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The Y2K bug is a potential killer

Most recent post: Almax

618/9/1999

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This is a serious trading problem. On this page we will keep you updated with the accurate information about how charting and data vendors are tackling this problem. We assume your computer is already Y2K compliant so it is able to handle dates after 1999. If you want to check your computer details are below.

OUR QUESTIONS FOR DATA PROVIDERS AND SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS sent in August 1998

Can you tell me the current status of your software or data supply in  regard to the Y2K
bug? That is.
    1) Is the program Y2K compliant. If not, when can users expect to see an upgrade to make it compliant?
    2) Is the current  data format Y2K compliant? If not, when will a compliant format be made available?
    3) Assuming the  data format will become compliant, what happens to all our existing  data? Will  it need to be upgraded to incorporate 4 digits for the year? If so, will you provide a utility to do this?

We have replies from Ezy Chart, Just Data, ODDS Equis - Metastock for Windows 6.5, Metastock MS-D0S 4.52 Real Time, Apple computers, Personal Hotline, SmarTrader for Windows, SmarTrader Professional, TradeStation, OptionStation, SuperCharts, Almax, Paritech and a PC Y2K compliance test software download.

THE  REPLIES

Paritech

December 20, 1999

Paritech has completed Year 2000 testing for its DataDirector and Data
Emails services. In summary, the current version of DataDirector is year
2000 compliant and our Data Email service is Year 2000 compliant.

However we strongly recommend all our customers read the information on our
Year 2000 page,  http://www.paritech.com.au/Support/Y2K/Default.htm   to
prepare for the Year 2000.

ALMAX

Sept 99

Y2K work has been completed and is now ready for shipping. It will be necessary for clients to upgrade their software to the Y2K versions. New Almax software will be DownLoader 2000 and MarketManager 2000.

EZY CHART

Sept 98

The current version of Ezy chart is fully Y2K compliant.

Ezy Chart will read any data format that uses 4 digits for the date. ie 10/10/2000

Your data supplier is responsible for providing data in a 4 digit format and for providing an utility updater.

JUST DATA

August 99

1. Yes, the data downloading side of Bodhi has always been Year 2000
compliant and requires no updating. However, the processing side of
Bodhi has been updated to work with the new Y2K compatible versions of
MetaStock, SuperCharts etc.
This update requires the replacement of one file, which will be
available to download from our Website on the 6th August.
Our WebSite is http://www.justdata.com.au
2. Yes, all data formats except for ASCII formats are compatible.
Clients using a SpreadSheet format or downloading to SuperCharts ASCII
format will have to download a conversion file from our WebSite that
will change the date format to YYYYMMDD.
3. All existing data will be compatible. Of course this is assuming
that all clients will be using Y2K compliant Analysis Software
(versions) on the 01/01/2000 and not old versions that are being
discontinued.
As mentioned in Point 2 – ASCII/SpreadSheet users will run the above
utility to convert all their history files to a Y2K compatible format.
Obviously, before SuperChart clients can use this utility they will need
to upgrade their SuperCharts to Build 7 or higher so that their software
can read this new format. (We will supply a link to this patch from our
WebSite).

ODDS

August 99

ODDS 2000 is scheduled to be launched later this month or early September.

ODDS 2000 is fully Y2K compliant. It uses the latest Y2K MetaStock data format and many other formats (EzY charts etc.) also Y2K compliant.

All ODDS customers will be upgraded to ODDS 2000 as part of their service charges. They will receive a database that is Y2K compliant with historical data going back to January 1987. ODDS commitment is that none if its data customers will be affected by the Y2K bug.

EQUIS DATA - now owned by Reuters

July 98

It has been against Reuters company policy to release any advanced information about the Y2K issues. "Except that we are keenly aware of these issues and are working on them." Equis support

See SmarTrader comments below for a different view of data standards.

METASTOCK FOR WINDOWS 6.5

Jan 6, 1999

A patch released by Equis now makes Metastock 6.5 Y2K compliant and fixes the yellow pop up chart tips when run under Windows 98. In some cases you may need to reinstall Metastock from the orginal CD.

Sept 28, 98

This is the text of a query to Equis.

Are MS 6.5 and the downloader Y2K ready?
I have a file of the DJ Industrials that starts in 1901. What will happen to it in 2000 or 2001? Will I have two 01 years? Bruno Garcon-Marchand

Bruno, We believe we have handled all Year 2000 issues with our current 6.5 versions but have not yet officially certified them as Year 2000 compliant yet. We still want to complete the last 5% of the date testing to make sure.After testing is complete we will be offering a free year 2000 update to 6.5 owners. The update will be released later this year.Doc, Equis Support

Sep 98

We are currently developing a solution for Metastock and the year 2000
and will provide it as soon as possible. Full details will be available
at that time. Equis support

METASTOCK REAL TIME FOR DOS

July 98

MSRT for DOS will not be Y2K compliant. We will be releasing a Windows version that is Y2K compliant.The date the program will be released or the price have not been anounced.Equis support

METASTOCK - WHAT WILL BE UPGRADED TO Y2K AND WHAT WILL NOT

Dec 98. Source Equis.

