Tune Up

Follow these steps periodically to keep Investor/RT running as healthy, lean, fast, and efficient as possible. Users are recommended to perform a tune-up every 3-4 weeks if not more frequently:

  1. Delete Unused Objects Using the Object Manager we can quickly delete unused Objects. Open the Object Manager by pressing Alt-O or selecting from the Main Toolbar. For the purpose of this article, we'll use the term Object to refer to Instruments (symbols), Charts, Custom Indicators, Custom Instruments, Signals, Scans, Layouts and any other Object Types that appears in the left pane of the Object Manager. Select the Object Type from the left pane of the Object Manager and and list of the Objects your database contains will appear on the right. Select each object one at a time and press the Delete button on the Object Manager. Alternatively, you can hold down your Control key (Windows) or Command Key (macOS) to select multiple Objects and then press Delete. Do this for each Object Type mentioned above. When finished, go to Data → Database Wizard Alt-U and ensure Compress Before Backup is checked. Then choose Backup Database.
  2. Historical Data Preferences: Go to File → Preferences → Data → Historical Data and make sure your data retention is minimal in reflection of your data needs.
  3. Smart Compression: If you are not using Indicators or Charts that rely on tick data, you can turn on Smart Tick Compress by going to Data → Historical Data Preferences. See Smart Compression and evaluate if this is a viable option for you. If so, it can greatly reduce your database size requirements (by over 80%).
  4. Check Recalculation Statistics: Go to File → Preferences → Configuration and search for the Configuration Variable called IndicatorCalcWarningMillisecs Temporarily lower the value to something low like 150. This will force messages to print in the Message Log for any Technical Indicator that is taking more than 150 Milliseconds to calculate. Press Alt-M to view the Message Log. Once you identify Technical Indicator(s) that are taking too long to calculate (over 1000 Milliseconds), find the chart and open the Indcators preferences window. Then reduce the recalculation interval of the Technical Indicator. Additionally, consider shortening the lookback period of that chart.
  5. Review Chart View Period: Bring up the charts preference windows and look in the "Period" tab to review the viewing period of each chart. Make sure the view period is set to load the data you want and need. Longer viewing periods can result in charts loading slower and indicators taking longer to calculate.