TradeStation Help

Plotting 3rd Party Data Symbols

You can plot 3rd party data in a Chart Analysis or RadarScreen window by simply typing the 3rd party symbol name on the Command Line, a RadarScreen cell or by using Symbol Lookup to locate the 3rd party symbol data.

Preparing 3rd party data to be plotted

There are several steps that you need to follow before plotting 3rd party data for the first time.  

1. Ensure that the 3rd party data file on your computer follows the ASCII 3rd Party Data guidelines or is a Metastock daily data file (9.x or greater).
2. Use the Symbol Lookup - 3rd Party tab to:
   • Select or Add a 3rd party data source. Identify the data type, folder location, and prefix.
   • Highlight a 3rd party data file name from the selection list. The previously specified prefix and File Name make up the new 3rd Party symbol name.
   • Click OK to prepare the selected 3rd party data file.
     
     The Format Symbol wizard allows you specify information about the data such as the field order, date format, sessions, description, and how you want the settings to be saved.
3. Click Finish to plot.
4. From the Menu bar, click Format > Symbol. The Format Symbol dialog is displayed.
5. From the Settings tab, select a data interval (tick, volume, daily, etc.) that is compatible with the data.

Plotting previously prepared 3rd party data on a Chart Analysis window

1. Activate a Chart Analysis window.

2. Type the 3rd party symbol in the Command Line Entry box and press ENTER, or select a previously plotted 3rd party symbol from the Command Line drop-down history list; or
   From the Main toolbar, click the Symbol Lookup icon to perform a Symbol Lookup - 3rd Party. The chart will be created using the selected symbol settings.

3. To format the symbol price settings, use the menu bar Format > Symbol menu sequence. For more details, see Formatting a Symbol in the Chart Analysis Window.

To open the Format Symbol dialog automatically after the creation of a chart, use the View > Chart Analysis Preferences menu sequence. On the General tab, select the Prompt for format when creating a Chart Analysis window setting, and click OK.

Plotting previously prepared 3rd party data symbols in RadarScreen window

1. Activate a RadarScreen window.

2. In the Symbol column of a blank cell, type a 3rd party symbol, and press ENTER; or from the Menu bar, click Insert > Symbol. The Insert Symbol dialog is displayed.
   
3. Enter or lookup a 3rd party symbol in the Symbol box.
4. Click Add to place the symbol in the symbol list.
5. Click Insert to add the symbols in the list at the selected cell location.