About MA_Calc

MA_Calc is a freeware, DOS based, financial utility.  It can be used either in a DOS
Window or directly in DOS. The program extracts moving average information from stock
ticker indexes.  For example... MA_Calc can scan the S&P 100 index and tell you which
stocks, on any given day, have their 10 day moving average passing through their 40
day moving average.

To install MA_Calc on your computer put ma_calc.exe, readme.txt and sp100.txt into a
directory of your choosing (e.g. c:\program files\MA_Calc) and then click on the
MA_Calc icon. To uninstall MA_Calc delete the directory in which you installed these
3 files.

Before launching MA_Calc you must fabricate a simple comma delimited file containing
stock symbols and prices only.  Please look at the enclosed sp100.txt file in any text
editor utility (e.g. Notepad or Wordpad) and you can see how the format of this file
is constructed.

Many financial programs (e.g. TC2000, Vectorvest, Telescan and many others) will allow
you to export comma delimited files.  If your financial software does not provide for
comma delimited export then this program will be of no use to you.

When your export is complete look at the exported file with any text editor to be sure
each line contains only a symbol, a comma and a price.  Also be sure you have exported
as many days as will be needed for your long term moving average... that is if you want
to use a 10/40 moving average you will need at least 80 days (2 times your long term
moving average) of prior data for each symbol in your watch list. If you want to use a
50/200 moving average you will need 400 or more days of data for each symbol. Also be
sure to export in date descending order.

If, for any reason, you have problems when loading data check to see that the last
entry in your data file is a carriage return/line feed (i.e. CR) symbol. To add this
character simply put your cursor at the end of your data file and hit "enter"...
then save your source file again.

Please note you can test MA_Calc on the enclosed sp100.txt file. If you use a 10/40
moving average configuration the program will return 3 stock symbols.

When you have completed fabricating a new watch list simply load your new watch list
into your financial software and go to work. By incorporating a moving average indicator
into your charts you will readily see the moving average cross-overs on any of the last
three days of trading.

The program is fairly quick and normally takes a matter of seconds to process an index.
If you want to examine very large indexes like the Russell 3000 or scan the entire
market then the process will take a matter of minutes.

I must admit I have only a few hours work invested in this program... therefore it lacks
the sophistication and frills found in the bulk of software today.  If this utility
receives even mediocre support I will definitely upgrade it into something more
useful... but in the mean time and given the limitations of DOS, the program performs as
advertised... meaning it will quickly find moving average cross-overs in any stock ticker
list you properly construct.

Please send me an e-mail if you find this program useful or if you have any ideas you
would like to see put into an upgrade. Thanks and happy hunting.

Jim Osborne
sundownr@sprynet.com

