Troubleshooting guide

Quick jump: AmiQuote, data plugins (eSignal, myTrack, IQFeed, QuoteTracker, Quotes Plus, TC2000)

CATEGORY: CRASH OR HANG-UP

Where, when Problem Reason Solution

AmiBroker,

Just after installation

 AmiBroker hangs at startup or frequent errors occur Old/incompatible system components

Download and install the latest FULL version of AmiBroker from http://www.amibroker.com/download.html

 

AmiBroker,

At startup

(it was working fine before)

 AmiBroker crashes or hangs Corruption of some data file

Please try the following:

  • rename default database directory and try to run AmiBroker, if it works, it means that some files inside this database are corrupted. You may send us DEFAULT.AWL file from "Layouts" subfolder for checking.
  • delete or rename all DEFAULT.AWL files that you can find on your disk and try to run AmiBroker. (.AWL files are created inside "Layouts" subfolder of main AmiBroker database and "Layout" subfolders of each database directory.
  • rename broker.charts and broker.bcharts files (in AmiBroker directory) and try to run AmiBroker
  • rename default.layout file (in AmiBroker directory) and try to run AmiBroker

 

AmiBroker,

When running some AFL code

 AmiBroker crashes or hangs Bug in AFL formula or in AmiBroker Send offending code to AmiBroker support (bugs@amibroker.com) and delete / modify / comment it out to continue to work until we find the reason for the problem and a solution.

 

CATEGORY: OTHER

Where, when Problem Reason Solution

AmiBroker,

Just after installation

 Help (User's guide) is not accessible HTMLHelp system not installed

Install the update to the HTML Help system available from Microsoft here.
Scripts do not work Windows Scripting Host not installed

Check if your antivirus does not block scripting

AmiBroker,

At startup
(it was working fine before)

 Some feature does not work Missing component of AmiBroker Please check if you have not deleted any vital AmiBroker files.
If you are unsure, you may run the setup again over the old installation (please do NOT uninstall if you want to have your settings preserved).

AmiQuote -

Downloading quotes

Download from Quote.com fails
with 'the connection with the server is reset'

 Livecharts password incorrect or not entered properly as described here

Please go to the AmiQuote SETTINGS page, UNCHECK "Use livecharts account" and select "SERVER #1" or follow exactly the instructions here

Download from Yahoo starts fine but then stops

(especially on DSL, ADSL, cable modem connections)

 Yahoo is blocking you. After an infamous Internet worm attack, Yahoo considers quick, repeated multiple downloads as a "denial of service" attack.

If possible reconnect with different IP. (Otherwise, you would need to wait half an hour or more until Yahoo unblocks you)

go to the AmiQuote "Settings" and set "Initial delay between requests" to 1000 and "maximum number of simultaneous downloads" to 1.

Download from Yahoo fails

It may be too soon to get historical data from Yahoo or

a temporary Yahoo problem.

First check Yahoo historical page:

http://table.finance.yahoo.com/k?s=utx&g=d

replace utx by the symbol in question.
===========================

If the page shows old quotes, it is a problem with Yahoo, not with AmiQuote.

In fact AmiQuote uses
" Download spreadsheet format" link on previously mentioned page:
http://table.finance.yahoo.com/k?s=utx&g=d

If historical data are not available, you can always use "Current" mode of AmiQuote to get today's data (even during trading hours).

If you do not know the ticker symbol for an index, stock, or mutual fund, please
use symbol lookup feature:
a) at Yahoo (for historical and current modes):
http://finance.yahoo.com/l

b) at Lycos (for Intraday mode):
http://finance.lycos.com/home/misc/symbol_search.asp
Download works but there are no quotes added Local configuration problem

Follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem

  • Go to C:\Program Files\AmiBroker\AmiQuote\Download and check if .AQH files are there.
  • Open them with Notepad and see if data are there
  • Check if you have aqh.format file in the Formats subdirectory of AmiBroker
  • Check its contents and eventually send it to us for checking.
  • Try to import manually as per instructions given in the user's guide
  • If you ever restored data directory from CD-ROM, check the "read-only" flag of data files in AmiBroker database. They must not be read-only. If they are, you have to mark all files in the data directory and all subfolders and uncheck the read-only flag.
Download from any source fails Connection problem Please check your Internet connection. If you are using a firewall, make sure to allow AmiQuote (QUOTE.EXE) to access the Internet on ports 80 and 443.
AmiBroker
/eSignal plugin		 RT data spikes, bad ticks, other data problems. Connection problem or other reason Click with RIGHT mouse button over plug-in status area (green "OK" field) and choose "Fixup data for symbol" and wait a while. This will cause the entire intraday history for the given symbol to be re-downloaded.
AmiBroker
/myTrack
/IQFeed
/QuoteTracker plugin		 RT data spikes, bad ticks, other data problems. Connection problem or other reason Click with RIGHT mouse button over green "OK" field and choose "Force backfill" and wait a while. This will cause the entire intraday history for the given symbol to be re-downloaded.
AmiBroker
/QuoteTracker plugin		 Data does not update Not enough 'ad-clicks' in QuoteTracker

You have to click on advertisements in QuoteTracker or register it. For more details see:

http://www.amibroker.com/qthelp.html
AmiBroker
/any RT plugin		 Disconnection Connection problem Click with RIGHT mouse button over plug-in status area (will show red "WAIT" or "SHUT") and choose "Disconnect" and then "Connect". If this does not help, restart AmiBroker.
AmiBroker
/QuotesPlus plugin		 Error message "Cannot initialize C-TREE" Quotes Plus database problem Check if Quotes Plus own chart program works. If not, it means that this is a problem in the QP2 database module, and you need to contact Quotes Plus technical support for help
AmiBroker
/TC2000
/TCNet plugin, sometimes		 Error message "Variable or object not set" Timing problem inside TC2000 own components. The only partial workaround to this problem is to move all data from TC2000 CD-ROM to your hard disk (by using Hard Disk Lists).

 

Miscellaneous questions

Question

 Answer
Must I use Internet Explorer? Can I use Netscape Navigator, Opera, (other browser) instead?
You can use any browser. In certain server versions of Windows, it must be selected to be installed. Internet Explorer is now just a part of the operating system, and AmiBroker extensively uses those parts. But you don't need to use Internet Explorer.
Where is the help file (manual)?

User's guide is available from Help->Help topics menu in AmiBroker (accessible also by F1 key)