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InvestorSpace QuickStart Guide
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IMPORTANT INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
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Follow these steps:
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The minimum hardware requirements for running InvestorSpace are a 1GHz or better Pentium, 100 Mb disk space, 512Mb RAM, 32 Mb Video RAM, Win98SE, Win2000, WinXP SP2, Windows Vista. Your display settings should be 24-bit color. The ideal resolution is 1024x768 or higher. If you are installing the XP/Vista version of InvestorSpace you'll need to have administrative rights to the computer during installation.
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When you install InvestorSpace for the first time it will ask you for the location of the default MS agent character that is used for voice feedback and text-to-speech functions. We have included the 'Robby the Robot' character in the InvestorSpace "Data" subdirectory. When prompted during initial execution, click to switch to this directory and choose 'robby.acs'.
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You'll need to have an InvestorSpace account in order to access the daily market data. You either have received this in your introductory email or you have registered at www.investorspace.com. The InvestorSpace login screen appears each time you open an ".inv file". Once you enter your name and password in the login screen, it will be remembered for future logins.
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Depending on your Internet connection speed and computer power, datasets can take from 20 seconds to 1 minute to load. Be patient, it'll be worth it.
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Introduction
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InvestorSpace is a powerful investment decision support tool. It employs advanced visualization and financial analysis techniques to immerse you in a virtual world of investment information. Although loaded with many preset InvestorSpaces for ease of use, it is infinitely configurable to suit your investment decision needs. This Quick Start Guide is designed to help new users get acquainted with the basic InvestorSpace functions and techniques. It assumes you have downloaded and installed the basic InvestorSpace program. InvestorSpace Pro and Plus versions with datasets of Russell 1000, 3000 and the entire U.S. market (including Foreign ADR's) of approximately 10,000 issues are available at www.investorspace.com
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Logging In
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Follow these steps:
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Close the window with the 3-D InvestorSpace logo. (Optional)
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Open an InvestorSpace
.inv file. If not there already, enter your "User
Name" and "Password" in the Login Dialog. You will not
have to enter this information each time you login.
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Click "OK". The
program will start and download current pricing and analysis data
from our servers.
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Your InvestorSpace
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Think of an InvestorSpace
as a virtual world, populated by hundreds to thousands of stocks,
viewed through the lens of your investing preferences. Each
InvestorSpace file (".inv file") is comprised of 3
components:
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"Datasets": S&P 500
stocks, divided into Old and/or New Economy Market Sectors and
Industry Groups;
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"Visual Triggers": the
shape, color, height, dynamics of individual stocks depicting
pricing and other information based on your Momentum, Value or
Earnings investment criteria
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"Border Elements":
descriptive or ranked categories of financial information--Stock
Exchanges, Analyst Ratings; Market Sectors; Industry Groups
--defining the boundaries of your virtual world.
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You can mix and match Datasets,
Visual Triggers and Border Elements to create any number of
InvestorSpaces. The following charts are intended to help you
understand the matrix of InvestorSpaces you can choose from.
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InvestorSpace Toolbar
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The "InvestorSpace Toolbar" allows
you to perform all the functions you will need to use this
program. Below are the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" Icons and their
functions.
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Open File
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Save Inv File
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Edit Configuration
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Edit Triggers
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Data Feed
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ReSort Display
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Charts
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News Headlines
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Portfolios
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Go / Fly To Issue
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Data Grid
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Lake Slicer
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Pick Mode / Fly Mode
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Pre-Defined Views
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Camera Views
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Flight Paths
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Heads-Up Display Visible / Invisible
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Control Panels Visible / Invisible
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MS Agent Show / Hide
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Open ".inv File"
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To open an InvestorSpace
.inv file, click the "Open File" Icon
on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select one of 6 default .inv file settings:
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Old & New Economy Stocks / Momentum Triggers
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Old & New Economy Stocks / Value Triggers
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Old & New Economy Stocks / Earnings Triggers
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New Economy Stocks / Momentum Triggers
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New Economy Stocks / Value Triggers
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New Economy Stocks / Earnings Triggers
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Update Data
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To refresh your InvestorSpace with the most current pricing data, click the "Data Feed" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" select "Internet Server" / "Yahoo Quotes".
You will see the stocks in each sector "pop" as they change color and position with your pricing updates. You should Update your InvestorSpace data regularly (every 15-20 minutes), or if you discontinue and resume your session.
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Resort Issues
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After you Update data, click the "Resort" icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar", and watch as the stocks in each sector "pop" again as they regroup into a smooth-curved "heat map:" blue to red, high to low.
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Pick Mode
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There are two basic InvestorSpace operating modes: "Fly Mode" and "Pick Mode". The "Fly" and "Pick" Icons occupy the same spot on the Toolbar because you can operate in only one mode at a time with your mouse. You can operate in both modes simultaneously, if you use a Joystick or Thrustmaster controller.
The Pick Mode allows you to select stocks within your InvestorSpace by pointing and clicking on individual stocks. Pick a stock and price information appears in both the Heads-Up Display and Data Control Panel. You can also bring up charts, news and Edgar filings on the stock you pick. (See "Visual Scan" and "News Scan," below.)
Click on the "Fly" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar". The "Pick" Icon will appear. (See also "Control Panels" "Fly Mode" below.)
Once you’ve picked a stock, you can fly directly to it by clicking either the "Go" Icon. Or if you prefer, open the "Status Control Panel" and click the "Fly" Arrow on the Control Panel to fly directly to a selected stock.
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Portfolio Scan
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InvestorSpace comes preloaded with three portfolio types: The "Dow 30", "InvestorSpace 50" and "My InvestorSpace".
Click "Portfolio" icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select a portfolio from the "Portfolio Viewer" dialog box.
You can select and edit your own Portfolio by going to www.investorspace.com. Click "Edit", to bring up a form into which you input up to 100 of your favorite stocks.
Portfolio stocks are highlighted with a bright green cube surrounding each stock. Switch from between the three portfolios to observe the green cubes highlighting the stocks in different portfolios.
Click the "Pick" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" to get in the Pick Mode. Select a portfolio stock by placing your cursor over selected portfolio stock and left click. Company Name, Symbol and pricing information and other statistics will appear in the Data Panel. The "Heads Up Display" ("HUD") also displays Company Name, Price and Analyst Rating information.
Click the "Pre-Defined View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Lower Left".
Click "Fly To" or "Zoom" on the Portfolio Control Panel to fly or zoom directly to a selected portfolio stock. Select another stock from the Portfolio Control Panel and click "Fly To" or "Zoom" to repeat process.
Click the "Pre-Defined View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Lower Left" at any time to return to your original view.
Click "Cancel" on the Portfolio Control Panel to exit Portfolio mode.
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Visual Scan
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Click the "Pre-Defined View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Top View". Check the Toolbar to make sure you are in the "Pick Mode" and not "Fly Mode".
Click the "Flight Paths" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Circle" to fly around your InvestorSpace on a continuous auto pilot loop.
Click on the "Control Panel" icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar", select "Data Panel" and select "All Control Panels". The Data, Status, VCR Control Panel and Web Browser will appear.
  
