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Configuration File Variables

Trevor Harnett
posted this on June 11, 2010 12:35

The best way to modify settings is to click Setup: Preferences : Configuration and then find the parameter and set the override value to your preferences. A description of each variable is listed at the bottom 

configuration_variables.png


DETAILED INFORMATION

At startup MarketDelta looks in the admin folder for a file named configure.txt. For Windows XP this is in C:\Program Files\mktdelta\admin. If Vista or Windows 7 this is in C:\Users\yourname\documents\MarketDelta\admin. If present, the file is examined line by line for special tokens that represent experimental and/or obscure configuration settings that control the operation of the software in some way. To view the Configuration File click File: Open: Configuration File.You may save your changes to the file using File: Save: Save. Operational settings take effect immediately upon saving; startup settings will be used the next time MarketDelta starts up.

Lines in the configure.txt file that begin with a hyphen are treated as comments and are ignored. Lines that begin with # are treated as comments that will be placed into the message log when MarketDelta processes the file at startup or when you revise the file. All other lines are treated as settings in the form:

<token> = <value>

At present <value> can be "true" or "false" or a number. <token> is the name of the setting.
<token> and <value> are not case sensitive, i.e. NOsplashScreen and noSplashScreen are equivalent; true and TRUE and True are equivalent. Each <token> has a default setting. If a <token> = <value> line is not included in the configure.txt file, the <token>'s default setting will be used.

The file named "configureDefault.txt" in the admin folder will always contain, release to release, the latest set of configure.txt configuration settings showing the default setting for each one. This file is produced by MarketDelta during startup. It may be used as a reference for the proper spelling of each "power user" setting to alter the runtime behavior of the software in various ways.

Configuration Variable

Purpose
AllowESCtoCloseWindow AllowESCtoCloseWindow (default is false). If set to true, it allows for pressing the ESC key to close windows within the program. The default way to close window using the keyboard is SHIFT+ESC.
AllowTrialActivation  When AllowTrialActivation=True the user is presented with the options: Trial | Have Code | Order. If you do not want to see this message on bootup, change to false.
AlternateHeartBeat  
AskChartGlobalApplyPrefs  
ChartBidAskRate  
ChartRefreshMilliseconds ChartRefreshMilliseconds (default is 300). The default 300 ms refresh rate for traditional charts and Market Profile charts can be adjusted via this token. Higher values will redraw the chart less often, e.g. ChartRefreshMilliseconds = 500 will cause charts to be redrawn at most every half second instead of every 3 tenths of the second and will thus use less CPU time for drawing during heavy trading volume periods.
ChartShiftCtrlArrowKeys  
CheckLicenseAtStartup Version 9.1.10 now correctly supports a configure.txt option for activating the user license code at startup. Add the line CheckLicenseAtStartup = true to your configuration.txt file. At startup, if MarketDelta detects that the license code is de-activated on the machine, it will attempt to activate the license code automatically at startup. This feature is useful for those who move their license between two computers frequently. It eliminates the need to go thru the License Activation window every time you start up; as long as the license code has been de-activated on the other machine properly, the license code will automatically be activated at startup.
ChooseDataSource  
ClassicCustInstBehavior  
ChartShiftArrowKeys  Change the window to the Prior or Next chart name alphabetically - instrument charted is the one last saved with the new chart. To enable, add ChartShiftArrowKeys=True; to the configuration file.
ChartCtrlArrowKeys Change periodicity of chart to Prior or Next periodicity - cycle sequence is (D, W, M, 1tick, 15sec, 30sec, 1m, 3m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 60m). To enable, add ChartCtrlArrowKeys=True; to the configuration file.
ChartShiftCtrlArrowKeys Change the window to the Prior or Next chart name alphabetically - retain the current instrument
CustInstRecalcMilliseconds Recalculation Frequency for custom instruments having 2 components (pairs) is tick-by-tick, but for custom instruments having more components MarketDelta has limited the recalculation rate to 20 times per minute. MarketDelta 10.0 will, by default, update such custom instrument three times faster, i.e. once per second. This will add some processing overhead for many-component custom instruments having very actively trading components. The recalculation rate can now be specified in the MarketDelta configuration file. Goto File: Open: Configuration File. Enter a line at the bottom of the file containing:

CustInstRecalcMilliseconds=3000;

then do File: Save: Save (Ctrl-S) to save the configure.txt file. Thereafter, MarketDelta will recalculate at most every 3 seconds as has been the default in prior releases. If a faster recalculation rate is desired, values as low as 100 milliseconds can be specified. CustInstRecalcMilliseconds=100 will result in as many as 600 updates per minute of the custom instrument's value.
DatabaseEmergencyStart DatabaseEmergencyStart (default is false). If true, MarketDelta will perform database maintenance immediately at startup and guide you through database recovery steps if needed. This is equivalent to starting MarketDelta while holding down the M key.

Version 9.2 enhances the shift-key-down emergency startup procedure to include database diagnostics during the startup process. If database errors are detected you are given the option of reviewing the database status report and/or restoring the backup database. As in earlier versions, no layout windows will be opened and the data feed will not be activated when shift-key down is detected during startup.

