How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

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How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:51 pm

Trade Dangerous is a Python based script that uses Crowd sourced data on Stations, Prices, Navigation data, Ships and calculates trade routes based on specific requirements that you set.

Most traders that use Trading tools are used to updating their favourite tool with EliteOCR and importing the data files. If you have used EliteOCR or simular tool, you know that there is an option to send your data to EDDN - Elite Dangerous Data Network. Trade Dangerous leverages that data that is gathered by thousands of people. This data is correlated by Maddavo at http://www.davek.com.au/td and as I write this, it contains 41,402 stations in 19,011 systems, 14,297 Commodities Markets in 9,190 Systems, and 765,382 prices.

Trade Dangerous uses this information to plot and plan routes. It does this by looking at not only the prices, but where you are, how far you can go loaded or empty, and how many systems you have to jump to get there.

The problem with Trade Dangerous is, it is all command line Based. But there is a Windows Based GUI that can help you tame the power of Trade Dangerous.

I am using it with TDHelper GUI front end. This is how I am going to explain how to use it, so if You don not want the gui then you have to learn Trade Dangerous from the Download site and the Frontier Discussion.

Discussion thread about Trade Dangerous: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=34986
Discussion thread about TD Helper GUI for Trade Dangerous: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=115936

Requirements:

1. The scripts require Python 3.4.2 or higher installed. Python is available in Windows, Linux, & Mac OSX versions Here.

2. Trade Dangerous is an Open Source project on BitBucket and is available Here. The Wiki link provides instructions on how to use, how to install, and all sorts of other stuff that you don't really need to get into unless you are a saddist :)

3. TD Helper GUI front end for Trade Dangerous available Here. In the Wiki Section there you will find a FAQ and the Download section provides Zip files of the Windows Program. NOTE: To use TD Helper, you will need .NET Framework 4.5 and there is a link in the FAQ to the download if you don't already have it.

Installation:

1. Install Python 3.4.2 or higher, X64 if you are running 64Bit windows. When asked, Install for all users. UPDATE: Something I forgot to put in here, when you get to the Customize Python screen, select All Features as in the Image Below:
2012709541-pyins2.jpg
2012709541-pyins2.jpg (50.87 KiB) Viewed 48789 times


2. Download and unzip the Trade Dangerous Script into a directory that you want to use it from.

3. Install .NET Framework 4.5 if you don't have it.

4. Unzip the TD Helper app in a directory that you want to use it from. This does not have to be the same directory as you used for Trade Dangerous, and it is recommended that you put it in a separate directory.

Testing Setup:
NOTE: I suggest you reboot at this point to ensure that the Python installation is completed before testing as shown below.

1. Open a Command Prompt and type the following command and you should get the response as shown:

Code: Select all

C:\>python --version
Python 3.4.2

C:\>

If you get an error message about command not found, you have not installed Python for All Users. Re-Run the setup and select All Users. Then reboot.

If that works then we change to the directory where you unzipped the Trade Dangerous scripts and test it as follows:

Code: Select all

C:\> cd\trade

C:\trade> trade.py
trade.py: TradeDangerous provides a set of trade database facilities for Elite:Dangerous.

Usage: trade.py <command>

C:\trade>

If you get an error message, make sure that you are in the right directory and have unzipped all the files with the folders and not all into one directory. If your unsure, delete the directory and unzip again with Full Paths.


Good, now we are installed properly and ready to use. Lets move on to the next part.

-------------------------------------------------------------------
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:52 pm

Here is the TD Helper GUI.
TDHelper Main Screen.JPG
TDHelper Main Screen.JPG (85.41 KiB) Viewed 48984 times
<<img>>
I will be refering back to this Image often, so keep that in Mind. I don't want to have to make 20 screenshots.

Start TD Helper. It will check to make sure you have verbose logging enabled, and if you don't it will ask you if you want it to enable it. If you get this message and your game is already running, let it update, but then you must exit the game, close the launcher and start again so that the game will log your stops.

Any time you execute a command, You will see what is happening in the main part of the window. It will show you the Command Line that it is using to call the Trade Dangerous Scripts, as well as the Output. And any Error messages as well.

