Esignal ain't what it's cracked up to be

Can esignal allow the user to put decimal points when looking at the futures contracts like the eminis...

It would just be much cleaner that way... I know that they get the data w/o decimals.. but why not allow the user the function to do it?

I'm sure its not a major programing issue. I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated by most users.

Basic things like this .. should be considered in future releases.


--MIKE
 
I hope some issues regarding chart scaling are being addressed in the near future. Right now you are severely limited in eSignal. For instance, if I turn off auto-scaling (so that the chart doesn't automatically fill up the screen and in the process distort and exaggerate the size of the bars) all is fine.... until I change the timeframe of that chart, either manually or by using the favorites bar. In either case, the new timeframe always defaults to auto-scaling, and if I return to my previous timeframe it's been magically converted from manual scaling (as I set it and saved it) to auto-scaling. I'm sure this was implemented so customers wouldn't "lose" their charts, that is, not be able to find the prices which may be off the scale (until they drag the prices back into view), and in the process call and bug your tech support people. That's fine, but at least in your so-called Advanced Charts give those of us who want to permanently turn off auto-scaling the option.

Another issue regarding scaling is that you don't allow us to set the increments of the manual scale. That is, if I want 4 pts between ES scaling numbers (on the right of the chart) I can't do that. In fact my choices are severely limited and my only option is to drag an auto-scaled chart until it auto-resizes to something close to what I want, then turn off auto-scaling to "lock" it in. So for instance, with the ES I can drag and get the spacing to .50, 1.00, 2.50, 5.00 and then turn off auto-scaling. But those are my only choices!. So if I want 3 or 6 or 10, etc. then I'm SOL.

And another issue with how your scaling is implemented. Let's say I've turned off auto-scale and have it set for 2.50 (that is, the numbers on the right are spaced 2.50 increments apart). But now I want to see a bit more of the chart so I temporarily maximize it, or simply drag the sides of the window and make it larger. Somehow the program decides that the increment I set when I turned off auto-scale is no longer important (!), maybe the software feels that I didn't really mean it (!), and the chart magically rescales itself.

In short, whoever designed the scaling options of the charts in eSignal might have been a wonderful programmer, but they certainly were not traders.
 
Quote from Trend Fader:

Can esignal allow the user to put decimal points when looking at the futures contracts like the eminis...

[snip]

Basic things like this .. should be considered in future releases.

--MIKE
More...

Hi Mike,

This has been requested often in the past. You're right about the fact that this is how the data is received from the exchange. As for the difficulty in programming it in, I don't know. However, I have heard that to do so will add quite a bit of bandwidth considering the amount of volume on the eminis. This has been one of the primary reason for not doing so at this point. However, it is under review to add and has not been dropped for the dev list.

Thank you for adding your comments to this discussion.

Regards,
 
My personal philosophy is to bitch and bitch loud when I think something is really wrong.

But, when a real attempt is made to make it right, it's only fair to share that experience too. I must say, eSignals people are taking action and they are listening and I am surprised.

I realize not everything happens overnight, and it's unlikely that eSignal can be everything to everyone, but they sure seem to be trying.

Thank you.
 
Quote from Magna:

I hope some issues regarding chart scaling are being addressed in the near future.
More...

Hi Magna,

We have on our development list for 8.0, due out in early Fall, to enhance chart scaling for both price & time axis. I know the plan was to give the user ability to select price & time points for the scale. However, I'm unsure about the ability to set the auto-scaling feature to the off position as a default. I will forward this on to our product management team for review.

Regards,
 
Quote from Trend Fader:

Can esignal allow the user to put decimal points when looking at the futures contracts like the eminis...

It would just be much cleaner that way... I know that they get the data w/o decimals.. but why not allow the user the function to do it?

--MIKE
More...
Futures contracts are valued in points. They are not decimalized dollar values- they have no price per se. Although they have a notional value which can be expressed in dollars, they are actually quoted in points.

In the emini S&P, the value of a point is defined as 1 point = .01 of an S&P index point. Hence the proper quote for an emini S&P contract is 98425 points! No commas, no decimals. Its not so much a matter of that's how they get the data from the exchange, that's how the contract is defined.

http://www.cme.com/httpwrapper.cfm?wrap=/wrappedpages/clearing/spex/equityGroup.htm

Be happy you are not trading wheat where a quote might be
246 6. That's $2.46 and 6/8's of a cent. Not 3/4's, it's 6/8's.
 
Quote from Andy_eSignal:



Hi Mike,

This has been requested often in the past. You're right about the fact that this is how the data is received from the exchange. As for the difficulty in programming it in, I don't know. However, I have heard that to do so will add quite a bit of bandwidth considering the amount of volume on the eminis. This has been one of the primary reason for not doing so at this point. However, it is under review to add and has not been dropped for the dev list.

Thank you for adding your comments to this discussion.

Regards,
More...


What does bandwith have to do with adding a decimal point to the chart/quote? My metastock adds decimal points to the eminis.

Its purely a software issue? How about adding a function to the program that allows the user to change the way the data is presented.. for example.. we can round of to nearest houndreth.. decimal points, etc... Once the data is received it can be manipulated through the software.. not the feed.

--MIKE
 
Quote from PuffyGums:


Futures contracts are valued in points. They are not decimalized dollar values- they have no price per se. Although they have a notional value which can be expressed in dollars, they are actually quoted in points.

In the emini S&P, the value of a point is defined as 1 point = .01 of an S&P index point. Hence the proper quote for an emini S&P contract is 98425 points! No commas, no decimals. Its not so much a matter of that's how they get the data from the exchange, that's how the contract is defined.

http://www.cme.com/httpwrapper.cfm?wrap=/wrappedpages/clearing/spex/equityGroup.htm

Be happy you are not trading wheat where a quote might be
246 6. That's $2.46 and 6/8's of a cent. Not 3/4's, it's 6/8's.
More...


Dude what are you talking about?

984.25 * 50 = $49,215.50

Thats the value of one contract.

Decimal points should be added to esignal for futures...

QCHARTS and Metastock already do this.


--MIKE
 
Quote from Trend Fader:




Dude what are you talking about?

984.25 * 50 = $49,215.50

Thats the value of one contract.

Decimal points should be added to esignal for futures...

QCHARTS and Metastock already do this.


--MIKE
More...
Read the contract specifications for ES on the CME. $49K is the notional value. The contract itself is quoted in points. All futures contracts are quoted in points, not dollars like stocks.

984.25 is the index, not the price of the futures. The futures for that index level would be 98425. No decimal points, no commas. Its not a dollar price. Futures are not quoted in decimalized dollars. Wheat for example, 267 6. That's not a decimalized dollar amount. Bonds- 109 17. Not a dollar amount. Those are all points. Futures are quoted and trade in points.

Why does Metastock put a decimal in there? They shouldn't. A decimal represents a fraction- a portion of a whole unit. A futures quote of 98425 represent all whole points. There are no fractions there.

Do you pay $982.25 when you buy a futures contract? No. So you shouldnt be seeing a decimal there when you get futures quotes.
 
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