MEGADEMO.TXT
============
by Ret-Tech Software, Inc.

Thank you for taking the time to obtain the MEGADEMO version of the
MegaTech Chart System.  We feel that we offer a truly powerful charting
package at a very competative, affordable price.  We challenge you to
find ANY package that is as powerful as MegaTech for the same or a 
lower price!  If you have any questions or comments about this demo
program or if you would like more information, please feel free to
contact Ret-Tech Software at (708)382-3903 or by mail at the following
address:

Ret-Tech Software
151 Deer Lane
Barrington, IL 60010

If you would like to FAX your order to us, you may do so.  Simply 
print out the file called "ORDER.FRM".  Fill it out and FAX it to
us at (708)382-3906.  Please print clearly when filling out the
order form.  Include your phone number in case we have problems
reading your order.

Overview:
---------
MegaDemo is a paired down version of the MegaTech Chart System, designed
to provide interested users with a clear overview of the program.  It is
not intended to be used as a functional charting program, as shareware,
etc.  Most of the functions in the commercially available program can be
used.  The primary limitations are that this program will not save or update
any files of any kind and will read only the data files that are provided
with it.  This document file is intentionally brief.  The MegaTech Chart
System includes a printed manual with complete program instructions and
a descriptions, examples, etc. of each of the technical studies.

In late 1992, MegaTech went through a major upgrade, numbered "Version 2".
The newer version supports internal printing functions, chart rescaling, 
semi-log charts, more technical studies, PCX image exporting, and more. 
Foremost among the new features is better memory management.  With MT2,
you can create daily charts spanning 16 years, 100+ year monthly charts,
and 77 year weekly charts.  Not that it would be practical, but if you 
wanted combinations of these charts on the screen, you could place 16 
of any of these on the screen simultaneously!  Do it however you want.

MT2 is shipped with a new data handling utility called DataMax.  This 
routine will let you edit files spanning over 100 years.  Import and 
export from/to ASCII text files is also very easy.  You tell it what
your ASCII files are to look like and it handles them.  Need to create 
a custom file from weighted combinations of other files?  It will do 
that, too.  This means that you can create custom portfolio and index
files any time you want to.  Some of our competitors charge up to
$180 for simple ASCII im/export routines that can not do half of what
DataMax does.  We supply that at no extra charge!

The program requires an IBM or compatible computer with either EGA or
VGA graphics capabilities.  This version uses program overlays that will
be accessed from your hard drive.  If you run it from a floppy disk, it
will run quite slowly.  The commercial version is designed to take
advantage of expanded memory if it is present.  Performance will be
greatly enhanced.  Also, a math co-processor will speed up operation.

To run MEGADEMO.EXE, copy ALL the files that were distributed with it to
any directory on your hard drive.  Then simply type "MEGADEMO".  The
enclosed ".WIN" and ".CNT" files contain setup information for some
pre-defined screens.  You will be unable to update or change these
files in this demo.  The only data files that will be recognized are for
IBM, GM, DIS, DJIA and TR0692.  The DJIA file is a Dow Jones Industrial 
Average file.  TR0692.PRO is a file containing data on the June 1992 
treasury bond futures (downloaded from DialData using our auto-downloader
for that service.)

Data Format:
------------
MegaTech's PRO data file format consists of daily records that are each
26 bytes long.  The first two bytes are an integer value representing
the date.  The next 24 bytes are 6 four-byte single precision fields for 
the open, high, low, close, volume and open interest.

Manual data entry is supported in the MegaTech Chart System package.
This data entry routine will let you easily adjust your data for stock
splits, etc.  Also included are routines for merging and "fixing" damaged 
data files, and for using data from Prodigy, GEnie, Dow Jones and a couple 
other services.  Many different data services are supported.  Conversion 
programs are presently offered (availability subject to change) at no 
charge from the Ret-Tech Software bulletin board ((708)382-4340) or for 
$10 if sent on disk.  Ask if your data service is supported...

Autodownloading from various services is also supported.  If you would
like to autodownload data from Prodigy, DialData, or Knight-Ridder, those
program sets are each priced at $35.  Signal and RadioExchange versions 
of MegaTech are priced as upgrades at $30.  (Prices subject to change. 
Contact Ret-Tech Software, Inc. for more information.)

Running MegaTech:
-----------------

Note: Do not run the MegaDemo from the root directory of your drive.
The program will not permit you to change the data path or directory
and just happens to be set up for running from any sub-directory, but
NOT the root directory.  If you experience a "Data File Path Error",
this is most likely your problem.

MegaTech is built around banks of 30 pre-programmable screen pages.  To
change from "Page 1" to "Page 3", simply press [3].  If any charts have
been created, they will be redrawn.  If the data has been updated, the
new charts will be updated.  To change back to Page 1, press [1].

A few screen pages already have charts created on them.  Press your 
number keys, [1] - [5], to see each page.  Of course, on any of these
pages, you may press [C]lear and [E]rase to clear the screen.  Or, 
press [T]ech and [Enter] to see a list of tech studies that can be
added to the charts.  The appearance of these charts is up to you.  
The only thing you can not do with the charts in this demo is save 
them for future use.

At any given time, a menu of options will be listed at the top of the
screen.  These options may be selected by pressing the key for the first
letter of word.  For example, press [T] to do Tech studies when that
option is listed on the menu line.  (Use [T] "CT" to clear a window if 
you want to put a technical study on a blank screen.)

To exit the program, press [Alt][Q] for QUIT.

Mouse Control:
--------------

MegaTech has been evolving over time.  Mouse control was implemented 
in late 1991 and is now present in this demo.  Simply place the mouse
cursor on any menu item that you wish to select and press the left 
button.  For drawing lines, placing windows, etc, you may "drag" 
lines, cursors, etc. with your mouse.  

