MarketPLUS User Guide (Version 2.1) "Support the SHAREWARE Concept!" Copyright (C) 1987-93, F2S Enterprises All Rights Reserved VOICE: (713) 471-7998 FAX: (713) 471-7220 January 1993 i Contents MarketPLUS Shareware License Agreement iv About This Shareware Version vi About This Manual vii Before Installing MarketPLUS viii Chapter 1 What is MarketPLUS? 1-1 Chapter 2 Installation & Setup 2-1 2.1 Installation 2-1 2.2 Setup 2-3 2.3 A Word For Mouse Users 2-5 2.4 A Word For Non-Mouse Users 2-5 Chapter 3 Getting Started: A Quick Tour 3-1 3.1 Activate the Program 3-1 3.2 Verify Correct Configuration 3-1 3.3 MAIN MENU 3-1 3.3.1 TABULATE/PRINT/SORT PRICES Option 3-2 3.3.2 VIEW CHARTS AND TECHNICAL INDICATORS Option 3-4 3.3.3 DATA FILE MAINTENANCE Option 3-7 <1> CREATE A NEW FILE FOR INVESTMENT DATA Option 3-7 <2> CORRECT DATES/PRICES Option 3-8 <3> BACKUP OR DELETE ENTIRE DATA FILES Option 3-8 <4> ADJUSTMENT FOR DIVIDEND, SPLITS OR CAP. GAINS Option 3-8 <5> ADD NEW INVESTMENTS TO AN EXISTING FILE Option 3-8 <6> DELETE AN INVESTMENT FROM AN EXISTING FILE Option 3-9 <7> CHANGE DEFAULT DATA DRIVE Option 3-9 <8> RETURN TO MAIN MENU Option 3-9 Data File Maintenance Practice Session 3-9 Chapter 4 Technical Indicators & Graph Settings 4-1 4.1 A Word about Technical Indicators 4-1 4.1.1 Charts 4-2 4.1.2 Straight Lines 4-3 4.1.3 Moving Averages 4-3 4.2 GRAPH SETTINGS Option 4-4 4.2.1 Primary Indicator Screen Settings 4-5 Index Overlay 4-5 Moving Averages 4-5 Investor Defined Studies 4-8 Overbought/Oversold Line Values 4-8 Upper/Lower Trend Line 4-9 Filter Zone 4-10 Chart Presentation 4-10 4.2.2 Secondary Indicator Screen Settings 4-11 Williams Oscillator (William's Percent R) 4-12 Wilder's Relative Strength Index (RSI) 4-12 Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) 4-14 Bollinger Bands 4-14 Three indicator's Moving Average 4-16 4.2.3 Automatic Features 4-17 Automatic Scaling of the Graph on Y-Axis 4-17 ii Automatic Scaling of Price Change Percentage on Y-Axis 4-17 Automatic Spread and Scaling of Data on X-Axis 4-17 Chapter 5 Investor Defined Studies (IDS) 5-1 5.1 Cone Group Performance Comparison Index (Cone Index) 5-1 5.2 Price/Moving Average Oscillator 5-2 5.3 Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) 5-3 Chapter 6 MarketPLUS Data File Format 6-1 Chapter 7 DOS Error Messages 7-1 Chapter 8 Function Keys & HOT Keys 8-1 8.1 Function Keys 8-1 How Function Keys Work in MarketPLUS 8-1 Function Key Definitions 8-1 8.2 HOT Keys 8-3 What are HOT Keys? 8-3 HOT Key Definitions 8-3 Appendix A Commonly Asked Questions A-1 Appendix B MarketPLUS Companion Products B-1 Appendix C Recommended Reading C-1 iii MarketPLUS Shareware License Agreement Copyright Statement MarketPLUS is a copyrighted 1987-93 by F2S Enterprises of LaPorte, Texas. The entire contents of this program and documentation are included in this copyright. F2S Enterprises reserves the right to make changes to the manual without prior notice. Shareware Agreement Shareware users of MarketPLUS are granted license to fully use the Shareware version for a period not to exceed 60 days. There is no obligation to register (i.e., pay for continued use) should the user discontinue using the program after 60 days. The user is required to register the product for any use beyond the 60 day trial period. In addition, the user is encouraged to make copies of the Shareware version of MarketPLUS and share with others, so long as: * No fee is charged for duplication. * Only complete copies of the original distribution disk are duplicated and shared, with all original files intact. Warranty F2S Enterprises and/or the author(s) make no warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, for the programs supplied in this package, including the usefulness or fitness for a particular purpose or application. F2S Enterprises and/or the author(s) will not be held liable for any damage or loss arising from the use or misuse of the program. In addition, F2S Enterprises and/or the authors will not be held liable for any damage to data, property, or other material assets which may be caused directly or indirectly by use of the program. F2S Enterprises does not warrant that the functions contained in the programs will meet your requirements or that the operation of the programs will be uninterrupted or error free. Neither F2S Enterprises nor the author(s) of MarketPLUS are registered investment advisors. The user is fully responsible for the use and interpretations of the programs in their investment decisions. Gains and losses can occur when investing in the market, using this or any other investment program. iv Acknowledgments Trademarks, such as IBM, Microsoft, Logitech, Epson, Hewlett Packard, and others, are hereby recognized as trademarks of their respective companies. MarketPLUS uses Quick Windows Advanced User Interface Library and is Copyrighted 1990 by Software Interphase, Inc. MarketPLUS was developed using Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System (version 7.0). v About This Shareware Version The Shareware version you have purchased contains all the features of the registered version, except for the following differences: * A single file can maintain a maximum of 5 securities versus 50 in the registered versions. * Documentation is provided as an electronic text file versus the printed and bound manual (with illustrations and charts) in the registered versions. * 3 Investor Defined Studies are available versus 8 or 16 in the registered versions. * Registered versions have the added capability of printing to *.PCX graphics files, as well as printers. So while you are using your Shareware version, think about choosing any of the following versions of MarketPLUS that best fits your needs. There are three registration levels to choose from: MarketPLUS Level 1: This version maintains up to 50 securities in a single file. This version includes a 50/130 database (maintain up to 50 investments with 130 days, weeks, or months of prices in each single file), PCX file saver, 8 Investor Defined Studies, printed and bound manual with illustrations and charts, quick reference card, and author support. MarketTOOLS and MarketVIEW are also included! $ 85.00 MarketPLUS Level 2: Includes all items listed for Level 1 plus a total of 16 Investor Defined Studies and the MarketCONVERT program disk. $ 115.00 MarketPLUS Level 3: This version includes all items listed for Levels 1 and 2 except the 50/130 database size is "expanded" to 50/540 (requires a minimum of 512K RAM). $ 145.00 To order, write: F2S Enterprises P.O. Box 1011 La Porte, TX 77572-1011, USA To call/FAX: Voice: (713) 471-7998 FAX: (713) 471-7220 vi About This Manual This manual contains all the information necessary to install and use MarketPLUS. Please take a few minutes and acquaint yourself with its contents before using MarketPLUS. While many of our users feel that MarketPLUS does not require documentation to use the program, the mere fact that MarketPLUS is a complete, self-contained, investment package (complete graphics tools, report generating, database management, editing features, and its own database format) lends us to believe that this manual might come in handy! Do not consider this manual to be a substitute for a practical text on the theories and applications of technical analysis. By carefully studying historic investing data and the application of technical analysis, you can make extremely profitable trades. Contents of This Manual This manual provides a step-by-step approach to using the features of MarketPLUS: from creating a new file for your investments, creating a report summary, changing graph and indicator settings, to adjusting for splits or distributions. While most references in this manual apply to the Shareware version, all commands and instructions are identical to and apply equally to the 50/130 and 50/540 versions. This manual is divided into the following chapters: Chapter 1 What is MarketPLUS? Chapter 2 Installation & Setup Chapter 3 Getting Started: A Quick Tour Chapter 4 Technical Indicators & Graph Settings Chapter 5 Investor Defined Studies Chapter 6 MarketPLUS Data File Format Chapter 7 DOS Error Messages Chapter 8 Function Keys & HOT Keys Appendix A Commonly Asked Questions Appendix B MarketPLUS Companion Products Appendix C Recommended Reading Product Support As a registered user of the program, you will have the privilege of calling, faxing, or writing us for help if you have any questions, suggestions or comments. If you have a question about MarketPLUS, look in this manual first . If you cannot find the answer in this manual, then contact F2S Technical Support. Non-registered Shareware users of MarketPLUS may receive limited technical help and answers to general questions. vii Whether you call or write, please provide the following information: The version of MarketPLUS. The type of hardware you are using. A description of what happened and what you were doing when the problem occurred. The exact wording of any messages that appeared on your screen. If you are a user of Prodigy, you may wish to leave us brief note in the MONEY TALK board, in the subject "Other Investments," under the topic "MARKETPLUS." We review messages on a regular basis. Special Terms & Conventions The MarketPLUS manual uses a few special symbols and conventions. The Keyboard The keys on your keyboard may not be labeled exactly as they are in this manual. All key names appear as small capital letters inside a pair of brackets. For example, the Enter key appears as ; the Alternate key appears as . Text DOS commands, prompts, and similar on-screen information appear exactly as they are on your monitor. For example, the DOS prompt appears as C> or C:\. Specific text you are to type appears in bold. For example, if the manual says to type cd test, you type the lowercase letters "cd" followed by a space and the lowercase word "test." What you type appears in lowercase letters, unless it must be typed in uppercase letters to perform properly. Place holders that you must supply yourself appear in italics (such as filenames). For example, when you are asked to type cd directory name, you type the letters "cd" followed by a space and the name of a directory. For a directory called "stocks," you would type cd stocks. Before Installing MarketPLUS Read the Shareware License Agreement Read the MarketPLUS Shareware License Agreement provided in the beginning of this manual. Make Backups Be certain to use the original distribution disk to make a backup to guard against accidental data loss. viii Verify Your System Setup Make certain that your system includes the proper hardware and software. The following list identifies the minimum system configuration required to run MarketPLUS. Minimum Configuration An IBM Personal Computer (or compatible), or an IBM Personal System/2 Series personal computer DOS 2.1 or higher A hard disk and a floppy disk drive (for 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" diskettes) 512K of available memory for DOS A Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) graphics card [640x200 B&W mode] A monitor compatible with the graphics card you are using 80-column dot matrix printer with Epson-compatible graphics capability Recommended Configuration F2S recommends the following system configuration. An AT-class (or faster) computer DOS 2.1 or higher 512K of available memory for DOS A hard disk with 720K (minimum) for storage and performance requirements Math co-processor card Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) graphics card [640x350 color mode] [640x350 color mode] OR Video Graphics Array (VGA) graphics card [640x480 color mode] A monitor compatible with the graphics card you are using HP Laserjet printer A mouse. If using a mouse, ensure the mouse driver is loaded and is 100% Microsoft compatible prior to running MarketPLUS. !! MarketPLUS does not support monochrome graphics equipped systems. Read Important Considerations ix Error Handling While every effort has been taken to provide basic error handling throughout the program, it is possible that we have missed something, or your system is configured dramatically differently than other systems. Should you find an error, try to duplicate the procedure and document exactly what may have happened. If an error number is displayed, refer to chapter 7. If no error number is displayed, contact F2S Technical Support for assistance. Printing Safeguard When a new data file of your stock or mutual funds is initially created, you are not be able to use the printing or graphing options until you have acquired at least ten (10) days of closing prices. This limitation was intentionally included as a safeguard to prevent the program from "CRASHING" during calculations of percentages and the minimum data requirements for indicators. Editing Text Always make backup copies of your data files. This is especially important before editing a *.DAT file in a word processor. If you edit data files with an ASCII text editor or word processor, remember to include quotes (") or commas (,) where they belong. Do not add blank spaces or lines. Refer to chapter 6 prior to your first