Installation
Setup & Administration

Manual Last Update July 13, 2025

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Overview

StockApp is a comprehensive investment tracking application designed to help users monitor their investment portfolios and dividend returns. The software provides advanced sorting capabilities that combine predicted price movements with dividend yields, enabling users to make informed investment decisions tailored to their investment style.

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System Requirements

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Installation

Windows Installation - PENDING

Apple MacOS Desktop

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Initial Setup

First Launch Configuration

Register the software.

• Click on the Yellow Regsitration button
• Key in your license key information.
• Note: This may automatically be done if you purchased from one of the major App Stores, Apple or Microsoft.

Step 2: Admin Screen / Create Portfolio

From the main screen, click on the Admin button to enter the administration screen.

The first time you enter the Administration screen you will be prompted for a folder to save Backups, Imports/Exports. Create and/or select a folder and click Open.

Add at least one client. Normally this is yourself. StockApp neeeds at least one account to operate properly. Do not use the Demo client. There is no guarantee the Demo client will reliably hold correct data.

• [Add]
  This field is a minimum of seven characters.
  StockApp needs at least one portfolio/client account.
  Use the [Add New Client Email] field and [Add] button.
  
  NOTE: Do not use the demo account for real data.
  The demo account will not reliably store correct data.
  
  
• [Data Folder]
  Sets the folder where backups, exports, and imports occur


• [Backups]
  Backs up your data.
  Always keep a backup.


• [Client Files]
  Exports a portfolio. This file can be shared with other StockApp users.


• [Followed Stocks]
  Exports your followed stocks and meta data about those stocks.
  You can share this file with other StockApp users.


• [Registration]
  Allows you to transfer ownership to another StockApp user.
  
  
• [Delete a Client]
  To Delete a clients data, select a client and a code will appear.
  Copy the code to the duplicate code field
  Click [Confirm Delete Clients Data]
  

Step 3: Data Source Configuration

• Select your preferred data providers
• Each data provider offers a key and a few data updates daily for free.
• Load each key into the appropriate provider key box and save it.

• Download a universe of stocks from one of the providers. For example - from EODData, I recommend the big three AMEX, NASDAQ, and NYSE with names - like this.



• Navigate to the files and select them. StockApp will load the symbols and names. This only has to be done once.

User Interface Guide

Main Dashboard [Stocks]

The main dashboard provides an overview of the selected client/portfolio and key metrics. By default , this page shows your open positions along with key data for each position. If there are no open positions, this page defaults to showing all of your followed stocks. Once a position is entered, the page defaults to only your open positions. To show all followed stocks again, click the [Show All Stocks] checkbox.

Title Bar

Window Title Bar shows Registered to your email [If downloaded from AppTools.us]

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Stocks

This panel displays an overview of active investments.

Features:

• Shows active investments with current values
• Add investments [Edit / Remove from Details panel]
• Search for specific keywords or symbols
• Limit search to symbols only
• Show all followed stocks not just your active trades
• Sort by any column
• Sort by profit potential
• Show / Hide and adjust width of columns
• Show all columns including hidden columns
• Adjust width of a hidden column to display it again
• Change the order of columns by dragging the column to desired position

Navigation Bar

• Stocks
• Details
• My Stats
• My Trades
• Market Data
• Current Portfolio Selector
• Admin

The navigation bar allows you to select which panel [Stocks, Details, My Stats, My Trades, Market Data] to display for the selected client/portfolio. The drop down box allows you to choose which client/portfolio to display. You can add or delete a specific client/portfolio in the Admin window. This is especially useful if you wish to assist family members or friends with their investments or if you have multiple portfolios you are managing in different brokerage firms and you wish to keep those portfolios completly separated.

Control Bar

• Searchbox / Filter
• Clear
• Calc
• Add
• Search Symbols Only
• Show All Stocks
• Sort By Profit Potentital
• Show All Columns

Searchbox
The searchbox will search all fields unless the [Search Symbols Only] checkbox is checked. For example any keywords in any notes or a specific value in any cell on the page will display while hiding all other rows. Checking the Search Symbols Only checkbox will search and filter only on the Symbol column.

