[MAS-tips] Re: MAS Market analyses

[Jim C. <jt...@di...>]

Hi AAACPA.  (I'm also sending this to the discuss and tips list because it
contains info. that could be useful to other mas users.)

> Thanks for your help to date.  I have Java up and working.  I can =
> produce charts.

I'm glad you got the charts working.

> I want to be able to perform market analyses on a large number =
> of
> stocks at one time.  It appears that the stocks I can see are limited by =
> the "Symbols" file furnished..

Yes - When you use the option to get data from the web, the symbols file is
used to tell mas what stocks to get data for.  You can edit this file and
add as many symbols as you want, of course.

> 
> I can see the GUI files but cannot seem to find any "canned searches".  =
> Are there any and how do I invoke them?  You have explained how to prepare a
> couple but I do not see how to steal the completed product(s).

OK - I need some help on your terminology here - What do you mean by canned
searches?  Are you talking about searching for a stock symbol, or about
finding a pre-existing set of market analysis criteria, or something else?
What are you searching for?

> 
> I would like to expand the files searched as well as the potential =
> charts to include at least the S & P 500.  Is there any way to copy a list of =
> these stocks into the symbols file without screwing things up?

Yes - you can simply edit the symbols file to contain the list of symbols
you want.  Just make sure that there is only one symbol per line.  (Don't
use Word - Use a text editor, such as notepad.)

> 
> Is there a quick and dirty way for a novice, like me, to create a search
> from one or more of several canned searches.  For example I want to see =
> a list of all stocks which experienced an MACD breakout today and a =
> stochastic break out within the 3 previous days.  It would seem that this might be =
> done with a simple Q & A file which would create a search script which could =
> be activated by the user.

Although mas is powerful, it's user interface is rather hard to use.  In
this case, you need to use the macl, a command-line interface to mas, to
create the criteria you want and tell mas to send the signals as email or
to a file.  The documentation describes how to do this - It's not easy as
pie, but if you have time and patience, it may not be too hard to figure
out.  (This list is partly for people to help each other with such things.
If you try it and have problems, others on the list may be able to help, if
you describe the problem clearly.  Alternatively, I can probably help you
set up some criteria for a fee - Don't have the time to do it for free.)

The UI needs to be improved to make such tasks much easier.  I'm hoping to
release such an improved version, although it will not be free.  Such
improvements take time and hard work and I can't afford to donate all of my
development time at this point.

> 
> Can the various furnished files and scripts be edited thru Notepad?  =
> What precautions should be taken to avoid introducing unwanted garbage?

Most of them can be edited.  Re. precautions, generally, if you are careful
to follow the format of the existing file contents and, where they appear,
use the comments as a guide; and if you avoid editing files where
everything occurs on just one line (i.e., the file has only one line), you
will probably be OK - Back the originals up in case you make a mistake.
(The one-line files are in UNIX format, which uses a different
line-terminator than Windows.  It is possible to edit them cleanly - See
the FAQ for more info. on this: Search for "unix text format" at:
http://eiffel-mas.sourceforge.net/support/FAQ.html
.  I think there may be only one one-line file: .ma_clientrc)

> 
> Can the chart program be revised to show an up or down arrow in the =
> event of, for instance, an MACD and stochastic breakout?

Pedro Pla and I are working on this.  However, it may or may not be
available in the free version of MAS.

> Is there any way to display 2 technical analyses in one chart (for instance MACD & =
> Stochastic).

Yes: Simply do this: Under the "Veiw" menu, make sure "Replace indicators"
is off.  Then just keep selecting indicators - Each one you select will be
added to the chart.

> It appears that I can have a moving average in the basic chart together =
> with
> one technical analysis below.

Nope - you can have as many indicators as you want.  Perhaps you have
Replace indicators set to on.  Once you get this working, you can do:
View -> Indicator Colors
to see the color of each indicator to help you tell which is which.

> 
> Congratulations on your program(s).  It appears to me that MAS may be a
> program capable of performing the majority of the research which an =
> informed
> investor requires.  I presume that this is where you are headed.

Yes.  MAS is very powerful - It can already do a lot.  But, as I mentioned
and as I'm sure you've noticed, it's power is difficult to harness at this
point.  It needs an improved UI to make this power more accessible.


Jim