attempt at editing a MarketPLUS *.DAT file. x Chapter 1 What is MarketPLUS? MarketPLUS is a full-featured stock/mutual fund tracking package with strong graphics capabilities. The program is written for the individual investor to display with ease, the price action of individual stocks, mutual funds, or any other type of security. Easy to Use MarketPLUS provides versatile and extremely powerful technical analysis and charting tools, enabling the individual investor to make timely investment decisions. While MarketPLUS appears to be a sophisticated database for investments and prices, it is really quite easy to master rapidly. This is due in part to the meaningful prompts and help screens provided on the screens where you need them. The simplicity of MarketPLUS comes from the fact that only one piece of data information (the closing price) is required for each stock or fund in the file. While the database design does not maintain the high, low, or volume data for individual investments, a tremendous amount of analysis is possible with only the closing price. Menu-Driven MarketPLUS is easy to learn and use, and is completely menu- driven so that you do not have to learn complicated instructions, or syntax, in order to run and enjoy the program. While the program features a "point-n-shoot" structure, pull-down menus, logical prompts within exploding windows, dialog boxes, and other one or two key command responses (i.e., "Yes /No" responses), even the most experienced computer user should invest in a Microsoft or compatible mouse. A number of graphic commands in MarketPLUS are enhanced when a mouse is employed. Some of these features are too obvious and easy to utilize to document. Easy to Customize With MarketPLUS you can easily create a database for up to 5 individual stocks or funds (50 with the registered versions), and up to 130 trading data points (130 days, weeks, or months) of data can be readily displayed. If you purchase the 50/540 extended database version, the maximum data points is 540. You can develop several different data files for which each can be used to store, print, and plot an additional 50 stocks or funds. In addition, historic information for your assets can be backed-up (archived) for reference at a later date. The program allows for easy updating of prices, adjusting for stock splits or dividend payments, correction of prices, sorting by performance for tabular reports, and charting. Utilities are built into the program to add new investments, 1 - 1 delete others, and back up data files. Other "off-line" database editing utilities (file sorts, etc.) are available also to you. Useful Analysis Tools Unlike many "black box" programs that claim to predict what will happen to the price of an investment in the market, MarketPLUS provides the tools to help the investor analyze historic trends, as well as verify what is happening in the market now. Just as a hammer and level are invaluable to the skilled carpenter, MarketPLUS becomes invaluable to the investor willing to develop a sound investment strategy and educate himself/herself in what the indicators represent. On-Line Data Services For investors who follow a large number of investments and wish to update their data files using the services of a professional on-line data service, the MarketFON downloader is available for registered MarketPLUS users by using the services of Track Data Corporations' Dial/Data system. This program downloads the data and directly converts it and updates your MarketPLUS files. Also available from F2S Enterprises is MarketCONVERT. MarketCONVERT performs the historic conversion of many data formats to the MarketPLUS format, and for regular automatic updating from many of the popular data sources' ASCII output files (i.e., Prodigy, Dow Jones Newsretrieval, Warner, CompuServe, etc.). 1 - 2 Chapter 2 Installation & Setup 2.1 Installation Since the size of MarketPLUS requires many files to run, we recommend installation with systems equipped with one or two floppy drives (720K minimum) and a hard (fixed) disk. Installing Version X.X Over an Earlier Version IMPORTANT! If you are upgrading from a previous version of MarketPLUS, locate your previous version of MarketPLUS and back up all your '.DAT' files. After installing the new version of MarketPLUS, you can copy these data files into the new MarketPLUS directory. If You Have A Single Diskette Drive If you have only one floppy diskette drive (with 720K), without a hard disk, you are not able to use MarketPLUS as received. Please contact F2S Technical Support for assistance. If You Have Two Diskette Drives 1.Prepare two blank formatted diskettes (720K minimum capacity) for use. Label one "PROGRAM DISK," and the other "DOC/DATA DISK." Set these disks aside. To format a disk: a. Turn on your computer. b. Place a blank diskette in drive A. c. Close the latch and type the following: A> format a: and press . Formatting a diskette erases any files that may be stored on it, so be sure that you haven't put the wrong disk in the drive. d. When it has finished formatting the diskette, DOS asks you if you want to format another. Type y and press . e. Remove the formatted diskette. f. Insert the other diskette and perform the above procedure. 2. Insert the DISTRIBUTION DISK for MarketPLUS into drive A. 3. At the DOS prompt, type readme and press . The screen displays introductory information and three options. 1. To Print latest info, type 'PRINTDOC' 2. To Print order form, type 'ORDER' 3. To Install program, type INSTALL [from:] [to:] The MarketPLUS Distribution Disk is compressed and cannot be run directly. You must install the disk according to the 2 - 1 following procedure for the program to work properly on your system. The Distribution Disk comes with an unpacking program which expands the program automatically. 4. Type install and specify the drive where the distribution disk is located, and the drive where you wish to unpack the MarketPLUS files and support files. Then press . For example, a> install a: b: . 5. Follow the program prompts and the installation automatically unpacks, expands, and sets up the program files on one floppy disk and data and documents on the other floppy disk. 6. Follow the program prompts to configure and customize MarketPLUS to your computer's hardware. If You Have Hard (Fixed) Disk Drive 1. Insert the DISTRIBUTION DISK for MarketPLUS into drive A. 2. At the DOS prompt, type read me and press . The screen displays introductory information and three options. 1. To Print latest info, type 'PRINTDOC' 2. To Print order form, type 'ORDER' 3. To Install program, type INSTALL [from:] [to:] 3. Type install and specify the drive where the distribution disk is located, and the drive where you wish to unpack the MarketPLUS files and support files. Then press . For example, a> install a: c: . 4. The installation creates the \MPLUS2 directory and the MPLUS.BAT file. The installation then automatically unpacks, expands, and sets up the program files. The following information is then displayed on your screen. MarketPLUS Installation Program Installation was successful... To run MarketPLUS from the hard drive, Type: c: then press [Enter]. Type: MPLUS [Enter]. If you have an unsuccessful installation, ensure that you have 720k space available on the hard drive. Finally, retry the installation once again. 5. Type c: (or whatever drive you specified) and press . 2 - 2 6. Type mplus and press . The following information is then displayed on your screen. MarketPLUS is not yet configured for YOUR system. Please answer each question that follows: Press any key to begin... 7. Follow the program prompts to configure and customize MarketPLUS to your computer's hardware. 2.2 Setup Some hardware components connected to your system, such as a mouse, are dependent on other programs or drivers. If a mouse is detected, MarketPLUS automatically takes advantage of its capabilities. Some of the equipment installed needs be defined for the program the first time you run it. If for some reason your mouse does not respond well, ensure that you are using the most recent mouse driver available and that it is 100% Microsoft compatible. Setting the Initial Configuration Initially, the program does not have configuration information, so you are prompted to provide the following information: DRIVE Designate the new Data drive for storage of investment prices. To show your selection, move around the window using the key, then press the key when done. PATH (Only on hard disk drives) Confirm the new PATH for the data. As mentioned previously, the installation program creates a default directory on the designated hard disk drive called \MPLUS2, and installs all the required files to this drive. If you are using the default path, tab over to the [OK] box and press . It is recommended to accept \MPLUS2 as the default path since you can change it later after getting better acquainted with the program. If you are using a path other than \MPLUS2: 1. Change the path name with the key. 2. Retype the correct path information. 3. Tab over to the [OK] box and press . Remember, all program files are copied to the \MPLUS2 directory. To specify and create an alternate directory, you must exit MarketPLUS and copy the SAMPLE.DAT file from \MPLUS2 to your alternate directory in order to use it directly. 2 - 3 If the directory you specify does not exist, you are prompted to identify if you want MarketPLUS to create the directory for you. MONITOR MarketPLUS supports only computers with color capability. These include CGA, EGA, or VGA. Type c for CGA cards, e for EGA cards, v for VGA cards. To specify your graphics adapter card: Tab over to the [OK] box and press . GRAPHICS ADAPTER The graphics adapter card is inside the computer and controls the monitor. Generally, you have the same designation of graphics card as you have monitor. To specify your graphics adapter card: 1. Type c for CGA cards, e for EGA cards, v for VGA cards. 2. Tab over to the [OK] box and press . PRINTER MarketPLUS supports Epson and IBM compatible dot matrix printers, and HP Laser jet or compatibles. To specify your printer: 1. Type e for Epson or compatible dot matrix printer, l for HP Laserjet or compatible printer, or n no printer installed. 2. Tab over to the [OK] box and press . After the initial configuring is completed, the initial configuration screen displays the Data drive and the Data path where the data files are located, bytes free for DATA on designated drive, type of monitor connected, video card, and printer. If this is information is correct, then tab over to the [OK] box and press (or use your left mouse button if one is connected.) From this point on, each time you run MarketPLUS the initial configuration screen displays all the settings. Press each time to get to the MAIN MENU, or select to the [OK] box with the mouse. Changing the Current Configuration When you install different equipment on your system, such as higher resolution color graphics, or a new laser printer, you must change the configuration as shown above. To change your configuration: 1. Tab to CHANGE and press . 2 - 4 2. Change one of the following: Configuration for designated data drive and path, Designation for the type of video monitor and card, or Type of printer that you are currently using. 3. When correct, tab over to the [OK] box and press . 2.3 A Word For Mouse Users You're in luck! MarketPLUS is written to take full advantage of Microsoft, Logitech, or compatible mouse. Ensure your mouse driver is loaded prior to running the MPLUS.BAT file. To load your mouse driver automatically: * Add a line at the top of the MPLUS.BAT. * Add a line to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or * Load the driver via your CONFIG.SYS file. Once again, if you need help, please do not hesitate to contact F2S Technical Support. 2.4 A Word For Non-Mouse Users If you do not own a mouse, you should try one out on MarketPLUS! 2 - 5 Chapter 3 Getting Started: A Quick Tour Quick Tour Assumptions The instructions in this chapter are written under the assumption that MarketPLUS files are installed on the fixed disk drive ("C" drive) and your DATA is located in the \MPLUS2 directory. Data files always have the suffix ".DAT." The data file that came with the MarketPLUS distribution diskette is named "SAMPLE.DAT." If you installed the MarketPLUS files on a two floppy disk drive system, then place the PROGRAM WORK DISK in drive A and the DATA DISK in drive B. 3.1 Activate the Program At the DOS prompt, type mplus and press . This activates MarketPLUS with the configuration settings specified during the installation process. (NOTE: The MPLUS.BAT file resides in the root directory of the fixed disk drive partition you specified. If MarketPLUS was installed on a two floppy drive system, the MPLUS.BAT file would resides on your PROGRAM WORK DISK.) 3.2 Verify Correct Configuration After MarketPLUS is loaded, the configuration screen is displayed. The current data drive and path, the video monitor and graphics card, and the type of printer installed are displayed. If the configuration displayed is correct, highlight the [OK] box and press . If the configuration is not correct, select the items to be corrected and then highlight the [OK] box and press . If additional configuration information is needed, please review Changing the Current Configuration. After the configuration is correct, the program accesses the MarketPLUS MAIN MENU. 3.3 MAIN MENU The MAIN MENU lists the name and version number of the program, shows the copyright notice retained by the authors, and lists the following menu options: M A I N * M E N U 1.) UPDATE CLOSING PRICES FOR INVESTMENTS 2.) TABULATE / PRINT / SORT PRICES 3.) VIEW CHARTS & TECHNICAL INDICATORS 4.) DATA FILE MAINTENANCE 5.) EXIT TO DOS 3 - 1 3.3.1 TABULATE/PRINT/SORT PRICES Option The TABULATE / PRINT / SORT PRICES option enables you to inspect the performance of your stocks or funds during five time periods. 