' ' ' ' ' '

FT4Web by Investors FastTrack

Learning about FT4Web | Blog | FLOSS | Who is FT?

<\TABLE>


How Do I ...

    last updated 04/30/2014

Using FT4Web - Frequently Asked Questions

1. Load a family?

2. Build a family?

3. Edit a family?

4. Rank a family?

5. Make an FNU?

6. Change the indicators displayed on the chart?

7. Change the period displayed on the chart?

8. Change the issues displayed on the chart?

9. Scroll through the ticker symbols?

10. Delete a line from the chart?

11. Set the poles on the chart?

12. Use the sieve?

13. Use the internet tab to get intraday data?

14. Add a column in the spreadsheet?

15. Export data to another program?

16. Using the Export Tab?

17.  Change the Parameters on the Indicators?

18.  Reinstall FastTrack.

19.  How create/edit signals


1.
How to load a family

a. Right-click on the Issue List and select "Load family". When the Family Loader box opens up type in the name of the family that you want to load in the Family Name box located in the bottom left corner.

b. Right-click on the Issue List and select "Load Family". When the Family Loader box opens use your mouse and click on the plus sign to expand the family tree. Double click on the family you want to load.

c. Load a family using the hotkey "M". Put your mouse cursor in the chart and press M on your keyboard. Type in the family name.

2. Here are four ways to build your own family.

a. Create a family using the Index SubTab on the Charts Tab.

Left Click on the Index Subtab in the lower right corner of the Charts Tab. The Issue List is now hidden, but will be modified later. Scroll the Index manually with the scroll bar on the right side of the list as needed to find the desired issues. Double click the desired issue. The selected ticker turns gray indicating that it has been added to the hidden Issue List. Click the Entry box. Take your hand off the mouse leaving the mouse cursor within the Entry box. Delete any characters in the Entry box using the<backspace>. Type a ticker symbol or issue name in the Entry Box. This will cause the Index list to scroll to the desired issue. Hit <enter> after each entry. This will put the ticker symbol in the Issue List. Click the List SubTab in the lower right to unhide the now revised Issue List. Right Click on the Issue List and Click on the menu item "Save Family As"

b. Create a family using the Pop List.

Hit function key 12 to show the pop list. This is the lefttmost list illustrated. Load a starting family into the Pop List by right-clicking/Load family. Drag and drop issues from the Pop List into the Issue List. You may also drag and drop issues from the Issue List into the Pop List. Right-click on the Issue List and select "Save Family As" to save the Issue list as a family.

c. Create a family using a  issues on an Excel spreadsheet.

Highlight the entire column of ticker symbols and then Right Click and select Copy. Next open FastTrack go to the Issue List, Right Click and Select Paste. Right Click and select "Save Family As" to save your newly created list.

d. Create a family using the "Make A Family" button on the Internet Tab.

Browse to the page containing the securities you want to make into a family. Click on the "Make A Family" button(Looks like a Mom Dad and Child). Delete any extra characters that are in the Issue List using the Delete Key on your computer keyboard. Right-click on the Issue List and select "Save Family As" to save the Issue list as a family.

Back to the Questions

3. How to Edit a Family

Load the family you wish to edit into the Issue List.
  • To delete an issue from the family:
    1. Left-click on the issue to highlight it.
    2. Press the <Delete> key on your keyboard.

Note: You must save the family if you wish the changes to be permanent.

  • There are several ways to add issues to the list:
    1. Drag and drop an issue from the color bar into the Issue List.
    OR
    1. Left-click on [Index] in the lower right corner of the screen.
    2. Type the ticker symbols or issue names in the Entry Box at the top of the Index.
    3. Press the <Enter> on your keyboard after each entry.
    4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 as desired.
    5. Left-click on [List] in the lower right corner of the screen.
    6. Move the mouse pointer into the Issue List and right-click.
    7. Left-click on the "Save Family as" item in the appearing menu. 
    8. Enter the name for the created family in the box labeled "Family Name". 
    9. Left-click the button marked "Save Fam". 
Note: You must save the family if you wish the changes to be permanent.

