In Canada-stockwatch NYSE and AMEX are consolidated into a single feed with exchange code 'Z'. The base symbol is optionally followed by a suffix: .P for preferred, .R for right, .W for warrant.
QuoTracker is using Canada-stockwatch's convention for exchange code: Z for NYSE and AMEX, Q for NASDAQ, I for Non-exchange indexes, T for TSE, M for ME, V for VSE, A for ASE, C for CDN, W for WSE.
NASDAQ equity symbols are up to 5 characters with no suffixes. The first 4 characters are the base symbol for the company. The 5th character, if present, represents a class.
Canadian equity symbols consist of a 1 to 3 character symbol root, optionally followed by one of: .PR for preferred share, .DB for debenture, .IR for installment receipt, .WT for warrant, .RT for right, .UN for unit.
US index symbols begin with a '$' in Canada-stockwatch, while they start with '^' in Yahoo.
Canadian mutual fund symbols in Canada-stockwatch are of the form GGG*FFF where GGG represents the fund group, and FFF the specific fund.
Canadian index symbols are of the form EIxxxx where E is the exchange code and xxxx is the exchange's index code.
Yahoo doesn't provide bid size, ask size and number of trades, but Canada-stockwatch  does.
In general, the quotes are delayed 15 minutes for domestic stocks and 20 minutes for international stocks. I.e. TSE quotes are delayed 15 minutes in Canada-stockwatch, but 20 minutes in Yahoo. Similarly, U.S. quotes are delayed 20 minutes in Canada-stockwatch  but 15 minutes in Yahoo.
While Yahoo delayed quotes are updated continuously, Canada-stockwatch  refreshes their delayed quotes every 3 minutes. 
Volume, as well as bid size and ask size (from Canada-stockwatch  only) are shown in thousands - Aha, QuoTracker is the only one who has both!
Yahoo quotes don't have most recent news date indicated as in Canada-stockwatch.
Canada-stockwatch  only provides news headlines for free.
Canada-stockwatch doesn't have US mutual funds, and Yahoo doesn't have Canadian mutual funds.
Mutual fund quotes are updated once daily in the evening after the stock market has been closed.
It seems that Yahoo is in general very fast, compared to other web sites. 
Yahoo is not only faster, it also allows downloading much more quotes for each transaction. Up to 200 quotes are allowed in Yahoo, only 10 in Canada-stockwatch (20 for subscribers), and only 1 quote in many others.
U.S. stock prices are in fractions, while Canadian stock prices in decimal format. QuoTracker automatically translates some values to decimal format for sorting perpurses.
There is no unique definition for Canadian mutual funds, which makes QuoTracker's life difficult.
As we know so far, only Canada-stockwatch and IMoney use the common symbols for Canadian mutual funds.
The U.S. and TSE stock markets are open from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday, except holidays.
The bid price is the price you will get if you sell your stock, and the ask price is the price you have to pay to buy a stock. 
The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) does not permit bid and ask prices to be reported for delayed quotes. 
The bid/ask sizes (in thousands) together with bid/ask prices can give you indicator how active a stock is and in which direction (up or down) it is heading.
Earnings per share (EPS) is the annual net earnings per share of stock, as reported by the company. The earnings from the most recent annual report are adjusted to include all subsequent quarterly earnings reported. 
The EPS represent primary earnings from continuing operations attributable to each share of common stock outstanding. 
The EPS is usually calculated by dividing the income from continuing operations by the average number of shares outstanding during the period. 
The earnings per share is adjusted for stock splits and stock dividends. An earnings per share value is reported as 0.00 when a value has not been available for 12 months or more.
Price to earnings ratio (PE ratio) is the previous closing stock price divided by the earnings per share, and reflects the value the market has placed on a stock.
Dividend per share (DivPerSh) is the annual dividend per share of stock, as reported by the company.
Yield is the annual dividend per share divided by the previous closing stock price, as a percentage (multiplied by 100).
Dividend pay date (DivDate) is the date on which the dividend was last paid, or the date on which the next one will be paid.
The ex-dividend date (without dividend) means you need to purchase the stock before this date to receive the current quarter's dividend or stock split.
The market capitalization (MktCap) is calculated by multiplying the last trade price by the current number of shares outstanding. Shares outstanding is updated weekly and is provided by Market Guide in Yahoo.
Average daily volume (available from Yahoo) is the monthly average of the cumulative trading volume during the last three months divided by 22 days. It is updated weekly, and is provided by Market Guide in Yahoo.
Conservative investors prefer large capitalization stocks, for price stability
Compare the total shares with the number of shares traded daily to see what portion of the stock is changing hands.
