PCjs Machines

APEX F/C will let you analyze futures/commodities with open-
high-low-close bar charts and volume and open interest.  Futures
files will keep the open, high, low, close, volume, and open
interest values for each day in the data.  APEX lets you create
strategies using single or double moving averages, based on buying long,
selling short, or both.  A valuable feature is the charting of
optimization trials, allowing you to see the most effective choices for
short and long term moving averages.  For those active in the market,
APEX FUTURES & COMMODITIES provides a means of data access with the
added feature of plotting out the information easily.

There is no registration fee, no start-up fee, but there is a per quote
fee.  You can enter your own data or download it by modem from Warner
Computer Systems, Inc.  There is a sample database on disk two of this
program, allowing some initial experimentation.

The program is easy to use, easy to set up, and useful.  The manual
explains how to use the program but does not train the novice in
learning the "markets game."

	Select "A" for Access if you want to download data from Warner
Computer or if you want to edit data that you have previously
downloaded.  If you are just starting and have not created any data
files you will need to also select "A" to create your database of
tickers for downloading.  Once "A" is selected you will be taken to
another menu where additional selections can be made.

	Select "P" for Plot if you want to display or analyze trading 
strategies on your database.  The first screen you will see will ask
you for the drive letter and path name (hard disk) for your database,
then you will need to select a ticker file for analysis, and finally,
you will be asked to select the number of periods to plot along with
the starting record for the data.  You will now be shown the Plot Menu
from which you have many options.

	Select "E" or "X" for exporting any of your data files to one or
more of the data formats shown.  You will be taken to the EXporting
Menu from which you can choose the option(s) you desire.

	Select "C" if you wish to change the background and foreground
colors of the program menus or select "D" or "T" if you wish to change
the date or time.


<1> Access/Download Data - connects you to Warner Computer for
automatic downloading/updating of data files.
 
<2> Edit/Update Files (more help available at that menu).

<3> Create New Files is where you create your database of tickers. 

<4> Delete Data Files will remove unwanted files from your database.

<5> Change File Name lets you change a file name.

<6> Transfer Files will allow you to move a data file from one disk
(subdirectory) to another.

<7> Truncate Files will allow you to remove old data from a file.

<8> Sort Data Files will arrange them in alpabetical order.

<9> Create a Database will create a subdirectory and/or a database.


	The Edit/Update Menu allows you to do a variety of record
maintenance, that is, work on individual entries in your data file(s).

	List, Change, Delete, and Print Records, once selected, will
allow to you input your choice by record number or by date (YYMMDD).

	Enter Records will let you update your files manually.

	Adjust Records enables you to adjust any or all records for
splits, dividends, etc.

	Sort Records will ensure that they are in chronological order. 
This will allow you to enter old data at the end of a file and then
sort it to rearrange it in the proper order.

	Search Records will display minimums and maximums for each ticker
and let you enter values to search for within that file.

	Write to Disk will save permanently any changes that you have
made to the data file.  Any changes will be so noted with a flashing
asterisk and the Write to Disk selection will be flashing.  If you exit
this menu without saving your changes to disk, all changes will be lost.


   <A> The local Telenet Number can be obtained from Warner Computer at
(800) 626-4634 or you can call Telenet at (800) 336-0437.  The number is
normally entered as a seven digit number.

   <B> The direct Warner number will let you call Warner directly,
bypassing the Telenet network.

   Your account number MUST be entered in selection <C> and your
password MUST be entered in selection <D>.  These entries are obtained
from Warner Computer when you open an account.

   <E> Printer Port and <F> Comm Port refer to the location of your
printer and modem, respectively.

   <G> Baud Rate refers to the speed at which your modem is set.

   <H> Use TELENET (Y/N) allows you to switch between <A> and <B> above.

   <I> Wait Limit in seconds tells the computer how long to wait before
hanging up if no transmissions are occuring.


<1> On-Screen Graphic Analysis -  will first take you to the Program
Settings Menu where you can change the plotting parameters, then plot.

