FCharts 1.5.96R is a Stock Software product from spacejock.com, get 4 Stars SoftSea Rating, FCharts SE is a free stock charting software software which will import price data from a wide range of sources, displaying it as OHLC, Candlestick and Line charts. It has a number of built-in indicators (MACD, RSI, Exponential and Standard Moving Averages and more), or you can write your own with the inbuilt formula language and display them as standalone charts or overlays. You can also draw trend lines with a few clicks of the mouse and print your charts in full colour or black and white.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How long has FCharts been around?
Version 1.0 was released in March 2001, and it's been in constant development ever since. The number of releases has slowed over the past couple of years because the program has matured to a point where it does just about everything you could want.
If I start using your program, will my data be 'locked in' so that I cannot easily change to something else?
No, Freecharts lets you export your data for use in (almost) any other program package. I say almost, because some programs are only able to use data purchased from the same people who sell the software.
How come I've never heard of FCharts or Spacejock? I registered Spacejock Software in 2001, and have been selling my charting program under that name ever since.
I don't advertise, and I'm not into self-promotion. I put my effort into pleasing existing customers, and I would estimate that 90% of my customers are using FCPro because it was recommended to them by someone else. If that sounds like a crazy way to sell a product, you're right - only I'm not selling a product, I'm developing a better charting software with the cooperation of thousands of dedicated users.
Why is Freecharts SE free?
I don't like adware, so I decided to make a cut-down version of my program available to everyone, free. It's fully functional with no limits, and if you decide to upgrade to the Pro version you can even re-use your database and settings. (You don't have to upgrade, but every sale helps to fund further development). You can also run a 7-day trial of the Pro version, which reverts to SE when the trial period is up. (You don't lose your data or settings at that point.)
Do you supply data?
No, I'm a programmer. There are plenty of companies who specialise in data, as per the data link above.
Can Freecharts import from Metastock? binary data files?
Yes, and you can specify a range of dates, too. Just click 'Import MS' in the Import/Export screen and follow the instructions.
Do you collect personal details so you can spam users?
No, there is no registration required for this free charting software. Download and use it without fear of 'Special Offers' in your inbox.
Does Freecharts use an internet connection?
No, it's a standalone program, although you can tell it to check for an updated version or download data from third party sites. For normal, everyday use, you can run it on a computer not even connected to the internet.
Can I run FCharts on a Mac or on Linux?
FCharts is a native Windows application, but several users have reported success running FCharts using Wine on Linux, or Darwine on OSX.
Is the free version a limited demo or a timed trial?
No. Once you've downloaded it, it will not expire or force you to buy anything. You don't get the huge range of charts and indicators found in FCharts Pro, but everything in the software works without any artificial limits.
Will FCharts work with futures, currencies, scientific results... ?
FCharts doesn't actually 'know' what it's charting, so you can use it with anything provided the data is in the right format. Details of data import formats are in the help file accompanying the program, and it's not hard to create a suitable file in a spreadsheet package or text editor.
How do I keep the stock prices up to date?
You need a daily update called an 'End of Day' data file, or 'EOD' file for short. A number of online brokers offer these files to their customers, and there are sites where you can download them for free. You can also subscribe to a data service. (See the Data FAQ for more details.) I recommend most users start with a free data service until they're comfortable with the program, and then subscribe to data after that.
How do I get hold of updates?
Download and install the 'FCharts' update from the FCharts updates page. This will update both FCharts SE and/or Pro at the same time. You can also use the program's inbuilt updater - just click the 'Settings' button on the main screen, followed by 'Check for Update'
How fast is the data import?
There are lots of variables, such as hard disk speed, number of stocks in the database and so on. On a recent machine, 1 or 2 seconds per end-of-day file. The license of this business & finance software is Freeware, you can free download and free use this Business & Finance software.