Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is MetaStock?
   MetaStock is software program that is designed to help you make better decisions about when to buy and sell in the stock, FOREX, futures and commodities markets.
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2. What is the difference between End-of-day and Real-Time?
   Real-time traders use intra-day data (prices that are constantly updating throughout the day) to make decisions about when to buy and sell during the trading day. End-of-day traders collect their data (Date, Open, High, Low, Close, Volume, and Open Interest) for the day after the markets have closed. We have products designed specifically for each type of trader.
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3. What is QuoteCenter?
   QuoteCenter is a software and data module that receives real-time data provided by Reuters. QuoteCenter can be used by itself or the real-time data can be used to power MetaStock Pro or MetaStock Pro FX.
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4. If I'm a professional trader, can I use QuoteCenter?
   No, QuoteCenter is only for Non Professionals as defined by the New York Stock Exchange: Nonprofessional Subscriber means any person who is not: (i) registered or qualified with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, any state securities agency, any securities exchange or association, or any commodities or futures contract market or association; (ii) engaged as an investment advisor; nor (iii) employed by a bank or other organization exempt from registration under Federal and/or state securities laws to perform functions that would require him or her to be so registered or qualified if he or she were to perform such functions for an organization not so exempt. If you are a Professional, please contact Reuters Business Direct for the appropriate market data platform at 1-800-435-0101 (Select Option 6) in North America.
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5. What is Reuters DataLink?
   Reuters DataLink is an end-of-day data service that provides the following data fields for a symbol: Date, Open, High, Low, Close, Volume, and Open Interest. The historical data goes back at least 15 years. There are many different software programs that are compatible with Reuters DataLink.
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6. What is the difference between MetaStock Pro, MetaStock Pro FX, and MetaStock End-of-Day?
   MetaStock Pro - Our premium technical analysis and charting software product for real-time traders.
   
   MetaStock Pro FX - Our Foreign Exchange (FX) focused software product. The product, like MetaStock Pro, is for real-time traders, but has a slightly reduced feature set and price. The symbol database only has the FOREX pairs. Also, the program does not include the Power Pivots indicator or volume based indicators, and does not come with a historical data CD.
   
   MetaStock End-of-Day - Our award winning analysis program that is designed to help you make decisions about when to buy and sell in the stock, FOREX, futures and commodities markets based on end-of-day data.
   
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7. What is the difference between the subscription version of MetaStock and the purchase version of MetaStock?
   MetaStock can either be subscribed to on an ongoing basis or purchased outright. The subscription includes the MetaStock software and accompanying data feed and can be paid for on a monthly or yearly basis. If the subscription is cancelled, neither the software nor the data feed are accessible.
   
   The purchase version contains the MetaStock software only and is purchased for a one time charge. The software is always accessible because you own it and have paid for it outright. With this option, you will have to sign up for a data feed separately to run data into the program.
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8. Does MetaStock Pro have the same features as MetaStock Pro FX?
   Yes, MetaStock Pro has the same features as MetaStock Pro FX-including all of the FX tools. In addition to the features in Pro FX, the full MetaStock Pro version includes a full symbol database, volume indicators, and comes with a historical data CD.
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9. What data feed do you need for MetaStock Pro (Real-Time)?
   MetaStock Pro can work with one of these data feeds: QuoteCenter or eSignal. We recommend running MetaStock Pro with the QuoteCenter data feed for the highest quality analysis at the best price. Feel welcome to view our comparison of QuoteCenter data vs. eSignal data.
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10. What data feed do you need for MetaStock End-of-Day?
    MetaStock End-of-day was designed to work with Reuters DataLink and as a result works seemlessly with it. For this reason (and because of the quality of data service backed by Reuters) we definitely recommend Reuters DataLink.
    
    However, MetaStock can work with other data providers as well. When considering other EOD data providers for MetaStock End-of-Day, it is important to note that MetaStock End-of-Day can only read data in 'MetaStock Format'. However, The Downloader (which comes with both MetaStock End-of-Day) can convert data from the following data types into MetaStock Format, so as to be readable by the program:

    • ASCII
    • Excel (CSV)
    • AIQ
    • FutureLink
    • Quattro-123
    • TC2000

    If you are not using Reuters DataLink, you may have to contact your data provider to ensure that your data can be provided in MetaStock Format or read by The Downloader and then converted to MetaStock Format.
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11. Do I have to use an Equis data feed?
    No, although we recommend using Equis data feeds, both the real-time and end-of-day software products work with several different data feeds.
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12. What time frames can be displayed inside MetaStock?
    Other than multi-tick bars, real-time versions of MetaStock can display any intraday time frame in the range of 1 minute to 1439 minutes. For our end-of-day customers, any combination of daily bars can be displayed.
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13. Do I need to order a plug-in or addon? Or does MetaStock work on its own?
    MetaStock works on its own; it does not need a plugin or addon. Plugins and addons enhance the functionality of MetaStock.
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14. Which Plug-ins work for Real-time or End-of-Day?
    Most Plug-Ins work for both real-time and EOD versions of MetaStock. However, the table below shows what we recommend.

