Hi Pankaj,
Just got some time so I decided to do the update from Download and Convert.
A few observations if I may.
The last time I used it was 5 days ago and I do not remember what files were downloaded or converted or to which directory.
1 Preferably on the first run let the settings be saved automatically and be restored at startup.
2 I tend not to use C:\Program Files\Download and Convert as a data directory as in the event of format,etc all data is lost. App must ask the user his choice of using any folder on any drive on first run and automatically use that folder as default on subsequent runs.
3 While converting, an error message keeps popping up "Error 53, File not found, Line 790...". The app waits for the user to press "OK" to continue.
Choice to turn off error messages reqd.
4 While d/l from NSE equity the app gives an error message "Unable to unzip", but it's a csv file. The error msg will continue 20 times if 20 files are queued.
5 The field sorting listboxes at the lower right can be done away with as Amibroker and MS can import data in ANY sequence as long as Ticker, Date, OHLC, V are provided in the csv.
If you want to give more choices, provide 4-5 most popular sequences you think are reqd in a listbox.
6 The app should remember where it last stopped during every run, either while d/l or converting and not depend on the user. User needs to be able to click download or convert and let it finish while he does something else.
7 Convert date to day so that the app knows Saturday/Sunday data is never available. Certain holidays with fixed dates can also be preprogrammed so that the app knows not to expect data on these dates. eg Independence day or Christmas
8 For 1st run the app will process some 200 or so files, the app must remember what it has finished and what remains in case the user stops before it has completely finished.
Please view this constructive feedback as a stepping stone to improve the app performance and usability and popularity. In case I can help further in any way please let me know.
Thanks for a great program, lets make it better!!
Hi pasha
Thanks for feedback.
I think you have not downloaded the patch-5 which has some of the problems answered.
1. Program saves the important settings on last run for an exchange.So next time same setting will be loaded.For downloading it may not matter much.
2.You want data directory different from program directory?If so , will look into that.
3. & 4. These problems may not occur in patch-5. If you want to switch on /off error messages , you can go to settings page in options menu and tick the box.
5. As settings are save, you may just click on convert button. However, if you list popular formats and requirements I would place it before others to decide.
6.Once you have finished your bulk download , it is a question of daily download.It would require two clicks -Add URLs and Download to get EOD data from both exchanges .I used to skip sat/sun but was advised against it as there is special trading on saturdays or sundays. People would not remember if there was trading on sat three years back.It would produce gaps in data.If file is not available application moves to next file quickly. As regards NSE holidays/BSE holidays users can enter dates through holiday page.
7.Conversion is done for available files.If file is not there the program would not do anything.once a file is converted,it is moved to another directory,so that only available files are converted .If you click stop button in the middle, the program would stop after the file under conversion is finished.It can not convert duplicates unless you provide same data to it.IF inadvertantly you have converted same dates twice it would not affect Date wise EOD as data would be same. For stockwise you would get some duplicate dates. You can run remove duplicates for one or all files. Just select the folder where your stockwise data files are stored.
8.This point is already covered above.
I am not writing anything in registry so that program installation is almost as simple as copying exe file or deleting it. Rest of the files are standard windows system files/IE files and mostly I ahve used functions which would make it compatible with Win98 and winxp.If program asks you to ignore abort or retry, you can safely choose ignore button and program would run.
I have assumed that user would like to have different choices. But if that is not so then I can make it function like two click program-Just download and convert.But then Satya's DE does that elegantly.
My ultimate aim is to put a charting with TA indicators with scripting and portfolio management with its own free source of data for Indian markets and make it available free of cost to others.But then that is a long way off.
Technologies are available but integration is required.Its like you have the cloth but need to get a suit stitched.Tailormade for You
Pankaj