Definitions to remember:
Hops: Places that you load or sell your cargo. Buy X from Lave, sell at Diso. 2 Hops
Jumps: Maximum number of jumps from one location to another (based on your Jump Range)

Updates:
The first thing we want to do is to update the local database with the latest information that is hosted on Maddavo's Market Site. To update, Simply hit the Update Button on the Bottom. It will take a few minutes. When you update, it will downloads the latest data, but it will compare it with what is in your local data. If you have information for a station that is new in your local data, it will not overwrite the data. The update that you get will include corrections and removal information included. If there was bad data in the last update you got, this will correct it. Such as someone posting wrong prices or station information due to malice or innacuracy of data from a source, such as EliteOCR confusing zeros and eights, or someone mistyping a station name.

Options:
You will see several options at the top. I am only going to talk about the ones that you will start with, you can experiment on your own later.
1. Source and Destination: Pretty explanetory. The dropdowns here will look at the locations that you have been to since Verbose Logging has been enabled, and will only have systems names. The S button lets you swap Source and Destination. You can start to type a system name or station name and it will show you matches. The list when you are typing is in the format of: SYSTEM NAME/Station Name

The buttons next to Source are as follows:
C: Select Current System (last system visited according to log files
E: Edit Current system Market Data opens an editable form listing of market data for that station
T: Topmost Mode - Discussed in Pro Tips
The check boxes below the Destination:
Unique: When planning a route, stop at a station only once.
Shorten: Find the shortest route between the 2 locations with the highest gains.
Loop: Find a run that goes from the Source to Destination and return.
Towards: Your destination is the general direction that you want to move towards.

End Jumps: You want TD to check within X number of Jumps of your Destination.
Start Jumps: You want to check within X number of jumps from your Source.

Options on the Right.

Verbosity: How much info do you want displayed in results? I suggest -vv to start. More gets you a lot of extra info being displayed that is not needed, less leaves some important info out.

Age: How old (in days) do you want TD to consider the data from a statins Market. Zero ignores this.

Padsizes: Leave blank for any, or put in the pad size your ship needs. S M or L

Hops: How many stops do you want to do on your run? 5? 10? 100? I suggest 5 to start playing with, or more if you have time.

Jumps: how many jumps max between stations? T9 might want to look at 2, a T6 might want to be 4 or more. Set it how you are comfortable, but remember, time is money.

Credits: This is your current credit amount. This does not go anywhere, but is helpful when you have lower credits ammount. When you have 5K and 12 cargo, you don't want it suggesting 12 Palladium at 14K a shot ;)

Insurance: This is your current insurance cost, so if you are low on funds, it will never let you buy so much that you don't have money to cover your insurance.
Laden ly/Unladen ly: These are shown in your ships Right Panel under cargo. You max range when Full and Empty. Very important for planning routes.

Capacity: Cargo Capacity, Simple

Min GPT: Min Goss Profit per tonne. Leave blank and it will also search for the Highest it can, but since you can search the entire known systems, you can specify a Minimum here.

Max LS: Maximum LS from the main star you are willing to travel to. 1000-1200 is normal, keeps you from ending up going to Hutton Orbital. Change as you see fit.

Avoid: you can list Items/Systems/Stations here that you want to avoid, seperated by commas. for example: slaves,ALPHA CENTARI/Hutton Orbital,Mars will avoid salves, Hutton Orbital in Alpha Centari, an any system or name with Mars in it.

Via: Forces you to pas through a specific system or station.

Saving settings:
You will notice 2 Dropdown menus in the Middle. Default and Run.

The Default is the default profile that you see when you open TDHelper. Lets say that you have 2 ships. A Type 9 and a Python. You can adjust all the settings specific to either ship and save it so you can recall it. Setup one bunch of settings, and click the Save settings. Or, CTRL-Click on Save Settings and you can Name it, Say TYPE 9 or PYTHON. When you do that, each one that you save will appear in the Dropdown. You can select whichever you need when you start.

