Multicharts User Thread

Andrew

In February 07, we were told that you will support fractional scales in version 2.1 (treasury and grain contracts for example). This was said in this thread:

http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=3072

You have just released version 3.1 and this is still not supported.

Now we are told in this thread: http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=5241 that this will be implemented in one of the future versions, but no ETA for that. How can something promised a year ago not be a priority for MC anymore?

Another issue... when it was asked to add weekly reports in the backtesting results and to add ANY period reports in the portfolio backtester since there are none, the response was that this will only be added if enough users request them. Surely to be able to provide period reports (yearly, monthly, weekly, daily) should be one of the basic features of any software providing backtesting functionality and people shouldn't have to request it? See this thread:

http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=5254

- F
 
Quote from Andrew Kirillov:


If you have any further questions, please let me know.

Regards.
More...

Hi Andrew,

Thanks so much for the response. I have a few more issues regarding data caching and storage in ASCII format. I'm trying to build a database for MC and having a difficult time getting QuoteManager to provide data from ASCII files to the Portfolio Backtester. The chart and backtester both respond with "No Data" for symbol after I import data from an ASCII .txt source. Can you recommend a reliable way to build such a database of symbols?

It seems I have to re-download data everytime I request it for a new backtest - even though I've downloaded that data before... this is after the MC program has been restarted, so it seems the local cache has been cleared or something. Anyhow, I'd like to be able to create a reliable database via ascii files or via downloading from TS or IB or ESignal directly. Can you point to where I can research this topic?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Mike
 
Quote from sevensa:

Andrew

In February 07, we were told that you will support fractional scales in version 2.1 (treasury and grain contracts for example). This was said in this thread:

http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=3072

You have just released version 3.1 and this is still not supported.

Now we are told in this thread: http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=5241 that this will be implemented in one of the future versions, but no ETA for that. How can something promised a year ago not be a priority for MC anymore?

Another issue... when it was asked to add weekly reports in the backtesting results and to add ANY period reports in the portfolio backtester since there are none, the response was that this will only be added if enough users request them. Surely to be able to provide period reports (yearly, monthly, weekly, daily) should be one of the basic features of any software providing backtesting functionality and people shouldn't have to request it? See this thread:

http://forum.tssupport.com/viewtopic.php?t=5254

- F
More...

Dear Fanus,

I don’t think you have chosen the right way or tone to put pressure on us. I personally think that our support team have done a lot for you. We have carefully analyzed all of the problems that you reported – even when those ‘problems’ were just misunderstanding on your part of how the features work.

Given the above, your complaints don’t sound very convincing or founded. Also, if you analyze the software market, you will realize that not meeting the deadlines is almost the norm in the industry. However, even if the deadlines are not met, we will keep our promises and implement the features that were promised to our customers.

Regarding Periodical analysis: in this particular case we reserve the right to decide what is a necessary feature and what isn’t.

Regards.
 
Quote from sevensa:
Andrew
In February 07, we were told that you will support fractional scales in version 2.1 (treasury and grain contracts for example)...
More...


I do not trade bonds or grains, so I can't tell you if the fractionals were a critical factor.

I know of one serious MC user , grain trader, and teacher of grain trading -- ProfLogic. Many of his students also use MC.
Maybe he can share his view on the lack of Fractional Scale ?
 
Quote from Mike805:

Hi Andrew,

Thanks so much for the response. I have a few more issues regarding data caching and storage in ASCII format. I'm trying to build a database for MC and having a difficult time getting QuoteManager to provide data from ASCII files to the Portfolio Backtester. The chart and backtester both respond with "No Data" for symbol after I import data from an ASCII .txt source. Can you recommend a reliable way to build such a database of symbols?

It seems I have to re-download data everytime I request it for a new backtest - even though I've downloaded that data before... this is after the MC program has been restarted, so it seems the local cache has been cleared or something. Anyhow, I'd like to be able to create a reliable database via ascii files or via downloading from TS or IB or ESignal directly. Can you point to where I can research this topic?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards,

Mike
More...

I am sure that the problems you are describing are caused by the not full understanding of how the program works. Please contact our customer support representatives and they will show you how to use this feature. It is used by many of our customers every day and works without any issues.

Regards.
 