1. Select option #2 by typing 2 or by moving the arrow keys until option #2 is highlighted in the menu. 2. Press . The following information is then displayed on your screen. Please Select File to TABULATE. 3. Move the highlight bar with the cursor keys until the SAMPLE.DAT file is highlighted. 4. Press . At this point, the program opens the file and reads in the data. Note: The Commands box is displayed on the bottom of the screen. Most commands in Market PLUS give a listing of options and how to activate them, or they require simple responses to choices offered. In either case, you never have to learn or remember complicated commands or syntax. After the file is loaded, the following information is displayed on your screen. You have 130 as the last DAY of Data. Enter number of DAYs (prior to 130) for the 'CUSTOM' percent change column: Number of DAYs ____ 5.Enter the number of the day (prior to 130) for the "Custom" percent change column and press . For example, if you want to sort the investments based on the performance over the past 3 days, type 3. A vertical column is displayed on your screen listing the fund or stock names to the left of the screen with six more columns of numbers. Column 1: lists the individual stocks or funds in the file (most likely the SAMPLE.DAT file will include mutual funds from the Fidelity family of funds). Columns 2-4: (FUND %CHGE) lists the various percent changes for the previous two weeks (days 1 through 10). Column 5:(ALL DATA) lists the total percent gain or loss for the entire data file (the last 130 days of closing prices). 3 - 2 Column 6:(CUSTOM) is a custom sort that allows you to view the percent change in performance from the last day (130) back whatever number of days you indicated on the last screen. As you can immediately see, this can be quite a valuable tool in comparing the recent performance of securities for various time frames. As you can see, the file holds up to 5 stocks or funds. For longer listings, the second and third screens continue to show all the data. At the bottom of the screen, the following is displayed: ort iew again

rinter uit Sort Option The ort option enables you to sort selected information. Let's sort the funds in order of the "% CHANGE IN DAY." 1. Press . The heading "SORT" appears at the top of the column. 2. Press until the word "SORT" is in the "1 DAY" column. 3. Press . The sorting is done quickly. Now you should have a listing of the fund that did the best (or had the highest percent gain) over that one day, down to the fund that did the worst. The names of the funds in descending performance are listed at the far left-hand column. Now is the time to experiment with the sort, so move around and sort each of the columns and review the results. View Again Option The iew again option enables you to relist the file's investments based on the last sort (if a sort was performed). Printer Option The

rinter option enables you to print the sorted data. Before selecting this option, ensure that your printer is on and contains paper. The funds are printed in compressed mode. Not only do all of the funds and percent values fit on a single sheet, but they include the actual closing prices of each fund for the past ten trading days. Quit Option The uit option enables you to return back to the MAIN MENU when you are done viewing the screen report. 3 - 3 Now return to the MAIN MENU. (HINT: If you desire several "CUSTOM" sorts, select option #2 from the MAIN MENU again and view this file over and over, selecting any number of values for the custom sort column without ever needing to reload the data file!) 3.3.2 VIEW CHARTS AND TECHNICAL INDICATORS Option The VIEW CHARTS AND TECHNICAL INDICATORS option TBD. 1. Select option #3 by typing 3 or by moving the arrow keys until option #3 is highlighted in the menu. 2. Press . If you have been on this tour since the start, the following information is then displayed on your screen. CURRENTLY LOADED C:\MPLUS\filename Do you wish to GRAPH/VIEW the Data in the file? This feature allows you to continuously reuse the data in memory (the current data file loaded at any given time) for all MAIN MENU and all DATA FILE MAINTENANCE options if you so desire. 3. For right now press as the default response is "Y" for YES. (By responding with "N" for NO, you can load any other data file on the default drive.) View Graphs Based on Last Sort? . 4. Press the "N" key for No. The following information is then displayed on your screen. View/Change Current Graph Settings? 5. Press "Y" to take a sneak preview of the CURRENT SETTINGS FOR GRAPHS screen. This screen shows the default or previous setup of the graphical presentation and status of technical indicators selected for the two indicator screens (primary and secondary). The purpose of this screen is to not only provide you the full status of each of the features for the Primary and Secondary Indicator screens at a glance, but also to make changes rapidly and with ease. The status of many of these items can be turned ON or OFF, and changed to fit your individual needs and investment strategy. More on customizing the output to fit your requirements later. Remember, the charts you see generated reflect immediately all settings of the graph settings screen. 3 - 4 6. At this time you are probably anxious to view a graph, so press . If the setting of Index Overlay was set to , then the next screen displayed is a list of the funds or stocks in the SAMPLE.DAT file. 7. Select any one of these funds to be used as an index for constant reference on all funds. The Index overlay feature automatically scales data based on the time frame selected, and compares investments on an equal dollar-for- dollar basis. After you set these to your liking, the following information is displayed on your screen. Currently there are 130 DAYs of data that can be graphed. Please define the STARTING and ENDING DAYs for the graphs: The default starting day is day 1. The default for the ending day is the last day for which data is available. NOTE: You can select any range of data to be displayed. The maximum range being from the first to last day of data available in the file, while the minimum range being any ten day span.) 8. Select the FUND to graph. You can choose from among the stocks listed by moving the arrow keys up and down. Once you settle on the stock you want graphed, press . Primary Indicator Screen Now the graph of the selected security appears on the screen (the Primary Indicator screen). The upper and larger of the two view ports on the Primary Indicator screen displays the price action (green line) of the selected investment, and any technical indicators or moving averages set. The lower and smaller view port displays the current "Investor Defined Study" as set by option of the Graph Settings screen. 9. To see the next graph in the file, press , or you can access the pull-down menu system by pressing the keys simultaneously. This activates the screens menu in the upper left corner, from which you can select the Automatic Next Screen . 10. To list the investments of the current file , press . This takes you back to the securities or funds listed in the file. This helps you to decide which one you want charted next. 11. Choose a security or fund by moving the cursor and highlighting the desired stock. Then press . 3 - 5 To return to the MAIN MENU (exiting you from the graphing option), press . The standard method to exit back to the MAIN MENU is by pressing from the Graph Settings screen. You can also press to go to the Utility screen, move the cursor key to highlight the exit option and press . Back to the charts... 12. If you feel a bit adventurous at this point, press to bring up the HELP screen for the pull-down menus. After you get through reading any of the help items, press to return immediately to the graph you left previously. Try any of the commands you have immediate interest in. Secondary Indicator Screen In addition, MarketPLUS provides a very powerful secondary indicator screen with four fully-adjustable view ports. If you are still viewing a graph, press to display this screen. The real power of this screen comes from the ability to set each of the four view ports individually, thereby being able to confirm or reject a technical market condition via all four view ports (and naturally, using your trading strategy). As in the Primary Indicator screen, you can access all the features of the pull-down menus. For example, you can draw lines and place points anywhere on the graphs, print out a hard copy, change graph settings, etc. 13. Now press to exit back to the MAIN MENU. As you have seen so far in this QUICK TOUR, there is quite a bit of performance in using this program to aid the individual investor. Of course, you can utilize this program fully by creating your own data files (MAIN MENU option #4, then DATA FILE MAINTENANCE MENU option #1). 3 - 6 3.3.3 DATA FILE MAINTENANCE Option The DATA FILE MAINTENANCE option enables you to complete file maintenance (or utility) functions. 1. Select option #4 by typing 4 or by moving the arrow keys until option #4 is highlighted in the menu. 2. Press . The following information is then displayed on your screen. DATA FILE MAINTENANCE MENU 1.) CREATE A NEW FILE FOR INVESTMENT DATA 2.) CORRECT DATES/PRICES 3.) BACKUP OR DELETE ENTIRE DATA FILES 4.) ADJUSTMENT FOR DIVIDEND, SPLITS OR CAP. GAINS 5.) ADD NEW INVESTMENTS TO AN EXISTING FILE 6.) DELETE AN INVESTMENT FROM AN EXISTING FILE 7.) CHANGE DEFAULT DATA DRIVE 8.) RETURN TO MAIN MENU <1> CREATE A NEW FILE FOR INVESTMENT DATA Option The CREATE A NEW FILE FOR INVESTMENT DATA option enables you to create a new file. 1. Select option #1 by typing 1 or by moving the arrow keys until option #1 is highlighted in the DATA FILE MAINTENANCE menu. A list of all the files on the default drive you selected is displayed. 2. Select a NEW file name OTHER THAN THOSE SHOWN ON THE SCREEN. You can have up to eight characters as the file name. We like to use the name MY FIRST so that you know that this is your first created data file. 3. Press . Once a new file has been entered it is immediately created. 4. Specify how often to update this file: aily, eekly, onthly. Enter your choice. 5. Select the screen title to BEST describe your data: = Fund = Stock = Index = Commodity = Option You are then prompted to specify how many funds you want to track (up to a maximum of 5). 3 - 7 6. Enter the names of all the investments you want to track in this file (1 to 5). Keep in mind, you can add investments to an existing data file by using option #5 of this menu. Remember that up to 13 characters can be used as a name for an investment or security. By creating longer length names, the remaining characters (beyond 13) are dropped when saving this file. IMPORTANT: Since MarketPLUS doesn't include an editor for names, be sure to enter your investment names correctly (as you want them). <2> CORRECT DATES/PRICES Option The CORRECT DATES/PRICES option enables you to correct dates or prices easily. This feature on the Utility menu is useful when you discover that you entered the wrong date or saved a false quote on a stock or mutual fund, or a change in price was made (after you saved the data). You can use option #2 to correct the date or price easily. <3> BACKUP OR DELETE ENTIRE DATA FILES Option The BACKUP OR DELETE ENTIRE DATA FILES option enables you to backup or delete files. Naturally, you will want to backup your file at least every 130 days to review previous trends of a given stock or mutual fund. You can also use this option to make exact copies of a file. (HINT: Use this option now to make a backup of SAMPLE.DAT, under the name TEST.DAT, and test all the remaining DATA FILE MAINTENANCE options!) <4> ADJUSTMENT FOR DIVIDEND, SPLITS OR CAP. GAINS Option The ADJUSTMENT FOR DIVIDEND, SPLITS OR CAP. GAINS option enables you to adjust all the data in a file whenever a capital gains distribution or dividend payment drops the listed price of the stock or fund. This helps to maintain accurate changes in percentages, or strengths/weaknesses indicated on the graphs. <5> ADD NEW INVESTMENTS TO AN EXISTING FILE Option The ADD NEW INVESTMENTS TO AN EXISTING FILE option enables you to add a new stock or fund to your file (so long as there are less than 5 investments in the file). Then go back to DATA FILE MAINTENANCE option #2 to add previously missed data. The program performs as if you always had it in the file. The program generates "filler" data between 1 and 1.5 to fill the file until the actual data is entered. You can also edit the prices with any ASCII text editor. 