The Run Dropdown is the Default action that TD will do. You want to make a Cargo RUN. The other Run button it the Top Right is like the Start/Calculate button. There are other options in here that you can use, such as a Sell Search or Buy Search, Search for where you can by a certain ship, market information for a certain station, Rares to find the closest rares to you, Station to add/delete/update info about a station for your records, navigation to plot routes between Systems/Stations, and more.

Now that you know what the boxes are, put in the information for your ship, and save it either as a default setting, or one by name. Then we will continue and learn how to plan routes, and loops.

--------------------------------------------
Last edited by Loriath on Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:53 pm

Before you start setting up your first run, be aware that you will run into situations where TD cannot find a route to match your needs, so you need to play a little with the options.
You can also end up carrying illicit cargo through a system(s) that will make you wanted. And because of Bugs in the Game, you could end up buying items at a station that illegal in the station, so be careful and do your homework.

I am assuming that you have at least put in your Capacity, Pad Size, Unladen LY and Laden LY. I am also assuming that your Verbosity is set to -vv and I am assuming you have already Updated.

Lets start with a simple 5 Hop Run.
1. Hit the C button next to your Source to select your current System.
2: Set the Number of Hops to 5.
3: Press the Run Botton.

You should end up with something like what I have below:

Code: Select all

Command line: -u "C:\trade\trade.py" run --fr="SAK MANKA" --cap=212 --cr=96584657 --ly=17.24 --empty=24.51 --pad=L --gpt=1000 --hops=5 --ls-max=1000 --avoid="slaves" -vv
SAK MANKA/Impey Vision -> LTT 911/Brunel City (score: 1629159.287440)
  Load from SAK MANKA/Impey Vision (13ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Progenitor Cells    6,564cr vs    7,885cr, 1 hr vs 43 hrs
  Unload at MANIANSCUDO/Riess Terminal (115ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 280,052cr (1,321cr/ton) => 96,864,709cr
  Load from MANIANSCUDO/Riess Terminal (115ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Imperial Slaves    15,537cr vs   16,787cr, 43 hrs vs 12 hrs
  Unload at AYMIFA/Lomonosov Colony (639ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 265,000cr (1,250cr/ton) => 97,129,709cr
  Load from AYMIFA/Lomonosov Colony (639ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Superconductors     6,488cr vs    7,518cr, 12 hrs vs 14 hrs
  Unload at EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (42ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 218,360cr (1,030cr/ton) => 97,348,069cr
  Load from EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (42ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Beryllium           7,681cr vs    9,065cr, 14 hrs vs 8 hrs
  Unload at ZELANO/Kowal City (357ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 293,408cr (1,384cr/ton) => 97,641,477cr
  Load from ZELANO/Kowal City (357ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Imperial Slaves    14,095cr vs   16,792cr, 8 hrs vs 25 days
  Unload at LTT 911/Brunel City (460ls, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 571,764cr (2,697cr/ton) => 98,213,241cr
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finish at LTT 911/Brunel City (460ls, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) gaining 1,628,584cr (1,536cr/ton) => est 98,213,241cr total

In this example, I also had selected avoid slaves. You can see I started at SAK MANKA/Impey Vision. And I am ending at LTT 911/Brunel City gaining 1,628,584cr It lists what I need to buy and sell at each stop. It will, if need be, tell you to buy a certain number of more than 1 item depending on stock at the station.

Now lets look at doing a loop:
I am starting at EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock and making 6 stops, in a loop with 2 jumps max.

1. Enter EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock in the source.
2. Check off Loop.
3. Set Hops to 6
4. Set Jumps to 2
5. Press Run.

Here is my Run:

