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ASCII Mapping

From MultiCharts

Sometimes importing data to the database is extremely complicated or outright impossible.

In such a case ASCII mapping is the solution; there are two principal reasons for using ASCII mapping:

  1. If one or several ASCII files constantly used are periodically updated. Even if there are just a few updates per day, re-importing hundreds of symbols is difficult or just not feasible.
  2. If tick/volume bars must be displayed on a chart.


When mapping, the file path and format are indicated once, and every time a chart is created the program finds the file automatically, converts it into the necessary format based on the preset configuration and displays the data.

ASCII Mapping file reference details are displayed under the "ASCII Mapping" tab in the Edit Symbol window (see here). This tab is displayed only when an instrument is mapped to a file.

How to Map ASCII Files

  1. Open QuoteManager window
  2. On the File menu, click Map ASCII.
  3. Click Browse to indicate the path containing the files to be mapped.
  4. In the Get Symbol From indicate File Name for the program to extract the symbol name from the filename. If along with quotes the file contains the symbol name as one of the columns, indicate File's Field.
  5. Use Get name from to characters, if a part of the word must be used.
  6. If the symbol name needs to be edited manually, click the corresponding cell.
  7. Make sure the program has correctly defined the Resolution for every file you intend to map. If you see an error, click the hyperlinked file name. In the window that appears check:
    • The Date field is not defined or not properly defined
      To set date:
      1. Click the Date column heading.
      2. Select Date and the corresponding template.
      3. Click Custom if there is no such template.
      4. Create a template. If the number of symbols in the date changes, use an asterisk * to replace the symbol, e.g. 9/9/2004 changed to 10/9/2004. The number of symbols changes from 6 to 7.
      5. Apply the created template by selecting it from the list.
    • The Time filed is not defined or not properly defined
      To set time:
      1. Click the Time column heading.
      2. Select Time and the corresponding template.
      3. If the template does not exist, click Custom.
      4. Create a template. If the number of symbols in the date changes, use an asterisk * to replace the symbol, e.g. 8:30 changes to 10:10. The number of symbols changes from 4 to 5.
      5. To set a time template, e.g. 5:22 PM, the template must look like H:MM tt@PM, where tt means the postfix placeholder and after @ the PM value stands.
      6. Apply the created template by selecting it from the list.
    • Wrong detection of the starting line of quotes
      To set Start at Row You should indicate how many lines to skip.
    • Wrong sequence of columns
      To change the sequence:
      1. Click the column heading.
      2. From the drop-down field select the correct file.
      3. Repeat for all improperly defined columns.
    After those parameters have been properly set, the program analyses the file again and sets the proper Resolution.
    The program will automatically apply the edited template for all files with the same structure and resolution within the selected folder, so the user does not have to edit every file manually. To edit specific files separately, map them individually or place files with similar structure into separate folders.
  8. Indicate the Category, Exchange, Field, TimeZone, Price and Volume Multiplier for all symbols. If the same value is to be used in several cells, the program supports copying and multi-pasting.
  9. Make sure the check box is checked for files to be mapped. If all fields are filled, the program checks the check box on the left, indicating that the file is ready for mapping. To cancel the selection of files for mapping click Uncheck All option in the lower part of the ASCII Mapping window.
  10. Click OK to complete the procedure.

ASCII Mapping Limitations

For real-time data the supported resolutions are 1 tick, 1 day, 1 or more minute, 1 volume bar.
N tick bars, N volume bars, week, month, quarter and year resolutions are not supported.

If the file is not mapped with the basic resolution (1 tick, 1 minute, 1 day), then only this resolution can be plotted on the chart.

If the file is mapped as a 5 minute chart, then only a 5 minute chart can be built.
If it is mapped as a 1 minute chart, then 1 minute, 2 minute, 3 minute, etc. charts can be built.

When using ASCII mapping the real-time data will be automatically updated if the lines with quotes are added to the end of the file timely and correctly. If the new lines are added to historical data, these new quotes will not appear on the chart automatically, and Reload is required.

If more than 60 folders containing files with quotes are mapped and receiving data in real time, ASCII Mapping can work incorrectly.

ASCII files that are larger than 4 GB cannot be processed correctly.