What conversion? What happened to FT4DOS
Download
the latest version 3.03 of Ed Gilbert's free Trade
program.: Notes on installing Trade
Download the latest version of
Brian Stocks
FastTools version 2.07.
Download
FastRube's latest version 1.73 from Roy Ashworth's site. Notes on
Installing FastRube
Download the latest FT4Web Version
We have conquered the conversion issues. The tech support queue is empty. If there are subscribers who are having problems, please call 866-295-0166 x 2 .
We have spoken with about 20% of our users in that past week , , , way above the 5% we were prepared for.
The primary causative problem has been that there were many more users with very old FTComm software than we anticipated. In retrospect, we should have sent everyone an upgrade FTComm at least a month before doing the DB Conversion.
Vista presented a lot of issues. Vista specifically blocks programs that try to modify other programs. Usually there is a cryptic Vista message to the user. If he answers it wrong, then the program upgrade fails. I am not sure what we could have done differently.
The corrupted data problem is still nagging us. We hope to get that taken care of by the end of the week. However, by using FTComm OLIC, you can be assured that data quality on your machine remains high.
Mostly, we are in deep appreciation of FastTrackers. Thank you for your patronage.
- Be sure you have version3.65.14 of FTComm.
- If you subscribe to the funds data base, the reinstall 4 of the 6 possible databases. In other words, Do not install the two stocks dbs unless you also subscribe to stocks.
The issue is a partial conversion. Take these steps.
- Use My Computer find the program: C:\FT\FT4Win\DBSPLIT.EXE
Double Click the program. It will complete the database conversion.
If you put your FT files elsewhere, then adjust the location as needed- Install the latest FTComm.
- Use FTComm (should be version 3.65.14) to upgrade versions .
Select FT4Web Everything.- Use FTComm to update the data.
DBSplit will fail If you have c:\ft\*.OLD databases. Rename them to .DAT Otherwise, the .OLD files are doing no harm. We will delete them next week automatically. DO NOT rename these files to .DAT . . . that will cause problems after conversion. We left the old databases on the off chance that there might be problems and we would need them . . . every so often we actually do something right!
Users are experiencing problems with a partial upgrade that does not convert the databases. It may be simpler reinstall FastTrack entirely. The Uninstall/reinstall processes will not remove your personal families (although backup is never a bad idea).
Reinstalling is the best way if the conversion did not go smoothly for you . . . and does not require calling FT Technical support.
During the install, FastRube searches your had disk for FastTrack installations. If you have multiple installations, you will have problems. If you have database backups, these will be found and confusion will result. FastRube will not be able to find the right data.
- First, be sure that your Ft4Web version at the top of the chart window reads 3.65.14. This means your conversion was successful.
- Next, before installing FastRube, search your hard disk for FT*.DAT and FT*.OLD.
- Delete any stray FT database files. The files you want to keep will have a modified file date of 7/11/08 or later.
Be sure NOT to delete files which belong to other applications that just happen to fit the wildcard search above.
Be sure to install Trade in your current Trade folder. In early years, Trade users often installed in C:\FTrade, Not the default folder C:\Trade Please reinstall in that original folder (whtever name) and you will be able to see and use all you past work.
Only use these installs if, during your regular evening download on July 11th and later, the conversion process failed and you cannot use FTComm.
- Uninstall FastTrack using the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove Programs. This will not delete your personal families and other files you created which were not originally installed with FT. (However, backups never hurt).
- Next install FTCOMM SETUP This will get the communications portion of FT operating from which you can install the rest of FT and the databases.
After conversion, neither Ft4Web nor FTComm will run:
Using your mouse to go to All Programs/FastTrack/tech support tools/
Right-click WinRegFix (and "Run as Administrator") under Vista. Just double-click WinRegFix under XP
This should allow FastTrack to register the new programs downloaded as part of the conversion.
During the conversion the SharesOutstanding data for all issues will be set to zero. The old db data had been acceptable for stocks, but not for funds. It was causing us problems at this final preparation stage, so for the moment it has been removed. We are looking to reinstate the SharesOutstanding data by month end. We appreciate your patience.
The #1 problem is that the new program versions will trigger user firewalls and Vista restrictions. Users who respond to firewall and Vista pop-up notices with
"Don't Install"
"Always Block this program"
"NO"
"CANCEL"
"DELETE/REMOVE". . . Will subsequently be unable to use FT4Web and unable to update the data with FTComm. The solution is to reinstall FastTrack <---from this link, not from any other source.