Getting Started With QCollector Expert For DTN

QCollector Expert uses portfolios to organize your data files. You can create as many portfolios as you like and add or delete items from any portfolio at any time.

  • Every item in a portfolio represents an underlying data series file stored in the portfolio's file folder.
  • A portfolio item defines the properties for the data series, including the ticker symbol it's based on and the bar interval.
  • To use the data files, your other programs can access them directly in the folder where they are stored.

There are a few simple steps to get started with QCollector Expert.

  1. Install the required software. Besides QCollector Expert you'll need the following before you can start downloading data:
    • An internet connection.
    • A subscription to DTN IQFeed. QCollector Expert connects to the data feed servers to download data.
    • The IQFeed client software installed on your computer.
  2. Decide what kind of data files you want to work with. This will usually be determined by the requirements of the other programs you'll be using to work with the data files. For example, if you're using NinjaTrader, you'll want to create your data files in a format compatible with that program.

Getting Started With ASCII Data

Most of the properties for ASCII data files in a portfolio are set when the ASCII format portfolio is created. These general format properties will apply to all data files in the portfolio.

Other properties, such as symbol, interval, and file name are set when a new item is added to an ASCII format portfolio.

Example: Create a new ASCII format portfolio

  1. From under the File menu, select New ASCII Portfolio. The new ASCII format portfolio form will come up where you will fill in the properties.
  2. Enter a name for the portfolio such as "My Test Portfolio". (You can always change the name later by editing the portfolio properties.)
  3. Click on the folder icon on the right-hand side of the second edit box to bring up the folder selection dialog box. Select a folder where this new portfolio will store its data files. You can create a new folder under any selected folder by clicking on the Make New Folder button. Click on OK when the desired folder is selected.
  4. For this example we can accept the other default properties. But notice that every portfolio has a time zone property. For DTN IQFeed the default time zone is always "Eastern Standard Time", the time zone for the New York Stock Exchange. To change the time zone for the portfolio you can click on the "Change" button beside the time zone edit box.
  5. Click on OK to create the new portfolio. You will see the new portfolio appear in the QCollector portfolio view.