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) 2001 Commodity Systems Inc. (CSI).  All rights are reserved.

Q.
    I would like all my stock charts to show short, intermediate and long-term moving averages in the same colors each time they are displayed. They should be red, yellow and green respectively. Is this possible with Unfair Advantage?

A.
    The Unfair Advantage (UA) charting module supports your choices in color scheme to the extent of defining colors based on the relative order of creation for your indicators. You can set the color for the first indicator, second indicator, etc, so that as long as you always add studies in the same order, their colors can be retained from one charting session to the next. 

    Set the desired colors by first creating a chart, and then right-clicking your mouse to bring up a menu of charting options. Select "Change Color Scheme." Scroll through the choices of areas to color until you reach the "Indicator 1" entry. Double-click it to display the color choices. Choose the desired shade of red and then click "OK." Repeat for indicator 2 and 3, selecting yellow and green, respectively. 

    Click "OK" again to return to your chart. Click the "Chart Tools" menu, followed by "Study Tools" and "Apply Study." From there you should click "Set Study" and then select "Moving Average." Be sure that the moving average periods there correspond to your selected color scheme, as the first moving average listed will be displayed as indicator 1, the second will be indicator 2, etc. Your chart will display with the selected moving averages in your chosen colors. 

    You can retain these study colors on your next chart by using the Change Data Series option. These colors will be used for the first three indicators on every chart you make until you change or reset the color scheme. Keep in mind that these colors will apply to your three moving averages as long as they are the first three indicators on the chart. If other studies exist on the chart, the moving averages will be displayed with whatever colors are defined for their respective indicator numbers. These techniques and principles apply for all series and indicators on your UA charts.

Q.
    Does the CSI website offer a searchable FAQ (frequently asked questions) list to help users with common problems?

A.
    Thanks for the suggestion. We will consider adding a comprehensive FAQ list to our website offerings. In the meantime, please refer to the "Troubleshooting" chapter of the UA manual that came with your UA software. It includes topics ranging from installation to charting, database and compatibility issues. Each new edition includes updated topics compiled from our monthly Tech Talk articles and other calls to our Technical Support staff. Click UA's Help menu to view and search the digital version of the manual.

Q.
    Can I do word processing on my computer while UA is downloading data from CSI?

A.
    Perhaps, but it isn't really recommended. Windows' multitasking feature allows you to run multiple programs simultaneously, but UA tends to override the screen you are working on when it launches Notepad or your browser. You may want to check your email or even use your web browser to search and retrieve other information, but be prepared for interruptions. Also, be advised that, depending upon your hardware and Internet connection, multitasking may slow down the data retrieval process. If speed suffers significantly, you may decide to dedicate your computer to updates for the brief download period.