Back to the Questions

4. How to Rank a Family

  1. Load the family you want to rank into the Chart Tab Issue List.
  2. Move the Dashed Pole to the starting date of the ranking.
    • If you are going to rank to the last day of date, then no other pole is needed.
    • If you want to rank a specific period, bracket it with the dashed and Solid Poles.
  3. Left-click on the Chart Tools Rank Button.
    It will:
    • Clear the Spreadsheet.
    • Refill the Spreadsheet from the Chart Tab Issue List.
    • Compute a return column.
    • Sort the column from greatest gain to least gain.
    • Switch to the Spreadsheet Tab.
Note: To sort by any column, click on the column header.

Back to the Questions

5. How to Make an FNU

  1. Open a text editor.
  2. Type in or cut and paste the data into the text editor.
    The format should be as the example below:


  3. AOJGY
    AMER. SKANDIA JANCAP GROWTH #436
    01/03/1995, 10.823, 0
    01/04/1995, 10.842, 0
    01/05/1995, 10.881, 0
    01/06/1995, 10.909, 0
    01/09/1995, 10.966, 0
    01/10/1995, 11.063, 0
    01/11/1995, 11.063, 0
    01/12/1995, 11.053, 0
    01/13/1995, 11.110, 0
    01/16/1995, 11.177, 0
    01/17/1995, 11.196, 0
    01/18/1995, 11.196, 0

  4. Save the file with a .fnu extension in the \FT directory (Usually c:\ft).
  5. Chart this FNU as you would any other stock or mutual fund.
Requirements
  • Line 1 should be the ticker symbol (the file name without the extension). Five character maximum.
  • Line 2 should be the name of the fund, stock, etc. Forty character maximum.
  • Lines 3 through the end of the file must have the date, price, and any distributions for that date.
  • The date may or may not be surrounded by quotes. Both ways work.
Limitations
  • You must keep this data in the FNU file current yourself.
  • Missing data will be displayed as a flat line on the chart for the missing periods.
  • Dates before Sept. 1, 1988 or after the date of the last online update will be ignored.

Back to the Questions

6. Change the Indicators Displayed on the Chart

  1. Move the mouse pointer into chart and right-click.
  2. Left-click on the "Appearance" item in the appearing menu.
  3. Left-click on the desired indicators in the Chart Select area. Six indicator maximum.
  4. Left-click the button marked "Draw Chart".
OR
  1. Move the mouse pointer into the chart.
  2. Press the <D> key on the keyboard.
  3. Enter the desired indicators in the appearing dialog box.
  4. Press the <Enter> on your keyboard.

Keywords: changing chart, chart change, show indicat, change indicat, 

Back to the Questions

7. Change the Period Displayed on the Chart

There are two ways to change the period displayed:
  1. Move the mouse pointer into the chart and right-click.
  2. Move the mouse pointer over the "Period Displayed" item in the appearing menu.
  3. Select the desired time period from the options in the appearing menu.
OR
  1. Move the mouse pointer into chart and right-click.
  2. Left-click on the "Appearance" item in the appearing menu.
  3. Type the desired starting and ending dates in the Set Charting Dates area.
  4. Left-click the button marked "Draw Chart".

Keywords: change date, change period, set date, set period, change time, set time

Back to the Questions

8. Change the Issues Displayed on the Chart

There are several ways to change the issues displayed on the chart:
  1. Move the mouse pointer into the chart.
  2. Press the hotkey of the colorbar you want to fill. (i.e. R, G, Y, P, C, or B)
  3. Type the desired ticker symbol in the appearing dialog box.
  4. Press the <Enter> on your keyboard.
OR
  1. Left-click on [List] in the lower right corner of the screen.
  2. Drag and drop an issue from the Issue List into the color bar.
  3. Left-click on the chart to redraw.
OR
  1. Left-click on the desired cell in the color bar.
  2. Type the desired ticker symbol.
  3. Press the <Enter> on your keyboard.
  4. Left-click on the chart to redraw.
Note: the issues in the color bar are reflected only in the Total Return chart.


