The "Alt-F9" screen
Version 1.21 enhances the functions available on the "Alt-F9" screen (see screenshot below), adding Export (Backup) and Import (Restore) options to the previous existing Delete and Rebuild options. Press Alt-F9 to obtain this screen.
All four options operate on a selected subset of records in the Events History database (which can be viewed by pressing F9).
Delete
Choose this option to delete a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, from the database. CAUTION!: once deleted, records can be restored only by re-downloading them from the FF calendar on a week-by-week basis (press F5) or by restoring from a prior backup (see Export and Import options below).
After you have entered the desired date range, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Deletion process.
Rebuild
This will replace a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, with their event time adjusted forward or backward by the number of hours that you specify. For example, enter 4 to advance their times by 4 hours, or –5 to retreat their times by 5 hours. Records outside the date range are replaced with their event times unchanged.
This option is useful for adjusting history records if your MT4 time zone changes (e.g. daylight saving; switching to a different broker).
After you have entered the desired date range, and the time adjustment, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Rebuild process.
Export (Backup)
This will output a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, to the file that you specify. The actual file is named @[email protected] (where xxxxxx = the name that you enter; maximum of 6 characters; default is ‘BACKUP’) and is created in the same folder where FFcal.EXE exists. The date range defaults to 1/1/2000 thru 12/31/2009, which assumes that you wish to backup ALL news events.
Previously existing backup files can be selected from the dropdown. If you select one of these files, it will be overwritten (CAUTION!). Typing in an unused name ensures that a new backup file is created.
To delete an existing backup file, either type its name or select it from the dropdown, and click the ‘Delete this file’ button.
After you have entered the desired date range, and typed or selected the file name, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Export process.
Since the file is in CSV format, it can also be easily viewed and/or exported into another application, e.g. Word or Excel.
This facility is useful whenever you are loading a new version of the FFcal.EXE software, since unzipping the new file will overwrite your existing Event History with an empty file. Simply backup the existing Event History first, then unzip the new version, and then restore the former Event History.
Import (Restore)
This allows restoration of a previously backed up set of records (see previous section). Only records between the dates that you enter, and from the backup file that you specify (select one from the dropdown) will be restored. The date range defaults to 1/1/2000 thru 12/31/2009, which assumes that you wish to restore ALL news events that were previously backed up to the file. Note that all existing records in the Events History within the date range will first be deleted (CAUTION!), to make room for the restored records.
To delete an existing backup file, either type its name or select it from the dropdown, and click the ‘Delete this file’ button.
After you have entered the desired date range, and typed or selected the file name, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Import process.
Press Esc or click Cancel to exit, leaving the Event History data untouched.
David
Version 1.21 enhances the functions available on the "Alt-F9" screen (see screenshot below), adding Export (Backup) and Import (Restore) options to the previous existing Delete and Rebuild options. Press Alt-F9 to obtain this screen.
All four options operate on a selected subset of records in the Events History database (which can be viewed by pressing F9).
Delete
Choose this option to delete a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, from the database. CAUTION!: once deleted, records can be restored only by re-downloading them from the FF calendar on a week-by-week basis (press F5) or by restoring from a prior backup (see Export and Import options below).
After you have entered the desired date range, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Deletion process.
Rebuild
This will replace a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, with their event time adjusted forward or backward by the number of hours that you specify. For example, enter 4 to advance their times by 4 hours, or –5 to retreat their times by 5 hours. Records outside the date range are replaced with their event times unchanged.
This option is useful for adjusting history records if your MT4 time zone changes (e.g. daylight saving; switching to a different broker).
After you have entered the desired date range, and the time adjustment, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Rebuild process.
Export (Backup)
This will output a subset of records, between the dates that you enter, to the file that you specify. The actual file is named @[email protected] (where xxxxxx = the name that you enter; maximum of 6 characters; default is ‘BACKUP’) and is created in the same folder where FFcal.EXE exists. The date range defaults to 1/1/2000 thru 12/31/2009, which assumes that you wish to backup ALL news events.
Previously existing backup files can be selected from the dropdown. If you select one of these files, it will be overwritten (CAUTION!). Typing in an unused name ensures that a new backup file is created.
To delete an existing backup file, either type its name or select it from the dropdown, and click the ‘Delete this file’ button.
After you have entered the desired date range, and typed or selected the file name, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Export process.
Since the file is in CSV format, it can also be easily viewed and/or exported into another application, e.g. Word or Excel.
This facility is useful whenever you are loading a new version of the FFcal.EXE software, since unzipping the new file will overwrite your existing Event History with an empty file. Simply backup the existing Event History first, then unzip the new version, and then restore the former Event History.
Import (Restore)
This allows restoration of a previously backed up set of records (see previous section). Only records between the dates that you enter, and from the backup file that you specify (select one from the dropdown) will be restored. The date range defaults to 1/1/2000 thru 12/31/2009, which assumes that you wish to restore ALL news events that were previously backed up to the file. Note that all existing records in the Events History within the date range will first be deleted (CAUTION!), to make room for the restored records.
To delete an existing backup file, either type its name or select it from the dropdown, and click the ‘Delete this file’ button.
After you have entered the desired date range, and typed or selected the file name, press ENTER or click OK to begin the Import process.
Press Esc or click Cancel to exit, leaving the Event History data untouched.
David