ConvertTrack Installation Instructions

Installation Instructions (Evaluation Copy)
Installation Instructions (Registered Copy)
Web Data Sources
MYM Configuration Instructions
Useful Configuration Hints

Installation Instructions (Evaluation Copy)

Once you have downloaded the CTDEMO.EXE file, you will need to run the executable from a DOS prompt, File Manager, or Windows Explorer in order to decompress the installation program. To run the setup program, click on Start, Run and type X:\PATH\setup.exe, where X is the drive letter where the temporary directory resides and PATH is the name of the temporary directory where the setup program is located. Or you may use the Browse button to locate the ConvertTrack setup.exe.

The setup program will guide you through the ConvertTrack installation process. In order to complete the installation you will need to agree to the license agreement before the installation can proceed. A copy of the License and Warranty exists in the Documentation section of this site.

During the installation you will be prompted for an installation directory. You may use the default (C:\Program Files\ConvertTrack) or pick a location of your choice. The ConvertTrack installation program is a fairly standard install program, so it should look familiar to most of you and its operation should be intuitive.

Prior to running ConvertTrack for the first time, you should download the "source" data file from the WWW site of your choice (i.e. Prodigy Internet). Note where you save the data file. When you run ConvertTrack for the first time, you will need to specify where the source and target data files will reside. Once you run the conversion, ConvertTrack will remember where the files exist and you won't have to specify the source and target directories again unless you change the locations of those file(s). Please click on the "Documentation" button on the left for detailed configuration and operating instructions.

Installation Instructions (Registered Copy)

Save the CTREG.EXE that was attached to the email that was sent to you when you ordered a registered copy of ConvertTrack. Once you have saved the CTREG.EXE file, you will need to run the executable from a DOS prompt, File Manager, or Windows Explorer in order to decompress the installation program. To run the setup program, click on Start, Run and type X:\PATH\setup.exe, where X is the drive letter where the temporary directory resides and PATH is the name of the temporary directory where the setup program is located. Or you may use the Browse button to locate the ConvertTrack setup.exe.

The setup program will guide you through the ConvertTrack installation process. In order to complete the installation you will need to agree to the license agreement before the installation can proceed. A copy of the License and Warranty exists in the Documentation section of this site.

During the installation you will be prompted for an installation directory. You may use the default (C:\Program Files\ConvertTrack) or pick a location of your choice. The ConvertTrack installation program is a fairly standard install program, so it should look familiar to most of you and its operation should be intuitive.

Prior to running ConvertTrack for the first time, you should download the "source" data file from the WWW site of your choice (i.e. Prodigy Internet). Note where you save the data file. When you run ConvertTrack for the first time, you will first be prompted to enter your First name, Last name and the Registration Code that was emailed to you with your registered copy of ConvertTrack. Make sure you use the same first and last names that you sent in on the ConvertTrack Order form (i.e. Don't use Bob instead of Robert). This will be clearly stated in the email sent to you.

Finally you will need to specify where the source and target data files will reside. Once you run the conversion, ConvertTrack will remember where the files exist and you won't have to specify the source and target directories again unless you change the locations of those file(s). Please click on the "Documentation" button on the left for detailed configuration and operating instructions.

Web Data Sources

Currently, I have located numerous web sites that provide the "Quicken" data files that ConvertTrack needs as well as others that ConvertTrack can convert. The ones I found include:

http://www.excite.com (only until March 1, 2001)
http://moneycentral.msn.com
http://prodigy.excite.com (only until March 1, 2001)
http://www.quicken.com (may only be working until March 1, 2001)
http://www.lycos.com (doesn't appear to have the download feature any longer)
http://www.yahoo.com
http://www.compuserve.com

Each of these sites will require you to register and create a logon (at no cost, to the best of my knowledge). Once you have a logon, you need to login to the site, and create an online portfolio containing the stocks and/or mutual funds you want to track. Most of these sites have a way for you to "personalize" that appears when you visit the site so that it shows your online portfolio. At a minimum you just need to tell it what stocks and/or mutual funds you want to track (by symbol). I don't believe you need to indicate how many shares you have invested in each stock or mutual fund, if you are worried about security. Each of these sites is slightly different in how they provide this information to you. I leave it up to the user as an exercise to locate the information they need. If you are already using Prodigy Internet, then stick with it. Otherwise, check out the other sites listed above and pick one that suits your needs. I have no stake in any of the sites listed (or unlisted for that matter), so whatever works for you is best.

There are additional sites that I have located that provide similar information, but in a slightly different format. It is presented in a file format that is loadable into a spreadsheet. Currently, ConvertTrack cannot convert these formats. I will continue to search for these sites and hope to incorporate these spreadsheet formats as well as any others I locate into ConvertTrack in a future release. Check this site periodically for updates.

MYM Configuration Instructions

You also must configure your MYM software to point to the new location of the converted data. You can set this by doing File, Import Data, Prodigy Quote Track and setting the full path to the data file created by ConvertTrack. Once you reach this point, provided you have run ConvertTrack to convert the data, you may import the data file into MYM just as you normally would.

Useful Configuration Hints

Since MYM is a DOS program and can only handle 8.3 file and directory names, it might be wise to place the converted data file in a directory and file that MYM can handle.
Another good idea is to keep both the source and target data files in the same place. For example, you can create a directory C:\Data\MYM. This directory can hold both the source data file and the target data files.

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