The "Data and Status Control Panels" display navigation controls and the price and other statistics represented within your InvestorSpace.
The other Visual Triggers are displayed on the bottom of the "VCR Control Panel" for your reference.
Select a stock by placing your cursor over the stock and left-click. (Make sure you’re in Pick Mode.) Company name, symbol and various statistics will appear in the "Data Control Panel" . Pricing and Analyst Rating information and on the "HUD".
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Web Browser
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The "Web Browser" allows you to access any web page from within your InvestorSpace. It contains standard browser commands including: "Back", "Forward", "Reload", "Open", "Stop", etc. Use the "Web Browser" to access stock charts, Edgar filings, news headlines or other financial websites, and access www.investorSpace.com. Once you’ve selected a stock, click the "InvestorSpace.com" Icon on the Web Browser Toolbar to bring up our competitive analysis of the selected company.
Click the "Pre-Defined View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Top View" to return to your original position.
Click the "Chart" Icon or the "News" Icon on the Web Browser Toolbar to bring up a company chart or headlines off the Internet.
Repeat the process with other blue, spinning and or blinking stock as desired. For any selected stock, you can bring up an InvestorSpace Chart, by following the View Chart instructions below.
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Agent NewsWatch
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Click the "Pre-Defined View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Top View".
Click the "News" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Agent NewsWatch". "Robby" the Microsoft agent will appear and begin reading the headlines. The headlines text will also appear on the top of the VCR Control Panel.
Company name, symbol and pricing information will appear in the Data Panel.
Robby will disappear after reading all the day’s headlines.
Click on the "Zoom" arrow on the "Status Control Panel" to zoom directly to any headline stock for a close look at the visual cues. Click "Zoom" for each headline, or click the "View" Icon and select "Top View" to return to your original position.
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News Headlines
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This function harnesses the explosion of news and information available on the Internet in the XML format. InvestorSpace XML News Headline provides twenty news categories you can edit to choose from a nearly limitless selection of news subcategories.
Click on the "News" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "News Headlines": the XML dialog box will appear. Right click on a news category to bring up subcategories. Select a subcategory’s current headlines by left double-clicking on it. Double-click on a headline to bring up the full story in the "Web Control Panel". You can also instruct Robby the Robot to read the XML News Headlines by clicking the "Agent Read" checkbox.
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Fly Mode
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To select the Fly Mode, click on the "Fly" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar".
The "Pick" Icon will disappear. Use your mouse (or Joystick) to navigate through your InvestorSpace like a fighter pilot.
  
