The table "Web Server" is related to the historic data update function from WEB Server. In this section will be shown how to configure the links to Web Servers to update the archives. One example could be the Yahoo web server. In this mode it is possible to connect directly to data receiving program like QuoteTracker, which have an integrated web server to make data available to third parties applications.

It is possible to create any number of Web Server Configuration. In fact 1 or two will be sufficient to describe the majority of the cases encountered.

Quote Tracker

To create a Web Server Configuration that can be used to connect to the QuoteTracker program, follow these steps:

1. Position the cursor on the Web Server Table. Create a new Web Server Configuration, pressing the button New from the vertical menu on the left. A new Web Server Configuration is created, with a default name (i.e. WebServer_1). Like any other functions, at any time it is possible to change the default name with one chosen by the user.

2. Write on the text box "Query String" the http string to be used when contacting the Web Server. This allows to get from QuoteTracker only the securities the user is interested in.

   It is easier than it seems. In the QuoteTracker documentation in fact it is give an example of QueryString, reported below :

       http://127.0.0.1:3939/req?getLastQuote(MSFT, YHOO)

   gives back the last quotes for Yahoo and Microsoft.

   In practice, the only modification the user has to do, is to the put inside the parenthesis all the symbols of the wanted securities.

   

   To write the query it is possible to use the help list shown clicking on the area "QueryString"

3. Once the "Query String" has been correctly written, it is necessary to insert the "User Name" and the "Password" only if the Internet connection uses a proxy for which authentication is required.

4. To test the configuration press the button "Test Query String". If everything works correctly, you will see in the text box below the data while the program is receiving it.

   

   NB If you see that the first row of data is empty, check the properties First Data Row and Last Data Row which are in the grid alongside the username and password.

   For QuoteTracker, the first line is used to describe the state of the request (OK, or ERROR). Therefore it is necessary to tell the program to skip the first line in order to avoid unwanted errors. In order to do that set the property First Data Row equal to 2. Similarly, if the data finish before the last line set correctly the property Last Data Row. Usually this property does not need to be set because there is no additional information after the last line. For QuoteTracker the property has to be set to zero.

5. Save the configuration and pass to the table "File Format" in the same screen where to configure the new "File Format" to describe the data coming from the server. In practice, according with the data displayed during the "Test Query String" it should be possible to describe to the program the record format coming from QuoteTracker. In the following picture it is shown exactly how the file format has to be configured. It could happen that the format has changed since this documentation was written. Should the picture below be different from the test result, take for good the test output.

   

   Once the file format has been completely defined, save it.

6. Go to the table "Update" where to configure a new update.

   Press the button "New" from the vertical menu on the left to create a new update, and set its properties following the indications below:

   Set the properties of the new update, as shown here.

   NB If some properties are not displayed, it is suggested to keep the default values.

   Source Type => select "Web Server"

   Web Server source => select the Web Server Configuration just created.

   ASCII File Format => select the file format just created

   Destination Workgroup => select the destination group where are or will be the securities files. It is suggested to create a dedicated workgroup.

   Default Periodicity => select the data periodicity to import.

   If record exists => Select "Overwrite existing record"

   Create File if it does not exists => YES or NO, depending if the files already exist or not in the selected workgroup.

   Type => select "Metastock"

   Path => select the path where the data files will be saved.

   Periodicity => select the data periodicity to import.

   Minutes per bar => 0 (zero) for Tick by Tick, or specify the number of minute which every period represents (Only for intraday data).

7. Save all changes.

To test if all the procedure has been done correctly, press the button "Test" from the vertical menu on the left. If everything went well, no errors will be shown. If there are problems, the errors list is shown in the section "Update Errors" in the "Result" table.

If the test went well, it is now possible to press the key Update from the vertical menu on the left to update the archives.

Of course, on the next update, just press the button Update and wait the end of the update, without having to go through the configuration again.

NB of course for the describe procedure to work, the QuoteTracker program must be running and set for the Web Server data export. To activate this QuoteTracker function, check the QuoteTracker user manual.

To configure the Yahoo Web Server, or any other web server, the procedure is exactly the same as the one described here. Follow these steps described for QuoteTracker, changing of course only the configurations specific for the chosen Web Server.