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The following Changes, Enhancements and Fixes were made to OptionVue 7 for Version 7.05

New in Version 7.05

1. VXX Trading System.  An exciting new system is being introduced for trading the VXX and XIV which shows outstanding returns for the
past 3 years.  To learn more about this great new trading approach, read the article in the latest issue of the OptionVIEWS
newsletter here. The features for managing this approach include two new indicators in the Price Chart and several new proprietary
indexes. These features have been packaged into a new module called the “VXX Trading Tools” that sells for $499 (annually
renewable).  A subscription to QuoteVue and/or BackTrader is also required.  

2.  In Price Charts, there is a new Lower Chart indicator called “Moving average of <symbol>”. This allows you to display, in the chart
beneath the main chart, a moving average of any other symbol for which you have a price history.

3. For PFG quotes reception, we added Bid Size and Ask Size for options.

Problem Fixes in Version 7.05

1.  In release 7.04 the Parcel Transactions function was disabled.  Now it is working again.

2.  In the Default Models form, the new “Use combined call/put skews” checkbox was having no effect.  This was corrected.

3.  The “Exch” field in the Matrix could display garbage characters when getting quotes from PFG.  This problem was corrected.

4.  For quite some time the procedure for automatically expiring/exercising options that the user forgot to take care of at the time has
needed work.  We re-wrote that whole section so it works better now.

New in Version 7.04

Changes

1. We added a new item the Default Models: A checkbox indicating whether to use combined call/put skews when modeling volatility.  By
checking this box you are saying that you want OptionVue, as a rule, to use combined call/put skew curves.  However, this setting can be
overruled on an individual asset basis.

2. Also in Default Models, we added several small “A” buttons in the boxes representing the various models.  The “A” stands for “Apply to
All Asset files” (we could have put “AAA” on the buttons I suppose), and by clicking this button you can cause the program to apply the
indicated model setting to all of your existing assets.  For example, let’s say you want to use the True delta/gamma model throughout.  
Simply select the True delta/gamma radio button to make this the default and then click the nearby little “A” button to be certain that all of
your assets will use this default.

3. In the Model form for individual assets, we added a checkbox for you to choose whether to use combined call/put skew curves.  This is
redundant with the same checkbox in the Volatility Model form.  However, you also get to see whether you are overriding the new global
default setting.

4. Also in the Model form for individual assets, we added a group box for selecting which option market price model you want to use,
making it possible to specify the option market price model individually by asset.

5. In a recent release the Alt-G hot-key to start TradeFinder was removed.  At a customer’s request we put it back in.

Problem Fixes

1. An Access Violation could happen when working with a completely empty T.Log.  This was corrected.

2. An invalid floating point error could happen on program startup.  This has been corrected.

3. When the Continuous Data Source was set to ‘None’, and enabled for PFG quotes reception, real-time prices could come into the
Matrix and the Quotes Display while in BackTrader mode.  This has been corrected.

4. Apparently it was still possible for a transaction log to lose transactions or to pick up duplicate transactions.  We took several steps to
tighten the controls in order to prevent such problems.

5. In the Performance Summary report, current account value could be incorrect when currently short futures.  Similarly, on rare
occasions the Account Status could display current  values with positive values instead of a negative values for short positions in any
kind of asset, resulting in wrongly computed Gain/Loss numbers.  These problems were corrected.

6. With PGF quotes reception, PFG made a change affecting reception of Cocoa futures and options, and OptionVue needed to have a
change made in response.

7. With PFG order flow, it was possible for manually entered trades in the T.Log to get replaced by incoming new trade fills in the same
symbol.  This was corrected.

8. Some customers had trouble with a Range Check error on startup and subsequent difficulty connecting to NetVue.  This problem was
resolved.

9. In the Quotes Display, with PFG quotes reception, futures contracts were not displaying open interest.  Now they are.

New in Version 7.03

Problem Fixes

1.  For PFG quotes reception, PFG has made a change that requires that you get this upgrade in order to continue receiving quotes.