Clear
The Clear button will clear your search results.

Calc
The Calc button will force a recalculation of all data.

Add
The Add button will add symbols to track. The symbols must exist in the Market Data grid in order for them to be added to the Stocks grid.

Search Symbols Only
The Search Symbols Only checkbox will search and filter only on the Symbol column and exclude all other columns.

Sort By Profit Potential
The Sort By Profit Potential checkbox will sort based on the return value of the predicted dividends plus the target price you have set in the Details for each stock.

Show All Colums
Expands all columns to default widths allowing you to adjust previously hidden columns. Uncheck this box to bring back your settings.

The Stocks Grid Each column's size, width, and layout order can be changed to your liking. StockApp will automatically save these settings after a few seconds. The [Show All Columns] checkbox will expand and show all columns. This is especially usefull if you need to show a previously hidden column and adjust it's width to display it again.

Columns

1. Row
2. Resource
3. Analyst
4. Symbol
5. Company Name
6. Last Price
7. Target Price
8. Note
9. Discounted or Overpriced
10. Discounted or Overpriced [%]
11. Dividend Regular Schedule
12. Dividend Regular Amount [$]
13. Dividend Regular Annual [$]
14. Dividend Regular Annual Yield [%]
15. Dividend TTM [$]
16. Dividend TTM [%]
17. Shares
18. Total Investment [$]
19. Total Net Investment [$]
20. Average Initial Position Cost [$]
21. Average Inital Cost Pere Share [$]
22. Average Net Position Cost [$]
23. Average Net Position Cost Per Share [$]
24. Predicted Revenue Annual [$]
25. Predicted Revenue Monthly Average [$]
26. Predicted Revenue Annual TTM [$]
27. Predicted Revenue Monthly Average TTM [$]
28. Dividends Received All [$]
29. Cash Value [$]
30. ROI Excluding Dividends [$]
31. ROI Excluding Dividends [%]
32. ROI Including Dividends [$]
33. ROI Including Dividends [%]
34. Price Data

Font Size Slider
Each panel has a font size slider bar at the bottom of page. Moving the slider left or right sets the font size.

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Details

The Details panel shows detailed information about the selected symbol. There are three sections in the top half of the panel, Information is on the left side, Dividend and Potential profit calculations are in the middle, and on the right side the Open Position Report Card. This is the summary of all your open positions in this stock at this time.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Details Panel - Top Section
Information - Top Left Section
This is where you can set the Resource, i.e. [Newsletter or company source], the actual Analysts name that gave you the target price, and any notes you wish to keep on this particular instrument. When you make changes to the information area there will be yellow caution colors on the labels next to the changes and the Save and Cancel buttons will be enabled. Be sure to save any changes. The Delete button will only be available if there are currently no open positions in this stock.

Dividend and Potential Profit Section - Top Middle Section
Here you can see / set the frequency and dividend amounts. Sometimes the amount is irregular and you will need to change this to better reflect the actual data. In this area, warnings are in yellow to help alert you of potential losses. Green colors in this area are there to alert you of potential profits. These are based on your own inputs.

Open Positions Report Card - Top Right Section
This section gives a quick overview of your combined positions. Again in this section warning colors are yellow and success colors are green.

• Total Open Shares
• Average Cost Per Share
• Purchase Price
• Estimated Annual Dividend Payments
  • Going forward using the current amount
  • Over the last 12 months
• Dividends Received for these open positions
• Unrealized Return On Investment
• In Dollars
• In Percent
• Cash Value - according to the last downloaded price

Details - Bottom Section:
This is where you can add, modify, and close positions. There is a separate note area for each position. For example, if you have positions at multiple brokerage houses, or if you increased, changed a date, or closed a position you can add a note in this section on the actual trade.

Details Panel - Bottom Section

Reset Grid Widths to Show All Columns
These columns are also adjustable. StockApp remembers your layout after a few seconds. If you hide a column and wish to redisplay it, in this case, you will have to reset column widths by right clicking anywhere in the grid and selecting the 'Reset Widths' option.

