Data Storing | Fin Studio

In FinStudio, managing how data is stored and utilized is crucial due to the application's extensive use of various data types across multiple modules. To facilitate precise control over data storage, FinStudio allows users to customize settings for each instrument individually through a detailed and user-friendly interface.

Steps to Customize Data Storage Settings

Select the Instrument: Navigate to the Instruments/Instrument Groups/Instrument List and select the desired instrument.
Choose the Period Interval: After selecting the instrument, specify the period interval you are interested in, such as 1 minute, 5 minutes, daily, etc.
Access the Storing Data Tab: In the instrument properties, find and select the ‘Storing Data’ tab to view and modify how data is handled.

Data Storage Options

FinStudio offers several flexible options for data storage that cater to different needs and scenarios:

All: This option stores all data for the selected instrument as it arrives from the data feed. It is typically used when a module, such as a charting module, actively requests this data. For instance, opening a chart may trigger a download of data from the provider, and selecting this option ensures that all incoming data is stored in the application’s data file.
For Past: Similar to the 'All' option, this setting allows users to limit the amount of data stored by specifying a time frame. Users can choose to store historical data for just the past few minutes, hours, or days, depending on their specific needs.
For Past Items: This option focuses on the number of data items rather than the time period. For example, if you are analyzing 5-minute bars, you can specify how many past intervals (e.g., 100 past 5-minute bars) to keep. This is useful for users who need to maintain a rolling window of recent data for analysis.
Always Store: When selected, this setting turns FinStudio into an ongoing data collection system. Once activated, and as soon as a connection to the data provider is established, FinStudio begins to continuously collect and store historical data. This mode is ideal for creating extensive historical databases but can be resource-intensive, especially if collecting high-frequency data such as tick data or full order book snapshots.

Default Settings

FinStudio also provides default settings that are optimized for each type of data and timeframe. These defaults are designed to offer a balance between performance and storage needs, ensuring that the application remains efficient while providing users with the necessary data for their trading strategies.

Recommendations and Best Practices

Performance Considerations: Users are advised to carefully consider the implications of their data storage choices. Storing extensive amounts of high-frequency data can quickly consume storage space and system resources.
Strategic Data Storage: Choose storage settings that align with your trading or analysis objectives. For example, intraday traders might prefer storing minute-level data for recent days only, whereas long-term analysts might need several years of daily data.