Products Which Will Not Be Included in the Millennium Compliance Program
The following products are declared obsolete. We will withdraw support for these products no later than December 31, 1999:

• MetaStock for DOS 4.5x and earlier. These products will be replaced by MetaStock 6.52 for Windows.
• The DownLoader for DOS 4.5x and earlier will be replaced by the version of The DownLoader included in MetaStock 6.52 for Windows.
• MetaStock for Windows 6.0 and earlier will be replaced by MetaStock 6.52 for Windows.
• The DownLoader for Windows 6.0 and earlier will be replaced by the version of The DownLoader included in MetaStock 6.52 for Windows.
• Pulse was discontinued in 1996. There will be no replacement.

These products listed above may still function in limited capacities after December 31, 1999; however, Equis makes no guarantees as to their function. If you are a user of one of these products, it is in your best interest to upgrade to MetaStock 6.5 or higher (see MetaStock for Windows 6.5 for more information).

Products We Plan to Include in the Millenium Compliance Program
The following list is not comprehensive; it is subject to change as other products are added to the Millennium Compliance Program:

• MetaStock Professional will be updated with a patch available free of charge on the World Wide Web later in 1998. Users without Web access will be able to order the disk for a small shipping and handling fee when it becomes available.
• MetaStock for Windows 6.5 will be updated to MetaStock for Windows 6.52 with a patch available free of charge on the World Wide Web later in 1998. Users without Web access will be able to order the disk for a small shipping and handling fee when it becomes available.
• The DownLoader for Windows 6.5 will be patched at the same time as the MetaStock for Windows 6.5.
• The Technician. Current subscribers to The Technician Data Service will receive a disk in the mail free of charge later in 1998.
• MetaStock for Windows CE. No modifications needed.
• MetaStock for Java. No modifications needed.

About This Update
This update does not have any legal effect, but is provided to you for information purposes only. Its contents are based on the current status of our Millennium Compliance Program and the information we currently possess on the millennium status of third party components on which our products rely. As our Millennium Compliance Program develops it may be necessary to amend the plans outlined in this document which may include, in particular, declaring obsolete products we currently intend to include in the Program. Accordingly, the information contained in this document is subject to change and does not constitute any form of warranty, representation or undertaking. Nothing in this document should in any way be deemed to alter the legal rights and obligations contained in your agreements with us relating to the products described in this document.

Information currently contained in these millennium compliance update pages, as well as any information posted prior to October 19, 1998 are "Year 2000 Readiness Disclosures" under the Year 2000 Information and Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998 (U.S.)

APPLE COMPUTERS

July 98

Apple computers operate in a Y2K bug free zone. All Apple hardware, system software and applications that run on Apples underlying Toolbox software - included in every Macintosh ever made - are all Y2K compliant. The Mac OS has always correctly handled dates between January 1, 1904 and February 6, 2040. The current Mac OS date and time utilities handle all dates between 30,081 B.C. and 29,940 A.D. All applications and system software which use the supplied Mac OS date and time utilities will have no problems with the year 2000. If trading data is supplied in a 4 digit format then any Mac software will read it. This also applies to  Ezy Chart, running under PC emulation on the Mac.

PERSONAL HOTLINE

Sept 98

Both the Macintosh and Personal Hotline are Y2K compliant and have been since 1988. The existing data format is and has been Y2K compliant. Jeff Borrowitz, CEO

SMARTRADER FOR WINDOWS and SMARTRADER PROFESSIONAL

Sept 1998

Determining our course of action for compliance with dates for the millennium
date rollover has been a process of impatiently waiting to learn what actions
will be taken by the data vendors. As I had suspected, the apparent consensus
is to do nothing. That is to say, the data format for the industry standard
CompuTrac/MetaStock file format will remain unchanged.

At the beginning of the 70's, the savings and loan industry realized that
maturity dates for 30 year mortgages would cross the millennium. Their
solution was to program into all date sensitive systems a mechanism that
basically said if the 2 character year was less than 50, then the century must
be 20.

We have learned from the major data vendors that this is the same approach
they will take. Rather than add 2 characters to the date, which would cause a
need to change all historical data files, they have left it to the software
publishers to deal with the situation. This simply means that charting
programs, not your data, must be changed to accept a date that is apparently
less than the previous date at the beginning of the new century. A lesser date
would normally indicate an error in the date, however, at the start of the new
century, the first trading day will be Monday, January 3rd. The date will look
like 00/01/03. Obviously, this looks like a lesser date compared to Friday,
December 31, 1999, or 99/12/31.

We are working with a former CompuTrac programmer to have the necessary
programming changes made to make CompuTrac (SMARTrader Professional) ready for
the new millennium. This will take some time, however, we will have all needed
code changes in place with time to spare.

Regarding SMARTrader for Windows(tm) and QuickCharts, which read a variety of
data formats, we will make changes as needed to be Y2K compliant for all data
formats currently compatible.