Here the Sell To Close Date column is hidden. Right click anywhere in the grid and select Reset Widths to show all columns again.

All columns are now displayed.

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My Stats

My Stats panel

On this panel, all the values are color coded.

• Blue shows original investment values
• Yellow is a caution color and is something to consider before making a decision
• Green is a positive indicator

In the above example you can see the original cost of all of the invested money is 176.06. There are 12 shares owned and that comes out to an average cost of 14.67 per share. These shares are spread across several companies but gives you an overall perspective of cost.

The [Current Market Cash Value] line in yellow shows that the current cash value is less than your original investment. This is a captial loss. However, looking further down the list we will see that the current standing is actually very good.

In the [Returns] section we can see that the unrealized returns are at a loss of -17.62 and down by ten percent. This is shown as a negative percent, i.e. -10% where zero is even. If we include the dividends we have received so far, we are 9.69% up. So even though the capital is down, the dividends easily made up for the loss of original captial and on top of that gave us an overall gain.

The [Open Trades Estimated Revenue] section gives an overall view of what can be expected moving forward as compared to the last 12 months. This is shown as an annual revenue. For convience, that figure is divided by 12 to give a monthly average amount. Keep in mind dividends are irregular and come at different times throughout the year. Therefore the monthly value is what an average amount might be at the end of the next twelve months provided nothing else changes for any of the companies. However that almost never happens and is why these numbers will fluctuate somewhat throughout your investment cycles.

[Closed Trades Past 12 Months] shows your profit or loss for any closed trades over the past 12 months from today

[Closed Trades All] gives you a historic overall average profit or loss for all trades keyed into this portfolio.

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My Trades

The My Trades panel keeps a history of all your trades. You can view open, closed, or all. The search and filter sections are similar to the Stocks panel. You can search symbols only or all of the cells.

• Search for specific keywords or symbols
• Limit search to symbols only
• Sort by any column
• Show / Hide and adjust width of columns
• Show all columns including hidden columns
• Adjust width of a hidden column to display it again
• Change the order of columns by dragging the column to desired position

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Market Data

The Market Data panel consists of your universe of symbols. These are the symbols that are available for you to add via your Stocks panel. From this Market Data panel, you can download price and dividend data. Refer to [Step 3: Data Source Configuration] for initial set up.

StockApp currently reads four data providers for price data and two for dividend data.

The providers currently are Alphavantage.co, Marketstack.com, Tiingo.com, and EODdata.com.

Alphavantage, MarketStack, and Tiingo require a key to obtain data. Visit the websites for the services you wish to utilize to obtain a key for that service.

To input a key, click the Edit button for the appropriate service then save it. The key digits are hidden from view while not editing the field.

Each service offers a free key which will allow a few updates per day for no charge. Check with each service to see the limits.

In the Show dropdown box, there are three options, My Tracked Symbols, Open Trades Only, and Entire Market.

You will find that searches for symbols are faster when not showing the Entire Market. Only show My Tracked Symbols or Open Trades Only unless you are searching for an elusive entry. When searching through the entire market, the system will appear to hang while searching. Depending on the speeed of your computer, this could take quite a while.

Additionally you may insert, edit, and delete a data point manually using the Manual Entry button.

You can get a free access key from each of the data providers by signing up. I am not endorsing any specific provider. Each provider will allow a few free downloads each day. Check with each provider to see the limits. If your not getting new data, or are getting errros, it is most likely that you have hit the limit for that day.

The best format to use initially is MetaStockASCII with NAMES. This will properly populate a good universe of stocks for you to work with. I have included some step by step instructions at the beginning of this manual to populate via EODData.com. If you have a different source with MetaStockASCII data format with names as a text file, it might work with Stockapp.

Download Speed / Screen Updates

Data service providers have a limit on how many data requests can be made in a certain time frame.

Download speed is the pause time between downloads from the service providers. Depending on the data point requested, StockApp will download from one up to 100 data points at a time and process them before proceeding to the next batch.

