Loading ZILLIONS of Stock Symbols

[zr6bcm]

I want to load about 250+ European stock symbols into NT8. For example:

NT8 YAHOO Description
ADS_DE ADS.DE Adidas AG
ALV_DE ALV.DE Allianz SE
BAS_DE BAS.DE BASF SE
BAYN_DE BAYN.DE Bayer AG
BEI_DE BEI.DE Beiersdorf AG

NT8 does NOT support (yet?) DOTs in symbol names. So I definitely have to use different symbol names in NT8 than those of Yahoo. Also I want to load the description/names of the symbols.

Does anyone know of an approach/tool with which large numbers of stock symbols can be imported (and then exported again)? Maybe even NinjaScript APIs?

(Note: I am aware of Tools -> Import -> Stock Symbol List. However, this approach can NOT be used, because there no translation of DOTS into DASHES.)

Maybe somebody has a simple idea of how I can import the data from something like a .CSV file?

Thanks, Brian

[NinjaTrader_Brett]

zr6bcm,

Thanks for posting.

'.' are not supported since we have to persist the data for the instrument on the disk and its against windows file naming rules to have additional '.' in the file name. This is the reason we do not support.

In your case I would solve simply by opening the CSV in excel or word and doing a find and replace operation with the '.' to '_'. Then re-run the import from the import tool.

Sure NinjaTrader is flexible and you could create a custom import add on tool but that would take a lot longer then the simple change I suggest above and would require programming expertise.

[zr6bcm]

Morning Brett,

I dont want to split hairs with you, but your answer shoots the wrong elephant.

Brian wrote that he has already all of this in CVS file:
NT8 Symbol = SAP_DE (<-- with the underscore)
Yahoo Ticket = SAP.DE (<-- with the dot)

Your text was an exact rewording of my text. But it did not take us any step further!

I dont need a custom tool. The simplest approach would be that the import of instrument lists does the translation of the characters.

I ask one final favour (and I will mail you as well a chocolate for actually trying this ONCE).

You have 5 German companies with these Yahoo tickers (you might know some of them):
DAI.DE, BMW.DE, LHA.DE, SIE.DE, SAP.DE

Now just quickly cut that list and paste it into NT8 and explain to me what I did wrong.

(Question of the day: if you simply solve this by doing a find and replace operation with the '.' to '_' will Yahoo still be able to resolve those symbols?)

Regards, Brian (off to buy a HUGE box of chocolates)

[NinjaTrader_Brett]

Thanks for pointing out that the underlying symbol map would be affected by my suggestion. I'm now fully on the same page.

I will think on this and get back.

[NinjaTrader_Brett]

Alright,

Since chocolates so graciously offered

I've created the following AddOn to replace '_' with '.' in the symbol maps once you get your list imported that holds the '_' as I recommended. Please follow the steps below to get up and going and let me know if questions. As to adding the functionality to the window itself I will keep an eye on the demand for support of '.'. Since we needed to better support it in general if we had a lot of demand for those instruments and is something I'll keep an eye out for.

Steps:

* Download the file and save it to the My Document > NinjaTrader 8 > bin > custom > AddOns folder.
* Go to Control Center > NinjaScript Editor > Right click > Compile (Or Press F5).
* You'll get a window saying new addons has been detected. Select Yes to allow.
* Import your list of symbols holding the '_'
* Open the Control Center > New > NinjaScript Output window
* Go to Control Center > Tools > Select the newly added "Symbol Map Replace Tool"
* The output window should give you a list of all the instrument amended and say completed once done. Depending on how many instruments could take a while, let it run.
* You can remove the tool once done by going to NinjaScript Editor > In the Right hand side open the AddOn folder and right click on the tool and select "Remove".