3 - 8 <6> DELETE AN INVESTMENT FROM AN EXISTING FILE Option The DELETE AN INVESTMENT FROM AN EXISTING FILE option enables you to remove any fund or stock in which you are no longer interested. This is quick and simple and instantly accomplished. One word of caution is that once the data is gone, it is gone FOREVER! So be sure that you really do want to delete a stock or fund. <7> CHANGE DEFAULT DATA DRIVE Option The CHANGE DEFAULT DRIVE option enables you to change your data drive by designating a new data drive or directory to access or store your data files. Once a drive is selected, you are returned to the MAIN MENU. <8> RETURN TO MAIN MENU Option The RETURN TO MAIN MENU option enables you to exit back to the MAIN MENU. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE JUST BEEN READING... let's try a hands-on exercise. Data File Maintenance Practice Session Now that you have a good idea of what the DATA FILE MAINTENANCE menu options are about, let's try a couple. 1. Select option #3 BACKUP A FILE OF DATA from the DATA FILE MAINTENANCE menu and press . You are asked if you want to backup the data currently loaded. 2. If the file you have loaded is still SAMPLE.DAT, respond YES. If the file you have loaded is not SAMPLE.DAT, respond NO and select SAMPLE.DAT to backup. 3. When the input box is displayed, enter the name tour with no extension (without the quotes) and press . Normally, you would enter any filename for the backup. You must use a name that does not currently exist on the disk. The computer checks the present data files and, if it is a duplicate, does not allow you to make a mistake. 4. The file TOUR.DAT is created and saved. Now you have an identical clone file of SAMPLE.DAT. 5. After returning to the DATA FILE MAINTENANCE menu, select option #2 CORRECT PRICES and press . 6. As is evident from your screen, TOUR.DAT file is in memory. The following prompt is displayed: Do you wish to EDIT the data in this file? 3 - 9 7. Select YES and press . You are then prompted to select a stock or fund to edit. 8. Highlight a fund and press . The next screen displays three columns of dates and prices. 9. Using any of the cursor movement keys identified in the "commands" window, select any date/price combination to edit. Then press . A small window in the center of the screen appears and asks you to enter the correct price for the date specified. 10. Enter the correct price and press . You are given a chance to change it through immediate verification. 11. If the new price is correct, respond "Y," otherwise you can reenter the price. You can correct more prices in the file loaded prior to saving it. By pressing the , you can back out individually and ultimately abandon any changes, or you can save the file. Now after you return to the DATA FILE MAINTENANCE menu, you can try out any of the other options (i.e., DELETE a file, ADJUSTMENT for stock split, etc.). If you use the file TOUR.DAT file which you have created (by backing up SAMPLE.DAT), you will always have SAMPLE.DAT to make more backup files if you wish to experiment. 3 - 10 Chapter 4 Technical Indicators & Graph Settings 4.1 A Word about Technical Indicators Many of our licensed users feel that the technical indicator tools programmed in MarketPLUS really help enable them to make sound investment decisions. The key word here is HELP. We at F2S Enterprises do not recommend that you base all investment decision making on what you see on the graphs. While the indicators are fully adjustable and can give strong indications of how a stock or index will move in the future, please remember that MarketPLUS's indicators use the closing prices of previous history. In other words, calculations are made with PAST data. So keep in mind, what MarketPLUS tries to do is give you many of the standard indicators used widely by professional technicians and individual investors, while giving you an edge in staying on the right side of the market. It's completely up to you to determine the settings for each indicator that best fit your investment strategies. Putting Indicators in Perspective Indicators are powerful tools to aid the investor to check and compare what may happen in the future price action of a fund, stock, or index. The use of several indicators greatly magnifies the usefulness of indicators. However, price action in the market-place is not a result of precise mathematical functions. Therefore, future market trends can not be determined through some magical math formula. There certainly are patterns that repeat themselves in the price action of stocks and funds. Much insight can profitably be learned from the interpretation of these patterns. But always remember, the "mechanical" use of any particular indicator can give you a false sense of security that can result in significant LOSSES. Sometimes, we have users of these programs ask us, "Where should the indicators be set?" There is no generic right answer for all securities. You need to change the values, and compare the results with your trading strategy. By acquiring a basic understanding of the financial markets, the fundamental values can be connected to an individual stock or security, and sound (tried and true) trading strategies can be applied. MarketPLUS then provides you with the "TOOLS" to maximize profits and limit losses in the investment world. 4 - 1 Opportunities for Rewards Bring Risk of Losses In investing for rewards, don' t worry when the market turns against you and you have a loss. Just keep the loss small and manageable, then see what you might have overlooked in making your buy decision. Always strive for preservation of capital by keeping losses small. Use the charts to tell you when the risk is low and when risk is high. MarketPLUS helps you track the history of your investments and helps show you market tendencies. The Trend of the Indicators Much useful information can be gained from using the moving averages, indexes, and indicators in this program. Such indicators when used together in a tree-structured decision process can minimize the "emotion-packed" buys and sells that at one time or another have cost all of us in the market. MarketPLUS has the ability to present the data in innumerable ways. Give serious and careful study on "what the indicators are showing" and how the indicators behave when certain things happen to the price of the stock or fund. It is very easy to change the setup number of days used by the indicators. Experiment with the indicators to tailor them to your trading or investing strategy and compare the result. In this way, you can see relationships unfold in time for worthy profits. 4.1.1 Charts The working tools of technical analysts are charts. The technical analysts uses charts to help explain, interpret, and analyze the prices and the direction of the securities. A chart conveys a message that can be easily grasped and remembered. Charts save time and, best of all, make you think about bringing out the facts and relationships shown in the prices and shown in the indicators. Charts facilitate money management, discipline, and trading decisions. Charts help you keep the emotional whims out of your investing. Prices tend to move in trends, a trend that is rising tends to continue to rise. The stock moving sideways tends to continue sideways. With charting, you can spot the trend early and can take a profitable ride on the trend. Very few trends continue forever. Sometimes charts can be a self-fulfilling prophesy because so many other people are also following charts and making their investment decisions in a similar manner based on the chart action. Lots of money switches when a stock crosses its 200-day moving average. If you are using a 180-day moving average, does it matter if you can make some money? 4 - 2 To plot a chart, MarketPLUS puts the price action on the "Y" up axis, and the time periods on the "X" horizontal axis. MarketPLUS plots the data and illustrates the fact that "prices fluctuate" and indeed they do. If there were no volatility in the price of a security, there would be no opportunity of profit in it either. 4.1.2 Straight Lines In technical analysis we are always drawing straight lines near things. When a line is drawn under the price action of a security, we call them support lines as if the line can hold the security price up above the support line (but does not). If we draw the line on top of the several highest peaks of the price action, the line becomes a resistance line. This is the price that in the past has enticed some investor to sell his stock. When we extend these lines into the future, they become trend lines. When we want to see how some change in the price affects changes in the indicators, we draw vertical lines through the graphs of the price and the indicator. We say that when a stock is on the top 20% of our chart it is over-bought and could begin to start a downward trend. When the price drops to the bottom 20% of our chart it is over-sold and could rise in price. MarketPLUS draws a great variety of straight lines: * Standard line (with % gain or loss), * Extended line, * Horizontal line, * Vertical line, * Overbought/oversold lines, * Fibonnaci studies ( horizontal lines and angles), * Andrews' Method, and * Vertical cycle lines. These line drawing features exist on the MarketPLUS Draw and Utility pull-down menus. 4.1.3 Moving Averages Moving averages can be used as a compass for the individual investor interested in extending his or her investment horizons. The moving average can be used to smooth out erratic ups and downs in any kind of market data used for charting purposes. You can plot a moving average directly over the price data so it shows more clearly the overall trend. Often in volatile markets, the daily up and down squiggles can distort the overall trend of the price. Rightly or wrongly, certain standard moving averages such as the 200-day, or 13- week, or 39-week moving averages are used by many people to measure the profit opportunities in the markets. 4 - 3 The simple moving average is calculated for each interval by averaging the number of periods of data with each interval, and dividing the total by the number of periods in the interval. Thus, a five-day moving average would be the total of the last five days price of a security divided by five. MarketPLUS allows for the use of simple (arithmetic), weighted, and exponential moving averages, the latter two place more weight on the current values in the interval than with the earlier values. Well, so we have constructed a trend length moving average through the price data. What does it mean? The general rules are: BUY when the current rising price rises above the moving average. SELL when the current falling price goes below the moving average. The moving average is one tool you can use to decide on a purchase, but it is not a magic wand. It would be silly to think that all companies below a moving average are unworthy of investments. Using too short an interval for your moving average could whipsaw your trades to the point the only one making any money is your broker. On the other hand, using too long an interval could trigger a buy signal too late to make a profit or initiate a sell signal well after the price has peaked. However, by using moving averages at different time intervals, you can view the charts and determine past profitable entry and exit points. 4.2 GRAPH SETTINGS Option The GRAPH SETTINGS option enables you to set or make any changes to the information displayed on the graphs. This option is selected in two ways: 1. Respond "Y" when you first are asked to view the graph settings. This occurs each time you load a data file and enter option #3 from the MAIN MENU. 2. While viewing a graph, press , type g, or select "GRAPH SETTINGS" from the Utility pull-down menu. While you can do either of the above, you may find it easier to initially set the indicators and settings you desire to maintain, then using method #2 above, experiment with setting changes. This is especially efficient, since you will be able to " jump" in and out of any particular investment graph, immediately display any calculated changes from the graph settings, without having to reselect the investment to be displayed. 4 - 4 Keep in mind that many of the indicators and settings that follow in our discussion can be completely turned "OFF" for your convenience. Others that are used widely, may be "ON" at all times, but can be easily set to meet your needs. The Graph Settings screen contains the current status for both of the indicator screens: the Primary Indicator screen and the Secondary Indicator screen. The Primary Indicator screen displays a large and small graph view port, while the Secondary Indicator screen displays four separate horizontal graph view ports across the width of the screen. We will first discuss the graph settings applied to the Primary Indicator screen. 