Of the many data formats with which we are compatible, the Knight-Ridder
format is already Y2K compliant since the date is stored as a serial number,
as is done by most spreadsheet programs. This technique extends to the data
available from CRBCharts and GLOBALCharts, two of our internet based charting
sites. This data is also compatible with SMARTrader and QuickCharts.

As we learn of what actions are to be taken by other data providers regarding
year 2000 compliance, we will make changes to our Windows based software as is
appropriate and needed to assure continued uninterrupted operation. Jim Ritter, CEO

TRADE STATION, OPTIONSTATION, SUPERCHARTS

August 99

Y2K patches for
TradeStation v 4.0, OptionStation v 4.0, SuperCharts RT v 4.0, and
SuperCharts EOD v 4.0 are now available.

These patches can be downloaded from the following web site:

http://www.omegaresearch.com/productupdates

Please note, there are various assumptions, disclaimers and
limitations that should be read before applying the various patches.

As always, please read the instructions carefully before applying
the patch to your software.

Warwick Stewart and SuperCharts user notes:

I  have downloaded the latest update for SuperCharts Version 4 EOD from
Omega Research, which makes it "Supercharts 4.0 Build 8". It is Y2K
compatible as far as my testing has shown. I'm using a Metastock database
as the data source for it.

Sep 98

All Version 5 products will be year 2000 compliant when
released. Because the Y2K issue is a priority for our customers, it is a
high priority for us and we are currently in the process of addressing the
issue with the most current versions of our products. We will be providing
an update for TradeStation 4.0, SuperCharts 4.0 and OptionStation 1.2. We
intend to offer our Version 4.0 free minor update on our Web Site to address
Year 2000 compatibility. Once the fully released versions of our 5.0
programs are shipping, we will provide you with a more specific timeline for
the Year 2000 Update.  Mikki Blyskal, Omega

PC USERS Y2K COMPLIANCE TEST

From Glenn Barlis

July 17

I'm responsible for Y2K compliance of my companies manufacturing and facilities systems. One useful tool I've found is a piece of test software for checking the BIOS and Real Time Clock (RTC) for Y2K compliance. There are many tools out there that I have tried, but the best I've seen is on the AMI website at http://www.megatrends.com. You will find reference to a download of the testing program from their main web page. It must be run from DOS. If you have a Win NT machine just make a DOS boot disk ( you still have DOS somewhere don't you?) and run it from that. The test is for the hardware only, so the results are operating system independent in that sense.

If your systems are new you will probably find that the bios is OK, but the RTC fails. This is because at the beginning IBM chose a Motorola clock chip that had only 2 digits for the date. To maintain compliance, all systems since then have used compatible chips!

One way to check your PC real time clock and BIOS.

Source: Businessweek and Financial review. Modifications: Personal experience.

This is the internal clock in your computer system that keeps ticking away when you shut down your computer. This clock must be Y2K OK or else even Y2K compliant software will not work. I do not understand DOS, and I dislike black screens with blinking white cursors, so these are the exact steps I followed to check my computers. Read the caution notes at the end, and please remember this is posted for information only. It is not a recommendation.

1) Back up your PC

(If you cannot do this, then you must calculate the risk. I did not back up my PC, but I did try this on an older machine first to make sure there was no damage.)

2) Bring up your systems DOS prompt. With Windows 95 and 98 select START then PROGRAMS, then MS-DOS PROMPT.

3) Type DATE and then press enter.

This brings up the date function in DOS.

4) Change the date to 12-31-1999 and press Enter. This changes your computers internal date to December, 31, 1999.

5) Type TIME and press Enter

6) Change the time to 11:58:00pm and press Enter

7) Type EXIT and press Enter. This takes you back to a real Windows 95 or 98 computer screen display.

8) Shut down your computer.

9) Wait at least 3 minutes so the internal clock in the computer has time to click over into the first day of the next century. Then turn your computer back on.

10) Repeat steps 2 and 3. If the screen displays the current date as 01-01-2000 then your computer clock and BIOS are Y2K OK.

If the date displays some other configuration, then it will not work properly in the year 2000. You have an expensive door stopper unless you are able to upgrade the BIOS. Check with the computer manufacturer.

11) Repeat steps 3 to 7, changing the date to the current date and the time to the current time. Restart your computer.

NOTES OF CAUTION

Any program that uses the internal computer clock to generate messages will get confused when you change the date to 12-31-1999. My virus checking software gave me a stern warning that it was seriously out of date and that I should have upgraded long before 12-31-1999. When the date was changed back to the current date, it did not effect this program.

Some downloading software uses BIOS date references to add data to the existing data base. After completing this time clock and BIOS check I found no problems with Almax, JustData or KeyQuotes systems. My charting software, including Ezy Chart and Metastock, were not damaged. Other date sensitive programs, including MYOB, FileMaker Pro, $ecure were also undamaged.

If the BIOS is accurate, then the applications are also accurate.

Some applications, such as security systems, point of sale software, some accounting programs and security systems such as time licensed programms read the date directly from the real time clock. You should check with the software maker if you think this is the case. You can make sure the real time clock provides the correct information by checking compliance from the Survive 2000 www site.