|
The problem is not the poor documentation.
Everything is documented. The problem is that it's difficult to find
because it's scattered over many files and environments. The best
solution is something like a kind of expert database with all
documentation included. Same story for the forum emails. But to fill
that database is a hell of a job ...
Kind regards, Ton.
----- Original Message -----
From: MountainTopTrader
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Sent: Friday, July
06, 2007 9:21 PM
Subject: RE:
[amibroker] New user - problems/questions
Here's a prime example of the poor documentation.
I wanted to add some simple price alarms to a chart. Searched help on
"alarm", nothing found. Tried "alert" got a list. Dug through the list
and "Easy Alerts Window" was only one applicable to non-AFL based
alerts. Clicked to page describing Easy Alerts Windows. Nowhere in the
description does it tell the user how to view this window (I have found
this problem to be common in reading the documentation). Hunted
through all menu bars, found an item to bring up the Alert Output window
but that was it. It was not until a day later when I was studying Quote
Windows that I ran across documentation showing how to add an alert from
by right clicking on a Quote line in a Quote Window. Now I know how to
add a price alert from a Quote Window, but still no idea of how to add
one from a chart. It's probably (or at least should be) there somewhere
and I'll probably find it ... eventually.
Poor documentation leads to seemingly lazy
questions from frustrated users who are trying to learn the ropes by
RTFM.
Earl
From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
[mailto:amibroker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of MountainTopTrader
Sent: Friday, July
06, 2007 8:32 AM
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Subject: RE:
[amibroker] New user - problems/questions
Actually, I went through a number of tutorials and
the user guide and they are pretty sketchy on some of the basics such as
those about which I asked questions. I have used charting software for
25+- years now and AB is not at the top of the pack for intuitive use.
For example, I would expect to be able to modify ALL chart properties by
right clicking on the chart and selecting properties or parameters,
however this does not allow setting of many chart properties including
those about which I inquired. The manual and start-up guide is equally
sketchy. Major parts of the user guide do not reflect the current
version of the software. I followed the complete IB data tutorial
and that did not tell me that I have to set additional parameters using
the green connect box in the lower right corner. All of this makes the
getting started process for even an experienced charting software user
rather daunting. That said, there is a good bit to like about AB once
one navigates the quirks.
While I have now mastered enough of the basics to
display the charts I want for those symbols I use, I am still having
problems with my layouts not being restored the way I save them. I have
learned to use the local and global layouts, but the fact is that when I
re-start AB it does not restore my workspace to the way I left it and I
find that irritating. At least I can switch to the layout tab, select my
named layout, and restore my charts.
Earl
From: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
[mailto:amibroker@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Edward
Pottasch
Sent: Friday, July
06, 2007 2:41 AM
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Subject: Re:
[amibroker] New user - problems/questions
hi,
I think it is best to consult the manual. However,
I have an additional remark / question on this. I have been having
problems with layouts all along.
1) For instance I have a layout I call "auto". I
add something to "auto" then save it and when I open it the next day in
some occasions there is some other program in one of the lower tab
windows.
2) Sometimes I add a program to a lower tab, then
save the layout. The next day I open this layout and the chart is blanc,
it can not find the code underneath.
Sometimes this happens, sometimes it doesn't. Just
wonder if anyone else has this problem or if I am doing something wrong.
But what can one do wrong? You create a new layout, save the layout when
you change something and still I get inconsistant behaviour.
Could it be because I run 2 instances (or sometimes
3) of Amibroker on 1 computer using different databases and that this
messes up the layouts?
thanks, Ed
----- Original Message -----
From: MountainTopTrader
To: amibroker@xxxxxxxxxps.com
Sent: Tuesday, July
03, 2007 4:07 PM
Subject: [amibroker]
New user - problems/questions
I installed the Pro version yesterday using the IB
data feed. I went through several of the tutorials and got a decent
start on a dozen symbols and an hourly chart layout I liked on one tab
in 3 panes on Sheet 1. I reduced the number of default sheets from 8 to
4.
This morning when I opened AB, I had a whole
different view. My candle sticks have been replaced by close only line
chart and a bunch of tabs have been added for variations which I don't
need or care about. Further, indicators I don't want have been applied
to Sheets 2 through 4.
Problems/questions:
- How do I restore my layout and keep it that way
when I reopen it?
- I can not find a way (menu or pop-up menu) to
alter/restore the chart properties including something as basic as the
chart style. The properties item on the pop-up menu is grayed out and
charting preferences do not let me set the chart style.
- How do I remove tabs I don't want and add new
tabs I do want?
- I can't seem to display all of the data
collected. For example, 6CU7 (Canadian Dollar) shows 7952 data bars
retrieved. My IB database is set to 10,000 bars of base time interval
5 minutes. At 288 bars per 24 hours, I should have 27 trading days
(over a full month) of data. However zooming out on hourly or daily
bars displays nothing further back than June 26 which is fewer than 6
trading days. How do I get to view all of the data?
Thank you.
Earl
|