2. When viewing a Matrix fed with PFG quotes, the options could start out showing the correct open interest numbers but over time some
of these numbers would change into much larger (wrong) numbers.  This has been corrected.

3. PFG and QuoteVue prices could interfere with one another in an open matrix.  This problem has been solved.

4. The Update button that is displayed while in BackTrader mode (now showing two little arrows in a circular pattern) was not working.  
This has been corrected.

5. A Range Check error could happen when you started the program and you have positions in certain futures options.

6. Some minor problems associated with trading weekly bond or grain options were solved.

7. The ‘O’ indicator in the Quotes Display to show that you have an option position in a particular asset was not working for many weekly
futures-based options, but now it is.

8. In Account Status, if you have this display formatted with ‘Posn’ as the first column followed by ‘Desc’ in the next, there was a problem
with printing any position that needed 4 digits or more.  This has been corrected.

9. A Range Check error could happen while producing a Risk Report.  This has been corrected.

New in Version 7.02

Changes

1. The program’s built-in file backup system puts files in C:\OpVue7\Backup now instead of C:\OpVue7\Backup\OpVue6 or
C:\OpVue7\Backup\OpVue7.

Problem Fixes

1. Survey reports were not displaying volatility numbers at the proper level of precision.  This was corrected.

2. The Detailed Report off of the Graphic Analysis could not be printed.  This problem was corrected.

3. The Sample account that shipped with versions 7.00 and 7.01 contained a few option trades and this was not a good idea.  It could
lead to messages (once/day) telling the customer that these options are past expiration.  We changed the Sample account to only
contain a deposit; no other transactions.

4. A range check error could happen while exporting the T.Log contents to a file.  This was corrected.

5. A range check error could happen when right clicking on the Notes column of the Quotes display.  This was corrected.

6. A range check error could happen when reading asset files.  This was corrected.

7. A range check error could happen when opening a Spread window off of the Matrix.  This was corrected.

8. When set to receive PFG live quotes, if you went into BackTrader mode the program would keep trying to re-establish the connection
to PFG quotes.  Now, when you go into BackTrader mode the program properly disconnects from PFG for the time being.


New in Version 7.01  

Changes

1. We are pleased to announce OptionVue 7 – the next generation of our software with a whole new look and feel.  We are sure that you
will enjoy the brighter screens and the more modern looking buttons and controls.

2. With this release we introduce a new trading partner – PFG Best.  OptionVue Systems is pleased to announce their new marketing
initiative with PFGBEST, one of the largest non-clearing U.S. Futures Commission Merchants, with customers, affiliates and brokerage
offices in more than 80 countries.  With this release, OptionVue clients now have the ability to execute futures and futures option trades
directly through PFGBEST.  To learn more about this exciting new opportunity please call today and speak with one of our product
consultants toll free, 1.800.733.6610, or visit our website at www.optionvue.com/PFGBEST-new-account.html.

3. In connection with our new PFG Best relationship, we also introduce PFG Best as a new data source.  Your OptionVue program can
now interface directly with PFG Best for futures and futures options prices.  Those who have an account with PFG Best may simply enter
their account ID into the program and immediately begin receiving prices into OptionVue.  To do this, simply open the Quotes Reception
dialog by clicking on the OptionVue logo in the upper right corner of the screen, and then click on the PFG Best button near the bottom
of the Quotes Reception dialog.  Type in your PFG Best account ID and click OK.  From now on OptionVue will look to PFG for its futures
and futures options prices.  With a funded account at PFGBEST and the ability to trade, OptionVue 7 is considered a trading platform by
the futures exchanges.  That means no monthly exchange fees for the futures exchanges need to be paid - a huge savings each month
for our futures option traders. Note: While OptionVue is getting futures and futures options prices from PFG, it can simultaneously look to
QuoteVue for prices on all other types of items.

4. Important: Since OptionVue no longer has support from IDC for the eSignal data feed, and with this release we must discontinue
support for eSignal.  If you use OptionVue with eSignal, you may want to decline to accept this upgrade.

