ASCII mapping - hangs in "Loading Data..."

I am trying to use ASCII Mapping to work with historical stock quote data from CSI. (See this thread on why I am not using the built-in interface to CSI: http://www.multicharts.com/discussion/v ... =1&t=11454.)

I used the CSI UnfairAdvantage program to define a portfolio of instruments and create ASCII files containing quote data. There are about 7,500 files, one per instrument.

I used the Multicharts QuoteManager File / Map ASCII wizard to access these files. It says the ASCII Mapping operation was successful.

I then add some of these instruments to a Portfolio Backtester strategy. When I click "Backtest", the "Loading Data..." dialog comes up and often hangs part way through the process. On rare occasions it finishes and the backtest runs as expected. Usually it hangs with the first instrument marked as "Connected" and the other instruments marked as "None". Sometimes two instruments are marked as "Connected". I've attached a screenshot showing what it looks like. When it hangs, the cpu goes idle (I've let it sit overnight) and the only possible action is to click the "Cancel" button.

I have watched the cpu/memory usage of the Multicharts processes and found that they go through a few phases:

Action: Click the "Backtest button", the "Loading Data..." window appears

Phase 1: tsServer.exe and MCPortfolio.exe cpu active, tsServer.exe memory increases a small amount per instrument, the Status field for each instrument is empty; at the end of this phase the Status fields all quickly change to None.

Phase 2: tsServer.exe cpu active, memory increases very slowly, no changes to GUI display (all status "None", progress bar at 0%).

Phase 3: tsServer.exe cpu active and memory usage increases a larger amount per instrument, the Status field for each instrument changes one by one from None to Connected, and the progress bar and percentage figure increase; it is part way through this phase that the program often becomes idle and never finishes.

Phase 4: when all goes well, the "Loading Data..." window closes and the "Calculating Portfolio Strategy" dialog appears while the strategy is backtested; MCPortfolio.exe cpu active.

Any ideas or suggestions for a workaround?

Thanks,
Mike

Environment:
Windows 7 64-bit
CSI Unfair Advantage v2.10.7.119
MultiCharts v8.0.5622.401, 64-bit

A sample from one of my ASCII files:
Symbol,Exchange,Date,Open,High,Low,Close,Total Volume
AAON,"OTC",19980701,1.77211466,1.83856896,1.77211466,1.83856896,2410
AAON,"OTC",19980702,1.81641753,1.81641753,1.77211466,1.77211466,621
AAON,"OTC",19980706,1.81641753,1.81641753,1.77211466,1.81641753,598
AAON,"OTC",19980707,1.74996323,1.81641753,1.74996323,1.81641753,1834
AAON,"OTC",19980708,1.77211466,1.83856896,1.77211466,1.83856896,1761
AAON,"OTC",19980709,1.83856896,1.86072040,1.83856896,1.86072040,1360

Hello mjm,

To investigate the issue and fix it, if it can be reproduced, we will need the following files from you:
1. The ASCII files with the symbols displayed on your screenshot.
2. The workspace from Portfolio Backtester.

Mjm, we were not able to reproduce the issue on our end. Would you be able to do this on your PC one more time and create dump files of all MultiCharts processes at the moment when it stuck? After the dump files are created, please send them to me (ashuvlenov@multicharts.com) with MultiCharts log files.

Mjm, we were not able to reproduce the issue on our end. Would you be able to do this on your PC one more time and create dump files of all MultiCharts processes at the moment when it stuck?

Sure, I will try to do this. Thanks for your help.

-Mike

I have the same problem...Any solutions?

I have the same problem...Any solutions?

Hello Canny,

Unfortunately the required files and respective detailed description were not delivered to our support to study the issue and fix it. I have mentioned what we need in my previous post.

I have a similar problem since I started using DTN. The backtester seems to load data okay, but then it hangs just before presenting results. Screen shot attached.

Hello Analyst,

What the exact version of the software (build number)?
Please provide me with your portfolio workspace, symbols exported from your database and the signals applied to the workspace.