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Date/Time: Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:36:02 +0000



Spreadsheet still not saving correctly

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[2015-06-08 13:04:27]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Dear Sierra support,

I recently contacted you about not being able to correctly save spreadsheets, and you made some software changes which seemed to help some. However, I think it might not be completely resolved. Any time I try to save and share or save as a new name and use the new sheet some or all of the cell formulas are missing.

Here is a specific example: I have a chart open with a spreadsheet for trading study using spreadsheet "#1". I save the spreadsheet as "#2" (from the main menu,doing nothing to the chart). Then I duplicate the chart, open the study settings for the spreadsheet for trading study and change the spreadsheet to "#2". It opens but none of the formulas are present at all.

I need to figure out a safe and consistent way to save a given spreadsheet as a sort of backup and create a new spreadsheet to continue my development under a new spreadsheet name. Please tell me what the exact procedure for doing this is and any caveats involved.
[2015-06-08 15:16:09]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Followup:

Here is an additional clue - in the original spreadsheet I am able to modify formulas as usual, that is, just change the formula and the hit Ctrl/Insert to recalc.

However, in any spreadsheet that is a saved and then shared version (or saved, renamed and opened with a new chart)formulas will NOT update down the column.

Please believe me when I say I've spent hours and hours testing this. Bottom line is if I work with a signal spreadsheet from the beginning then all is okay. But it's impossible to share or duplicate a spreadsheet and have it work correctly. I could even make up a video of this if that would help you resolve this more quickly.
Date Time Of Last Edit: 2015-06-08 15:24:46
[2015-06-08 15:31:40]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Another clue:

On the original spreadsheet and chart (the one that appeared to be working correctly) If I duplicate the chart, a new sheet appears in the spreadsheet but all of my formulas are missing, totally blank.
[2015-06-08 19:58:52]
Sawtooth - Posts: 3976
You can use the same-named spreadsheet on all charts in the same chartbook.

Each chart will, by default, be on a Sheet# corresponding to the chart#. The formulas will not copy to a new Sheet# when you duplicate a chart. The formulas on the original sheet will not update in the newly-named spreadsheet because there is no spreadsheet study with the new name on that chart#.

If you set the Formula Source Sheet Number to the sheet# of the original formulas, cells will populate but cannot be changed on the new sheet because they will just revert.

If you set the Formula Source Sheet Number to the same as the chart #, you could copy/paste the entire sheet from the original formula sheet#, and make unique changes for that chart.

However, if you Save As the spreadsheet name to a different name, there is no interaction between different-named spreadsheets.

It's possible you don't need differently-named spreadsheets. If you do, you could copy/paste the entire sheet from the original spreadsheet, but there can be no inter-references.

There usually is no reason to have differently-named spreadsheets in the same chartbook, unless each needs to output to different chart regions.

To save incremental versions of your development, do this:
1) Focus the spreadsheet, and Save As to a new name. Click Yes when asked if you want to save it. The spreadsheet will disappear.
2) Focus the chart and go the the spreadsheet study settings and enter the new name in the Spreadsheet Name field. The spreadsheet will reappear with the new name.
3) If the incremental version also involves changes to chart or study settings, do a Save As of the chartbook name.

You now have incrementally-named chartbooks with their corresponding incrementally-named spreadsheets. No need to duplicate the chart as this creates confusion.

[2015-06-08 20:52:34]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Thank you, Tom.

I've reread what you've stated numerous times and I'm just left totally confused. The problem I'm facing now has nothing to do with other chart books or renamed spreadsheets. Functionality I had a week ago is now not there.

Specifically, I have a spreadsheet, a study collection, and a chart with the study collection applied. Previously, I was able to duplicate the chart and a new sheet would appear in the spreadsheet (numbered with the new chart number) with all the correct formulas.

Now, I can't even do that. I've spent numerous hours trying to see what I might be doing wrong and I sincerely don't think it's me.

