Since installing SP2 to WinXP I am unable to get the
MetaStock Downloader (V7.03)to work properly. Am able to
open program, but as soon as I go to FILES - OPEN, it
shuts down and I'm back to my desktop. Can find no FAQs
addressing this problem by either Microsoft, these
Newsgroups, or Equis International the providers of
MetaStock.
This is a confirmed problem with older versions of the DL & SP-2.
You have a few options:
1) Roll back to pre-SP-2.
2) Get a newer version of Metastock -- unfortunately, the DL is no longer free,
so you'd have to spring for at least version 8.01, and that DL works post-SP-2,
or find it on the Net (not too hard, but you may have to wait until someone
posts it again).
3) You can actually get your current DL to work . . . at least enough to use.
When you open it, instead of selecting File-Open (which *will* cause it to
implode) go to File-(select the name or number of the file you want to open
from the MRU list at the bottom of the menu) -- this works, and also allows you
to browse the other files. It's a bit of a PITA, but then so is MS (Metastock)
and MS (Microsoft).
I haven't tried it, but I'm pretty sure you can edit the MRU list via the
registry to get whatever file you want in there. But if all your data is in
one folder, opening *any* file will allow you to browse your stocks using the
back and forward commands; you just cannot use File-Open, ever again. This is
a stop-gap only solution; if you have thousands of stocks, it will soon be a
pain to get to the one you want to view -- although the MRU list holds 4 issues
I believe, and you could space them somewhat to make browsing more convenient.
Best recommendation: Dump Metastock completely for Amibroker, and never look
back. The latest version of Metastock requires the .NET framework (very evil;
convicted monopolist back at work trying to take over the software industry
again), and is largely geared toward subscription anyway. And Metastock is a
puny lightweight in terms of capabilities compared to Amibroker. There is a
learning curve, but you end up with a *far* superior program in virtually every
respect.