4.2.1 Primary Indicator Screen Settings Index Overlay When activated, the Index overlay is a dashed white line super-imposed on the security's graph. The identification of the Index used is shown on the lower right side of the view port. The Index is automatically drawn to proper scale based on the beginning relationship of the Index to the Fund on the first day shown in the graph. It is both interesting and important to note that MarketPLUS calculates the starting price of the Index and the security being compared to an equal dollar value. This makes it easy to view the performance differences between the two across the graph. Any stock, fund, or index can be used as an index through any review of the funds. This becomes important if you wish to make direct comparison of the price action and performance of a fund as directly compared to the Index. If you want to know how General Motors is doing as compared with Ford, simply select one as an index, and superimpose it directly on top of the other. EASY SETTING: To turn the Index overlay "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. 2. Respond "Y" to turn the index overlay ON, or "N" to turn the index overlay "OFF." If you select "Y," choose a security or investment in your data file to be used as the index when you leave the Graph Settings screen. A list is displayed on the screen for easy selection. Moving Averages The use of moving averages is a simple trend-following technique that seems to work very well for many investors. It works because you must balance it to the market you want to analyze. Parameters are different for each market. 4 - 5 Moving averages have gained widespread use as a simple, but effective, technical tool for a number of reasons. One reason that many investors like to use moving averages is the "smoothing out" effect that they have on the erratic or volatile movement in the day-to-day changes of a particular index or stock. Current and past overall trends can be interpreted much easier through a moving average than the jerky peaks and valleys of daily price action. The "moving" part of moving average simply means that the above calculation continues for each successive days' prices. In other words, the sixth day' s price would be considered in the arithmetic, while the first day' s price would be removed, and so on. This continuous process provides a less erratic line displayed on a chart, either compared with the stock or shown by itself. Since the moving average displays a calculated line of past price action, it can be viewed as a continuously changing line of support and resistance when displayed with the actual prices. When the price of a stock or index crosses to the downside of its moving average, this is considered to be a "SELL" signal or one sign that the stock or index is dropping in price compared to its own average. If the price of the stock or index has crossed above its own average, it shows that the price has outperformed its own average and is considered to be a "BUY" signal. While it is true that the moving average line is simply a display of past history, it can be quite an effective tool in staying on the "right side" of the market. Try using a wide range of moving average values that best fit your trading strategies and the stock' s on-going price action. By using other technical tools and longer term moving averages such as a 200-day (39- 40 week) average, a better long term picture of the markets can be interpreted. (MarketPLUS Extended Database with 540 days allows the long term moving averages to be practically implemented.) Two moving average lines can be superimposed on the price action of a fund or stock with option . Either one or both moving average lines can be turned on or off. These can be set individually according to your wishes. The identification of the number of days used in each moving average is shown on the top right of the graph. This identification is style coordinated by color of the text and the moving average line style and color for ease of recognition. MarketPLUS implements the simple, weighted, and exponentially weighted moving averages in option . A lot has been said about exponential moving averages, because the calculation lends more weight to recent price data and less to past data. Try all three types of moving averages for yourself. In many cases, the simple moving average can be more profitable if applied consistently. The weighted moving average requires the computer a bit more time to calculate, especially the longer time frames. 4 - 6 Simple Moving Averages There are many ways to calculate a moving average. The most easily understood method is a "SIMPLE" or arithmetic moving average. As an example, if you were to use a five-day moving average, it would be calculated by adding together the individual closing prices for five consecutive days and dividing their sum total by five: DAY1 = 12.48 DAY2 = 12.35 DAY3 = 12.26 DAY4 = 12.52 DAY5 = 12.84 (12.48 + 12.35 + 12.26 + 12.52 + 12.84) / 5 = (62.45) / 5 = 12.49 average price over 5 days Exponential Moving Averages Several of our users have asked for the method of calculation used in the exponential moving averages because it differs slightly from a simple arithmetic moving average. In conceptual form, the routine is calculated as let factor = 2/(movavedays + 1) let movave(today) = (factor * todays price) + (1 - factor) * movave(yesterdays) This weighing is most important when very short time duration moving averages are used, such as 5 or 7 days, etc. Without making specific recommendations for specific markets, a good rule of thumb for moving average values (as a starting point for daily data) is: Short-term trading 3 to 14 periods Intermediate-term trading 15 to 50 periods Long-term trading 50 to 200 periods You might also try plotting 2 or 3 moving averages of various periods (i.e., 30, 50, 150). EASY SETTING: To change the settings for moving averages: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display moving averages on the Primary Indicator screen. 2. Respond "N" to turn the moving averages OFF. The moving averages are not displayed on the Primary Indicator screen. 4 - 7 3. Respond "Y" to turn the moving averages ON. The moving averages are displayed on the Primary Indicator screen. You are asked if you wish to display the first of two moving average lines. If you answer "Y," you are prompted first for the type of moving average (simple, weighted or exponential), then to input the number of days (or weeks/months) on which to calculate the moving average. You have the opportunity to set a second moving average in the same fashion. Investor Defined Studies The Investor Defined Studies (IDS) is a series of technical studies the investor can select at will, to be displayed on the lower graph view port of the Primary Indicator screen. Due to the wide diversity of MarketPLUS users, we do not expect that every study will be utilized by all users. Therefore, we provide three levels of MarketPLUS (Levels 1, 2, and 3) for licensing. Chapter 5 describes all of the IDS options available in this Shareware version. EASY SETTING: To select an IDS option: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. A list of technical studies is displayed for you to select from. 2. Select an IDS feature and respond to the prompts. Overbought/Oversold Line Values Overbought lines appear in the top half of the price graph of an investment. They serve as a reminder that nothing goes up forever, and that we might want to give some thought to selling when the price goes unrealistically high. Oversold lines appear in the lower half of the price graph of an investment. They serve as a reminder that a stock or fund seldom goes down forever, and at some point they may well be a bargain worth buying. It is not unusual to see the Overbought line at 0.75 or 0.80, and the Oversold line at 0.25 or 0.20; however, you can place these lines wherever you choose. EASY SETTING: To change the settings of the Overbought/Oversold lines: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to change the OB/OS line settings. 2. Respond "N" to keep line settings as previously set. 4 - 8 3. Respond "Y" to change the line settings. You are prompted to enter an overbought factor. Since this sets the higher of the two lines, the factor should be greater than 0.5 (0.5 to 0.99). Next, you are prompted to enter the oversold factor. Since this sets the lower of the two lines, the factor should be less than 0.5 (0.01 to 0.5). Upper/Lower Trend Line In set-up mode, you can specify the individual days for the moving average lines that can be offset from the data and used to indicate Support and Resistance price levels. These two trend lines are entirely separate and can be offset from the data itself by the percentage points that you specify. For example, you may specify that the Support Moving Average Line be represented by .98 times the 9-day moving average line, and the Resistance Line for higher prices be shown as 1.03 times the 21-day moving average line. Plotting these lines forms a channel in which the price data normally occurs. It is easy to see exceptions where the price appears to drop too low, or increases too rapidly. By using the upper/lower trend lines, you have, in effect, created a more "custom" pair of trading bands than in option . EASY SETTING: To turn the Upper/Lower Trend Lines "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display the upper and lower trend lines. 2. Respond "N" to turn the trend lines OFF. 3. Respond "Y" to turn the trend lines ON. You are prompted to enter a LOWER trend line factor. 4. Enter a LOWER trend line factor in percent (i.e., 0.90 to 0.99). You are prompted to enter the moving average factor for the LOWER trend line. 5. Enter a moving average factor (days/weeks/months). 6. Repeat the same procedure for the UPPER trend line. One exception, you normally enter a higher percent factor (i.e., 1.00 to 1.10). By experimenting, you are able to set the trend lines to "catch" the tops and bottoms of the past price action. 4 - 9 Filter Zone Filter Zones are sometimes called "trading bands." A filter zone is an offset from a moving average of a given percentage. The best buy/sell signals occur when the price action is at or near the limits of the trading bands. It is common to set the width of the filter zone so that it encompasses most of the price data (90-95%). Buy signals occur when the price action is at or near the lower band and sell signals are at the upper band. Filter Zones are an optional special case of the Support/Resistance lines. Filter Zones run parallel to the graph and are formed by selecting one Moving Average Point and offsetting it the same distance (in percentage) above and below the stock price data. One significant difference between the Filter Zones and the Support/Resistance Zones is that the Filter zones act as a continuous channel which can be tailored to fit a trading pattern, including the majority of highs and lows establishing a continuous short term trading range. EASY SETTING: To turn the Filter Zone "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display a filter zone. 2. Respond "N" to turn the filter zone OFF. 3. Respond "Y" to turn the filter zone ON. You are prompted to enter a moving average value for the filter zone. 4. Enter a moving average value and press . You are prompted to enter a percent value that is used equally above and below the moving average line. 5. Enter a percent value and press . In effect, if you specify a 3% value, you would draw a moving average line shifted vertically 3 percent above where the "normal" moving average line would be plotted. Likewise, you would have a moving average line drawn 3 percent below the "normal" moving average line as well - creating a 6% zone about a typical moving average line. Chart Presentation The data graph for the security is shown with a green plot on the screen. The price movement area of the graph can be enhanced by using the price lines in option on the Primary Indicator screen. This cross-hatching brings out the data for easy viewing and understanding, particularly when large groups of people are viewing the screen, as in an investor' s instructional class. 4 - 10 There are four modes in which graphs can be displayed. These are with Price Lines, Grid Dots, both (price lines and grid dots) and none. You have the option to display a margin along the right side of the charts (between the last data point plotted and the right border of each view port). This has been found to make chart interpretation much easier for most investors. You also have great control over the color presentation of the background surrounding the graph view ports. There are 38 color combinations to choose from. You are encouraged to try all combinations of option to find which settings suit your individual preference. EASY SETTING: To change the Chart Presentation setting: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to select one of the following: rid only - This displays a grid dot vertically at each vertical scale point and at each data point horizontally.

