The Stock Library

The Stock Investment Guide 3 introduced a new feature that helps to organize your stock analyses. The Stock Library screen allows users to organize their stocks much like digital music can be organized. You can directly import data files using the ticker symbol field and hitting the Fetch SSG button. You can easily search for stocks by typing characters in the search field on the right side of the screen.

Note: The values in the image are for illustration purposes only. Do not use these values to make investment decisions.

The Source Menu Bar
The left-hand side of the Library window, the light blue area under the "Source" label, initially has a single entry: "Stock Library." Additional sources can be entered in this sidebar by clicking either the New Portfolio button or the New Invest button. A new untitled portfolio is then created in the sidebar. Double-click the "untitled" name and enter your desired name for the portfolio.

Double clicking any stock in the Stock Library or Portfolio views will open that stock in a Stock Analysis window.

Populating Portfolios
There are two ways to add stocks to a Portfolio: (1) drag stocks from your Stock Library or (2) enter a stock ticker and press the Fetch SSG button while in a portfolio view. When entering tickers and fetching stock data, SIG will check your library to see if the stock already exists. You will then have the option of linking to the existing stock data, or to import new data. If more than one copy of a stock exists in your Stock Library, SIG will link to the first one listed.

If you are populating an Investment Portfolio, you may also enter the number of shares, then either a price per share or total cost for the stock. The remaining value will be calculated for you. The Investment Portfolio view allows for simple stock performance tracking. This is a great way to create watch lists for stocks you may be interested in owning. You can also keep track of your IRA, 401K, or stock club portfolio performance.

Deleting a Portfolio
To delete a Portfolio or Investment Portfolio from the list, simply highlight the name in the left sidebar, then press the Delete Portfolio or Delete Invest button in the toolbar. Deleting a portfolio does not remove the stock data files from the Stock Library.

Sorting a Stocks
The stocks viewed in the library any portfolio may be sorted by click on any column header. A second click to the column header will reverse the sort order. The a search term has been entered in the search field, only the visible stocks will be sorted.

Selecting Stocks
Stocks may be selected in the Stock Library or any portfolio by activating the checkbox next to the stock ticker. All stocks viewed can be selected by pressing the checkbox button at the top of the checkbox column. A second press will deselect the stocks.

Deleting Stocks
Once stocks are selected they may be deleted from the current view. If the current view is a portfolio, the stocks are removed from the portfolio, but not removed from the library. If the current view is the Stock Library, the stocks are permanently removed from the Stock Investment Guide. The stocks are also removed from the respective portfolios.

Updating Prices
Once stocks are selected, the current stock prices may be retrieved by pressing the Update $ button in the toolbar. The Up/Down ratio and total return are recalculated based on the last analysis saved to the Stock Library.

Updating Data
Once stocks are selected, the stock data may be updated by pressing the Update Data button in the toolbar.

Opening an Analysis
The easiest way to open a stock analysis is to double-click the stock listed in the Stock Library or portfolio. If stocks have been selected using the checkboxes, only the first stock listed will be opened when pressing the Analysis button. If no stock is listed, the Analysis button opens a new, blank analysis. Stock data may be retrieved within the Stock Analysis window.

Opening a Stock Comparison (previously called the Comparison Analysis Review or CAR)
Once stocks are selected, a side-by-side comparison of stock analyses may be opened for up to 5 stocks at a time. If more than 5 stocks have been selected, only the first 5 stocks are opened. To open a comparison, select 1 to 5 stocks using the checkboxes. Then press the Comparison button in the toolbar.

Opening a Portfolio Analysis Review (PAR)
Once stocks are selected a Portfolio Analysis Review (PAR) may be opened by pressing the PAR button in the toolbar. An entire portfolio may be open in a PAR, since there is no real limit to the number of stocks that can be analyzed in PAR.

Exporting a Database
A database of selected analyses may be exported from the Stock Investment Guide. This exported database can be imported by other SIG users. To export data for users of other stock analysis programs, use the Export as .ssg menu item. To export a database, select the stocks to be exported by using the checkboxes. Then use the Export Database menu item (under the File menu) to export the database. Only the stock data are exported using the function. Portfolio definitions are not exported.

Importing a Database
Use the Import Database menu item to import a previously imported database. The imported stocks are added to the Stock Library.

The Stock Library Database File
The stock data is stored in the StockLibrary.rsd database file, located in your documents directory. Renaming the database file will cause a new, blank database file to be created. Renaming a previously exported database file to "StockLibrary.rsd" will cause the software to use that database file. You should periodically backup the StockLibrary.rsd database file.

The Stock Investment Guide does not provide investment advice. The suitability of any investment can't be determined by this software, but must be determined by you.