<2> Analyze trading strategies - will take you to a new menu system.

<3> List / Print Data -  will display or print the actual numbers,
along with dates, for the tickers you have loaded.

<4> List / Print Statistics - will display or print statistics on
every ticker in the file(s) that you have loaded.

<5> Change Graphics Mode - is where you can change the display mode for
the type of video equipment you are using.  Normally this is done when
first using the program and not changed.

<6> Change Graphics Colors - is where you can choose different colors
for your plotting display, if you have color equipment.

<7> Select New File - will give you the database prompt asking for the
drive letter and pathname to your database for more data to plot.


The "Change Settings" Menu will allow you change the way the data
is displayed on your screen.

<A> Screen: Full (1) or Split (2) allows you to display only the
Price data by itself of the Price data with the Volume.

<B> Plot 1: (25-100)% Full Screen will automatically be 100% if A       
(above) equals 1.  If using a split screen, this percentage is the    
size of Plot 1 relative to the full screen.                        

<C> Plot 1: Line (1) or Bar (2) will let you display the Price as a  
single line or in the more common High-Low-Close barchart format.                                               

<D> Plot 2: Line (1) or Bar (2) will let you display the Volume as
a single line or in a histogram format.

<E> Scale 1: Linear (0) or Log (1) will determine whether the price
is plotted on a linear or semi-log scale.

<f> Open Interest Plot: Off (0), On (1) will plot Open Interest (if
available) over the Volume Plot.

   The APEX EXport Menu is where you can convert any or all of your
data files into one or more of the file formats listed on the screen.
The following shows the differences in the two ASCII formats:

   ASCII Comma Delimited-    DATE,HIGH,LOW,CLOSE,VOLUME
                             880802,12.88,12.25,12.5,4400

   ASCII Space Delimited-    DATE   HIGH   LOW    CLOSE  VOLUME
                             880802 12.88  12.25  12.5   4400

   The 'DIF' (Data Interchange Format) format is a special type of
ASCII file that is standard for translating data between programs.  

   The 123 'WKS' format is the format used by the '123' program.  It
can be read by most other spreadsheet programs.

   You must have a formatted diskette available or you must have
already setup a subdirectory for the converted file to be saved to.

   If you are going to convert a file to the CompuTrac format,
the destination disk (or subdirectory) must be a CompuTrac database.


<1> This will take you to a parameter selection menu which has its own
help screen available.

<2> This will show you a trade-by-trade analysis of the ticker value and a
single moving average.  After scrolling or printing, you will get the op-
portunity to plot the ticker with the selected average showing each trade.

<3> Same as <2> above except two moving averages are used instead of the
ticker value and one moving average.

<4> This will display all possibilities with the parameters you have
selected in <1> above and then the range of values for the moving average,
including a step increment.

<5> Same as <4> above except that ranges for both a short and a long
moving average can be selected along with their increments.

<6> After <4> or <5> above have been calculated, this selection will let
you sort the results on numerous parameters.


<A> Selecting "(1) Yes" will set up the trading analysis to trade the
long side (buy side) of the market being evaluated.  In other words, if
you buy and the value goes up, you have made a profit.

<B> This is the opposite of the long trade; it is where you make a profit
if you sell short (or buy puts, etc.) and the value goes down, you have
made a profit.

<C> Crossover duration will allow a delay in the execution of a signal by
the number of periods (days, weeks, etc.) that you select here.

<D> Start Record defaults to the data that was initially loaded when you
selected the P>lot option from the main menu.  Here you can test any
portion of the data that was loaded by changing the start record number.

<E> End Record is the same as <D> except the end record can be changed.

<F> This will let you determine the value used for the trading signals,
either today's close or tomorrow's close.

<G> Ignoring the first trade is a good idea because an actual crossover
has not occured yet and may distort the optimization results.