People who live on investment income or want reduced price volatility look for high dividend yield.
Value investors look for stocks with low P/E ratios; momentum players look for high P/E.
Compare earnings over several periods to spot a trend in the company's fortunes.
Conservative and institutional investors avoid very low price stocks due to volatility.
You can set a password for your QuoTracker to protect your privacy, and you can lock it temporarily.
When you lock QuoTracker, it just minimizes to taskbar. When you click it on taskbar, it will ask you to enter a valid password before it is shown.
Clicking on the 'View' button on the gridbar will make treepane hide to give you more space for looking at the current gridpane. Clicking again will make treepane visible.
Clicking on the 'Color' button on the gridbar will make the gridpane colorless (b/w), and another clicking will color it again.
Press down 'Update' button will force QuoTracker to update the gridview whenever it has been changed (by clicking on a treenode, or hit enter key in the 'Quick Quote' combo, or from QuoQuery).
Press down 'Timer' button will force QuoTracker to update the current gridpane periodically in predefined interval.
You can refresh quotes anytime by clicking on the 'Refresh' button in the gridbar.
You can change the quote server temporarily by selecting from the 'Quote Server' combo box. You have to use 'Updates' menu function or 'Options' setting to change your default quote server used by startup.
You can change the default quote server that is always used when QuoTracker starts up through 'Quote Server' function from the 'Updates' menu, or through corresponding function in the 'Options' window.
You can let QuoTracker remember the quote server used before exit of the last session, and use it in the next session on startup.
If you are a subscriber of Canada-stockwatch, you can let QuoTracker use your account to retrieve quotes, because Canada-stockwatch is often unavailable to non-subscribers at peak hours.
You can override 'Folder Update' button temporarily by holding down the Shift or Ctrl key while clicking on a treenode. You always force an immidiate download when Shift key is pressed, and no download when Ctrl key is pressed.
For the soring purpose, QuoTracker show all prices except bid/ask prices of the U.S. stocks in decimal format.
The bid/ask prices of the U.S. stocks are shown in fraction format.
By downloading Yahoo quotes, the bid/ask field will indicate the new symbol when a security changes its symbol.
There are several types of quick links in QuoTracker that you can customize: the ticker-specific links, the general links, and the market links.
The ticker-specific links allow you to quickly go to a site with chart, quote, news for a specific symbol.
The ticker-specific links are only accessible from the popup menu of the gridpane, when right-clicked on a ticker symbol.
You can create ticker-specific links using your Canada-stockwatch account to get more advanced information. However, you must first be logged on before you can access them. Each logon remains valid for the window session (not QuoTracker session). Be aware of its cost!
The general links allow you to quickly go to a site of your special interest, but not related to a specific symbol (or there is no way to link to a specific symbol).
The general links are accessible in several places: from the view menu of the main window; from the MarketWatch menu of the QuoExplorer; and from the popup menu of the gridpane.
You can create a general link to log into your Canada-stockwatch account using the following URL: http://www.canada-stockwatch.com/sw/login.dbm?id=<yourid>&pw=<yourpassword>. Don't forget to change <yourid> and <yourpassword> to yours.
The market links work like IE's favorites and are for QuoExplorer only (We didn't put it into IE's favorites because we don't want to mess it up).
Double-clicking on the gridpane can link you to a web site specially related to a security you clicked on. You can customize the links to your favorite web sites in the 'Options' window.
All the quick links can be customized in the 'Options' window under 'Links' tab.
There are five column-areas in the gridpane that are sensitive to double-clicks: Symbol, Last price, News, Company web site, and everywhere else. You can customize the links to your favorite web sites.
There are three types of quick links in QuoTracker: Ticker-specific links, double-click links, and general links. You can customize these links in the 'Options' window.
You can access ticker-specific information like charts, quotes, news, profile and others from different web sites by selecting from the popup menu when right-clicked on the gridpane.
An asterisk on the menu captions of the general link or market link indicates that a linked site will be shown in a new QuoExplorer window. However, this behavior can be overridden by using Shift and/or Ctrl keys.
Using the Shift and/or Ctrl keys, you can decide where the new site will be shown when a quick link is initiated. Shift key forces the site to be shown in a new QuoExplorer window, while Ctrl key forces it to be shown in the first QuoExplorer window. Pressing down both keys will force it to be shown in the last visible QuoExplorer window if any.
You can click on the header of the gridpane to sort accordingly. First clicking sorts  descending, and second clicking ascending. The order toggles by further clicks.