Code: Select all

Command line: -u "C:\trade\trade.py" run --fr="EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock" --cap=212 --cr=96584657 --ly=17.24 --empty=24.51 --pad=L --gpt=1000 --hops=6 --jum=2 --ls-max=1000 --avoid="slaves" --loop -vv
NOTE: Pruned 118 origins too far from any end stations
NOTE: Pruned 460 origins too far from any end stations
EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock -> EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (score: 318651.702840)
  Load from EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (42ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Beryllium                7,681cr vs    9,092cr, 14 hrs vs 25 hrs
  Unload at YAWA/Dean Hub (88ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 299,132cr (1,411cr/ton) => 96,883,789cr
  Load from YAWA/Dean Hub (88ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Resonating Separators    5,413cr vs    6,625cr, 15 hrs vs 7 hrs
  Unload at JETERAIT/Mcintosh Terminal (17ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 256,944cr (1,212cr/ton) => 97,140,733cr
  Load from JETERAIT/Mcintosh Terminal (17ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Beryllium                7,676cr vs    9,089cr, 8 hrs vs 33 hrs
  Unload at ORANG/Dilworth City (89ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 299,556cr (1,413cr/ton) => 97,440,289cr
  Load from ORANG/Dilworth City (89ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Imperial Slaves         13,881cr vs   16,350cr, 33 hrs vs 35 hrs
  Unload at LAEDLA/Gusmao Prospect (145ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 523,428cr (2,469cr/ton) => 97,963,717cr
  Load from LAEDLA/Gusmao Prospect (145ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Palladium               12,706cr vs   14,186cr, 35 hrs vs 15 hrs
  Unload at YAWA/Dean Hub (88ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 313,760cr (1,480cr/ton) => 98,277,477cr
  Load from YAWA/Dean Hub (88ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Resonating Separators    5,413cr vs    6,446cr, 15 hrs
  Unload at EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (42ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 218,996cr (1,033cr/ton) => 98,496,473cr
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finish at EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock (42ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) gaining 1,911,816cr (1,503cr/ton) => est 98,496,473cr total


Here is an example of it NOT finding a route:
I told it to start at ETOINSES/Parkinson Dock, 3 Hops, 2 jumps between max, and my Min GPT was set to 1500

Code: Select all

Command line: -u "C:\trade\trade.py" run --fr="EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock" --cap=212 --cr=96584657 --ly=17.24 --empty=24.51 --pad=L --gpt=1500 --hops=3 --jum=2 --ls-max=1000 --avoid="slaves" -vv
C:\trade\trade.py: Error: No profitable buyers found for the goods at EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock.

You may want to try:
  C:\trade\trade.py local "EOTIENSES" --ly 34.48 -vv --stations --trading
or:
  C:\trade\trade.py market "EOTIENSES/Parkinson Dock" --sell -vv

Possible causes:
- No profitable runs or routes meet your criteria,
- Missing Systems or Stations along the route (see "local -vv"),
- Missing price data (see "market -vv" or "update -h"),

If you are not sure where to get data from, consider using a crowd-sourcing
project such as "maddavo's" (http://www.davek.com.au/td/).

For more help, see the TradeDangerous Wiki:
    http://kfs.org/td/wiki


In a case like this, I can do a few things to adjust my request in the following way because it can't find a trade at the profit I want at Parkinson Dock.

1. Change my Min GPT to a lower number
2. Change the Start Jump to higher number, such as 4 to have it look at systems in a 4 jump radius of Eotienses for a possible run.

You can also do some real weird things. Lets search the Entire Know systems for a 2 Hop Loop, with 2 Jumps Max, in a Loop with a Zero GPT (which means find the Max profit per tone total it can find.

Code: Select all

Command line: -u "C:\trade\trade.py" run --cap=212 --cr=96584657 --ly=17.24 --empty=24.51 --pad=L --hops=2 --jum=2 --ls-max=1000 --avoid="slaves" --loop -vv
TAU-2 GRUIS A/Thomas Station -> TAU-2 GRUIS A/Thomas Station (score: 363635.035200)
  Load from TAU-2 GRUIS A/Thomas Station (203ls, BMk:Y, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Imperial Slaves   13,590cr vs   16,227cr, 27 hrs vs 12 days
  Unload at PANDEMONIUM/Zaschka Ring (485ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 559,044cr (2,637cr/ton) => 97,143,701cr
  Load from PANDEMONIUM/Zaschka Ring (485ls, BMk:N, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y):
      212 x Tobacco            4,658cr vs    5,450cr, 12 days vs 27 hrs
  Unload at TAU-2 GRUIS A/Thomas Station (203ls, BMk:Y, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) => Gain 167,904cr (792cr/ton) => 97,311,605cr
  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finish at TAU-2 GRUIS A/Thomas Station (203ls, BMk:Y, Pad:L, Shp:Y, Out:Y, Ref:Y) gaining 726,948cr (1,714cr/ton) => est 97,311,605cr total

It found me one :)

NOTE: In all the Examples, the EST Credit total listed is because of the starting credit balance I put in which was 96,584,657 so it is showing me the total of my start Credits plus gains.

