The Expansion Macro

The expansion macro enables you to list instruments. In chart windows, you can use the expansion macro to create multiple instrument charts. In quote windows, you can use the expansion macro to fill in quotes.

When the program sees an at sign in an instrument symbol, it querries the Master Table for instruments that contain a particular symbol root. For example, the symbol SP@ displays all the S&P futures (all symbols in the database that have the symbol root SP). The expansion macro employs the following syntax:

<symbol>@

where <symbol> is the instrument symbol, and @ specifies expansion. In its simplest application, you use the expansion macro sign (@) in place of a future symbol’s month and year codes. This tells the program to list symbols with the lead month contract and all out month contracts. If, for example, there are four actively trading contracts on the S&P, entering SP@ fills the first cell on the quote page with the lead month, and the following cells with the three out-month contracts.

When you use the expansion macro to list symbols in a quote window, the system lists all available instruments and moves the entry box one position below (or beside) the last symbol in the listing. You can then enter more symbols.

When you use the expansion macro to create multiple instrument charts, the program lists all available instruments in the chart. Be careful when entering futures that have many expirations, like Eurodollars and Light Crude. Using the expansion macro with such instruments can create multiple instrument charts that are difficult to read.