rice lines - This draws a vertical line from the base of the graph up to the closing price of each data point. oth - This turns both price lines and grid dots on. one - This leaves the indicator screen background blank. As mentioned previously, you can also display a right margin (or none), and alter the color settings of the background. 4.2.2 Secondary Indicator Screen Settings The Secondary Indicator screen is composed of four graph view ports located one above the other. This arrangement, with the price and the indicators, allows you to compare the indicators with the actual price chart. The same automatic spread and scaling features of the data used on the Primary Indicator screen are continued in the Secondary Indicator Screen. Primary features of the Secondary Indicator screen are (1) the price plot with Bollinger Bands, (2) the Relative Strength Index, (3) the Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD), (4) the Williams Oscillator, and (5) moving average plots in each view port (see option "L"). 4 - 11 Williams Oscillator (William's Percent R) This study is a variation on the basic stochastics. This study was popularized by Larry Williams. This indicator oscillates between a value of 0 and -100. We consider -20 as an overbought area and -80 as an undersold area. This, like all stochasics, is a powerful short-term trading study. We have noticed, however, that if longer time periods of 30 to 65 are used, one can develop a system of identifying trading cycles. The recommended periods for short to intermediate trading is 9 to 14. Consider a strong buy signal when the %R has dropped to -100 and has remained at this level for 3 to 5 periods and begins to turn up to the - 80 level. A sell signal is generated when the %R has peaked at 0 and has begun to drop and broken the -20 level. The Williams Oscillator is based on determining how high or low a stock or fund is in relationship to its trading range for the last N number of days. When a security's daily closing price is at the Highest High of the time interval, the oscillator is at the extreme top line of the plot. Conversely, when the stock or fund has been falling for X days, the oscillator is in the -100 bottom. The calculation is as follows: (Highest price in N days - Today's price in N days) W.O. = -------------------------------------------------- (Highest price in N days - Lowest price in N days) EASY SETTING: To set the Williams Oscillator: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display a filter zone. This is a constant indicator (as are the others on the Secondary Indicator screen), so you are only asked for the time period for the William's Oscillator (Days/weeks/months). 2. Enter the time period and press . Wilder's Relative Strength Index (RSI) The Wilder's Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator comparing the strength of the "average ups" to the "average downs" during the number of days for which the oscillator is set. For detailed RSI information and explanation, refer to the book, "New Concepts in Technical Trading System" by J. Welles Wilder, Jr., P.O. Box 459, Greensboro, North Carolina, 27402. 4 - 12 The classic RSI was applied to a 14-day period of closes of a stock or commodity. Typical RSI range is from 40 to 80 in a bull market, and 25 to 65 in a bear market. A bull market is indicated by a continuing series of higher highs and higher lows in the RSI. Lower highs and lower lows are characteristic of a bear market. A top failure swing occurs when the peak in the RSI (over 70) fails to exceed the previous peak in a up trend, followed by a downside break of the previous trend. A bottom failure swing occurs when the RSI is in a downtrend (under 30), fails to set a new low, and then proceeds to a previous peak. Divergences between the slopes of the RSI and the price are warnings of an impending price trend direction change. The change may not always occur immediately, so other tools must be used to confirm the change! Classic trend line analysis can be used to determine RSI support and resistance levels. Moving averages can also be used for RSI support and resistance. Many time patterns, such as pendants, head-and-shoulders, etc., are more readily seen in the action of the RSI than with the price action of the stock itself. The calculations are based on the relationship RSI = 100 - ((100)/(l+RS)) where RSI = "average ups" for X days/"average downs" for X days" X = numbers of running days for which the oscillator is set Commonly used time intervals for the RSI range from 7 to 21 days, depending upon the wishes of the investor. The shorter the interval in days, the more responsive the indicator to current events. The RSI graph shows how the price action has moved compared to itself for various periods of time. "Is the stock going up faster than it did last week?" is readily shown by this indicator. The fact that a moving average of the RSI index is drawn makes the RSI indicator even more powerful. Consider using the moving average of the oscillator as a "trigger." In summary, the Relative Strength Index is a tool that adds a new dimension in chart interpretation: Tops and Bottoms are indicated when the RSI goes above 70 or drops below 30. Chart Formations may be more apparent in the RSI than in the plot of the data itself. 4 - 13 Failure Swings above 70 or below 30 on the RSI scale are strong indications of market reversals. Support and Resistance often show up more pronounced on the RSI than on the data itself. Divergence between the RSI and the price trends is a very strong indication that a market turning point is very near. Give this RSI a lot of study along with the price action of the stock or fund being graphed. It is powerful, especially if used in conjunction with other studies such as the Bollinger Bands and MACD. EASY SETTING: To change the RSI setting: 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to enter the time frame (in days/weeks/months) for the RSI. 2.Enter the time frame and press . Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) A complete description of Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) is provided in Chapter 5 - Investor Defined Studies. EASY SETTING: To turn the Moving Average Convergence/Divergence "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display the convergence/divergence of two moving averages. 2. Respond "N" to turn the MACD OFF. 3. Respond "Y" to turn the MACD ON. You are prompted to enter two different moving average values. 4. Enter two different moving average values and press . Bollinger Bands The top presentation is the price of the fund or stock. This is a "cameo" of the price action. Although the vertical scale is reduced, the plot of the price is still totally in accurate scale. It is on this price plot that the Bollinger Bands are shown. 4 - 14 The Bollinger Bands have been devised by John Bollinger (formerly of the Financial News Network). Bollinger Bands are difficult to calculate because the computer must do a "ton" of calculations for each data point. To calculate the Bollinger Bands, the Standard Deviation is calculated for the moving time interval. Standard Deviation is a statistical measurement of the variability of a given sample of data. For normally distributed data (of which stock prices are not!), it can be shown that 90% of the data will fall within plus-or-minus 2 Standard Deviation of the mean data point. Confidence Limits can be developed on this basis. Commonly, Bollinger Bands are calculated on 2 Standard Deviation based on the last 20 or 21 (a month for daily plots) days of trades. When the Bollinger Bands narrow, this indicates that a consolidation in price is occurring. It is not uncommon to have a break-out in price after a period of consolidation. In many cases, when the price line has passed below the moving average, the price "tests" the lower band. If the price breaks outside the lower band, the lower trend most likely continues for some time. When the price stops "hugging" the lower band and turns up, it most likely tests the moving average line before a longer trend is established. By the same measure, when the price line has passed above the moving average, the price "tests" the upper band. If the price breaks outside the upper band, the positive moves most likely continue. When the price stops "hugging" the upper band and turns down, it most likely tests the moving average line before a longer trend is established. When analyzing the relationship of the price with the Bollinger Bands, you might observe the current status of the Wilder's RSI. A divergence of RSI peaks helps confirm the Bollinger Bands and the eventual price direction. As with all the mathematical calculations of MarketPLUS, the Bollinger Band calculation time can be reduced dramatically if a math co-processor card is installed in your computer. If your computer does not have a math chip, and the Bollinger band calculations seem to take too long, don't worry. Just keep the Bollinger Bands turned OFF most of the time. When you really want to check out something, turn the Bollinger bands ON for several individual calculations, the turn them OFF again. This seems to work O.K. for most users of the program. EASY SETTING: To turn the Bollinger Bands "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to plot the indicator. 4 - 15 2. Respond "N" to turn the Bollinger Bands OFF. 3. Respond "Y" to turn the Bollinger Bands ON. You are prompted to enter a standard deviation factor (1 to 3). 4. Enter a standard deviation factor and press . You are prompted to enter a moving average value for the bands (7 - 50). 5. Enter a moving average value and press . Three indicator's Moving Average The indicators tend to be various kinds of "wiggly" lines that sometimes are difficult to determine if there is any "trend" to the indicator, or maybe it is just noise. One easy way to get a good feel of what is going on with an indicator is to put a moving average through the indicator. One of our favorites (with daily data) is 21-day moving average for the indicators. This is a "month," so trends show up better when the moving averages are used with the indicators. The nine-day and fourteen-day values seem to help trigger buy/sell points as well. You may want to do some experimentation here. The real power of this method of transposing a moving average line is as follows: Only a single value must be entered. * Each indicator's calculated values are used in calculating its independent moving average value. In other words, a single moving average is not just "overlayed" on top of all the studies - each moving average is unique to its' own indicator. * By using the same time period on each indicator, price action is sometimes easier to evaluate. * This option has also been selected to set as a trigger line (appears as white dots) on a number of the IDS options displayed in the lower graphics view port of the Primary Indicator screen. EASY SETTING: To turn the three indicators' moving average "ON/OFF": 1. Press while viewing the Graph Settings screen. You are prompted to indicate if you wish to display the moving average on the three lower indicators. 2. Respond "N" to turn the moving average display OFF. 4 - 16 3. Respond "Y" to turn the moving average display ON. You are prompted to enter a moving average value. 4. Enter a moving average value and press . The minimum value you can enter is 3, while the maximum is 90 percent of the files total prices. For example, if your file currently stores 129 prices per security, the maximum moving average value would be 116 (129 X 0.9 = 116.1). 4.2.3 AUTOMATIC FEATURES Automatic Scaling of the Graph on Y-Axis Regardless of the movement of the data, the program provides automatic scaling. This covers the range of the data movement of the fund or stock for the days graphed. In addition, if an Index is plotted, the range of the Index is made available so that all permanent data can be viewed. Price scaling is shown on the left scale on the graphs. More decimal places are now shown to this scaling for those people doing currency trading. Automatic Scaling of Price Change Percentage on Y-Axis This useful feature consists of a percentage change scale on the right-hand side of the Primary Indicator screen. This simplifies all the mental arithmetic we all do in finding if this change is a 20% change or what. When the exact gain/loss is needed, the standard line has a new built-in price change calculator too. Automatic Spread and Scaling of Data on X-Axis The first DATE of interest is shown on the left-hand side of the screen, while the last DATE for the graph is shown on the right side of the screen. These are shown on line 2 of the graphs. With the zoom function you can narrow this range down to any 10 data point's time interval. This, in effect, gives an automatic "zoom" effect when you want to very carefully study only a few days data such as 15 or 20 days in oration. The appropriate dates are automatically shown just above the graph on the right and left-hand sides. 