Part 6. Data Transfer Utility (DTU) Data Transfer Utility 699
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Introduction to AIQ Data Transfer Utility The AIQ Data Transfer Utility (DTU) is a data-handling program designed to work in conjunction with AIQ TradingExpert Pro. DTU is used to transfer ticker data files to and from your AIQ data base. Imported data is automatically stored in the appropriate AIQ data directory (ticker data or market data directories). DTU performs three important functions: 1. Exports AIQ data to files in several standard file formats. These files can then be imported to other (non-aiq) software products. Example: Converts AIQ TradingExpert Pro daily stock price and volume data files to Excel format for import to a spreadsheet. 2. Imports data files which are in an incompatible data format (data obtained through non-aiq software) into an AIQ TradingExpert Pro for Windows data base. Example: Converts spreadsheet DIF files containing daily stock price and volume data to the AIQ TradingExpert Pro data format. 3. Transfers ticker data to and from several other charting software data files, including MetaStock, SuperCharts, and TeleChart 2000. DTU adds a great deal of flexibility for users of AIQ TradingExpert Pro. If you are using other technical analysis software together with AIQ, DTU enables you to save the cost of acquiring data a second time. Or, if you have access to data which is in (or can be converted to) the ASCII, PRN, Excel or DIF format, you can easily import this data into your AIQ TradingExpert Pro data base. Supported data formats DTU supports the following data formats: Export ASCII PRN Excel MetaStock SuperCharts CSV TeleChart 2000 Import ASCII PRN DIF Excel MetaStock SuperCharts TeleChart 2000 Data Transfer Utility: Introduction 701
ASCII, PRN, DIF, and Excel are commonly used financial data formats. If you are using a data provider that can create one of the these formats, the flexibility of DTU should allow you to import data from that provider. In addition to the standard data formats, the various charting software systems translate data into their own unique storage formats. DTU supports several of these formats (MetaStock, SuperCharts, and TeleChart 2000) and automatically transfers data between these systems and AIQ TradingExpert Pro. Import/export capabilities of DTU Exporting data from AIQ TradingExpert Pro Stock (and warrant) data: DTU exports all stock (and warrant) price data to an external file in ASCII, PRN, Excel, or SuperCharts formats. Also, DTU allows you to export equity data directly to MetaStock or TeleChart 2000. (Chapter II) Index data: Data for indexes can be exported into an external file in ASCII, PRN, Excel, or SuperCharts formats. DTU also allows you to export index data directly to MetaStock or TeleChart 2000. (Chapter II) Futures data: Futures data can be exported into an external file in ASCII, PRN, Excel, or SuperCharts formats. DTU also allows you to export futures data directly to MetaStock or TeleChart 2000. (Chapter II) Mutual fund data: Data for mutual funds can be exported into an external file in ASCII, PRN, Excel, or SuperCharts formats. DTU also allows you to export mutual fund data directly to MetaStock or TeleChart 2000. (Chapter II) Group and sector data: Data for groups and sectors can be exported into an external file in ASCII, PRN, or Excel formats. (Chapter II) Market data: DTU exports market data to an external file in ASCII, PRN, or Excel formats. (Chapter II) Importing into AIQ TradingExpert Pro data directories Ticker Data (TDATA): DTU imports stock, warrant, index, futures, and mutual fund price data from an external file into the AIQ data directory reserved for ticker data, TDATA. The import file may be in 702 AIQ TradingExpert Pro User Manual
ASCII, PRN, DIF, or Excel format. Also, DTU allows you to import equity data directly from MetaStock, SuperCharts, or TeleChart 2000 proprietary files to this same AIQ data directory. MetaStock, SuperCharts, and TeleChart 2000 are presently the only data formats that can be imported directly to AIQ systems. (Chapter III) Market Data (MDATA): DTU imports market data from an external file into the AIQ data directory reserved for market data, MDATA. The import file may be in ASCII, PRN, DIF, or Excel format. (Chapter III) Use of wildcards for multiple ticker transfer When you are exporting data for a group of tickers and want to export a separate file for each ticker, you can enter a wildcard (*) in place of a file name. The wildcard automatically creates a file for each ticker in the group and uses the ticker name for the file name. For example, entering *.ASC names all exported files as follows: ticker symbol plus the file extension ASC (e.g., IBM.ASC). You can also use the wildcard file designation to import groups of files of the same type and that use the same file specifications. Data Transfer Utility: Introduction 703
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