If you want to startup MarketDelta without doing any database diagnostics, yet you do wish to suppress layout windows and data feed, hold down both shift and ctrl keys during startup (Windows). Macintosh users hold down shift and option keys for this effect. Holding down the Windows ctrl key or Macintosh option key alone during startup (no shift key) has the effect of suspending execution of MarketDelta schedules (see Setup: Schedules).

Whether or not you elect to restore the backup database during the shift-key startup process, MarketDelta will always do a "Full Maintenance" before startup is completed. With this enhanced emergency startup procedure in place, MarketDelta is now more effective at diagnosing and in most cases resolving startup problems. If you ever have a problem starting the software, just relaunch MarketDelta and hold down the shift key immediately. You may release the key when you see the message that database verification is taking place. If you have trouble holding down the shift key quickly enough for it to be detected, you can force emergency startup to occur by adding a line to the configure.txt file in the admin folder. Add the line “DatabaseEmergencyStart=true”, then launch MarketDelta.

When the emergency restart procedure is completed, MarketDelta will open the Database Wizard window automatically so you may review the backup report, restore report, or the database log, or perform other database functions if desired.
DemoTickRate DemoTickRate is the frequency, in milliseconds, that the $DEMO symbol will produce a tick. The default is 1000, once per second. Setting this value to 300 or 500 will speed up the tick rate for $DEMO to 2 or 3 trades per second, a more realistic simulation of trading activity these days. For users of the demonstration version of I/RT the tick rate is set to 300 to make the demo intra-day charts more realistic. The 1000 default applies to MarketDelta subscribers who leave $DEMO defined after configuring for a real data source.
DisallowDynamicQuotePages DisallowDynamicQuotePages (default is true). Quotepages set to update dynamically (tick by tick) can adversely affect system performance. When true, MarketDelta will update quotepages set to dynamic at most once per second.
DisallowDynamicTimeSales DisallowDynamicTimeSales (default is true). Time and Sales windows set to update dynamically (no scroll rate specified) can adversely affect system performance. When true, MarketDelta will scroll the T&S window twice per second to show new trades.
DisallowSetStopWhenAside  
DownloadFullDataNewSymbols

Added in 10.2, this by default auto downloads historical data for any new symbol added to your MarketDelta. The software will download data based on your historical data preferences.

To disable auto downloading after adding new symbols click File | Open | Configuration File and add the line, save, and reboot the software.

DownloadFullDataNewSymbols=False

By default, DownloadFullDataNewSymbols=true.
DrawDownCalcMethod MarketDelta has long used the closing price of each bar during back testing to calculate the "draw down", defined as the dip in equity during a trade. The maximum draw down is reported in the back testing result reports. Version 10.0 introduces two additional draw down calculation methods, the high/low method and the open method. The high/low method uses the low when the trade is long to calculate the draw down and high when short. This method is the "worst case" draw down and is typically results in draw down figures a few percent larger than the other two methods. The open method uses the open price of each bar to figure the draw down at that bar during a trade. The close method, adopted originally by the MarketDelta back tester, will remain the default for a limited time. The high/low method will be of interest to many users and will become the default setting in a future release. For now, to specify your preference you make an entry in the configuration file. Choose File: Open: Configuration File. Add a line to the file at the bottom:

DrawDownCalcMethod = N
(then use File: Save: Save to save the configuration file changes)

N is a number, 0 for the new High/Low Method, 1 for the Close Method (the default), 2 for the Open Method. Any other value will take the current default. Thus you can specify 3 to get the default method, currently the Close Method. When the default changes in a future release to the High/Low Method, then your draw down calculation method will change to the new default later.
DSTOverride  
FPChartRefreshMilliseconds FPChartRefreshMilliseconds (default is 300). This token affects Footprint charts and sets how fast a Footprint chart updates on the screen.
HolidayLookBackDays  
IBSymbolLimit A configure.txt option was added for users of IB/TWS who have authorization to watch more than 100 symbols at a time. Adding a line to the configure.txt file "IBSymbolLimit=200" for example, will cause MarketDelta to accept up to 199 symbol watch requests (1 slot of reserved for historical data requests).
IgnoreInsideTrades  
LargePriceLabels LargePriceLabels (default is true).  When this option is turned on, the price labels in scale for technical indicators matches the font size for the scale/pane seen in the vertical scale settings that appear when user double-clicks in the vertical scale at right of a pane.  When this option is off, price labels always use a small font size. 
LicenseProxyServer  
MaxAllocPerPriceRange

This is a variable that affects the performance and how many ticks (prices) and instrument can trade from 1 tick to the very next tick. A setting of 200 (as seen below) will consider a trade even if it is 200 ticks away from the last trade. This settings helps "bad" trades not be considered.

