Operating Symbol List

Symbol List is a list of commonly used financial instruments. Modern-day investors need easy access to any of the trading vehicles.

QM has been developed based on those needs, the basic requirements being:

• The program must function with numbers of symbols in tens of thousands
• Rapid data access, which means powerful search, sorting, and selection capabilities
• Convenient adding and editing of data
• Simple data backup and restore
• Minimal setup and maintenance effort

Adding Symbols to Symbol List

To start working with a symbol, it must be added to the symbol list first.
Symbols can be added manually or from a data vendor list.

Adding symbols manually is appropriate when the exact symbol name is known and the list of symbols is not available from the data vendor. For instance, with DDE, there is no way to download a list, so the user must know the exact name for the query.

In all other cases, adding symbols manually is not recommended, as the data vendor may require additional parameters beyond the symbol name. When a symbol is added from a list provided by the data vendor, all required parameters are set automatically.

Adding Symbols Manually

To add a symbol:

1. Open QuoteManager
2. In the Symbol menu, select Add Symbol, then click Manually, or click the Add Symbol icon on the toolbar.
3. Select aData Source from the list.
4. Enter Symbol name.
5. Select Category from the list.
6. Select Exchange from the list. If the desired exchange is not listed, it can be added manually. See Setting Exchanges & ECNs.
7. Click OK.

Adding Symbol from Data Source

To add a symbol:

1. Open QuoteManager
2. In the Instrument menu, select Add Symbol → From Data Source.
3. Choose a data source from the Data Source list; the Insert Symbols into Portfolio window will open.
   If a data vendor is not in the list:
   • Data source does not provide a symbol list. Symbols must be added manually).
   • Data source is deactivated. Activate it to see it on the list.
   • Data source is not supported. See Built-in Datafeeds for the list of supported providers.
4. Select a tab, corresponding to the type of symbol to be added.
5. Enter all or part of the symbol name into the Symbol box and click Lookup.
   Additional search options may be available depending on data source selected.
   It is possible to put * in search field and click the Lookup button to get the list of all available instruments. Available for Dukascopy, eSignal, QFeed, LMAX, MetaStock, GAIN Capital, Rithmic 01, TradeStation (for Forex only).
6. Select the desired symbol(s).
7. Click Add. A message that you have added it to your database should appear.
   If there is a message “You must create *** exchange first”, add the required exchange to the list with correct corresponding abbreviation. The easiest way is to select an existing one and clone it putting the required abbreviation.
8. Click Close or continue to search for symbols.

Deleting Symbols from the Symbol List

To delete one or more symbols:

1. Open QuoteManager
2. Select the symbols to be deleted.
3. Selected symbols can be deleted by one of the following methods:
   • Click the Delete Instrument icon on the toolbar.
   • Right-click on the selected symbols and then click Delete Symbol.
   • Select Symbol on the main menu and then click Delete Symbol.
   • Press the Delete key on the keyboard.

Sorting the Symbol List

The symbol list can be sorted by columns.

For sorting:

1. On the View menu, click Sort By.
2. Select the column to sort by, i.e. Symbol.
3. Select the sorting direction - Sort Ascending or Sort Descending.

or:

Click the corresponding column heading to sort by that column.
The arrow on the heading indicates the sorting direction; click the column to reverse the sorting direction.
Right-click a column heading to call up a context menu with sorting options. See Selecting Symbol(s) in Symbol List section.

Finding Symbol(s) in Symbol List

Two types of a search can be performed: an Incremental search and a Full String search.

Incremental search locates a symbol as the symbol name is typed. Please note that an incremental search can be performed by the signal name only, and not by any other attributes.

To perform Incremental search:

1. Select All Symbols in the left panel to search a list of all symbols, or select a particular symbol category.
2. Click on any symbol in the right panel.
3. Start typing the symbol name; as the name is being typed, the selection will move between symbols seeking for a match.

Each consecutive character in a symbol name must be typed with an interval of no more the one second; if you pause for more then one second, a new search will be started, for a symbol name beginning with the first character that was typed after a pause of more than a second.

To start a new search without waiting for the second to be over, simply press the ESC key.

To search for AMD, type a m d with an interval of less than a second between each character; if you pause for more than a second after typing a, once you type m, the first symbol, beginning with the character "m", will be located instead.

Full String search can be used to find multiple symbols that satisfy the search criteria.
To perform a Full String search:

1. Select All Symbols in the left panel to search a list of all symbols, or select a particular symbol category.
2. Select Edit in the main menu, and then click Find, or use the CTRL+F keyboard shortcut; a Find dialog box will open.
3. In the Find what text box, enter a string to search for.
4. In the In column list box, select the column to search in.
5. Click Find Next to begin the search.
6. To continue the search, click Find Next again.

A previously performed search can be repeated by simply pressing the F3 key, without opening the Find dialog box.

Customizing the Symbol List

The program supports workspace customization. The user can select the data columns and set their widths, including: Symbol, Description, Exchange Listed, Data Source, Contract Month, Price Scale, CUSIP, Root, Margin, Contract Year, Expiation Date, Expiration Rule, Expiration Status, Daily Limit, Min. Movement, Big Point Value, Strike Price, and Option Type.

To customize the Symbol List:

1. On the View menu, click Columns.
2. Select the checkboxes, corresponding to the columns to be displayed.
3. Use the Move Up and the Move Down buttons to change the order in which the columns are displayed.
4. Enter the desired width, in pixels, in to the The selected column should be N pixels box.

Column width can also be resized by using the mouse.