I don’t think you have chosen the right way or tone to put pressure on us.
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Since you are not replying in your own forum anymore and only here, I believe this is the right place to do this. This was your choice to have chosen to only reply here. I don't see you complaining about not the right place when someone is saying something good about you. If I want to give you kudos, this is the right forum, but if I want to point out something negative, then this isn't?

We have carefully analyzed all of the problems that you reported – even when those ‘problems’ were just misunderstanding on your part of how the features work.
More...
"Carefully analyzing" reported issues and then reporting back weeks later that this is a confirmed bug which will be fixed in one of the future releases does not qualify as resolving them. Analyzing is the easy part, but resolving the issues is what really matters. I am also not really clear how analyzing support issues is relevant to your broken promises.

I'll make you a deal. Post a list of all the "misunderstandings" and I'll post a list of all the unresolved issues and we can compare notes.

Given the above, your complaints don’t sound very convincing or founded.
Also, if you analyze the software market, you will realize that not meeting the deadlines is almost the norm in the industry.
More...
Pointing out that you have committed in your own forum to deliver a feature three releases and almost 18 months ago and then didn't, is not very convincing and founded? Not sure how your logic works here. What would be founded? If you are three years late? Four years?

Regarding Periodical analysis: in this particular case we reserve the right to decide what is a necessary feature and what isn’t.
More...
Of course you have the right. But think about what you are saying. You provide backtesting software, but don't think periodical analysis is important? And of course then there are the issue of your incorrect drawdown calculations which your Support people don't see anything wrong with. Calculating drawdowns correctly must be another feature you have decided against.
 

Attachments

Hi Andrew,

There doesn't seem to be a way to register for Multicharts Discussion forums so I'll post my issue here. I also recently emailed customer service about this.

From my recent observations, the 'buyStop' order function does not work in a similar fashion between TradeStation and Multicharts. Below are strategies enabled in both TS and MC(top). All settings are exactly the same as is the data. As you can see, the signal does not occur in the multicharts version. I can send you the snippet of code, however, I have investigated this issue across several symbols/markets and have found the effect to be consistent. When I change the order to a simple market order, the results become much different.

This is a serious issue in terms of proper backtesting as well as in the potential real time execution of code - please let me know when this will be solved as it is a severe roadblock for a majority of the development I plan to do in the coming months/years using your product.

Regards,
Mike
 

Attachments

Is anybody here using the zen fire datafeed with Multicharts? And if so, how does it stack up compared to esignal? I have heard that esignal drops or swallows ticks, and that zen fire is more precise..... comments, anybody?

Also, can I just get the zenfire datafeed and stay with IB for order execution or do I have to use Mirus as a broker?

And lastly, does zenfire have historical data?

Thanks!
 
Quote from Mike805:

Hi Andrew,

There doesn't seem to be a way to register for Multicharts Discussion forums so I'll post my issue here. I also recently emailed customer service about this.

From my recent observations, the 'buyStop' order function does not work in a similar fashion between TradeStation and Multicharts. Below are strategies enabled in both TS and MC(top). All settings are exactly the same as is the data. As you can see, the signal does not occur in the multicharts version. I can send you the snippet of code, however, I have investigated this issue across several symbols/markets and have found the effect to be consistent. When I change the order to a simple market order, the results become much different.

This is a serious issue in terms of proper backtesting as well as in the potential real time execution of code - please let me know when this will be solved as it is a severe roadblock for a majority of the development I plan to do in the coming months/years using your product.

Regards,
Mike
More...

I've managed to gather some more information regarding this problem over the course of the last 12 hours. The problem occurs only with ASCII data, not with downloaded TradeStation data. Whenever I download data from TS directly and use that for the backtest, the Buy at Stop orders execute correctly every time they should. I then "Export" the data to ASCII using all the exchange settings and correct resolution. When I import the data back into the backtest (so I don't have to Download from TS again), many of the buy at stop orders do not trigger a trade evn though the price clearly goes through the stop, note that some do trigger (~10%), but a majority do not. I think this may be a bug with the reading of the ASCII data as all the settings during the download/export/import process remain consistent.

If anyone is willing to try this and see if you get a similar error with the buy at stop order during backtesting I'd appreciate some help in providing Andrew et al. with more information - and to show that I'm not making stuff up here.

Regards,

Mike
 
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