Sierra Chart - Chart Data Files

Chart Data Files

Renaming Chart Data Files

Chart data is stored in files. Each symbol has its own file. To rename a file, such as in the case of futures contract rollovers, follow these instructions.

  1. Disconnect from the data feed by pressing the Ctrl-F11 keys.
  2. Select File >> New/Open Historical/Intraday Chart on the menu. Select the symbol.
  3. Right click the file you want to rename with your pointer. Select Copy. Press Ctrl-V on your keyboard to place the copy in your folder.
  4. Select the copy of the file which should be at the end of the file list. Right click the file with your mouse pointer. Select the Rename command on the displayed menu. Type the new symbol and if you see a file extension, make sure it's still part of the file name. Daily historical files use the extension: dly and intraday files use the extension: scid. If you do not see the extension then there is no need to type it. If the file disappears after renaming it, then it's because the file extension was lost. In this case, select the All Files filter in the Files of Type list box to see the file and add the extension. Note: If you get an error saying the file already exists when renaming a file, then you need to either delete or rename the existing file you are trying to rename to.
    Example: Futures symbol EUR-200506-GLOBEX has rolloed over to EUR-200509-GLOBEX. Change the 06 in the symbol to 09.
    Example: Stock symbol ABCD has changed to ABC. Rename ABCD to ABC.
  5. Do this for each symbol you need to change. When you're done press the Cancel button on the Open File window.
  6. After renaming a symbol you will need to change the symbol of your charts that are using the old symbol to the new symbol. To do this, go to the chart, select Chart >> Chart Settings on the menu. Type the new symbol into the Symbol box. For complete instructions see the Changing the Symbol of a Chart documentation page.
  7. To have your chart drawings (Trendlines, Text...) from the prior symbol display on the new symbol and enable the Show Chart Drawings for Different Symbols option. Click Ok.
  8. Select Edit >> Intraday File Update List on the menu. If you have added the renamed symbols to this list previously, then you need to modify those symbols to the new symbol you are charting. To do this, click on the symbol in the Symbols List, modify the symbol displayed in the Symbol box, do this for each symbol, and press OK when finished.
  9. Connect to the data feed by pressing the F11 key on your keyboard.

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Deleting a Chart Data File


  1. To ensure the data file does not come back, you first need to do 2 things.
    1. Select Edit >> Intraday File Update List on the menu. If the symbol of the file you want to delete appears on the list, highlight it and press the Delete button.
    2. Select Window >> Windows and Chartbooks on the menu. From this window look at each Chartbook and see if there is a chart for the symbol you want to delete. If there is, then select it and click OK. This will activate the chart. To remove the chart from the chartbook, select File >> Close Active Window on the menu. Repeat this step until you no longer find any charts for the symbol you want to delete. Select File >> Save All to save your Chartbooks.
  2. Disconnect from the data feed by pressing the Ctrl-F11 keys.
  3. Select File >> New/Open Historical/Intraday Chart on the menu. Select the symbol.
  4. Right click the file you want to delete with your mouse pointer. Select Delete on the menu to delete the file.
  5. Click on Cancel to close the Open file window.
  6. Connect back to the data feed by pressing the F11 key on your keyboard or select File >> Connect to Data Feed on the menu.

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When Intraday Data Files Are Updated

Data is downloaded to an intraday chart data file and current trade data is written to the file only when the chart data file is open or the symbol is added to the Intraday File Update List. Select Edit >> Intraday File Update List on the menu to add files to this list.

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Additional Information

It may not be practical to have a very large number of intraday charts open at a time because it takes time to download the missing intraday data for all the charts when you open them at the same time or connect to the data feed.

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*Last modified Friday, 13th August, 2010.