I saw the KB article at https://help.optuma.com/kb/faq.php?cid=4 and I wanted to ask where I can learn the Pascal language. I came across a Pascal training website http://www.pascal-programming.info/index.php but I need to know if this website would help me or are there different versions of Pascal and should I look elsewhere?
Hi David,
I learned the basics of Pascal from TutorialsPoint which provides a free online tutorial. It helps if you have some familiarity with other programming languages and a basic understand of programming logic structures. After doing a basic Pascal tutorial you have go through the challenge of learning the vagaries of the version of Pascal your are going to use, like Optuma’s Pascal implementation which has a lot of special customisations providing functionality aimed at integration with Optuma and the data sets that Optuma uses, ie chart data. Pascal is particularly syntax critical and resolving errors can be a issue, depending on the Pascal Editor you are using, and in this regard the “Optuma Tool Programming (Beta)” leaves a fair bit to be desired, but must be used to test any Custom Tool code developed.
Other Pascal sources I find useful are:
- Free Pascal , and you'll probably need to frequently refer to the Free Pascal Documentation. Here is a free Free Pascal Tutorial that you can also work through.
- A useful free editor is the Lazarus IDE for Windows and here you can find instruction on Pascal and the Lazarus IDE for Windows.
If you decide to proceed with leaning Pascal and developing Optuma Custom Tools I’m happy to assist you, but be aware, I frequently have to rely on getting assistance from Optuma’s Developers Forum, a private forum for Optuma Pascal users, when working on my more complex Tools. I can be contact through Auld Tyma Data.
Cheers
Trevor
The Auld Tyma at
Hi David
I just wanted to send a huge shout out to Trevor in this space who I found to be both incredibly generous and also supportive of my endeavours to navigate the realm of Pascal/Optuma programming when I started out. In addition, Trevor is without doubt the most resilient and active contributor/member of the Optuma Developers Forum in my experience.
I am not and have never been a programmer, but if starting from scratch, as I did, you’ll want to have an aptitude for the programming language and its syntax and depending on the individual, potentially a considerable amount of time to invest in honing such skills. It turns out that for me that’s going to have to wait until I retire as I cant currently afford the time .
You might also consider engaging a freelancer to assist with writing code for any complex custom tools you may wish to create however this isn’t necessarily the solution either if they don’t themselves have Optuma. The Optuma programmers will provide a quote to programme a task/tool but remember that their prices need to be commercial. Anything that is beyond the scope of the Optuma scripting language could cost you in the 000’s rather than 00’s as a single end user.
I trust this helps.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrew and Trevor,
Thanks for your reply. There may be an occasion when I will hire a programmer, but I am retired and have some time to learn some new things. I may purchase some of Trevor’s codes that he has available. In the event that I need a programmer, is appropriate to ask them to bid on my project? I don’t know who else knows how to program Pascal for Optuma. It may be that the Pascal used by Optuma is a special version of Pascal and that is why I’m asking about where to learn it.
Trevor, as for the planetary codes that you have, did you develop them based on what you’ve learned from Alan Oliver’s courses and are they in Pascal or Optuma script?
Your advice is always welcome.
After looking at the Knowledge Base for PASCAL Custom Programming Module, it appears that it has enough for me to try my hand at some programming when I need it. At this time, I haven’t decided when I will need it. One possibility that I’m thinking about is to use it to access an external CSV file as a database where the Optuma script can process some calculations.
Hi Andrew and David,
I going have to shrink my swelled head after that glowing review from Andrew. I have to point out that we both started on our Optuma Pascal adventure together, it was just that, at that time, I had more time available to me than he, time that has now been eroded by my returning to full time employment in Thailand.
The Planetary Layers & Scripts and the Custom Tools (Pascal) on Auld Tyma Data are based on learning from various sources, including great support from the Optuma team, Alan Oliver’s material and workshops, along with much trial and error in Optuma scripting and Pascal programming, and the cannibalising of examples from the Optuma KB.
David, if you have the time, give it a go, it’s the sort of great mental exercise that helps to keep us young
Mind you, it could have you
Cheers
Trevor
The Auld Tyma at
I think that rather than link to an exterior file, I’d like to build a 2 dimensional array to store my data. This array will contain all strings and will be stored as a Pascal code. I’m getting some ideas from YouTube, but if you guys have suggestions please let me know. Later I will need to use either an Optuma script or another Pascal code to pick the parameters that I need for putting the results on a chart.
Free Pascal Program Tutorial 21 - 2 Dimensional Arrays - Matrix - Lazarus
Hi David,
I’ve not seen any method for accessing “external data” when working with Optuma’s scripts, but my understanding of the scripting functionality suggests it would not be possible. Matthew hopefully will chip in to this thread and confirm, or other wise, on this point.
As to accessing an “external data” file from Pascal, I’ve not attempted to do that within any of my Optuma Custom Tools programmed in Pascal, but I suspect it should be possible. That is actually a question for the Developer’s Forum, a private Optuma forum only accessible to those with the Optuma Pascal Programming Module. Again Matthew may be able to answer the question here for all of us to learn the answer.
Cheers
Trevor
Just how powerful is Pascal in Optuma? TD Ameritrade is my broker and it would be nice to be able to use their stock data and make TDA trades. Can Pascal connect Optuma to TD Ameritrade’s API? TDA does have an API that trading platforms can use to connect with.
KB Article: PASCAL Custom Programming Module
Getting Started with Tool Programming
https://help.optuma.com/kb/faq.php?id=242
My question is “Is there a video showing how to use Microsoft’s dbgview.exe with Pascal?” I’d like to get more help with this.
Debugging The Tool
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/sysinternals/bb896647.aspx