Back to the Questions

9. Scroll through the ticker symbols 

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Chart Tab.
  1. Load the family you wish to scroll through into the Issue List.
  2. Left-click on the cell in the color bar that corresponds to the chart you wish to change.
  3. Left-click on the arrows in the Chart Toolbar.
Back to the Questions

10. Delete a line from the Chart

  1. Right-click on the color bar containing the ticker symbol you wish to remove.
  2. Left-click on the "Delete" item in the appearing menu.
  3. Left-click on the chart to redraw.
Note: The red and green color tabs cannot be blank and cannot be deleted.

Back to the Questions

11. Set the Poles on the Chart

If the Solid Pole is not visible on the chart:
  1. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the Dashed Pole to the earliest date desired.
  2. Press the down arrow key on the keyboard to plant the Solid Pole.
  3. Use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move the Dashed Pole to the last date desired.
OR

If the Solid Pole is visible on the chart, you can adjust them by:
  1. Left-click and hold on the pole you wish to move. (solid or dashed)
  2. Drag the mouse to the desired date and release the button.
Note: Pressing the up arrow key on the keyboard will remove the Solid Pole from the chart.

Back to the Questions

12. Use the Sieve

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Family Tab.
  1. Expand the family tree by double-clicking categories to find the desired family.
  2. Left-click on the desired family once to highlight it.
  3. Use the action buttons (+, -, AND, XOR) to load the family into the sieve.
  4. Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 as many times as desired.
  5. Left-click on the "=" button to compute the result in the Issue List.

keywords: creating famil, making famil, make famil

Back to the Questions

13. Use the Internet Tab to Get Intraday Data

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Internet Tab.
  1. Ensure that you are connected to the Internet
  2. Left-click the   button on the Internet Tab's toolbar.
  3. Type the desired ticker symbol in the appearing dialog box.
  4. Press the <Enter>. 
  5. "Available Links" appears. Left-click on the links to the data you would like to view. 


Back to the Questions

14. Add a Column in the Spreadsheet

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Spreadsheet Tab.
  1. Right-click on the spreadsheet.
  2. Left-click on the "Add Col" item in the appearing menu.
  3. Double-click on the desired columns in the appearing popup box.
  4. Left-click on the "X" button in the upper right corner of the popup box.
  5. Right-click on the spreadsheet.
  6. Left-click on the "Compute" item in the appearing menu.
Back to the Questions

15. Export Data to Another Program

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Export Tab.
  1. Load the family you wish to export into the Issue List.
  2. Choose the type of export by left-clicking on the desired type.
  3. Choose the export options by left-clicking on the desired options.
  4. Type the earliest date to be exported in the text box in the Export Period area.
  5. Double-click on the folders in the Path for Export area to set the location of the exported files.
  6. Left-click the "Export" button
Back to the Questions

16. Using the Export Tab

The steps listed below will only work on FT4Web's Export Tab.
  • To Setup and Save Export:
    1. Load the family you wish to export into the Issue List.
    2. Choose the type of export by left-clicking on the desired type.
    3. Choose the export options by left-clicking on the desired options.
    4. Type the earliest date to be exported in the text box in the Export Period area.
    5. Double-click on the folders in the Path for Export area to set the location of the exported files.
    6. Left-click the "Save Export" button.
    7. Type the name you wish to save the export as in the appearing dialog box.
    8. Left-click the "Save" button.

    Note: Exports can only be saved in the \EXPORTS\USERDEF folder.
  • Loading the Export
    1. Left-click the "Load Export" button.
    2. Double-click on the export file you wish to load.

    Note: Saved exports are located in the  \EXPORTS\USERDEF folder.
Back to the Questions

17. Change the Parameters on the Indicators

  1. Move the mouse pointer into the chart area of the screen.
  2. Press the <U> key on your keyboard.
  3. Left-click in the appropriate boxes and type in the values you desire.
  4. Left-click on the button marked "Done".
  5. Left-click on the chart to redraw.
set values Back to the Questions