You can let QuoTracker remember the sorting criteria and resort automatically after downloading. Select the 'Display Settings' and  'Column Sorting' function from the popup menu of the gridpane to set your preferences.
You can temporarily reorder columns in the gridpane by drag-and-drop. To make it permanent, you have to save it explicitly.
There is a basic view format (called 'Equity') for equities, and a basic view format (called 'Fund') for mutual funds. Basic format can not be renamed or deleted, but can be modified using 'Show/Hide Columns...' function from the popup menu of the gridpane.
Each portfolio and folder except accounts can have its own default view format that is of the same name of the portfolio or folder. If not defined, the basic view format (i.e. 'Equity' or 'Fund' format) is used.
If you define a view format with the same name of a portfolio (folder), that format will be picked up by this portfolio as its default view format.
Whenever moved to a new portfolio (folder), QuoTracker will try to use default view format for this portfolio (folder) if defined. If not defined, it will use the last manually selected view format or use the basic view format when just entered the group.
You can use the same name in different groups for different view format definitions.
You can add a new view format based on an existing one (use 'Save As...') and then modify it using 'Show/Hide Column...' function from the popup menu of the gridpane.
You can rename or delete view formats you added, but not the basic one.
You can let columns in the gridpane have auto-sized width. The column will have the necessary width to accommodate each entry in one line. 
You can customize the gridpane in two different ways: the color patterns and column format. Color patterns can be changed through 'Options' window, and column format can be changed through 'Show/Hide Columns...' function from the popup menu when clicked on the grid header.
You can rename the header text or change its alignment. Use 'Change Title To...' function from the popup menu in grid header to change individual headers. Use 'Show/Hide Columns...' to make bulk changes.
You can select multiple symbols by combining the Shift and Ctrl key with the mouse-click. The selected symbols can be copied into clipboard or removed (portfolios only).
Symbols copied into clipboard through QuoTracker can be pasted into the textboxes where multiple symbols are expected (e.g. into the symbols' textbox in the 'Edit Symbols' window of a portfolio).
You can backup your local QuoTracker database using that function in 'Database' menu of the main window, which can be restored in case something goes wrong with the current database.
The 'Maintain...' entry in the 'Database' menu of the main window provides a lot of functions for your database maintenance.
You can add new categorized equities or mutual funds for a market through 'Maintain...' function in the 'Database' menu of the main window.
You can add/change/delete securities through 'Maintain...' function in the 'Database' menu of the main window.
You can archive your accounts through 'Maintain...' function in the 'Database' menu of the main window. Only sold securities will be archived.
You can restore archived account information for reviewing.
QuoTracker can print or export whatever the gridpane is currently showing, in the same order.
QuoTracker 'Print Data' function will try to make efficient use of paper: Use portrait if it can fit, otherwise uses landscape format. Print on one page if it can by putting lines a bit closer.
QuoTracker 'Export Data' will export all data shown in the current gridpane into a file. However, 'Print Data' will only be able to print so many columns as it can fit in one page. Further columns are simply trimmed. There is no limit in rows.
You can enter symbols in the 'Quick Quote' combo box located above the treepane for tracking their quotes temporarily.
You can force update independent of 'Update' button settings by clicking on the node in the treepane while holding down the Shift key.
You can force QuoTracker not to update independent of 'Update' button settings by clicking on the node in the treepane while holding down the Ctrl key.
When only one quote is downloaded from Canada-stockwatch, additional information like company name, dividend and so on is provided. Therefore, if you want to add a new or update an existing symbol, enter it into the 'Quick Quote' combo and let QuoTracker update.
You can update your local QuoTracker database for your offline analysis. Go to 'Update' menu and select on of options given there.
You should do a complete database update after the trading session if you are interested in the most recent quotes only.
You should use Yahoo to do daily complete database update when possible because it is faster. You may miss bid/ask sizes but those are unimportant after trading hours.
You can navigate into the Internet by using integrated web browser, QuoExplorer. It is actually a special variation of the Microsoft Internet Explorer.
There is a 'Timer' button in QuoExplorer that can be used to refresh the current web site periodically. You can change the refresh rate by clicking on it while holding down Shift or Ctrl key.
There is one popup menu in the treepane and two popup menus in the gridpane (one on header and other on quote area).
You can add or delete portfolios through the popup menu in the treepane.
You can edit symbols in a portfolio by using the 'Edit Symbols...' menu function in the popup menu in both treepane and gridpane.
You can add or delete accounts through the popup menu in the treepane.
You can protect your accounts by password in two levels: 'Edit only' and 'View and Edit'.
