by Spacejock Software
Runs on all versions of Windows, 32- or 64- bit and Wine on Linux & Mac
About FCharts •
Installing on Windows 10 •
Downloads •
BETA 1.6 version •
Quickstart Guide •
Reviews •
Feature List •
FAQ •
Latest Version •
Data Sources •
FCharts Pro •
About Charting Software
Frequently Asked Questions: How long has FCharts been around? Version 1.0 was released in 2000, and underwent constant development and refinement until focus switched to FCharts 2 in 2009. FCharts version 2.0 Alpha was released in October 2010. If you get an error message which mentions msinet.ocx or mscomctl.ocx or similar, it's because Windows Vista and later (Win 7, Win 8) don't install these system files correctly. This is the fix: First, download and install this file Once installed, run the SJ Installer*, pick an app like yWriter, FCharts or yBook and click 'Check Runtimes' If any are missing, you'll be given the option of downloading and installing them. (You don't have to download and install the application you picked. We're just installing the support files.) * Under Vista/Win7/Win8 you should run the program as Administrator to ensure you can install the runtimes. (Right-click the installer EXE file and choose 'Run as Administrator' Learn how to set up your price database 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 software 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 software under that name ever since. In fact, the domain 'spacejock.com' was originally intended for my novels, but I needed one for the software first. That's why I also own the domain spacejock.com.au. It also explains the rather odd business name. As for publicity ... 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 program 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 software 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. The Trial Version is the only one which needs internet access, and only during the trial period. Can I run FCharts on a Mac or on Linux? FCharts is a native Windows application, but users have reported success running FCharts using Wine on Linux, or Darwine on OSX. It will also run perfectly under emulated virtual machines in VMWare, Virtual PC, Virtualbox and other VM emulators. 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 program 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. |