The Messages and Alerts Window

The Messages and Alerts Window

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The Messages and Alerts Window displays a list of the most recent messages that have been generated by TradingSolutions. These messages indicate information that may be helpful when using TradingSolutions.

You can view this window as a to-do list of things to look into along the way. When you are finished with a message, simply click on its check box. After you are done with several messages, you can remove all of the checked messages by pressing the Remove Checked button.

& For help with individual messages, see Help for Specific Messages.

Ä Note: The Messages and Alerts Window typically appears in the lower left corner of the TradingSolutions display. If it is not currently visible, you may have hidden it. See "Hiding and Displaying…" below for information about redisplaying it.

Understanding the Messages and Alerts Window

This window is made up of several sections. The green header section contains the following controls and information:

· Message Counter

These numbers indicate the number of unchecked messages currently in the list and the total number of messages currently in the list.

: Example: Messages: 2 / 3 indicates there are two unchecked messages requiring attention and a total of three messages in the list.

· Sort Control

The Sort combo box allows you to select how the messages are sorted. By default, they are kept in the order they are generated. When any other type of sorting is used, duplicate values are sorted in the order the messages were issued.

· When Generated

Display messages in the order that they were issued.

· When Dated

Sort messages by the date associated with them. In most cases, this is the same as the generation order. However, alerts display the date for which they were generated.

· Not Checked

Display unchecked messages before checked messages.

· Message Source

Sort messages by the text in the Message Source column.

· Message Type

Sort messages so that the icons in the Message Icon column are grouped together.

· Message Text

Sort messages by the text in the Message Text column.

· Check All

This button allows you to check all of the unchecked messages in this window.

· Remove Checked

This button allows you to remove all checked messages from this window once you are done with them.

Each message has the following controls and information.

· Checkbox

The checkbox allows you to indicate when you are finished with a message. Checking a message will darken the message to indicate it has been handled. In addition, you can remove all checked messages by pressing the Remove Checked button.

· Icon

The icon indicates the severity of the message.

$image\ebd_ebd461.gif$ Information (Low Importance)

$image\ebd_ebd462.gif$ Warning (Medium Importance)

$image\ebd_ebd463.gif$ Error (High Importance)

$image\ebd_ebd464.gif$ Alert (User Defined)

$image\ebd_ebd465.gif$ Delayed Alert

· Time / Date

The time and date associated with a message is displayed here. In most cases, this is the time the message was issued. However, alerts display the date for which they were generated.

Ä Note: The date associated with alerts is the date and time on the data, which is in the exchange time of the data. This allows you to correlate new and previous alerts with the data in charts and spreadsheets.

Ä Note: Messages for today display the time only. Messages for previous days display the date. The time for these messages can be displayed by positioning the mouse over the date.

· Source

This is the data series, group, or TradingSolutions section that is responsible for generating this message.

· Text

This is the text of the message or alert.

& For help with individual messages, see Help for Specific Messages.

Additional Commands on the Messages and Alerts Window

In addition to checking and unchecking messages, you can also interact with them by double-clicking on them or right-clicking on them and selecting from a context menu.

· Perform Action for Message…

This menu selection performs a common action associated with the message if one is available.

: Example: The action for messages indicating a new analysis is available for a field is to display that analysis.

· Copy Message To Clipboard

This menu selection copies the message text and other information to the Windows clipboard. You can then paste this information as text into documents such as e-mail messages. This is useful if it is necessary to report an error to technical support.

· Export Messages to a File…

This menu selection writes all of the unchecked messages to a file. This is useful if it is necessary to report multiple errors to technical support. In this case, simply attach the exported message file to an e-mail message.

· Double-Click on Message Text

Double-clicking on the Message Text performs the same action as selecting "Perform Action for Message…" described above.

· Double-Click on Message Source

Double-clicking on the Message Source performs common actions for message sources if one is available.

: Example: The source action for messages indicating a new analysis is available for a field is to display a list of all analyses available for the data series.

Hiding and Displaying the Messages and Alerts Window

By default, the Messages and Alerts Window will be displayed in the TradingSolutions program window. This is useful for immediately seeing all of the messages that may require attention. However, when it is displayed, it takes away part of the space used for displaying data charts and spreadsheets.

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Docked windows, such as the Portfolio View and the Messages and Alerts Window, can be hidden and redisplayed in unison using the Toggle Docked Views button in the toolbar or the Toggle Docked Views in the View menu.

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The Messages and Alerts Window can be hidden and redisplayed by itself using the Toggle Messages and Alerts Window button in the toolbar or the Display Messages and Alerts Window in the View menu.

Moving the Messages and Alerts Window

By default, the Messages and Alerts Window is docked on the lower left side of the TradingSolutions window. This means that this window is attached to the bottom of this window and will not cover any data windows.

To move this window to a new location, move the mouse to the window handle on the left edge of the window. When the window is docked, this handle is displayed as two gray lines. Once the mouse is positioned over the handle, you can drag the window to a new location by pressing the left mouse button down and moving the mouse. An outline of the new window position will be displayed while the mouse is being moved. When the desired location is reached, simply release the mouse button to end the dragging operation.

By default, if this window is being moved to a location near the edge the TradingSolutions window, it will dock itself on that edge. To move the window without docking, hold the Control key down while you are dragging the window.

& For more help with messages and alerts, see Working with Messages and Alerts.