Next, I will show you some power user tips.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:53 pm

Okay, now that you have the basics, lets look at a few other things that may make your route planning better, and some tips and tricks.

Remember:
TD does not know or care if you have Permits for systems. If it tries to route you through/to one, add it to the Avoids section.
It also does not care what cargo is legal in what system. You may end up with Illicit cargo in a system, and delivering it to a station that allows it. Or Vice Versa.


Route Planning Tips.

You have put in your Laden and Unladen jump distances, set your cargo limit, and maybe set a few other options and have chosen a simple 10 hop route from your current system or station, and when you run the plan, it comes back and tells you that it can't find anything past Hop 4 or whatever. That means that all your criteria that you have specified does not compute ;)

What are your options? Well, that depends on what you told TD to look for.
1. If you specified a number of Jumps, maybe raise it, or set it to Zero.
2. Change the Start Jumps from 0 to 2 or 4. It will allow TD to look in Neighbouring systems as a starting point to see if it can get a complete run.
3. Did you set a Min GPT? Maybe lower it or set it to zero.
4. Did you set a VIA System? Remove it and try again.
5. How long has it been since you updated? Maddavo updates the listings of prices every 2 hours, 3 hours, and 24 hours. Also corrections get published as people make them, so maybe if you can't find anything, try an update.

I want to get to a certain place, but TD is ending my planned route too far from where I want to be?

1. Add More Hops. Yes it takes longer, but you make more :)
2. Increase Jump count.
3. Take what you get and try to setup another route when you get to the last station.
4. Increase the End Jumps number. This will make TD look at the neighbouring systems to your destination, and you may find that you end up only a jump or two away.
5. You can also try the Towards Checkbox. That will tell TD that you want to move Towards that system, but to look for the Best hauls within the hops in that general direction.

My route plan has me going in a loop between two systems but I did not select Loop in my Options?

1. You may be forcing a Min GPT. In order to meet it, you have to accept the fate, or lower/remove the Min GPT.
2. you can Set the Unique option. This will force TD to only visit a station once. However, that could mean that you might visit 5 stations in the same system, but never the same station twice :)
3. Increase Start Jumps or End jumps, Or Max Jumps. Lets TD Search greater options.

The route TD came up with sends me into Systems where I am wanted, or in a direction I don't want to go?

1. You could use the Towards option with a destination.
2. Put the system(s) name in the Avoid section, separated by commas of the places you don't want to go.

What do all the other Options do?

Mouse-over them in TD Helper and see the description. They should all be explained, but briefly. You can always try them out and see if they are helpful to you. Or go back to the link to Trade Dangerous in the First post and read the Wiki there. Good Luck. It caused me to drink and get a headache. The GUI works better for me.

What about the command line?

Are you a Barbarian? We point and Click in the year 3301. Okay Okay, go read the Wiki and good luck.

Okay I get how to plan routes, and am making money, but how do I update data on my end and maybe contribute back to the Crowd Source?

