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Using FastTrack

This is the very basics. FastTrack for DOS users may wish to see a discussion of the differences between FastTrack for DOS and FastTrack for the Web.

Don't forget to backup your programs and data at least 4 times a year.

Starting the Program

To open FastTrack for the Web, do the following:

  1. Click on the start button.
  2. Move the mouse pointer to "Programs". A pop-up menu should appear to the right.
  3. Find the program group called "FastTrack", move the cursor to it.
  4. Another pop-up menu should appear. In it are several icons; Click on the one that says "Charting-Ranking-Analysis".

     To create a shortcut to FastTrack for the Web on your desktop, do the following:

  1. Double-click the "My Computer" icon on your desktop.
  2. Double-click the drive on which FastTrack is installed (usually C:).
  3. Double-click the "FT" folder (or the folder in which you installed FastTrack).
  4. Make sure you are in 'window' mode not full screen. You must be able to see part of the desktop
  5. Right-click-Hold-Drag the "FT4Win" Icon onto the desktop.
  6. Select "Create Shortcut" from the pop-up menu that appears when you release the mouse button.

The First Time You Start Up

What you will see is Fidelity Magellan as the red line and the Dow Jones Industrials as the green line. Other lines on the chart are Fidelity Select Electronics (Yellow), Fidelity Short-term Bond (Purple), Fidelity Select American Gold (Cyan), and Vanguard Money Market Federal (Blue). Your display will be similar to the following:
  1. Chart Performance Values
    This area contains chart performance values reflected from the Dashed Pole (2) to the end of the chart. Additional statistics and performance values can be found by clicking the chart name (3). 
  2. Dashed Pole
    The Dashed Pole shows where performance values are measured from and to. To move the Dashed Pole, move the mouse while holding the down a shift key.   Alternatively, the left and right arrow keys move the Dashed Pole. The dates on which the poles rest are displayed at (4).
  3. The Name of the Chart
    Click the name to see additional statistics and parameters. Right-click to change parameters.
  4. Date Label
    Displays the date the Dashed Pole rests on. If the Dashed Pole is on a distribution date (white dot on the red line), the date label displays distribution information. If the Dashed Pole is moved to the end of the chart, the date label displays summary information (see Distributions). All information displayed by this label is for the red line. Right-clicking on this box will allow you to change the font displayed by this label or to turn it off.
  5. Chart Toolbar
    This toolbar includes features for changing the issues displayed, drawing trendlines, and placing signals. Right-clicking the toolbar brings up additional options for chart appearance, trendlines and signals.
  6. Color Bar
    The Chart Color Bar controls the issues displayed on the chart. To change a ticker line, click on the associated color box and type in the ticker symbol then hit the enter key. Right-clicking on the color boxes brings up a menu with additional options.
  7. The Tabs
    Click the Tabs to see FastTrack for Window's many features.

The Big Picture


using_fasttrack4.gif (18428 bytes)

The Cursor

Moving the mouse moves the cursor. The cursor may have several shapes depending where it rests on the screen:
This finger-pointer  tells you that you are over an object that may be clicked on. These objects include date labels, chart labels, tabs.
handdrag.gif (158 bytes) This grabbing hand appears after clicking, waiting, and holding on an object that may be dragged.
lnesw.bmp (160 bytes) The douuble-headed arrow tells you that you can click-hold-drag the edge of an object and stretch or shrink that object. This normally appears only when you pass over the edge of the FT window slowly.
libeam.bmp (160 bytes) This tells you that you can type letters or numbers into the space provided.
larrow.bmp (160 bytes) This is a normal pointer. It appears over large objects like lists and charts. These objects are clickable, like objects that show a finger-pointer. The finger-pointer used on small objects alerts you to their presence.
lwait.bmp (160 bytes) This means that the program is computing. If the delay will be more than a few seconds, usually a progress indication will be displayed. DO NOT type, drag, or click while the cursors is an hourglass. The system might let you do things like that, but DON'T. If you wish to abort, cancel, or otherwise shut down the program, you may click the appropriate object to abort the computing. This abort may not work all the time depending on the operation.
splitter_cur.bmp (160 bytes) This appears when the cursor is over a splitter. Splitters separate panes of the windows. Click-hold-drag the splitter to a new position and both sides of the pane will resize. Splitter may be horizontal or vertical. There may be several splitters visible at any moment.
Changing the Chart's Appearance

Right-clicking in the main chart area will bring up the Chart Pop-up Menu. From here, the appearance of the chart can be changed including which charts are displayed, line widths, background color, period displayed, etc. In addition, the charts may be printed from this menu.

Help is just a Function Key away.

When you have a question about a feature of FastTrack for the Web, just click the desired item and press the <F1> key. Also, general help is available by clicking the Help tab.

Like FastTrack for DOS, many "Hot Keys" are Available.

These are keyboard shortcuts especially useful when your mouse dies. In most cases, the keys used are identical to those used in FastTrack for DOS, but there are differences.

Don't forget to backup your programs and data at least 4 times a year.