Start Position --- Fly Forward --- Fly back
To fly forward: place your cursor above the cross hairs of the HUD, left click and hold. Place cursor below the crosshairs, left click and hold to fly backwards.
 
Start Position --- Fly Left --- Fly back
To fly right or left: place your cursor to the right or left of the crosshairs, left click and hold while flying screen-right or screen-left.
 
Start Position --- Fly Up --- Fly Down
To fly up or down: place your cursor above or below the cross hairs, right click and hold while flying up-screen or down-screen.
 
Start Position- --- Slide Left --- Slide Right
To slide right or left: place your cursor to the right or left of the crosshairs, right click and hold while sliding right or left.
  
Start Position --- Roll Forward --- Roll Back
To roll forward or backward: click both mouse buttons and hold while the cursor is above or below the crosshairs.
 
Start Position --- Pitch Right --- Pitch Left
To pitch right or left: click both mouse buttons and hold while the cursor is right or left of the crosshairs.
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Robby the Robot
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Robby the Robot will appear each time you start an InvestorSpace session; notifying you as the program, data and configurations load. He performs such text-to-speech functions as reading your news News Headlines. He will activate your Control Panels and find individual stocks you want check out. Click "Agent" on the Windows Menu, Uncheck "Microsoft Agent" / "Hide", and Robby will appear.
 
Right click on Robby and you will see the InvestorSpace voice commands which Robby will respond to. They include: "Top View", "Ground Zero", "Fly To Selected", "Fly", "Pick", "Automove Wireframe","Heads Up Display", "Agent", "Agent Find Symbol", "All Control Panels", "Data Control Panel", "Status Control Panel", "VCR Control Panel". To trigger the voice command function, hold down the "Scroll Lock" key while speaking the command clearly into your PC’s microphone. Make sure your microphone is on and working.
When you ask Robby to find a stock for you, he sends the InvestorSpace knowledge agent out to that stock. The stock tracking agent is depicted in your InvestorSpace as a "star-tetrahedron". Activate the agent by clicking the "Agent" Icon "InvestorSpace Toolbar".
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View Charts (InvestorSpacePlus and Pro Versions only)
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Click on the "Pick" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar".
Click on the "View" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select "Top View"
Select a stock by placing cursor over stock and left click.
The "Heads-Up Display" ("HUD") will display company name, high/low pricing information and analyst ratings.
Click on the "Chart" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar", select an "Intraday" or "Historical" chart, then select "From Internet". An InvestorSpace chart will appear.
Zoom in and out on the chart or scroll back and forth through time by clicking the appropriate button on the chart control panel.
Click "Options" on the chart control panel to activate the chart options control pane. This function allows you configure the chart by time period, interval, type of chart (i.e. bars, candles or lines). You can also superimpose a second chart based on CCI, MACD, RSI, Welles-Wilder DX/DMI, Momentum and other technical studies.
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Edit Custom ".inv files"
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InvestorSpace provides you with three ways to configure your InvestorSpace to suit your decision and display preferences:
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Use the six preset configurations: Old and New Economy Momentum, Value and Earnings
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Select from the choices available on the "Configuration" and "Triggers" dialog boxes
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Edit your "Border Element" and "Visual Trigger" configurations manually by opening an .inv file in your text editor and inputting desired changes. Save the resulting text document as an .inv file in the InvestorSpace "Data" subdirectory.
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To edit your inv.file configurations, click the "Edit Configuration" Icon
In the "Configuration" dialog box select your choice of X & Z axis "Border Elements" from the list control.
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Edit Visual Triggers
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The default "Visual Triggers" are set for Momentum, Value and Earnings investor criteria. However, you can easily change the analysis criteria attributable to any of the visual cues and fine tune your InvestorSpace.
To edit your inv.file "Visual Triggers", click the "Triggers" Icon on the "InvestorSpace Toolbar" and select your "Spin", "Blink", "Cloak", "Shape", "Height", and "Arrow Vector" criteria from the Triggers Control Panel.
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