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The sample is for your convenience when you first load the data. It can be erased when you build your own
portfolios. Techsignal™ reads three data types, CSI, Metastock and ASCII.
Data is the heart of the program and needs to be carefully worked with. It must be clean and checked for
errors. Dirty data or data with errors will not produce accurate results. The algorithms are extremely robust
and will give good results if there are some small errors but data with gross errors will compromise your
analysis.
All parameters in the program are able to be adjusted to your needs, but it is best to leave the defaults as
they are until you gain experience with the program. The primary default that you are apt to change is the
default number of data points you wish to analyze. It is important to understand that the statistical tests will
not work well with too few or too many data points. Too many distorts the statistical tests and too few
invalidate the tests. We recommend 1800 to 2000.
1.6 Loading Data
There are two ways to load data. The main method is the portfolio method and secondarily the File
command under the Windows Menu.
Portfolio System
Most users will already have data from one of the major data vendors, and have several thousand different
files (symbols) but rarely use more than 100 them. Because of that situation, we have designed a portfolio
system to cut down on key strokes and analysis time.
You only need to build a particular portfolio one time, and it will always be available. You can edit, change,
add to or delete files from the portfolio whenever you want. We have designed all portfolio files in an ASCII
file format, so they can be easily edited in any text editor like Notepad. For instance, if you change the
location of your data, you will need to edit your portfolio because the portfolio records the location of the
data. The portfolio, or portfolio file, is itself an ASCII file, but only contains the symbols for your data; the
actual data the symbols relate to is located somewhere else on your computer.
The Techsignal™ program comes with some sample data so you can try out your new program
immediately. Techsignal™ is built around a portfolio model where the user can organize the data in anyway
he or she wishes. The reason for this is that most data services have thousands and thousands of data
series most of which the user will not analyze.
Windows Menu
Another approach for working with Techsignal™ is to load one file at a time from the Windows Menu of the
Main Menu Data Input screen. Select File and the Open command; then choose the data type, CSI, ASCII,
Metastock, Excel or Worden Bros (TC2000). From the window that opens up, you will need to find the folder
housing your data and then select the specific data file. ASCII files will force you to enter a Graph
Description or title for your graph.
1.7 Building a Portfolio
Techsignal™ is built around a portfolio model where the user can organize the data in anyway he or she
wishes. The reason for this system is that most users have thousands of data files (symbols), most of which
the user will not analyze. By building a specific portfolio, the Techsignal™ user can operate the program
much more efficiently.
When the Techsignal™ program is first loaded, it will load a sample portfolio which comes with the program.
You then press the "Build and Edit a Portfolio" command button on the Main Menu Data Input screen. This
takes you to the Build Portfolio screen. There are two initial choices, Build New Portfolio and Quit. If you
have portfolios already created, you can double click the name of a portfolio in the Portfolio Names list box
and the contents will appear below in the lower grid. At that same time several new buttons will appear right
below including adding a new portfolio or editing an existing portfolio.
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