In order to ensure your market scans are running against the most up-to-date data it is necessary to regularly download Data packs from the Hubb servers via the Update Manager tool.
After registering Your SOFTWARE you can perform system data maintenance at any time by selecting the Update Manager button of the Tools menu or by typing the Ctrl + U command:
Usually however, it is sufficient to perform this maintenance whenever you are prompted to do so at startup. The default setting for this prompt is 24 hours.
Each time you start up Your SOFTWARE more than 24 hours (default) since the last system data, update the following prompt will appear:
Click Yes to start the Update Manager download process.
The default setting is for the system to detect if the system data has not been updated within the previous 24 hours. If it detects that the data is older than 24 hours, it will display the prompt for update at startup.
The prompt can be turned off, or set for a number of days other than one day. Alter these settings in the General settings tab of the Application Settings.
If you click No, the next time the prompt opens it will advise you of the number of days since you last performed the system data update.
The Update Manager is used for two purposes:
In either case, the download, distribution and completion processes are identical.
The download process will appear the same, regardless of whether a system data update, or a full market download, is taking place.
First the data is retrieved from the server in the download phase, and then the data is automatically distributed among the various Software components in the distribution phase.
The Distribution is largely automatic. It can be initiated manually, if required. For more information on the process in general, and the Distribute Downloaded Files tool in particular, refer to the Distributing Downloaded Files topic.
The Downloading dialog box will open, and will commence automatically downloading the data for the update:
The software connects to the remote server and determines what data your local PC requires to bring it up to date.
It then downloads the required files, including interest rates, market information and symbol information, and market trade data if you have this optional facility enabled.
While this process is underway, the status for each process is indicated as Not Started, In Progress or Complete.
When each process is completed, a check is put in its check box.
At any time during the update process you can click Cancel to terminate the download.
After the data has been downloaded over the internet, the Update Manager distributes the data to the various Software components.
The following dialog box appears and indicates the progress of these processes:
You can cancel or pause the process at any time by clicking the command buttons on the bottom of the dialog box.
Upon completion of the data distribution the Distribution Status dialog appears:
It provides a short log of the results of the update.
The results of the standard Update Manager system data download are as follows:
The market system data for your currently selected markets is updated with any changes or additions.
If new markets are added to those provided by the data provider, details of these new markets will be added to your system. They will be available for you to select using the Symbols Maintenance Wizard.
Symbols sometimes change or are removed from a market, for example a company no longer trades on an exchange because of purchase by another company, bankruptcy, etc.
These changes will be applied to your current array of symbols saved locally on your PC.
New interest rates will be installed on your PC.
You can also manually define your own interest rates for various markets.
The most current exchange rates will be installed on your PC.
The counter controlling the startup prompt will be reset. If you are using the daily default setting, it will not display until you restart it 24 hours after this point.
No price data is downloaded by the update Manager, unless you have requested the end of day data packets to be included in your data service, see next.
Price data is downloaded as required by user action. See the next section for an explanation of the results of data-on-demand requests.
Note - If you leave Your SOFTWARE running all the time, you will have to remember to periodically update the system data selecting the Update Manager button of the Tools menu or by typing the Ctrl + U command.
Two types of Daily Data Packs are available: Price Data and Fundamental Data.
Normally this service is only required if the user conducts extensive off-line market scans or maintains separate databases for use with MetaStock™.
Price data is created and populated from a Historical Price Data Pack using the Historical Data Copy Wizard.
That database is then "topped-up" each time the Update Manager is run by the Daily Price Data Packs.
When the fundamental data database is installed, the system will automatically reset itself to retrieve Daily Fundamental Data Packs.
Similar to Your SOFTWARE's Daily Price Data packs, these data packs are prepared at the end of each day and are available for download at the time the Update Manager is run.