5. The Quotes Display can be set to use a smaller font.  Make your choice in File | Preferences under the Fonts tab.  Pardon the
cuteness, but we are calling the two possible settings Original and Crispy.

Problem Fixes in Version 7.0

1. Several problems with the PFG order flow interface and quotes interface were fixed in this release.  In the PFG quotes interface, we
now pick up option open interest numbers.

2. Long ago we developed the ability to, from within OptionVue, quickly zip the records files associated with the currently active account in
preparation for sending them with an e-mail.  We recently discovered that this feature was not working.  However, we developed a new
approach and got it working.  You invoke it by having the Account Info form open and pressing Ctrl-Z.

3. On rare occasions the T.Log would somehow get every transaction duplicated.  This problem has been with us for years.  Finally, we
discovered the cause of the problem and solved it.

New In Version 6.39

Changes

  1. Spread trading capability was added to PFG order flow.  (Only 2 legs for now.  Butterflies and condors will come later.)

Problem Fixes

  1. Many customers were experiencing problems connecting to PFG for quotes.  We solved the most important problem causing this.  
    There still seems to be an occasional problem, and we are working on tracking this down.
  2. We made it easier for a customer to start up a new OptionVue account for trading with PFG Best.
  3. We fixed a few things so PFG order flow works when the customer’s computer is using European numeric and date/time formats.
  4. Ever since version 6.36, futures were not being defined properly in the Matrix if you went back in time more than a month or so.  
    This problem has been solved.
  5. There was a problem trading ES weeklys through PFG.  We solved it.
  6. For PFG accounts, the System choice was not being kept by account.  Now it is.

New In Version 6.38

  1. A problem still remained in the Track Data order flow system for European customers.  This was solved.

New In Version 6.37

  1. When running OptionVue with a poor internet connection, it was possible to see a message saying that another user has
    connected using your logon ID when, in fact, that was not what happened.  We took steps to prevent this message from appearing
    improperly.
  2. In the new header line that is available in the export feature, we changed “YEST” to “Previous Close” and “CLOSE” to “Last”.

New in version 6.36

  1. In the File | Export feature it is now possible to incorporate today’s date and/or time into the name of the file being written.  In the
    “Export file path and name” field, simply include any of the standard designations for year, month, day, hour, and minute (yy or
    yyyy, mm or mmm, dd, hh, and mm).  For example, if you entered C:\Marketdata_ddmmyyyyhhmm.txt, and did an export at the time
    of this writing, the program would have written a file named “Marketdata_130920111401.txt”
  2. Also related to File | Export, you can optionally include a header line at the beginning of the file to tell what the fields in each record
    represent.
  3. Until now, OpScan reports were given a time stamp according to the time in the NetVue server.  Now, they are time stamped
    according to the customer’s computer.

New in version 6.35

  1. We took steps to add the grain and bond weeklys to our system.  To make the weeklys appear in your Matrix, just go into Define |
    AutoStrike and check the box “Include Weeklys if available”.  Note, however, that prices on some of these options are sparse.
  2. We brought back the hotkey ‘N’ in the Matrix for Convert Trades.

New in Version 6.34  

  1. For those who miss the old horizontal axis controls in Graphic Analysis, we brought them back.  They happen by clicking on the
    new "L”, “R”, “-” and “+” labels.
  2. In the previous release, to clean up and modernize a bit, we removed all of the hot-key underlines that were seen in the menus and
    many of the buttons.  Unfortunately, this inadvertently removed some favorite hot keys that people liked to use.  So by popular
    demand we re-instated the “E” for expand and “L” for legend in the Matrix, as well as the “T” for target in Graphic Analysis.
  3. For equity option naked option margin requirements, we separated the Standard Factor into two parameters – one for calls and
    the other for puts – in case your broker has different requirements for calls vs. puts.