4 - 17 Chapter 5 Investor Defined Studies (IDS) There are three Investor Defined Studies (IDS) available in this Shareware version: Cone Index Price/Moving Average Oscillator Moving Average Convergence/Divergence IDS provides some basic insight to these technical studies. Since MarketPLUS makes use of only the closing price of any security, some of the IDS formulas presented are slighted modified in MarketPLUS. For example, Larry Williams' percent R uses the lowest "low" in N days, whereas MarketPLUS will calculate Williams' percent R utilizing the lowest "close" in N days. Keep in mind that most charting programs use the "high," "low," and "volume," as well as the "close" of a price. The MarketPLUS database does not allow for these other values, as this is a tradeoff for the benefits unique to Market PLUS. Just as many technicians will argue that technical studies developed for the futures market find direct application in stocks and mutual funds, many technicians will agree that slight differences in programming an indicator are not as significant as applying these indicators consistently in trading. 5.1 Cone Group Performance Comparison Index (Cone Index) The Cone Group Performance Comparison Index (CGPCI) was developed by Roy T. Cone as a technical study to display the direct performance of an individual security against the performance of an entire portfolio of investments or indices. This indicator is similar in concept to the Comparative Relative Strength with the added feature of comparing one security against the mean value of the entire group whether there are two securities or fifty securities in the file. Essentially, the Cone Index is very much like a Dow Jones Industrials or S&P 500 index, except that it includes all the securities in any one Market PLUS data file. In addition, it displays the momentum of this difference by allowing you to specify the time range to compare from with the current value. 5 - 1 The Cone Index calculation is as follows: (security price/sec.filter.av) ------------------------------ = Cone Index (group price/group.filter.av) where: N = time frame selected sec.filter.av = security price(previous - N days ago)+ security price(today - N days ago)+ security price(next - N days ago) ------------------------------------------- 3 groupfilter.av = group average price (previous - N days ago)+ group average price (today - N days ago)+ group average price (next - N days ago) ----------------------------------------- 3 Actually, the Cone Index itself is invisible. What is plotted is the security's performance against the index. Simply stated, if the value of the histogram or line is above the neutral line, the security is outperforming the average of all the securities in the file. If the oscillating line is below the neutral, then the security is under performing the average of the group. If the oscillating line is directly on the neutral line, then the security is performing as well as the average of the group. This can be a powerful tool for finding entry and exit points because you can graphically see a stock lose momentum against the average of the group many times before the price peaks (the security's value begins to drop toward the neutral (mean) line). We have found that using a time frame of 7 to 25 to be very significant trading sector mutual funds. 5.2 Price/Moving Average Oscillator The Price/Moving Average Oscillator displays the price of a security divided by a specified exponential moving average about a neutral line. The typical entry and exit points of the basic moving average system seldom are easy to graphically anticipate until the crossing point actually occurs. By oscillating the difference between the price and the moving average about a horizontal line, not only are the entry and exit points easier to visualize, but the indicator shows the historical extremes and normal limits of the differences. 5 - 2 The Price/Moving Average Oscillator calculation is as follows: Price/MA = Price (today) - EXPMA(N days ago) where: EXPMA = an exponential moving average N = moving average periods 5.3 Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) This indicator is formed by the difference in two different exponential moving average lines. This is called the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD). The difference between these two moving averages is plotted as one resulting line oscillating about a neutral line. Finally, a third moving average is calculated and plotted about the resulting line, and serves as a "trigger" line to generate buy/sell signals. This indicator was first written about and popularized by Gerald Appel in 1979. Merely subtracting the longer period moving average from the shorter period one leaves you with an oscillator that gives quicker and more timely signals. It is common for the longer moving average to be 2, 3, even 4 times the time length of the shorter time moving average. While Market PLUS allows you to set any values you wish, Gerald Appel recommends using a 12- period and 26-period MACD with a 9-period "trigger" line. To activate the trigger line, set option "L" of the graph settings screen. The MACD is most useful in determining intermediate to long term trends. Divergences in a security become quite apparent with the MACD, proving effective for forecasting (a word we don't use too often) future price direction, if used in conjunction with other indicators (i.e., Wilder's RSI, Bollinger Bands, etc.). Finally the trigger line is plotted about the resulting line. The MACD calculation is as follows: MACD = EPMA1-EPMA2 where: EPMA1= First exponential moving average EPMA2= Second exponential moving average 5 - 3 Chapter 6 MarketPLUS Data File Format MarketPLUS was designed to enable the investor to make full use of a single piece of information, the closing price of a security or other investment. A tremendous amount of analysis can be performed with this information as evident in this program. For those of you who write your own programs, or wish to utilize MarketPLUS data in other programs or applications, we include the following example for you to understand the structure of a "typical" MarketPLUS data file. You are able to view and edit any MarketPLUS data file by simply loading it into any standard word processing program that has the ability to read and write in ASCII format (also sometimes referred to as "non-document" or "programming" mode). Data is written and read sequentially by MarketPLUS. The following explains how a data file is read in initially. For our example, we will use a file that stores 3 mutual funds, containing 8 closing prices each. 1. The file is first opened 2. The number of investments, number of closing prices for each investment, time frame (daily, weekly, or monthly), and type of investment (fund, stock, commodity, etc.) is first read into memory. 3. Each date is read in. The number of dates matches the number of closing prices per investment (Lines 2 through 9). 4. The first investment name is read into memory (Line 10). 5. All closing prices for the first investment are read into memory (Lines 11 through 18). 6. Steps 4 and 5 are repeated for each remaining investment (Lines 19 through 36). 7. After the last closing price for the last investment is read in, the file is closed. 8. The data remains in memory until another data file is opened or until one leaves the program. NOTE: Most word processing programs do not list line numbers as we have below ! This is provided only to help you examine the data file more clearly. 6 - 1 Line 1> 3, 8, "Day," "FUND" Line 2> "07/09/87" Line 3> "07/10/87" Line 4> "07/11/87" Line 5> "07/13/87" Line 6> "07/14/87" Line 7> "07/15/87" Line 8> "07/16/87" Line 9> "07/17/87" Line 10> "FIDELITY" Line 11> 17.25 Line 12> 17.31 Line 13> 17.30 Line 14> 17.48 Line 15> 17.51 Line 16> 17.64 Line 17> 17.68 Line 18> 17.54 Line 19> "GROW&INC" Line 20> 16.83 Line 21> 16.90 Line 22> 16.74 Line 23> 16.89 Line 24> 16.91 Line 25> 17.01 Line 26> 17.09 Line 27> 16.97 Line 28> "MAGELLAN" Line 29> 52.31 Line 30> 52.35 Line 31> 52.38' Line 32> 52.98 Line 33> 52.96 Line 34> 53.43 Line 35> 53.60 Line 36> 53.12 Figure C-1. Typical MarketPLUS Data File 6 - 2 Chapter 7 DOS Error Messages While MarketPLUS trips for the most common errors, you may receive one of the code numbers (in rare occurrence) listed below. These code numbers are returned by MarketPLUS. Code Message Code Message 1 Next without FOR 51 Internal error 2 Syntax Error 52 Bad filename or number 3 Return without GOSUB 53 File not found 4 Out of DATA 54 Bad file mode 5 Illegal Function Call 55 File already open 6 Overflow 56 FIELD statement active 7 Out of Memory 57 Device I/O error 8 Label not defined 58 File already exists 9 Subscript out of range 59 Bad record length 10 Duplicate definition 61 Disk full 11 Division by zero 62 Input past end of file 12 Illegal in direct mode 63 Bad record number 13 Type mismatch 64 Bad filename 14 Out of string space 67 Too many files 16 Strng form too complex 68 Device unavailable 17 Cannot continue 69 Communication Buffer overflow 18 Function not defined 70 Permission denied 19 No RESUME 71 Disk not ready 20 RESUME without error 72 Disk-media error 24 Device time-out 73 Feature unavailable 25 Device fault 74 Rename across disks 26 FOR without NEXT 75 Path file access error 27 Out of Paper 76 Path not found 29 WHILE without WEND 80 Feature removed 30 WEND without WHILE 81 Invalid name 33 Duplicate LABEL 82 Table not found 35 Subprogram not defined 83 Index not found 37 Argument-count mismatch 84 Invalid column 38 Array not defined 85 No current record 40 Variable required 86 Dupl. value for unique index 50 Field overflow 87 Invalid opern on null index 88 Database needs repair The following is a list of the codes that have been reported and the probable reason. ERROR PROBABLE REASON FOR ERROR 5 Incorrect graphics card or monitor specified in configuration. 6,9,11,13 Invalid price in the database (i.e., a "O" or "O" instead of a real value). Also can be caused by a continuous string of non-varying prices (1.e., 20 days of unchanging prices). 7 - 1 7 Not enough memory in your system to load MarketPLUS or too large a data file. Also happens on occasion trying to run MarketPLUS when using PC_TOOLS. Remove TSR memory resident programs. 24,25,26 Printer is not turned on, is off-line, or is out of paper. 62 Invalid MarketPLUS database file (or wrong capacity). 7 - 2 Chapter 8 Function Keys & HOT Keys This chapter defines function and hot keys and provides a description of their meanings. 8.1 FUNCTION KEYS What are Function Keys? The "function" keys are the 10 to 12 special keys to the left or on the top row of your keyboard, depending upon your system. The function keys are special keys that can be used for programmers and can be preassigned to perform special features. How Function Keys Work in MarketPLUS In MarketPLUS, we have made good use of the function keys for items that is repeatedly done. Thus, function keys are time savers. Function keys have been assigned in a logical sequence, and in keeping with the usage conventions of most popular software programs. Function keys have global assignments in the graphics mode, and can be called immediately. Function Key Definitions HELP The key is the familiar "help" key. When this key is pressed while in the graphics part of the program, the help text is displayed. You can scroll through the help text to find the answers to your questions. The help text cannot be as complete as the documentation, but it answers many questions quickly, and is a quick reminder of what each feature does. Redraw Prmary Screen The key is available in the Screen pull-down menu. This key redraws the Primary Indicator screen, clearing any user-placed lines or symbols. is the HOT key (discussed later in this chapter). Redraw Seondary Screen The key is available in the Screen pull-down menu. This key redraws the Secondary Indicator screen. is the HOT key. Select ext Graph The key is available in the Screen pull-down menu. This key displays a listing of the next investment for you to choose for graphing. is the HOT key. 8 - 1 utomatic Next The key is available in the Screen pull-down menu. This key automatically graphs the next investment in the file. This will graph the next investment as the investments are loaded in from disk storage unless the investments have been sorted over in the tabular sorts. If the file has been sorted, then the next graph shown will be next in the sorted listing. is the HOT key. B/OS Lines The key is available in the Utility pull-down menu. This key toggles the overbought/oversold lines ON/OFF on either the Primary or Secondary Indicator screens. The location of the OB/OS lines can be defined under graph settings. is the HOT key. raph Settings: The key is available in the Utility pull-down menu. This key displays the screen that shows how all the various indicators for MarketPLUS are setup. Of course, you can easily change the setup for any indicator. Just follow the prompts. is the HOT key.

rint Graph The key is available in the Utility pull-down menu. This key allows the printer driver to be invoked for the printer defined in the configuration of MarketPLUS. This is how hard copies of any graph can be easily made. The printer must be on-line and ready to go.