The default of 250 milliseconds or one quarter of a second between downloads, appears to work well. If you are finding you are not getting data consistently, you may try increasing the time between requests.

The screen updates pause is the amount of time given to the computer to update the display. If your computer screen is not updating fast enough, it may need more time during downloads. The default of 250 milliseconds or one quarter of a second should work well on a modern computer. Of course the longer the time the slower the data downloads become.

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Admin

The Administration screen is where you can backup and restore data. StockApp outputs these files in a folder of your choosing. You can share any of those files with other StockApp users.

From the Admin screen you can:

• Create / Delete clients
• Create / Restore Backups
• Export / Import Clients
• Export / Import Followed Stocks
• Register the software

Add a Client

• Adding a new client



You are not limited to email addresses. Keep in mind when exporting and importing clients the email / identifier goes with the file. Hence the option of not using an email address as an identifier. StockApp does not provide a way to change identifiers. Changing an identifier would have to be done manually by creating a new identifier and then entering data points from the old identifier one by one.

NOTE: You need at least one client / identifier. Adding yourself as your own client is a good way to ensure you always have at least one client. Do not use the demo account as this will not be reliable for data.

Backup

• Backup My Data
• Restore My Data
• Delete Backup

Here you can backup, restore, or delete old backups.
Each backup is named with a datecode in this format:
appowner_YYYY-MM-DD_Hour.Minute.Second.millisecond.stockappbackup
Where appowner is the owners email that was used to register StockApp.



Backups are also performed on imports and restores as a safetly precaution in case a restore was unintentionally performed. If imports are done frequently there will be many backups listed. You may select more than one backup at a time to delete. This will allow you to keep the number of backups to a reasonable amount. It is suggested that you keep at lease one backup somewhere in the cloud, or on another disk.

Client Files - Export Screen

Export and save individual client data.
You can export more than one client at a time.

Client Files - Import Screen
The client import screen will import the selected clients data.
There are three options, Export, Import, and Delete selected client files.
Note: The [Export Clients] button opens up the Export Clients screen above.

Followed Stocks

• Export Followed Stocks
• Import Selected
• Delete Followed Stock Exports

The Followed Stocks Exports screen allows you to share with other StockApp users the stocks you follow. When you import someone elses stocks, you will be prompted on how to address certain fields.

Register

The registration screen allows you to register the software to a new user and license key. This is useful if you need to transfer ownership to another person.
NOTE: To activate the Registration button the keyboard must be used to key in at least one letter in the Registration Key area.

Client Files - Import Screen

• Export Clients
• Import Clients
• Delete Selected Files

The client import screen will import the selected clients active state and history.

Followed Stocks

• Export Followed Stocks
• Import Selected
• Delete Followed Stock Exports

The Followed Stocks Exports screen allows you to share with other StockApp users the stocks you follow. When you import someone elses stocks, you will be prompted on how to address certain fields.

Register

The registration screen allows you to register the software to a new user and license key. This is useful if you need to transfer ownership to another person.
NOTE: To activate the Registration button the keyboard must be used to key in at least one letter in the Registration Key area.

Deleting Your Data
Deleting or uninstalling the app from the Mac or Windows platform will not remove any exports you have created. It will also not remove the database tied to your user account. To delete the database there is another folder you need to delete.

In Apple Mac, the app is sandboxed and tied to your account. To remove all StockApp data, you would need to look for a folder called us.apptools.stockapp in the structure Apple uses for sandboxing apps and delete that folder to completely delete your data.

In Windows, StockApp is tied to your account. To remove all StockApp Data, look for the us.apptools.stockapp folder inside the AppData folder. Delete that folder to completely remove StockApp data from your user login.

Support
For support send an email via the website AppTools.us.
Also reference the Blog link at the bottom of the website to see latest updates. I work on these products in my spare time and have a regular day job which sometimes runs late into the night. If I don't respond to you within a week, it's probably because I missed the emails. I'll need to work on a different email system to better notify me. Until that happens, we will just have to rely on emails running through the system and hope that it gets to me.