Disk No: 2040                                                           
Disk Title: APEX Futures & Commodities dsk 1of2 2041                    
PC-SIG Version: S1                                                      
                                                                        
Program Title: APEX Futures & Commodities                               
Author Version: 9/89                                                    
Author Registration: None.                                              
Special Requirements: 512K RAM, DOS 3.0 or higher, and a modem.         
                                                                        
Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Futures, Commodities.  Does anyone         
understand them?  APEX does.  APEX FUTURES & COMMODITIES is one of five 
programs they have put together to assist any investor in examining,    
analyzing, comparing, plotting or charting their stocks, bonds, funds,  
and more.                                                               
                                                                        
Those who invest in this market will find APEX FUTURES & COMMODITIES a  
useful program.                                                         
                                                                        
On the down side, if you do not know what the futures and commodities   
market is or are not an investor then this is not the program for you.  
Why?  APEX FUTURES & COMMODITIES is designed for the investor, not the  
curious.  To use this program you must have a modem and a credit card.  
The modem provides you with access to Warner Communications where you   
can download market information.  The credit card is how you pay for the
service, since you are charged for each quotation downloaded.           
                                                                        
There is no registration fee, and no start-up fee, but there is a per   
quote fee.  And, when you realize that you cannot enter your own data   
but must download it, then you may realize that you do not need this    
program.  For those active in the market, this program provides a quick 
means of data access with the added feature of plotting out the         
information easily.  For such investors, APEX FUTURES & COMMODITIES is a
valuable program.                                                       
                                                                        
The program is easy to use, easy to set up, and useful.  The manual     
explains how to use the program but does not train the novice in        
learning the "markets game".  But, the price is nominal, as you are not 
billed for anything until you download a market quote.  Try it out and  
see what you think.                                                     
                                                                        
                                                                        
PC-SIG                                                                  
1030D East Duane Avenue                                                 
Sunnyvale  Ca. 94086                                                    
(408) 730-9291                                                          
(c) Copyright 1989 PC-SIG, Inc.                                         

╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║            <<<<  Disk #2040  APEX FUTURES AND COMMODITIES  >>>>         ║
║                        (disk 1 of 2, 2041 also)                         ║
╠═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╣
║ To start program, type: APEX         (press enter)                      ║
║                                                                         ║
║ To print documentation, insert disk 2 and type: COPY MANUAL.DOC PRN     ║
╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

 Volume in drive A has no label
 Directory of A:\

A3HELP             587  11-28-88  10:23a
A3KOLORS           961   2-26-89   9:05a
A3MENUS            653   8-23-88   1:21p
A3SETS              57   2-26-89   9:05a
APEXDATA            24   8-30-88  10:34a
COLORS              21  12-05-88  12:14p
OP3SETS             53   2-26-89   9:05a
OV3SETS             55   2-26-89   9:05a
README             845   7-31-89  12:59p
TEMPWKS           1280   8-24-88   4:10p
WCSETS             108   2-26-89   8:52a
APEX     BAT         8   8-04-88   1:07p
APEX3-1  DOC      1277  12-07-88   1:18p
APEX3-2  DOC       767   9-08-88  12:18p
APEX3-3  DOC      1024   8-03-88  10:14a
APEX3-4  DOC       896   8-03-88  10:29a
APEX3-5  DOC      1028  11-25-88   4:48p
APEX3-6  DOC      1024   8-31-88   1:09p
APEX3-7  DOC      1024   8-03-88  11:15a
APEX3-8  DOC       983  11-10-88   9:18p
APEX3-9  DOC      1085  11-11-88   8:00a
ACCESS2  EXE     39746   8-20-89   9:56a
BRUN30   EXE     70680   4-07-87  10:48a
N2ACCESS EXE     48577   3-05-89  11:04a
N2APEX   EXE     13201   3-05-89  11:05a
N2EXPORT EXE     30946   5-12-89   7:28a
N2PLOT3  EXE     79808   6-07-89  12:11p
FILE2040 TXT      3405   1-16-90  10:55a
GO       BAT        38   1-01-80   1:37a
GO       TXT       617   1-16-90  11:16a
       30 file(s)     300778 bytes
                        5120 bytes free