MaxAllocPerPriceRange=200
MinFootprintPixelsPerBar=10

Marketdelta Footprint charts by default revert to candlestick charts when the mouse wheel or arrow keys are used to reduce the Footprint bar spacing (pixels per bar) below 10 pixels. A configuration variable can be used to set the minimum allowable spacing of Footprint charts. Include the line:

MinFootprintPixelsPerBar=10

in the configuration file. Setting the value to 10 or higher will prevent the Footprint from reverting to a candlestick chart when adjusting pixel spacing. The volume numbers in the Footprint are typically more readable when the spacing is 25 or higher. In a related change, chart buttons of type "Set Chart Style" will automatically adjust the spacing of the chart to 25 pixels if necessary when the target style is Footprint. This ensures that the Footprint chart will indeed appear as a Footprint rather than a candlestick chart when the former spacing would be too small to display the Footprint.
MinTechindRecalcMilliseconds MinTechindRecalcMilliseconds (default is 300). Technical indicators set to recalculate every price change or every N ticks can be every demanding on system resources. This token controls the number of milliseconds that must elapse between recalcs not withstanding the number of ticks or price changes.
MouseScrollWheel Two user preferences formerly located in Setup: Preferences: General are being phased out. Mouse wheel scrolling is now on by default. The "No Holidays for Overnight Sessions" option is now on by default. Both of these will be removed from the Preferences window soon. We have moved these preferences to the configure.txt file for backward compatibility. The intent is to make mouse wheel scrolling a feature that is always available (not accidently turned off). Instruments that are tracked overnight do not at present fit well with the day session holiday schedule for MarketDelta. We have long recommended that holidays be ignored for overnight session instruments. While this does result is some white space around trading holidays for these instruments, the charts are reliable and reflect the exact trading that took place before and after the holiday period. To eliminate white space you can always override the chart to the day session and the holiday periods will be removed in full. The configure.txt file can be used to modify these settings if desired, but we recommend you do not do so. Include a line "MouseScrollWheel=false" to ignore mouse scroll wheel events; include a line "NoHolidaysOvernightSessions=false" if you, for some reason, want MarketDelta to minimize white space around trading holidays. Again, this setting is not recommended.
MPVolumeBarWidthPct  
NoHolidaysOvernightSessions Two user preferences formerly located in Setup: Preferences: General are being phased out. Mouse wheel scrolling is now on by default. The "No Holidays for Overnight Sessions" option is now on by default. Both of these will be removed from the Preferences window soon. We have moved these preferences to the configure.txt file for backward compatibility. The intent is to make mouse wheel scrolling a feature that is always available (not accidently turned off). Instruments that are tracked overnight do not at present fit well with the day session holiday schedule for MarketDelta. We have long recommended that holidays be ignored for overnight session instruments. While this does result is some white space around trading holidays for these instruments, the charts are reliable and reflect the exact trading that took place before and after the holiday period. To eliminate white space you can always override the chart to the day session and the holiday periods will be removed in full. The configure.txt file can be used to modify these settings if desired, but we recommend you do not do so. Include a line "MouseScrollWheel=false" to ignore mouse scroll wheel events; include a line "NoHolidaysOvernightSessions=false" if you, for some reason, want MarketDelta to minimize white space around trading holidays. Again, this setting is not recommended.
NoOpeningLayout NoOpeningLayout (default is false). When true, MarketDelta will not open a layout at startup
NoSplashScreen NoSplashScreen (default is false). When true, MarketDelta will not display a splash screen during startup.
   
OffScreenChartDrawing  
OpenConfigureFileAtStartup  
OpenChartsWithNoData False by default of course; setting this variable to true puts MarketDelta into a safe mode where all intra-day multi-pane charts open as if there were no data on file for the instrument(s) in the chart
PnfConventionalHighLows By default this setting is True. This generates a more technically accurate point and figure chart according to point and figure drawing parameters. When a chart is type PnF a Footprint set to a reversal periodicity it will draw bars this way.

Adding the line PnfConventionalHighLows=False will draw only the range of prices that traded within the bar.
ReleaseLicenseAtQuit  
ResetPlugIns  
SystemBackColor A configuration variable was added to enable the user to set an application-wide background color that color coordinates with the color scheme in use. This setting applies primarily to the Windows platform. Under Vista and Mac OS X the default system background color defaults to a light grey silver color that goes well with the color scheme. On Windows XP, MarketDelta defaults to the XP Default Style which has a light beige background. If you use XP Color Style "Silver", your MarketDelta windows and toolbars will look better if you setup a light grey background instead of the beige default. To do this, include a line in the configuration file:

SystemBackColor=230,230,230

The three numbers represent the RGB (Red, Green, Blue) values for a silvery light grey color in this example.
TicksPerMemBuffer  
UseDTNMAbyDefault Users of DTN Market Access historical server who use IB or Transact as their real-time data source, can now specify whether or not to send all historical data requests to DTN MA. By default, DTN MA is always used as the default historical data source if DTN MA is present in the user's license. In the configure.txt file, if you add a line:

useDTNMAbyDefault = false

then backfilling or refreshing a chart via the space bar or download button will default instead to the host real-time data source. DTN MA, if present in the user's license, will still appear as an available data source in the data download window so that download requests can be initiated manually to DTN MA when useDTNbyDefault is false.

 

MaxAllocPerPriceRange=200