I have experienced the same problem as Nancy B. I've entered my StockCentral name and password (I have no trouble accessing the web site), but whenever I try to download data to TK5, I still get the invalid format message.

What else must I do. I'm getting a bit concerned since our club meeting is December 6.

Thanks,

Keith Hoile

Keith,

If you can view Data reports or Ratio Analyzer reports, then your subscription is valid.  If you can't you'll need to extend your subscription.

Assuming that your subscription is ok, you need to enter the exact same username and password into Toolkit AND select the correct data subscription.  In spite of the wording in Toolkit that you need to enter your email address ... DON'T.  Instead, enter your username.

Hi Laura,

Sounds like an invalid ticker symbol issue to me, if none of the following works, please call our customer support team at 617-661-2582 9:30am - 6:00pm EST M-F.

"File appears to be in an invalid format"

CAUSE:

There are a few possibilities for this error:
a) The ticker symbol may either not exist, or may be different than what you are entering
b) The data feed preferences do not match your current subscription.
c) The Better Investing or Stock Central subscription needs to be renewed
d) You may have security software preventing the connection.

SOLUTIONS:

Checking the ticker symbol
The easiest thing to check is that you are using a valid ticker symbol.
With Toolkit open, go to File > Import Company > From Subscribed Data
Try looking up a common ticker that you do not already have in your library
(We often use Ford, since they have been using the single letter F ticker symbol for so long)
If you encounter the error even when using a more common ticker symbol, the next thing will be to confirm your login and password.

Confirming your login and password
One of the most common reason for this error is not having the correct login and password for your data service account, or needing to renew the subscription to the data service.
You will need to know which data service you subscribe to and what your username and password is.

For Better Investing members:
Your username and password is most commonly your member number and the corresponding password you would use to sign into the Better Investing website. If you are unsure what this is you can contact them at 877.275.6242.

For StockCentral subscribers:
You can test your username and password, or request a password reset at the following website.

http://www.stockcentral.com

StockCentral subscribers can also contact ICLUB Central at 617.661.2582 to request a password reminder be sent manually.

Once you have confirmed the proper login and password for your data service, the next thing is to make sure that your copy of Toolkit is configured with this information.

Configuring Toolkit
1. Open Toolkit.
2. In the OPTIONS menu, click on PREFERENCES.
3. In the Preferences window, click on FILE LOCATIONS.
4. In the File Locations tab, Click on SELECT DATA SUBSCRIPTION.
5. Make sure the subscription is set to "Better Investing S&P Data Feed" or "ICLUB Data File Subscription" depending on which you subscribe to.
6. Fill in the username/password fields with your appropriate information.
(Note: the ICLUB Data File Subscription says "Email Address", but make sure to use your actual Stock Central username.
7. Click OK once the setting are correct, then OK again at the main Preferences screen.
8. Try to retrieve company data.

Confirming your subscription If the same error continues to come up after configuring your preferences, please contact either ICLUB Central or Better Investing. (Depending on which data feed you subscribe to) They will verify that you are using the correct username/password and will do additional troubleshooting if needed.

I'd recommend you try ZoneAlarm Free Firewall: http://www.zonealarm.com/store/content/catalog/products/sku_list_za.jsp

Also, we use AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition, which you can download here: http://free.grisoft.com/.

We use the paid corporate version of AVG here in our offices, and I use the AVG Free edition and ZoneAlarm on my personal computers, and they're every bit as good as McAfee, Symantec, or CA, in my assessment.

Doug