is the HOT key. oom The key is available in the Screen pull-down menu. This key allows you to select any 11 data point or larger portion of the graph for magnification so you can give it more careful study. After you have completed your detailed study, zoom again back to the full size presentation. is the HOT key. Eit The key is available in the Utility pull-down menu. This key exits the program and takes you back to the DOS prompt. is the HOT key. Load New ile The key is available in the Utility pull-down menu. This key combination takes you back to the list of data files on the designated drive. This is a time saver if you maintain several data files of investments. key is the HOT key. 8 - 2 Currently Unassigned Currently Unassigned 8.2 HOT KEYS What are HOT Keys? The HOT keys are comprised of special keyboard assignment of the regular keyboard keys under special situations. HOT keys are not global in the graphics mode, in the same way that the Function keys are global. But HOT keys are handy and can be a real time saver, bypassing the pull-down menu system. HOT keys are easy to spot on the color menu screen (EGA/VGA only), because there is a color change and the HOT keys are shown in red. Some functions, especially the line Drawing routines, do not have Function keys assigned, so HOT keys are the best way to call these powerful routines without having to access the pull-down menu system. We are sorry to say that all HOT keys are not intuitive and match with the first letter of the function to be called. This is because there are so many HOT keys used. Twenty-two HOT keys are used, so we are almost out of alphabet. Also, because of a numerical limit of assigned keys, HOT keys are inactive when the is turned "ON." HOT keys only work in lower case. HOT Key Definitions Pull-Down Menu Location utomatic Next SCREEN uy Symbol DRAW Redraws Seondary Screen SCREEN isplay Status Window UTILITY xtended Line DRAW Load New ile UTILITY raph Settings UTILITY ortizonal Line DRAW Redraws Prmary Screen SCREEN Standard ine & Gain/Loss DRAW ulti-plot DRAW Select ext Graph SCREEN verbought/Oversold Lines UTILITY

rint Graph UTILITY ell Symbol DRAW Flex-plo DRAW Fibonacci Stdies DRAW ertical Line DRAW Andres Method DRAW Eit UTILITY Ccle Lines DRAW oom into smaller/larger data range SCREEN 8 - 3 Appendix A Commonly Asked Questions Some of our users and potential users of MarketPLUS ask questions about the program and related products. Here are a few of them with our responses. Q: Why is it that MarketPLUS is so affordable? A: MarketPLUS began as a public domain program called "Market" in 1986. The original program began as a "Labor of Love," and has been developed to its current state with the same labor-of-love attitude. Since MarketPLUS is owned by and under the development of independent programmers and marketed via shareware, there is very little overhead to pay. MarketPLUS is popular on its own merits: A unique database (allowing several investments in a single data file). Low cost (well under the $300 to $2500 average cost for this type of product). Very easy to learn, use, and maintain. FAST and powerful features within the program. Friendly and personalized service for our customers. Doesn't require EXTERNAL programs to support (spreadsheets, templates, or databases). Customer input is well received (and welcomed!). Satisfied customers all over the world! Q: How long will it take me to master the commands and features of MarketPLUS? A: Unlike most investment program of this type, MarketPLUS does not require several weeks of learning to use it. Due to the easy-to-use menus and simple commands, most users learn to move through the program and use most of the features within two or three hours after installation. Q: Will I need to buy other programs to maintain and support MarketPLUS? A: No, MarketPLUS does not require you to purchase a separate database or spreadsheet program to take full advantage of the program. While MarketPLUS is a self- contained program, there are some add-on programs you can purchase from F2S Enterprises to simplify the use of MarketPLUS (see Companion Products), specifically MarketFON, MarketTOOLS, and MarketCONVERT. A - 1 Q: Why don't you include the ADD-ON programs within the MarketPLUS program? A: MarketPLUS, like many programs of its size, uses large amounts of computer memory to speed up its functions and provide fast output on your display. Since most of the utilities provided in MarketTOOLS or MarketFON do not require immediate output, we maintain them as separate programs (available at a VERY low cost) in order to keep MarketPLUS fast and easy to use! Q: Do I need to use a mouse and printer to use the program? A: No, you do not need to own a mouse. While a mouse is a very worthwhile investment, and it makes using MarketPLUS a SNAP!, all commands are easily activated with your keyboard. No, you do not have to use a printer either to get great benefit from using MarketPLUS. However, making a hard copy of an investment's graph or generating a tabular report on paper will serve you well when referring to why you bought or sold a security. Q: Can I download data for MarketPLUS via a modem? A: Yes, MarketPLUS has a companion product, MarketFON (see Companion Products) which allows the use of a modem to download quotes from a very cost effective data supply service - "DIAL DATA," a division of Track Data Corporation. (You must establish an account with Track Data Corporation before using MarketFON.) Q: I already have some historical data that I have used with another investment program. Will you convert the data for me to MarketPLUS's format? A: No. Since there are a number of data formats in use, and most require other entries (high, low, volume, etc.), we do not provide any conversion programs built in to MarketPLUS. However, should you decide to write your own conversion routine, we provide you with a complete description and example of MarketPLUS's data format in Data File Format, as a guide for your use. We also have an ASCII conversion program available that converts most any historical ASCII stock data file to the MarketPLUS data format. Q: What should I do if I get an error message using the program? A: MarketPLUS is equipped with a number of automatic error-handling routines to make life easier when using the program. If the error message asks you to do something (insert the data disk, etc.), simply perform the operation A - 2 and continue. Most errors are due to incorrect installation or configuration, so take your time when starting out! Chapter 7 contains an error list to help you track down what may have caused the error initially, and a list of possible reasons. If you are unable to determine why you received an error, do the following: Send us a hard-copy print of the error (or error message), the Graph Settings screen, and send us the following: 1. Version of MarketPLUS you are using. 2. Your name and registration number. 3. Some general information: a) Make & model of computer b) Amount of memory available (run the DOS chkdsk command to list available memory) c) type of memory resident programs, if any, and memory they use d) type of graphics card and monitor e) type of printer you are using. f) description of problem (how it happened). g) can you duplicate the error? Q: How will I know about any future versions of MarketPLUS or any new companion products? A: By sending in your registration form, you will be listed on our mailing list. We will contact you immediately when new versions (discounted to registered users) or new products become available. A - 3 Appendix B MarketPLUS Companion Products IMPORTANT NOTE: Before ordering ANY listed product please contact us first as prices and products are always subject to change! The following products all contain full documentation on disk. MarketFON (Version 1.6) $ 24.95 The data downloading and conversion program to be used specifically with MarketPLUS and Track Data Corporation ' s Dialdata system for obtaining quotes. You must establish an account with Track Data Corporation for this program to benefit you. Contact us for more information. Features: Create TICKER.TXT symbol file for data conversion. Ability to EDIT the TICKER.TXT symbol file. Capability to DELETE a symbol from TICKER.TXT file. Download and automatically CONVERT & UPDATE data. CONVERSION of Dial Data into MarketPLUS format! HISTORIC DOWNLOAD (Data for any specified number of days, weeks, etc.). Make a SINGLE HISTORIC FILE for Stock, Fund, or Index. APPEND Historic download information to an existing *.DAT file. Configuration for Communication ports, baud rate, etc. Pop-up Windows & Mouse support! (Microsoft & Logitech) MarketTOOLS (Version 2.0) $ 35.00 MarketTOOLS is an off-line utility program to modify/edit MarketPLUS data files. Includes useful features to customize data for specific tracking. Features: RENAME INVESTMENT - Change the MarketPLUS name of any investment, and in any MarketPLUS data file. HEADER EDIT - Edit the header information of any MarketPLUS data file, such as investment type and periods (daily, weekly, etc.) B - 1 CHOP-DAT - Shorten the length in time frame and amount of data of any MarketPLUS data file. SORT-N-SAVE - Alphabetically sort the investments in any MarketPLUS data file and save this arrangement to disk. SINGLE-DAT - Copy a single investment from an existing MarketPLUS data file to a separate free-standing data file. APPEND-DAT - Join (append) a single investment MarketPLUS data file to another existing MarketPLUS data file. FAST-DAT - Create a "FAST-Entry" single investment MarketPLUS data file quickly with only a list of dates and prices. DAY to WEEK/MONTH - Convert a daily MarketPLUS *.DAT file to a either a weekly or monthly *.DAT file. MAKE-IDX - Convert a single investment MarketPLUS *.DAT file to a custom index file (*.IDX) for import into the MarketPLUS investor defined study (IDS) view port. UPDATE-IDX - Update your custom index files (*.IDX) quickly. Just enter the date and index value. A custom index file can represent a market index, volume of a security, or any index which you have calculated a value off-line (spreadsheet , etc.), or any value of your favorite indicator (i.e., T-Bond, McClellan Oscillator, etc.). BASIC MATH EDITOR - Perform basic math modifications to all values of a specific investment in a data file. For example, you can multiply or divide investment prices by a value, then add or subtract to or from the results, and so on. BACKUP-DELETE - Back-up or delete MarketPLUS *.DAT and *.IDX files on a regular basis. We highly recommend using the back-up feature on a regular basis to make a copy of any file prior to performing MarketTOOLS operations. PRINT DATA SHEETS - Print data worksheets of any MarketPLUS *.DAT file, providing a listing of prices and dates of all investments over a specified time range. MPLUS-2-QUICKEN - Create an export file of current investment prices for direct import and updating of any and all Quicken investment accounts. Pop-up windows and Mouse support (Microsoft & Logitech) B - 2 MarketCONVERT $69.95 MarketCONVERT is a collection of powerful programs that were developed for the investor wanting to acquire, convert, and maintain data for their MarketPLUS investments with minimum effort, cost, and time, while providing a wide range of choices and flexibility. The programs on the disk include: ASCII Conversion Manager (updates MP files from ASCII files) ASCII-2-MarketPLUS (historical converter) ASCII Fix Utility (changes space-delimited formats to comma-delimited formats) MarketLOOK Utility (MarketPLUS file header viewer) ASCII Conversion Manager is a dynamic utility program that allows the MarketPLUS user to update any and all *.DAT file, on a daily basis, from Prodigy (tm), Compuserve (tm) or any data service which provides output or export to any of the listed ASCII data formats. A great way to pick- and-choose your data service whenecer you wish, and u0pdate your MarketPLUS investments! ASCII-2-MarketPLUS is a must for any investor who has historic ASCII data for all of their favorite stocks, etc., and wants to utilize all of the powerful charting tools of MarketPLUS. This program converts single historic ASCII files (most comma-delimited formats) to a single-investment MarketPLUS *.DAT data file. MarketVIEW $ 10.00 MarketVIEW allows you to view and print your MarketPLUS *.PCX files. Prints on Epson and HP LaserJET printers (and compatibles). B - 3 Appendix C Recommended Reading The following is a list of highly recommended publications for the investor using MarketPLUS. Appel, G.: Winning Stock Market Systems, Signalert Corporation., Great Neck, N.Y., 1974. Appel, G.: The Moving Average Convergence - Divergence Method, Signalert Corp., Great Neck, N.Y., 1979. Arnold, Curtis M., and Dan Rahfeldt: Timing The Market - How To Profit in Bull and Bear Markets With Technical Analysis, Weiss Research, Inca., Pro bus Publishing, Chicago, Ill., 1986. Frost, A.J., and Robert R. Precchter: The Elliott Wave Principle - Key To Stock Market Profits, 5th Edition New Classics Library, Chappaqua, N.Y., 1985 Pring, Martin: Technical Analysis Explained, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020, 1985 Technical Analysis of Stocks & Commodities, Technical Analysis, Inc., Seattle, WA., 1992 LeBeau & Lucas: Technical Traders Guide To Computer Analysis Of The Futures Market, Business One Irwin, Homewood, IL.,1992 Wilder, J. Welles: New Concepts in Technical Trading Systems, Trend Research, Greensboro, N.C., 1978 C - 1 ORDER FORM: (please check items ordered and fill-in blanks) **** INVESTORS "BARGAIN PAK" SPECIAL **** ...SAVE by choosing the combination of investment software and tools that best fits your needs with 3 registration levels to select from: ___ MarketPLUS level 1......................................$ 85.00 Includes 50/130 database (maintain up to 50 investments with 130 days / weeks / or months of prices in EACH file), PCX file saver, 8 Investor Defined Studies (IDS), printed & bound manual with illustrations & charts, Quick Reference card, and author support. ALSO: MarketTOOLS & MarketVIEW included! ___ MarketPLUS level 2......................................$ 115.00 All items listed for MarketPLUS level 1 PLUS: A total of 16 Investor Defined Studies (IDS) AND the MarketCONVERT program disk. ___ MarketPLUS level 3......................................$ 145.00 All items listed for MarketPLUS level 1 AND 2 except the 50/130 database size is "expanded" to 50/540 (requires minimum of 512K of RAM). ------ Individual MarketPLUS Support Products ------ ___ MarketTOOLS (2.0).........................................$ 35.00 Includes documentation on disk, author support. ___ MarketFON (1.6)...........................................$ 24.95 Includes documentation on disk, author support. ___ MarketCONVERT (1.0)........................................$ 69.95 Includes documentation on disk, author support. ___ MarketVIEW (1.0)...........................................$ 10.00 Includes easy instructions on disk, author support. Total items selected above: _______ disk size: 3.5"______ 5.25" ______ Subtotal: $_______________ State sales tax (Texas residents): $_______________ Shipping & Handling U.S.A $ 5.00 Shipping & Handling (overseas) $ 15.00 --------------------- Total charges: $_______________ Send to Name:________________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ Address:_____________________________________________ City:___________________ State:____ Zip:_____________ Phone #:_____________________________________________ Please make Checks or Money order payable to: F2S Enterprises P.O. Box 1011 La Porte, TX. 77572-1011 If paying by credit card: MC ___ VISA___ Card Number_________________________ Expires:__________