    Plug-In	End-of-Day	Real-Time	Required Version
    Heads Up	Yes	Yes	9.1 +
    UpperHand	Yes	Yes	9.1 +
    MediaSentiment	Yes	Yes	9.1 +
    Starting Point by Joe Krutsinger	Yes	Yes	10.0 +
    Adaptive Cycle Toolkit	Yes	Yes	8.01+
    FXTA - FX Traders Advantage	No	Yes	9.1 +
    Dr. Elder's Trading Room	Yes	No	8.01 +
    Greg Morris Breadth Indicator Toolbox	Yes	No	9.0 +
    PowerPivots Plus	Yes	No	7.2 +
    Nison's Candlesticks Unleashed (NCU)	Yes	No	7.2 +
    Performance Plus System	Yes	No	7.03 +
    John Murphy's Chart Pattern Recognition	Yes	No	7.0 +
    Bollinger Band System	Yes	No	7.03 +
    AlphOmega Elliot Waves	Yes	No	8.0 +
    FIRE!	Yes	No	9.1 +
    ICE!	Yes	No	9.1 +
    Bollinger Band Toolkit	Yes	Yes	8.01 +
    Profit Trader Real Time	No	Yes	7.03 +
    Profit Trader End of Day	Yes	No	7.03 +
    ETS Trading System	Yes	No	8.01 +
    Thom Hartle HPO	Yes	No	8.01 +
    Trade Oracle	Yes	No	7.22 +
    ISI2 Robot (ISI a.k.a. Income Strategies or Grow Rich Stay Rich)	Yes	Yes	10+
    The Edge (Financial Edge a.k.a. Wealth Power Systems)	Yes	Yes	10+
    Big Trends	Yes	Yes	10+
    MetaMarket+	Yes	No	7.2+
    Power Strike	Yes	No	7.21+
    Spyglass	Yes	No	7.0+
    Trend Medium	Yes	Yes	7.03+
    ITS (Investor Training Seminars)	Yes	No	7.03+
    Red Rock Pattern Strategies	Yes	Yes	10+
    Pristine Method Pattern Scans	Yes	Yes	10+
    InvestView	Yes	Yes	10+
    Dynamic Trend EOD	Yes	No	10+
    Dynamic Trend RT	No	Yes	10+

    
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15. What is the FXTA plugin - FX Trader's Advantage?
    The FXTA plugin is a subscription based Plug-In designed to work with MetaStock Pro or MetaStock Pro FX. It includes custom indicators, explorations, system tests, and expert advisors that focus on trading currency pairs.
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16. Where can I see a demo of the different MetaStock products?
    Check our resources section for video tutorials and demos.
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17. What line studies does MetaStock include?
    • Andrews' Pitchfork
    • Cycle Lines
    • Ellipse
    • Equidistant Channel
    • Fibonacci Arcs, Fans, Retracements
    • Fibonacci Time Zones
    • Gann Lines, Fans, Grids
    • Linear Regression Trendline
    • ODDS Probability Cones
    • Quadrant Lines
    • Raff Regression Channel
    • Rectangle
    • Speed Resistance Lines
    • Standard Deviation Channel
    • Standard Error Channel
    • Tirone Levels
    • Trendlines
    • Triangle

    
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18. What indicators does MetaStock include?
    MetaStock Indicator Listing