In MegaTech, the [Esc] key will always cause the program to return to
the previous or main menus.  With the mouse, place the cursor in the 
upper right-hand corner, just off the screen and click the left mouse
button to simulate pressing [Esc].


Menu Options:
-------------
[Escape] - In most cases, the Escape key will "back up" to the previous
menu.  It will even stop the program from completing a full page.  When
in doubt, try pressing the [Escape] key!

Chart - Press [C] to create a chart in any blank window.  You will need
to enter a ticker symbol and, optionally, beginning and ending dates.
If no dates are entered, MegaTech will create a chart using up to the
last 150 data records in the file.  If you enter dates, you MUST use the
format Mo/Da/Yr.  No other format will be recognized.  As an
alternative, you can enter a number instead of a date.  If you enter 200
for the beginning date and 0 for the ending date (or just leave the
ending date blank), MegaTech will create a chart using up to the last
200 days' records.  Keep in mind, the MEGADEMO program will recognize
only 4 different ticker symbols.

Window - If the active window is blank, you have the option of splitting
that window virtually any way you want.  Of course, there is some
minumum window size that the program will permit and there is a 16
window limit per page.  Press [W] for Window, select either [H]orizontal
or [V]ertical and then move the split line to the desired position with
the cursor control keys.  Press [Enter] to lock the line in place.  Now
you will see that one window is highlighted.  That is the Active Window.
If it is large enough to split, you can split it again.  Or, place a
chart in it by pressing [C].

ReSize - Press [R] to merge to adjacent windows together.  Press an
arrow key in the direction you wish to merge the windows.  Note: To
merge two windows, they must share common sides of exactly equal
lengths.

File - In MegaTech, pressing [F] would permit you to save your screens
for recall in the future.  The MEGADEMO program has had all of the code
saving screens removed.  Remember, this is just a Demo!

Tech -  If there is a chart in the active window, you will see "Tech" as
one of the menu options.  Press [T] and then enter the two-character
abbreviation of the tech study you wish to display.  If you are unsure
of the abbreviations, simply enter a "?".  A list of tech studies will
be displayed.  Use the PageUp/PageDown keys to change list pages.  After
selecting a Technical Study, answer prompts as required for each study.
Note: After creating the study and then changing pages, if you come back
to the original page, your technical study will be re-drawn.

     Note: The McClellan Oscillator, Nicoski Study, High/Low and
     a couple others may not be displayed with this version.  They
     require specific data not included with this demo program.

Print - The previous demo version did not support printing charts.  We
have reconsidered that policy and decided that we might as well let you
test the printing that MegaTech is capable of.  To print a chart, you
may change to the Print Menu and press [P]rint.  Or, if you are using
a mouse you may press [C]ustom and define a custom area of the chart 
to print.  Or, from the main menus, press [Alt][P] to simply dump the
charts to your printer.   Do not press [Shift][PrtScn].  That simply
will not work.

Note:  The first time you run the demo, you will see a Printer Setup 
menu.  Select your printer type, resolution, page orientation, output
format and printer port from that menu.  If you select the wrong type
of printer, printer port, etc. your charts will not print properly.
Press [Esc] when finished.  If you wish to return to that menu, go 
to the [Alt][S] Setup Menu and then press [Alt][P].  

Zoom - The Zoom feature is handy if you have small charts with only a
little bit of data displayed.  Simply Zoom that chart and you may see
the same chart with more data.  (The amount of extra data that may be
displayed is limited by the "Extra Days to Load" on the [Alt][S] setup
menu.  In MegaDemo, that is preset to 70 days.  Nothing on the MegaDemo
setup menu may be changed.)  Likewise, if you have a chart with lots of
data on it and you wish to zoom in on a particular spot, use the [D]ata
function, highlite the date you want to zoom in on and press [Z].  Enter
the number of days you want to see on the zoomed chart.

Data - If you have a chart in the highlighted window, you can press [D]
for Data and see the contents of each data record.  Press the left and
right arrow keys to move that bar.  If you want to see a bar in each
window on the screen, press [A]ll.

Line - Press [L] to draw lines.  Move the line cursor by pressing the
various cursor control keys.  You will notice that the cursor will
jump horizontally over about 5 data records at a time.  To make it jump
one day at a time, press [1].  If you press [9], it will jump 9 days per
keystroke.  Once again, select your drawing options from the prompts on
the menu line.  Press [Escape] to exit Line Mode.  Keep in mind that you
can drag the line-cursor with your mouse cursor!  Clicking in lines, 
fans, etc. is all very quick and easy.

Summary:
========

One thing you may notice is that the MegaTech Chart System includes many
features not to be found on other charting programs costing many hundreds
of dollars more.  It is easily the lowest priced charting program with
all the features it offers.  In addition, the service and support from
Ret-Tech Software has been outstanding.  A high quality charting system
and great backup combine to make MegaTech a "Best Buy" product.

Once again, this program and document file are designed to give only a
brief overview of the MegaTech Chart System.  Hopefully, you will have a
good idea of the capabilities of the program.  If you have any questions
or comments, feel free to contact Ret-Tech Software at (708)382-3903.

Presently, the entire MegaTech Chart System, Ver.2, package is priced at
$170.00 (+ $5 s&h).  Illinois residents add 7% for state sales tax.
Foreign shipping charges will be extra.  Ret-Tech Software reserves the
right to change the price without notice.  Call for current pricing,
information, and phone orders.  Checks, VISA and MasterCard are accepted.
Payment to be made in US Dollars, only.

