Tech Talk
Information from CSI's Customer Support Department
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Tech Talk


   Each month in this Journal, our technical support staff addresses issues of interest to many CSI subscribers in a question-and-answer format. 


Notice:
  The views and information expressed in this document reflect the opinions and experience of the author Robert C. Pelletier.  Neither CSI nor the author undertake or intend to provide tax advice or trading advice in any market or endorse any outside individual or firm.  All recommendations are provided for their informational value only.  Readers should consult competent financial advisors or outside counsel before making any software purchase or investment decision.  CSI does not stand behind or endorse the products of any outside firms.


Copyright (c) 2000 Commodity Systems Inc. (CSI).  All rights are reserved.

Questions and Answers

Q.
    I'm having trouble finding my way around Unfair Advantage's online manual. The index is somewhat helpful, but it doesn't give me all the information I would like. Do you plan to add a Table of Contents?

A.
    The online manual's Table of Contents was lost through a technical glitch that has been corrected. We regret the inconvenience and are grateful to the customers who called it to our attention. If you can't access the Table of Contents in your version of the UA manual, please visit our website and download the latest upgrade.

Q.
    Unfair Advantage does not appear to express half-point values for certain commodities such as CME Lean Hogs and Eurodollar. Is this the case and, if so, how can I see the full values?

A.
    At CSI, we emulate the exchanges' practice of not displaying insignificant trailing digits for those commodities whose minimum tick is 2.5 points. For example, a CME Lean Hog price of 67.9 1/4 would be presented as 67.92 (the final 5 has been dropped). UA stores the full price values and allows you to display them without truncation if desired. To do so, click "Display as Decimal" on the "Displaying Data" tab of UA's Data Options. The commodities affected by this truncation are: CME - Live Cattle, Lean Hogs, Pork Bellies, Pork Cutouts, Feeder Cattle, Butter, Libor, Eurodollar, Mexican Peso, S.A. Rand and Russian Ruble; MACE - Live Hogs and Live Cattle; Simex - Eurodollar; and Matif - Rapeseed.

Q.
    I use one third-party program for analyzing the stock data I download from CSI and another program for commodity data. Is there a way to separate the markets so I don't have to sort through both commodities and stocks when I leave UA?

A.
    Yes. Although UA supports just one portfolio in which to list all files created for export, you can direct the output directory for each item or group of items in your portfolio. For example, when inserting stocks, you can select any number of stocks together and specify one export folder and format for the entire group. You can then switch the market type to "Commodities" and, again, select any number of markets to be stored in a different folder and format. When analyzing the data in your third-party software, direct the program to the appropriate folder (or folders) and avoid those folders holding data of the unwanted market type.

    Incidentally, you can expedite your entry into another program through the prompt "After Daily Distribution is complete execute the command:_________________" on the Daily Distribution screen of Data Options. Simply enter the path and filename of the executable file that launches your analysis program and click [OK].

Q.
    I liked the way UA used to automatically display the list of commodities whenever I wanted to choose a series to chart or add to my portfolio. Now I have to click the [.] (browse) button to display the list I'm all for progress, but would you consider bringing back that feature?

A.
    It is at your fingertips! Go to the "General" screen of Data Options and click the "Choose Markets from List" box to restore this feature to your UA.

Q.
    I've been using UA for quite a while now and have read all the "Unfair Advantage Tips" more than once. Can I turn this feature off?

A.
    Yes. This feature is included to help you get acquainted with the software. Admittedly, its usefulness is short-lived for most UA subscribers. When you've had enough, uncheck the "Display Tips at Startup" box on the "General" screen of Data Options.

Q.
    I would like to manually input my trading account balance into UA so that I can view an equity curve of my trading record. Does UA allow me to create and maintain a series with a "dummy" symbol?

A.
    Your idea for tracking your equity curve may be most quickly handled through a spreadsheet. UA offers a massive database supplied and maintained only by CSI. It does not allow for manual input of data series. We plan to add an accounting module to UA that will include this and many other capabilities. Watch this Journal for more information on the Trader's Accountant.T

Q.
    Which continuous series gives the most accurate prices for historical study of commodities?

A.
    In most analytical work, we have engaged Perpetual Contract® data as our preferred choice. The constant time to delivery offers stability and makes it possible to jointly analyze several markets under similar rules in the same analytical environment. The industry norm seems to invoke use of the backadjusted series because the current contract is easily identified with current prices. There probably isn't any best way to view data historically. Opinions seem to be strong about each of the many possible choices.
 


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