Just like all other major trade tools, there are options to update data on your end. Here are a couple of options, and a real wicked trick I learned that saves me a lot of headaches.
  • EliteOCR - Just like with other tools, you can use EliteOCR to get your data for each station into the pool. If you just want to add to the pool of data, once you have OCR'd the market data for a station, Click the Send to EDDN button. That's it. It will be picked up by Maddavo's site and be available for everyone when they update in about 2-3 hours. OR!AND you can click the TradDangerous Export button in EliteOCR and it will produce a file that you can use to import into TD. I will explain this further down.
  • Manual Entry - You can press the E button next to the Source and it will bring up a list of the current market for that station and allow you to enter/update the data. Be careful, you can really screw your data up here. It is kept local when you do this, and if you mix-up the price, your LOCAL data take priority.
  • Data Connector Apps - Since Frontier have made thier own iOS app that allows you to see the marketplace of the station you are currently docked at, a few people have made Apps that can take advantage of this. Here is the problem, It requires you to trust the app enough to give them your Login credentials for Frontier. The same Username and password that would allow you to login to the Store. Some people have issues with that. I have used only One, and it is an open source project, and the source code has been checked and is clean. However, since the author creates the EXE, unless you can reverse engineer it, you have to take others words that it is not doing something nefarious. It is called ED Market Connector. You can find it here. USE AT OWN RISK. Only YOU can decide if you feel comfortable to use this and give it your login credentials.
  • EDAPI Plugin - You can use the Built in Trade Dangerous EDAPI to update your local data and EDDN. Again, this uses the same API as the previous tool, and requires your credentials. Again the same cautions apply, but since the Python scripts are just text files, you can look for yourself at the files and see what it does with your info. I am not a Programmer, but do have some experience, and I found nothing nefarious in the code. Others have looked as well. *I* feel safe using it. That decision is for you to make.

I am using the built in EDAPI plugin that pulls the data front the current (or last docked station) and imports it to your local data, and also sends it to EDDN. You have to realize that there is more than just the Commodity Market data. There is also station details like Station Type, Max landing pad, does it have a Black Market, and very importantly, what ships are available in the stations shipyard. All this data gets shared back to Maddavo's site for others. I consider this safe and helpful.

TRICKS

Switching back and forth between the TD Helper and ED is a pain, what can I do to make it easier?

Once you have a route you are happy with, there are 2 things you should do. First is to make a copy of the route. The easy way is to right click on the route list and select Save to #1 or #2 or #3. Then you can switch tabs and see the route info by itself.

Now that you have done that, look at the T Button next to the Source. Clicking that will give you a minimal Tree View that you can shrink down. Now, see the T in the bottom left of the Tree View? That is the TOP button. Clicking it will toggle between always on Top and normal window. If you run ED in Borderless or Window mode, it will stay in view and you move it around to a good spot and have it open all the time. Move your mouse over it in game and you get a regular Windows Mouse pointer. You can Expand or Collapse and scroll as needed. Handy to see where to go, what to get, and what profit to expect.

If you want to switch back to regular TDHelper Screen, click on it with the mouse and press ESC.

Okay thats it for now. I have more to come, but that is all I can think of for now :)
Last edited by Loriath on Wed Jun 17, 2015 4:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 12:54 pm

Ok, so you have everything up and running, but want to update database, not just for you, but for everyone that uses EDDN data. How can you do this?

You have several options. You can use EliteOCR to scan snapshots of the market at each station, you can use something like ED Market Connector to use the EDAPI to full the information and save it to both EDDN, and to a CSV file for Trade Dangerous, Slopey's, Inara, Thrudd's and others. Or you can do what I do, use Trade Dangerous itself to pull the data and put it on EDDN.

Since this is the way I do it, I am adding instructions for it, just because it is not as simple as it sounds. If you want to use EliteOCR or ED Market Connector or similar, there are many threads on the main forums and reddit on how to use these programs. I am going to assume that you either want to use the Trade Dangerous Route, or have a way to get the Data already using EliterOCR or ED Market Connector already.

Data Format:

Trade Dangerous has it's own data format which is not compatable to standard CSV files. They can be written by all the main programs and have an extension of .prices so you know they are different. This format is a little closer to XML format that CSV, so if you try a CSV file, its going to throw errors.

Getting the Data from EliteOCR:
If you are scanning your Commodity Market screen shots then you will see the buttons as shown below:
EliteOCRExportButtons.JPG
EliteOCRExportButtons.JPG (18.06 KiB) Viewed 48885 times

You will notice that you can export for Trade Dangerous, Send to EDDN, Export to Slopeys BPC and regular CSV.
Thrudd's uses regular CSV as does Inara. Slopey's has it's own, as does Trade Dangerous. Sent to EDDN will just upload it to the EDDN site.
When you export to any of the File Formats, it will give it a name based on System, Station, Time.
For example: Apishna.Hamuy Port.2015-06-15T19.45.22.prices

Getting the Data from ED Market Connector:
On the File menu in the program select settings and look at the options you see there as shown below:
EDMarketConnectorExportSettings.JPG
EDMarketConnectorExportSettings.JPG (20.56 KiB) Viewed 48885 times

As with EliteOCR, you have choices. You want to save as Trade Dangerous and send to EDDN as well.