I would respectfully remind Sierra support that the entire first 2 weeks of my trial was spent trying to share my spreadsheet and eventually it was found that a bug existed related to saving formulas(forgive me if bug is not the correct term but if software is found to have an issue that prevents it from functioning correctly I call that a bug). It's very difficult for me to just assume that the problem lies on my side. I am trying to be patient, but entire days of effort are now slipping by because of this issue. I am working with a partner (also now a Sierra subscriber) doing screensharing to make sure neither of us are doing something wrong or missing some little thing. I am spending huge amounts of time trying to get this to work and yet Sierra has not yet replied since this morning. Frankly, I'm used to much better response times from free software (Ninja for example). I am feeling a bit exasperated at this point.

[2015-06-08 20:55:18]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Tom,

One additional thing. I've tried following these instructions:

"To save incremental versions of your development, do this:
1) Focus the spreadsheet, and Save As to a new name. Click Yes when asked if you want to save it. The spreadsheet will disappear.
2) Focus the chart and go the the spreadsheet study settings and enter the new name in the Spreadsheet Name field. The spreadsheet will reappear with the new name.
3) If the incremental version also involves changes to chart or study settings, do a Save As of the chartbook name."

Actually, before you even posted this I tried it. However, NONE of the formula cells appear in the newly named sheet.

To me this is clearly an issue related to what I previously reported to Sierra.
[2015-06-08 21:37:05]
Sawtooth - Posts: 3976
This 3 step process works for me in both the Old Spreadsheets and New Spreadsheet versions. I'm not able to replicate what you are experiencing.

If you want, send an email to tom@sawtoothtrade.com and I'll help you to get things working.
[2015-06-08 21:48:13]
User911705 - Posts: 89
Tom,

I've checked again multiple times and I promise you I'm not making this up:) I've read the documentation as carefully as I can. Perhaps I and my partner both are doing something wildly incorrectly, but we both have backgrounds in support and custom work for trading platforms, so it's got to be an awfully non-intuitive procedure. It doesn't seem it should be this hard from what the doc's say.

I'm dismayed by Sierra's lack of response, I think we're past 6 hours, normal biz hours. This I'm not used to. Not only am I and my partner a new subscriber, I have MANY clients that could switch to Sierra if I directed them to. I sincerely appreciate your offer, but I think what's needed is for someone to take a look at my computer or at the very least respond with some specific instructions which I am happy to follow to try and troubleshoot this.
[2015-06-08 23:22:25]
Sawtooth - Posts: 3976
I'm not disbelieving you, but from experience, frustration will undermine one's ability to find a solution to a difficult problem. My point is: there is a solution.

SC will eventually respond, but in one sense I've delayed their response because I've posted here, causing them to have to take more time to review the thread. I was trying to expedite a solution but I may have caused the opposite.
[2015-06-09 01:11:27]
Sierra Chart Engineering - Posts: 104368
This is still pending review. We are not able to get to all support requests within the same day.
Sierra Chart Support - Engineering Level

Your definitive source for support. Other responses are from users. Try to keep your questions brief and to the point. Be aware of support policy:
https://www.sierrachart.com/index.php?l=PostingInformation.php#GeneralInformation

For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, *change* to the Teton service:
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[2015-06-09 10:51:59]
Sierra Chart Engineering - Posts: 104368
A video would be helpful. Or we could produce a video of what we are doing. Although it might be best if we use remote assistance and you just show us what you are doing. We can schedule that sometime in the afternoon today.

As we go through your procedure, the first thing that happens when we save the Spreadsheet under a different name, is we are prompted to save it or not because it is being automatically closed because it is no longer referenced by a Spreadsheet study. So we are forced into closing it.

If we did not rename the Spreadsheet and we duplicated the chart, then another Sheet is added to it, and the formulas are there.
Sierra Chart Support - Engineering Level

Your definitive source for support. Other responses are from users. Try to keep your questions brief and to the point. Be aware of support policy:
https://www.sierrachart.com/index.php?l=PostingInformation.php#GeneralInformation

For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, *change* to the Teton service:
Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing

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