Blocks Trader Version 3.1 is now available.
This new release notches up the stability of the Blocks platform yet again and should
streamline your workflow. Our goal is to make each version snappier and more intuitive,
while increasing the depth of capabilities. This particular release is loaded with lots
of goodies and fixes hundreds of bugs reported by users. Here’s what’s new:
New Condition Palette
This is a new “home base” where you create your conditions and keep them organized.
Drag conditions from the palette to perform actions such as scanning, sorting, painting
and counting. The palette also acts as a nice color legend to see where and how your conditions
are being used within your layout.
New Condition Columns and Sorts
This is one of the coolest and most useful new features in version 3.1. Sometimes you want to
find stocks which recently passed a condition – such as in the last bar or ten bars ago. Or
you may only want to see stocks which passed a condition five bars in a row, or five out of
the last ten bars. Drag a condition from the palette to a watchlist and choose any of the
four conditional column choices –
# Bars Since True
% Bars True
Latest Date True
True in Row
The columns you create using these choices can be sorted by clicking on the column headers.
New Password and Blog Options for Shared Items
When you share a chart, layout, or watchlist, you can put a password on it to control
who is able to open and use it. You can also include a web address if you’d like to post
a blog or write-up about your shared item. You are welcome to include your own website as
long as it has content in the spirit of Blocks.
New Combo Condition Editor
You can combine multiple conditions together to make a new named condition. Simply drag
a condition in the palette on top of another. Then, add as many additional conditions
as you’d like with a simple drag. You can even use a combo condition inside of another
combo condition or sequence.
New Sequence Editor
A sequence is a set of multiple conditions which must occur in a specific order over
a span of time. They are actually very simple once you try them – and uniquely powerful.
Just think of a sequence as a timeline of events. Drag as many conditions into the editor
as you would like and the new sequence editor will pop up. Drag conditions around within
the editor to rearrange the order in which they must occur – then give it a name. It will
become just like all your other conditions that can be used to scan, sort, paint, etc. You
can even use a sequence inside of another combo condition or sequence.
New Improved Real Time Servers
Some users report their real-time connection intermittently dropping during the day. The new
servers have corrected the problem for a small group of test users. Hopefully, the issue will
be corrected for all.
Keep in mind that Blocks data servers are the first (and only) to deliver every tick for over
7,000 stocks and indexes through a standard DSL line or cable modem. We are pushing the
envelope, but this is what makes it possible for you to scan and sort entire watchlists in real
time – without paying hundreds or thousands of dollars per month.
New Improved Integration with Three Different Brokers
If you have an account with TD AMERITRADE, Interactive Brokers, or optionsXpress,
you can monitor your positions, monitor your pending orders and place trades from
inside Blocks Trader.
Even if you placed your trades from your broker’s software or website, they will
STILL show up inside of Blocks.
New Window Layout Options
Right click on a window header (this could be a chart, watchlist, news, etc.) You’ll
get a menu to help you place the window anywhere you’d like within your layout. You
can tab it with another window or place it above/below/left/right of any other window.
New Auto-Format for Block Diagrams
The power of Blocks technology stems from its connecting of lots of simple little
processes together. That’s why it is called Blocks™ and has pending patents. You don’t
ever need to see a Block diagram as they are automatically built behind the scenes.
However, some users like to view these diagrams to get a better understanding of what
is specifically happening. Others like to wire their own diagrams together.
These diagrams can get large and unwieldy. The new ‘auto-format’ button at the top
of the diagram will spread out the blocks making them easier to view.
New BackScanner Now Available in Pre-Release
The initial pre-release of BackScanner is now available to the following users.
- Anybody who attends a live Worden training event after April 21, 2008
- Anybody who has had uninterrupted Blocks service since version 2.0
There will be no charge during the pre-release period. If you meet any of the above
qualifications, you should automatically see the BackScanner button appear on your program.
If you think you meet these requirements and you don’t see the BackScanner® button
call 1-800-776-4940. More documentation will be out shortly. In the meantime, start
dragging conditions from your palette into the rules page of BackScanner. If you are
not the exploring type, the new docs will be out soon.
The price of BackScanner will be determined after the pre-release period is over.
Qualified Blocks 2.0 users will receive a special grandfather package.
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