New in Version 6.33

  1. With this release the trade integration of OptionVue 6 with the Track Data brokerage is ready for prime time.  We have spent the
    past months building this trade functionality into OptionVue 6 and testing it extensively.  With a an open and funded account with
    Track Data Corporation you can send trades directly from the Matrix.  The new Trade Form allows you to set your order as you like
    before sending it, as well as being able to stage orders for a later time and manage all your currently working orders.  Once a
    trade is filled, your Transaction Log is instantly updated to reflect your new existing positions.  You can open an account with Track
    Data that allows you to use all the trading functionality of OptionVue 6 RIGHT HERE.  Feel free to call your Product Consultant at
    847-816-6610 if you would like more information on our partner's brokerage services and turning your OptionVue 6 software into a
    complete trading platform.
  2. The following 4 improvements were made in Graphic Analysis:
  • The horizontal controls (left, right, zoom in, zoom out) were replaced with controls that are a bit more modern.  (We realize they do
    not look modern, but at least they work in a modern fashion.)
  • If you hover the mouse over the 1st or 2nd standard deviation bars (just below the graph itself) the program will display the
    numbers associated with the endpoints of these bars.
  • As you know, if you right click on the line legend (to the right of the graph) you can enter specific projection dates that you want the
    program to use.  Now, the program remembers your inputs and continues to use them for the rest of the day, (globally; not just for
    this asset) as long as the situation is similar in that the max projection date is the same and the number of lines to be displayed is
    the same.
  • As you probably know, if you click on the little left and right buttons in the lower right hand corner of the Graphic Analysis screen it
    moves the position of the wand left or right just a little at a time.  Now, if you hold down the shift key at the same time that you click
    the buttons, it jumps the wand to the next 1st or 2nd standard deviation boundary price.

New in Version 6.31

  1. A new volatility model was introduced for comparison purposes.  We call it the EIOIO method, which stands for “every individual
    option on its own”.  It is a simple model which assumes that the current MIV (market implied volatility) of each individual option is the
    volatility that this option will trade at from now until the end of its life.  Of course, we at OptionVue do not believe this is a viable or
    reasonable model to use.  However, other options analysis programs are using it and we thought you might like to have it in
    OptionVue so you might be able to see what a difference it can make, in real dollar terms, to be using an accurate model.
  2. To make it easier to switch between models, we made it easy to switch between volatility models right in the Matrix by clicking on
    the “Volty model” indicator in the lower right area.
  3. A Market Price model was implemented for futures that is similar to the Market Price model for options.  Until now, every futures
    contract’s Market Price was always set equal to Last price in the software.  However, now you can include Bid/Ask in the
    computation of Market Price.  View your choices in a new section in the bottom center area of the View | Default Models screen.  
    Many futures, now trading electronically, have accurate Bid/Asked quotes even when their Last is blank or untimely.  Constructing
    the Market Price using Bid/Asked could be helpful in producing faster and more accurate MIV computations.
  4. We are looking forward to developing a good horizontal skew model.  Meanwhile, the program has, for many years, contained a
    quick and dirty horizontal skew model in that it models the skew curve of each month to morph, over time, into the curve of the next
    (more nearby) month.  While this approach is intuitively correct, there are times when it is inappropriate.  Also, customers question
    why the Graphic Analysis displays unexpected behavior sometimes.  Therefore we have decided to remove this feature from the
    volatility model and await a time when a more robust horizontal skew model can be developed.

