Each month in this Journal, our technical support staff addresses issues of interest to many CSI subscribers in a question-and-answer format. 

Notice:
  The views and information expressed in this document reflect the opinions and experience of the author Robert C. Pelletier.  Neither CSI nor the author undertake or intend to provide tax advice or trading advice in any market or endorse any outside individual or firm.  All recommendations are provided for their informational value only.  Readers should consult competent financial advisors or outside counsel before making any software purchase or investment decision.  CSI does not stand behind or endorse the products of any outside firms.

Copyright (c) 1999 Commodity Systems Inc. (CSI).  All rights are reserved.

Q.
    Using Unfair Advantage, I can chart a Perpetual Contract data series beginning on 4/3/1990 for a specific commodity, and can include the cash series on the chart for the whole period. However, when I build a separate cash chart for the same commodity, the Data Manager window shows a start date of 5/11/1995. Even if I change that date to an earlier one, the resulting cash-only chart never displays data prior to 5/11/1995. How can I display cash to an earlier start date?

A.
    Whenever a single-field cash price is added to the chart for a corresponding futures contract, the nearest-future close will be substituted for cash during periods for which cash is not available. This was the case for data prior to 5/11/1995 in the above example. This substitution is not made when a cash series is selected from the Data Manager menu as the main chart.

Q.
    The tick size of some contracts (involving 10-Yr. Treasury Notes) was recently changed. How do I get my CSI data to match the new specifications?

A.
    As of June 28th, the tick size on all contract months of 10-Year T. Notes is changed from 32nds of a point to 1/2 of 1/32, or $15.625 per contract. This means that, whether you use QuickTrieve or Unfair Advantage, you'll need to get a fresh history of the 10-Year T. Note database. CSI commodity numbers 150, 250 and 147 are affected.

    UA users will need to download new history files (.cdb files) for each affected commodity from the web site at www.csidata.com. UA will automatically adjust the conversion factor to -4, and the point value to $15.625. QuickTrieve users will need to change the conversion factor for each affected commodity from -3 to - 4 in the COMCONS file (using the QuickManager® Editor). The conversion factor in the QMASTER file must also be changed for each active contract. The cash series for #150 needs the same adjustment. (#250 and #147 do not have cash). There will be no charge for ordering replacement data on these commodities.

Q.
    I'm suddenly having a problem with tab delimited text files created through Unfair Advantage. After installing a new version of the software, some of the contracts I have been studying (in particular, ED) are no longer reported in full precision. What happened and how can I fix this? 

A.
    The new software is probably not configured exactly as your older version was. Go to the VIEW menu, User Settings/Data Handling and review the entry "Output values in decimal form." Make sure this entry is checked for optimal handling of text files.

Q.
    My new computer uses com port 7, but Unfair Advantage does not seem to support this configuration. What should I do?

A.
    Support of COM5, COM6, COM7, and COM8 are once again selectable on version 1.75.1. Since you apparently have an earlier version, please download the upgrade from the web site using your normal Internet browser. You'll find a number of small (as well as large) enhancements on the newer versions. For example, proxy servers are supported through direct Internet access, erroneous entries can be more easily deleted from a portfolio, you can cancel an Internet transmission if necessary, etc. Of course, the MMA and enhanced charting (discussed in the lead article) are also included.