This program configures the MasterDATA Composite Plug-in.  Because this version of our plug-in is specifically configured for our historical composite breadth datafiles, very little additional input is required (only two entries).

First complete the configuration by clicking on the "Settings" tab above.  Because this program is preconfigured for downloading MasterDATA's historical composite breadth datafiles, only two entries are needed from you at this time.  Enter  1)  Your Data Vendor / Source and 2)  Default Datafile.  We recommend leaving the remainder of the settings on this page unchanged.

Click on the "Save" button at the bottom of the "Settings"  page.

This is the plug-in itself and runs automatically whenever you start MetaStock.  Properly configured, this plug-in allows MasterDATA's historical composite breadth .csv format datafiles to be used directly within any MetaStock function with no import or conversion.

The MasterDATA Composite Plug-in was configured in the previous steps above.  The plug-in itself will load automatically whenever you run MetaStock and reflects the configuration settings input in the MasterDATA Composite Plug-in Configuration program.  No further input is required.

Before you begin to learn about and use the MasterDATA Composite Plug-in for your own purposes, test your installation with a few  of the included MetaStock functions and downloaded MasterDATA historical datafiles (if you haven't already, use MasterDATAlink to update your datafiles before proceeding).

Open MetaStock (you may click on the "Open MetaStock" button below).

In MetaStock, click on the (open) icon.  At the bottom of the "Open" dialog window that appears, make sure that "Smart Charts" is displayed in the "Files of type:" section.

When you downloaded current composite breadth datafiles using MasterDATAlink, you also automatically created MetaStock format price files.  If you used the default settings for your installation, these price files (.dat) are located in the "C:\MasterDATA\PriceFiles\" directory.  Browse to this directory now.

The actual MetaStock price files are in one of four sub-directories within the "PriceFiles" directory, "Daily", "Weekly", "Monthly" and "Quarterly".  As you probably suspect, each of these sub-directories contain MetaStock price files for that data period.  Select and open the symbol "SPY" within the "Daily" sub-directory.  A SPY chart will open.  Notice that the volume figures in this price file are the total volume of all components of SPY and not the "normal" trade volume for SPY.  In future versions, you will be able to fully configure what is contained in your MetaStock format (.dat) price files as well as create numerous versions for each symbol.

Apply a Template

Right click somewhere on the chart you just opened above and then left click on "Apply Template".

In the "Apply Template" dialog window that opens, browse to the "C:\MasterDATA\Templates\" directory (this assumes that you installed to the default directories).

Select the template "_NewHighLow.mwt" and click on the "Open" button.  If your MasterDATA Composite Plug-in is installed and working properly, a three pane chart will open. 

• The top inner window is a candlestick chart of SPY.

• The middle window is a histogram showing the percentage of components of SPY with new quarterly highs (medium green) and lows (dark red) and first day quarterly highs (lime green) and lows (red). 

• Similarly, the bottom inner window is a histogram showing the percentage of components of SPY with new one year highs (medium green) and lows (dark red) and first day one year highs (lime green) and lows (red).  Take a moment to examine these composite indicators.  Very, very informative.

Cycle Charts Through the Open Chart

While the above chart is still open, click on one of the two arrows in the lower right hand corner of the chart window.  This will cycle forward or backwards through all of the MetaStock price files in the "C:\MasterDATA\PriceFiles\Daily\" directory.  While interesting, it is also a good test of the plug-in.  Remember, every new symbol that is displayed in a chart is drawing its high/low statistics from its own .csv format composite breadth historical datafile.  In this case, MetaStock is displaying 8 composite breadth statistics in each chart from this symbol's related.csv format datafile.

Success!

If you were able to complete each of these simple tasks successfully, your plug-in is installed properly.  Certainly, experiment with the MetaStock functions included with the MasterDATA Composite Plug-in.  Experience with the plug-in at this stage will make your own development later much easier.