain. The prob is large datasets -- 30,000 bars or so for back-testing -- takes a few mins to complete on my current machine
17:12 Ensign Kimball: Ensign has no way to specify that it run or utilize CPUs in a specific manner. The OS is the only control of Ensign running. If you have access to a compiled language (like C++, or Delphi, etc) then you can write a .DLL that can do some of your tasks. That may be faster.
17:14 DivMA: ah - I'm sorry I don't know more about his topic - that seems to imply that if the OS is able to split the Ensign tasks into multiple threads, then it should be much faster on the new Intel dual core chips. Does that sound reasonable to you?
17:15 Ensign Kimball: I'm not an expert on that topic.
17:15 DivMA: Ok Thanks Kimball. I'll try to find out what I can about dual core cpus
17:16 Ensign Kimball: ok. I've got to run. Have a nice day. If you have questions, you can e-mail me at Kimballh@ensignsoftware.com
17:16 DivMA: thanks again - bye
17:16 @Buffy: Very nice class on the basics Kimball, thanks