Each account has three different view formats: 'Summary' shows all quotes you are holding summarized, 'Details' shows all quotes by each transaction, 'History' shows all quotes sold already.
You can access your accounts through either 'Account Management' or 'Buy and Sell' menu functions. In fact, these two names share the same interface. 
In case you made mistake while entering account-related information, you should use the 'Correct/Change' form to correct your entries.
You can customize the commission fee charge rules for your broker, so that it can be used in the commission and return calculator or in buying and selling securities. 
You can define specific alert criteria for each individual symbol or general criteria for a group of symbols.
Alert can be sent in three different ways: highlight quote line in the gridpane, play a sound, send a message to a central alert box.
You can let quote flashing in a predefined frequency when an alert is activated.
You can temporarily turn on/off alert actions by clicking on 'Alert' button on the gridpane.
You can enable or disable alert actions on QuoTracker startup through 'Activate Alert Watch on Startup' function from the 'Alert' menu, or through corresponding function in the 'Options' window.
You can download historical quotes through 'Tools' -> 'Historical Quotes' from the popup menu in the gridpane, or through the 'Tools' menu in the main window.
You can export downloaded historical quotes for external use, e.g. for analyzing with third party graphical tools.
Once historical quotes are downloaded or imported, you can use the build-in 'Chart' function to look at the data graphically. Currently, there are three charts shown: Prices chart at the top, Volume chart in the middle, and MACD chart at the bottom.
All historical quotes for North American stocks and U.S. mutual funds are provided by Yahoo! for free. Canada-stockwatch subscribers can also get historical quotes for Canadian mutual funds ($0.20 for each year).
MACD stands for 'Moving Average Convergence and Divergence". It is a combination of the weighted moving averages with different average lengths.
Amoung many technical analysis mothods for the stocks, MACD is the most important one that has been used by professional investors for long time.
Some hints for reading MACD: When the fast moving average line and slow moving average line cross over, it indicates a buy or sell signal. It is a buy signal when the fast line is moving above the slow line, and vice versa. The trend is also indicated in the accompanying histogram.
Historical quotes are downloaded from Yahoo. Therefore, no historical quotes are available for Canadian mutual funds.
You can use QuoCalc for estimating the commissions and returns. There is also an interest rate calculator on the same window.
You can hide statusbar and let status show on the main window's titlebar.
Whenever QuoTracker's main window is minimized, status is always shown on the titlebar, so it can be seen as tooltips on taskbar.
If you use Canada-stockwatch as your quote server, it doesn't make sense to make the automatic update (for 'Timer' function on the gridbar) too short because quotes in Canada-stockwatch are refreshed every 3 minutes.
You can define market hours so that QuoTracker can turn on/off automatic downloading from the server if you want.
Due to the quote delay, you should normally set the market hours in QuoTracker 15 to 30 minutes delayed to the real market hours.
You can define holidays in QuoTracker so that at those days QuoTracker won't automatically start downloading during the market hours.
QuoQuery in QuoTracker can be used to query the local database in many ways.
QuoTracker also includes a calculator and a calendar from 'Tools' menu or from toolbar for your easy access.
QuoTracker has a QuoBar that shows quotes in concise format. There are also lots of customization options. 
You can let QuoBar hide automatically after a predefined interval. You can also let it show again whenever quotes are refreshed.
You can quickly toggle 'Show on Update' by clicking on QuoBar while holding down Shift or Ctrl key.
QuoBar can show quotes in three different types of windows: Standing, flipping and moving. The standing style shows all quotes all the time. The flipping style shows some quotes at a time and flips to next pane at predefined rate. The moving style shows quotes flowing from right to the left.
If you have the font 'Wingdings 3' on your machine, the arrows in your QuoBar will look a bit nicer.  
QuoTracker has an ExBar that downloads on-line currency exchange rate from Yahoo in predefined interval.
Yahoo currency exchange rate with about 30 minutes delay is refreshed every 10 minutes during the market hours.
QuoTracker has a 'Mortgage/Loan' calculator that delivers detailed payment information and interest breakdowns. Try it from the 'Tools' menu of the main window.
You can uninstall QuoTracker from windows' Control Panel through 'Add/Remove Programs' function - well, do you really want to do this?
E-mail is the most welcome and efficient method to contact QuoTracker. For any issues, please send your e-mail to quotracker@yahoo.com.
While QuoTracker's setup kit (for first time use) can be downloaded from many internet distribution sites (e.g. ZDNet, Tucows), the upgrade kit is only available from QuoTracker's homepage at http://www.quotracker.com.