New in Version 6.30

  1. With this release comes the capability of trading with directly with Track Data Securities.  This functionality is in beta test and will
    soon be ready for general release.  Watch for further announcements in the coming weeks.  
  2. The new Lentz Volatility Indicator was added in the Price Charts.
  3. Responding to customer requests, an important new filter was added to TradeFinder.  “Only consider options expiring in _____
    days or less”.  This should be helpful to those who want to have TradeFinder focus on the weekly’s and any other options expiring
    near term.
  4. BackTrader was originally designed with a delay mechanism that allows you to make several changes to the date/time before the
    program takes control and starts the process of updating the data.  In fact, the program waits 2 seconds after the last change you
    make, and then it begins to update the data.  Now, we have added a mode called “Immediate updates”, in which the program
    responds immediately to any single change made to the date/time.  For times when you need to be allowed to make multiple
    changes before the program does its work, the old “Delayed updates” mode was kept.  
  5. Just as we made the ES and SP weekly’s and monthly’s work better in the previous release, in this release we made the NQ weekly’
    s and quarterly’s work better.  We also corrected an issue with the way ES and SP weekly’s get automatically defined.
  6. Theoretical Price, in the Matrix, was being rounded to the smallest tick for the underlying.  This was found to be detrimental in the
    case of ES.  So we changed the program to round Theoretical Price to the smallest tick of the options or the smallest tick of the
    underlying, whichever is less.
  7. In Define Options, even though the Option Symbol Fill-In Spec contains a ‘U’ – which means to fill in the symbol of the underlying
    as the option’s base symbol – if the strike template is longer than just ‘X’, the program assumes that you mean to supply the option’
    s base symbol and it does not try to fill in with the symbol of the underlying.
  8. Brokers can charge interest on “hard to borrow” stocks and this gives rise to a need for the Short Stock Earnings Rate to go
    negative.  So now the program allows negative numbers to be entered in this field (in the Account Info screen).

New in Version 6.28

  1. As you may know, the program’s alert system was designed to be able to send e-mail messages. However, many customers have
    found this difficult to set up and put to use, mainly because of the difficulties in setting up the appropriate parameters to work with
    the customer’s own SMTP mailbox handler. So we decided to try a new approach. We found that having OptionVue send
    messages to NetVue and on out through OptionVue’s mailbox handler was a much more reliable approach and relieved the
    customer of a difficult, error-prone task. So if you found this feature difficult to use in the past, please give it another try!
  2. Associated with the variable volty model is a new field where you can tell the program how many days worth of volty readings to
    use. By popular demand the default is 1. Previously there was a field where you could enter a date and the program would not use
    any volty measurements prior to that date. We removed that field.
  3. When working with a futures-based asset, if you define additional expiration months in the options, the program automatically adds
    additional futures contracts if necessary.
  4. In the Matrix, the Trade field and the ExPos field were expanded to accommodate up to 999,999 contracts and up to 99,999,999
    shares.
  5. The Matrix has a new summary field parameter called Notional Value. Notional value, which can be displayed in any of the fields in
    the center area of the Summary Section, is calculated by multiplying the stock price by overall position delta.
  6. “Open” was added as a Line Format Import/Export parameter.
  7. Changes were made to accommodate the ES and SP monthly’s and weekly’s to be defined automatically via AutoStrike, and to
    provide reliable quotes on these options.
  8. A watermark was added in the lower left corner of Price Chart to identify it as being from OptionVue Systems Int’l.

New in Version 6.27

  1. From Account Status, it is possible to send the trade(s) that would close an existing position directly into the Matrix.  Simply right
    click on a position in Account Status and choose the new “Send Closing Trade to Matrix” entry in the menu.    
  2. When using BackTrader and keeping a Matrix open while changing the date, if the user has not jumped forward in time more than
    30 days nor back in time more than 4 days, the program will keep the same strikes in view.  Otherwise the program will reset the
    strikes to display the ATM and near-the-money strikes.
  3. In consideration of today’s tighter options markets, OptionVue’s slippage model was adjusted to ½ of the previous amounts when
    using the Small, Medium or Large degrees.    
  4. A slight adjustment was made to the margin model for naked equity/index puts to conform with the current margin rules.

