FTComm: FastTrack Communications

Updated December 01, 2011

This communication package connects with FastTrack's FTP servers to do all communication functions.

DownLoad Tab:
What Do You Want to Do

Choose what you want to do, then click Connect.

• Data Update
  During each day we revise and add to the FastTrack databases. After market close you get a long download with new prices and changes.
   
  During the day, day we post  corrections and add issues to the database. These  changes are available after 11:00AM Eastern Time market days via "Data Update." 
• Upgrade Versions
  This feature checks and installs the programs upgrades and other needed files to ensure that your FastTrack installation is up to date, complete, and working.
• Online Integrity Checking
  A FastTrack Exclusive Feature: If your database becomes corrupted for any reason, we will restore it at no charge. Online Integrity Check keeps your FastTrack databases byte-for-byte, bit-for-bit identical to our master database. Your whole database is checked for errors.  FTComm makes the appropriate changes to the database.

Status (the big, unlabeled,  empty area)
Status information about the downloading scrolls in this area. If you are having communication difficulties, the information in this area will help you and FT Tech Support diagnose the problem.

Progress Bar
The bar measures the progress of each file transferred.   

Connect Button
Push this after all other options have been selected. FTComm will attempt to connect to one or both of our independent servers (one in house and one at a server farm in Arizona). FTComm will automatically retry a bad connection ping/ponging between servers if necessary.

Interrupt
It will interrupt a download in progress, but may seem to hang at that point. Wait at least a minute before taking more drastic measures like rebooting.

To close down FTComm
Click the X button in the upper right corner of the window.

User Settings Tab

Account and password- These are unique to yourself. Do not share them with others. You must enter these values or you cannot communicate to upgrade your programs or update your data.

Passive Connection

If you are having problems connecting, check or uncheck this box. This will change the way FTComm operates and may solve the problem. This may be necessary when you connect at hotels, airports, or coffee shops.

If your FTComm is working fine, then don't mess with this option. 

Timed Update- There are two methods

1. Open the FTComm program and click on the User Settings tab.  Enter the time (10:00am) in the blank and click the "Do Timed Update" button.  The program will automatically update the database at that time.  Your computer must be on and FTComm must be running (although it may be minimized) for this option to work.
2. Use the Windows Task Scheduler by

• Clicking on Start/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Scheduled Tasks. 
• Double-click the add scheduled task button to start the Scheduled Task Wizard. 
• Select FTComm2 in the list of programs you want Windows Task Scheduler to run. 
• Set this this task to be performed daily and set the start time.  ***IMPORTANT***  The Scheduled Task Wizard will now ask for the Name and Password of the user.  If the password is blank on the user account then the task will not run (Many people do not enter a password when their computer starts up.) 
• The Scheduled Task Wizard will announce that you have successfully scheduled FTComm2 as a task. 
• Click the check box to open advanced properties and click the Finish button.  Change the Run line from C:\FT\FT4WIN\ftwinapp.exe to C:\FT\FT4WIN\ftwinapp.exe /U as shown in the images below.

Run Program after Updating
Select any program to open automatically after FTComm has finished updating the closing prices.

Troubleshooting

There a host of things that can go wrong. Mostly, these problems are caused by "Security" firewalls installed on your computer. To test to see if your computer is blocking FTComm

• Turn off your firewall temporarily. (Most users do not know how to do this.) If FTComm works with the firewall off, then you know the problem. Call your computer technician and ask him how to use your firewall properly.
  OR
• Reboot in safe mode, then run FTComm. Safe mode restarts the computer without starting security software. If FTComm works in safe mode, then call your computer technician and ask him how to use your firewall properly.