    Accumulation/Distribution	Accumulation Swing Index	Adaptive Moving Average
    Advance Decline Line	Alpha	Andrews Pitchfork
    Arms Index (TRIN)	Aroon	Average True Range
    Beta	Binary Wave (5)	Bollinger Bands
    Bull Power Bear Power 1	Bull Power Bear Power 2	Bull Power Bear Power 3
    Commodity Channel Index	Chaikin A/D Oscillator	Chaikin Money Flow
    Chaikin Volatility	Chande Forecast Oscillator	Chande Momentum Oscillator
    CMO Reversal	Commodity Channel Index	Commodity Selection Index
    Consolidation Breakout	Cooper 1234 Pattern	Correlation Analysis
    Cycle Lines	Cycle Progression	Dema
    Demand Index	Detrended Price Oscillator	Directional Movement (5)
    Dynamic Momentum Index	Dynamic Momentum Index 1	Ease of Movement
    Ellipse	Envelope	Equidistant Channel Line
    Exponential Moving Average	Fibonacci Arcs	Fibonacci Fans
    Fibonacci Retracements	Fibonacci Time Zones	Forecast Oscillator
    Fourier Transform	Fractal Trading System 1	Fractal Trading System 2
    Gann Angles	Gann Fans	Gann Grids
    Gann Line	Herrick Payoff Index	Horizontal Line
    Ichimoku Kinko	Intraday Momentum	Klinger Oscillator
    Linear Regression	Linear Regression Lines	Linear Regression Slope
    Long Sell Short Sale - 5 Day	MACD (2)	MACD Histogram 1
    MACD Histogram 2	Market Facilitation Index	McClellan Oscillator
    McClellan Summation Index	Meisels Overbought/Oversold	Median Price
    MESA Sine Wave/td>	Momentum	Money Flow Index
    Moving Average - Simple	Moving Average - Exponential	Moving Average - Weighted
    Moving Average - Time Series	Moving Average - Triangular	Moving Average - Ribbon
    Moving Average - Variable	Moving Average - Volume Adjusted	Negative Volume Index
    Odds Probability Cones	On Balance Volume	Open Interest
    Option Delta	Option Expiration	Option Gamma
    Option Life	Option Price	Option Theta
    Option Vega	Option Volatility	Parabolic SAR
    Pattern Trading System 1	Percent Retracement	Percentage Crossover 3%
    Performance	Polarized Fractal Efficiency	Positive Volume Index
    Price Oscillator	Projection Price Bands Channel	Projection Oscillator
    Projection Oscillator 1	Qstick	Quadrant Lines
    r-squared	Raff Regression Channel	Rainbow Band Upper
    Rainbow Band Lower	Rainbow Max	Rainbow Min
    Rainbow Oscillator	Random Walk Index	Range Indicator
    Rectangle	Relative Momentum Index	Relative Performance
    Relative Strength Index	Relative Volatility Index	Semi-Log Trendline
    Sine Wave 5-unit Standing	Speed Resistance Lines	Spread
    Standard Deviation	Standard Error	StochRSI
    Stochastic Momentum Index	Stochastic Oscillator	Squat Bar
    Swing Index	Tema	Time Series Forecast
    Tirone Levels	Trade Volume Index	Trendlines
    Trendline by Angle	TRIX	Typical Price
    Ultimate Oscillator	Vertical Horizontal Filter	Vertical Line
    Volatility Breakout (Chaikin)	Volatility Indicators (3)	Volume
    Volume Oscillator	Volume Rate of Change	Weighted Close
    Wilder's Smoothing	Williams' A/D, %R	Zig Zag

    
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19. How far back does QuoteCenter intraday (real-time) day go?
    QuoteCenter has 4 times the amount of tick data that competitors (like eSignal) have. QuoteCenter minute data goes back 1 year; Daily data goes back to 1980; and Fundamental data back to 1982. Also, QuoteCenter FOREX data included is contributed to by 800 banks across the globe, making it an superior collection of excellent data.
    
    For more information, view the QuoteCenter comparison with eSignal.
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20. In QuoteCenter, how long is the delay time for the "delayed data packages"?
    When you sign-up for a QuoteCenter package you automatically receive delayed data for every exchange covered in that package. Delayed data is about 5 - 15 minutes delayed.
    
    Real-time data can be obtained for individual exchanges by paying the exchange fees. These exchange fees are set by the exchanges themselves and not Equis International - no matter which real-time data service you decide to go with you will have to pay these real-time exchange fees.
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21. Can I install MetaStock on multiple computers?
    Yes; you may install MetaStock on 2 computers. For example, you can install MetaStock on your Home PC and your LapTop.
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22. What is your Return Policy?
    Please visit our Return Policy page.
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23. Which version of MetaStock can I use for FOREX analysis?
    All three versions of MetaStock can do FOREX analysis. MetaStock End-of-Day will provide EOD FOREX analysis, so long as you have the data (e.g., Reuters DataLink WorldWide Futures package contains EOD FOREX data).
    
    Both MetaStock Professional and Pro FX will provide real-time FOREX analysis as long as you have the data from your data feed (e.g., QuoteCenter has a Forex Data Package available).
    
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24. I have an old version of MetaStock. How can I upgrade?
    To be eligible to purchase a MetaStock Upgrade you will need your Equis Customer Number. If you do not have it on file, please contact us and we will help you through the process.
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25. Can I use TC2000 data with MetaStock?
    Yes, But, MetaStock can only read data in 'MetaStock Format'. However, The Downloader can convert data from the following data types into MetaStock Format, so as to be readable by the program:

    • ASCII
    • Excel (CSV)
    • AIQ
    • FutureLink
    • Quattro-123
    • TC2000

    
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26. Which MetaStock Plugins work well with FOREX Markets?
    Specifically, both John Murphy's Chart Pattern Recognition and Nison's CandleSticks Unleashed do not work well with FOREX Markets. For FOREX, instead consider Performance Systems Plus or PowerPivots Plus.
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Further Knowledge Base information can be found on the Equis website here