New in Version 6.26

  1. “Linked” Analysis.  Many customers asked us to develop a side-by-side Matrix / Graphic Analysis format where the Graphic
    Analysis automatically updates with every change made in the Matrix.  We have accomplished that in this release.  In fact, there
    are two Graphic Analysis modes: the new mode is started by clicking a small, new button in the Matrix right next to the Print button
    (you will notice that it contains the same graphic as the old Analyze button).  The old, standard way of using Graphic Analysis is still
    there and you can invoke it by clicking the old Analyze button.  When you open Graphic Analysis using the new button, the Graphic
    Analysis opens directly to the right of the Matrix, but overlapping somewhat with the Matrix.  We recommend that you position the
    Matrix to the far left and adjust the width of the Matrix to be as narrow as possible (and perhaps expand the height) before you click
    the button to open the Graphic Analysis.  That way you have the best chance of having both the Matrix and the Graphic Analysis in
    view.  However, if you don’t like the way the two forms look, you can always close the Graphic Analysis, re-size the Matrix and click
    the new button again.  Unlike the standard Graphic Analysis, which allows for an unlimited number of cases to be analyzed and
    “piled up” in a stack, the new Graphic Analysis mode will only work on two cases at the most.  If your Matrix contains an existing
    position then that position will be analyzed and displayed using blue lines.  And if your Matrix contains any trade(s) (hypothetical
    positions) then the combined position – existing positions (if any) plus any trade(s) – will be analyzed and displayed using green
    lines.  Any time you make a change in the Matrix, the Graphic Analysis instantly re-calculates.  Please feel free to give us feedback
    about this new feature!
  2. In Price Charts, when split adjustment is necessary, just as you open the Splits dialog the program tries to determine the apparent
    split ratio and fill it in for you.
  3. Even better, for splits that are reported through the NetVue system, the Price Chart gets adjusted automatically for you now.
  4. Until now, if you entered just “X” in any date field in the program the system would look up the expiration date of the month
    currently displayed in the field.  If this date happened to be prior to today then the program would automatically jump ahead to
    expiration day of the same month one year from now.  Now the program more appropriately jumps ahead to expiration date of the
    next month.
  5. The account list drop downs were expanded so that it’s easier to view a large number of accounts.

Release Version 6.25

  1. When going into BackTrader mode, if you have a Price Chart open and the wand showing, BackTraderautomatically picks up the
    date represented by the wand position in the chart.
  2. On the Graphic Analysis screen, the B.E. number(s) in the bottom right area now have percentage number(s) with them.  E.g. B.E.  
    56.60(+7%).
  3. Survey now gives you the ability to exclude stocks priced under a certain price.  Simply make an entry in the new Min Price field.
  4. Next to every Volty Change field in the program we put a label displaying “Pts” to remind people that when they enter a volatility
    change number the program interprets this as a change in terms of percentage points.  For example, if the normal volatility is 30%
    and you enter +4% in the Volty Change field, the program will now use 34%.  (It does not increase 30% by a factor of 4% -- to
    31.2%.)
  5. Several improvements were made in Price Charts:
  • Today’s SV and IV are calculated and added to the Price/Volty chart.  Note that in order to display today’s IV the appropriate Matrix
    needs to have been updated at least once today.
  • Exponentially smoothed averages are now computed according to industry standard methods.  As a result, our charts now agree
    with those of other popular services.
  • For today’s bar (the red bar), we made the tick mark representing the current price bolder so it would stand out more.
  • When browsing through Price Charts from a list such as the Survey report, Yates Break Search report, or OpScan report, and you
    come to a symbol that is currently not in the Quotes Display, the program now gets a current price and displays the red bar on the
    right.  (Previously it was not able to display today’s price action if the symbol in question was not in the Quotes Display.)
  • In the past, if you opened a Price Chart, scooted the view into the past, set the wand on a particular point of interest in the chart,
    then clicked the Prev or Next button to change to the chart of a different asset, if that new chart needed updating then your place
    would be lost because, after obtaining more price information, the program would remove the wand and shift the chart back to
    showing recent history.  Now, the program keeps your place even if the new chart needs to be updated.  In fact, even if the new
    chart needs to be back-filled (obtaining a deeper history than you currently have stored), the program takes care of that for you
    automatically.
  • The program allows for an RSI period to be set as low as 2.