size of exploration list just grows ...

[mcdirt]

Don't understand what is happening here. I have a TradeSim Exploration that I have been running regularly for a long time. It runs in Weekly mode and is Long only.

I copied it, renamed it and changed the mode to Daily, then added a section of code for Shorting using the same syntax that I have used on other Explortations.

If I do an Exploration, several things go wrong:

1. Under Reports, I get several stocks giving the following error - "Error in column A: An MSX DLL is reporting an internal error. Referenced DLL: "TradeSim.RecordTrades" DLL Message: Invalid security data detected - Check the Error Log for details."

The Error log gives: "Duplicate Trades Detected
! Trade Data Error Details:
» [Symbol(DVC)] [Entry Date(06-Mar-01)] [Exit Date(26-Mar-01)]
» [Symbol(DVC)] [Entry Date(06-Mar-01)] [Exit Date(26-Mar-01)]

2. The Trade Log gives errors for Duplicate trades when loading and inspecting the trade log shows that on several stocks (those that gave an error in the reports column) a series of two entries on the same day, ie one stock gives a level 0 and level 3 entry on 6th March, on 7th March a level 1 and level 4, on the 8th a level 2 and level 5 etc. See attached pic.

3. There are only 196 stocks in the list that I Explore but each time I run the Exploration, the number of stocks reported to be tested by Metastock increases (by 196) and the Exploration goes through the list 4, 5, 6 times!

What is going on??
http://www.space.net.au/~mcdirt/dvc.gif

[David Samborsky]

Try deleting the trade database file in the c:\tradesimdata directory and then regenerate the trade database. Also please note the following extract from Document TB1.

RecordTrades function limitations

Due to the limitations of the Metastock external DLL interface there can be a problem when you try and rerun the same exploration with different portfolios particularly when the first security is different in each of the portfolios. The external Plug-In contains a number of variables which keep track of the database name along with the first security symbol. If you rerun a record trades exploration with a different portfolio, which has a different first security symbol name, the trade database file may not be reset or rewritten correctly. The symptoms of this problem are that the database may contain duplicate trades or exclude some trades. There are three ways around this problem:

1. Firstly, use different explorations with different trade database filenames when creating trade databases using the same trading system but with different portfolios ie “My Trades ASX100”, “My Trades ASX200” etc. The idea being that you always use the same portfolio list with the same trade database file and don't use the same trade database file name with different portfolio lists.

2. Run a different trade database exploration with a different trade database filename before you rerun the same trade database exploration.

3. Alternatively, delete the trade database (.trb) file before regenerating it. Trade database files are stored in the c:\tradesimdata directory. This will force the RecordTrades function to reset any internal variables and regenerate the trade database file correctly.

[mcdirt]

David - no good. If I delete the trb file in the TradeSim directory then select a single stock for the Exploration, Metastock tells me that the "total securities to process" is 21954!!!


Other Explorations are running fine.

[David Samborsky]

Could you please email me your exploration and I will check it our at my end.

Also what security did you use in the test when you ran only one security?