What to do with the Price Files:
At the bottom of the TD Helper program you will see the Import button. It has THREE functions depending on how you click it:
  • Regular Click - Tryes to run Trade Dangerous's EDAPI Plugin (more on that further down this post).
  • Shift-Click - Imports the last .prices file it had (Some programs will just name the export file "Trade Dangerous.prices" instead of by System/Station/Date/Time. If your chosen program saves the prices as the same name all the time, that is how you select it.
  • Control Click - Allows you to select the Price file you want. (ED Market Connector and EliteOCR names the files by System/Station, so this is what you want to use)

So we Control Click, go select the file (First time you do this you will have to find the directory that you have told EliteOCR or ED Market Connector to save the files in, but after that it will open the same directory) and it will import. Easy.

But wait! Why are we updating both Local and EDDN? I though Trade Dangerous gets it's data from EDDN?
Yes, Yes it does. But updates are only made every hour so that the changes at Maddavo's site can put them all together. Prices are on a 2 or 3 hour basis, and changes, corrections, and deletions, are all done in a batch. So YOU get the latest price for the station that you just imported, but others won't see it for 2-3 hours. You get a head start ;)

Isn't there a quicker way?

Why yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause a quicker way! We can use the built in EDAPI that Trade Dangerous has. Before I show you how, please note the following:

NOTICE: Trade Dangerous's EDAPI feature uses the same information that you can access in their iPhone app. This will require you to enter your Username and Password that is used on your Launcher, and therefore your Frontier Store Account. If you do not trust the program to NOT do nefarious things, then DON'T us this part, or Any Other app that wants your credentials.

Trade Dangerous is open source, and is a Python Script, so it is in plain text, not a Binary. Anyone can look at the source code, which is the same that you are running. It IS the source code. You can determine yourself if you have the knowledge what is happening with your account information.

I have looked at the source, others have as well, we all agree it is safe, and I feel no issues in using it. You have to make that determination for yourself.

Oh, and it is MUCH more accurate since it is getting the data direct from Frontier. No OCR Mistakes, or Typos. Accurate and FAST!


Now that we have all read that and want to continue, then here is how to proceed.

In order to use the EDAPI, Trade Dangerous has to log into the Frontier Web Service using YOUR account credentials. The first time this is done, Frontier will send you an Authorization code. This is protection to make sure that you are really asking to do this. You will then enter the code into Trade Dangerous, and it will create an encrypted cookie to use each time it fetches data. It will not need you to do this again unless something changes on Frontiers End, or on the Trade Dangerous end, or the cookie is deleted.

You cannot do this for the first time from TD Helper. You must do this from the Command Line.
First, open a command prompt and switch to the directory that you have installed Trade Dangerous. In this case, mine is C:\trade.

Next you want to Enter the following command:

Code: Select all

trade.py import --plug edapi


Next you will be asked for your Username and Password, then it will prompt for the Authorization code that will arrive to your email. Enter it to continue, and then it will update for the current (or last docked at) station.
This is an example of exactly what you will see. NOTE: the password field will not show anything while typing in it. You can you copy paste.

Code: Select all

C:\trade>trade.py import --plug edapi
You do not appear to have any valid login cookies set. We will attempt
to log you in with your Frontier account, and cache your auth cookies
for future use. THIS WILL NOT STORE YOUR USER NAME AND PASSWORD.

Your auth cookies will be stored here:

C:\trade\data\edapi.cookies

It is advisable that you keep this file secret. It may be possible to
hijack your account with the information it contains.

If you are not comfortable with this, DO NOT USE THIS TOOL.

User Name (email):MyEmail@address.com
Password: (it will show nothing if you type or paste info here)

A verification code should have been sent to your email address.
Please provide that code (case sensitive!)
Code: 1Q3F5 (or whatever they send to your email)
@MUNSHIN/Sterny's Refuge  (This is the station I am at currently)
<tradedb.Station object at 0x0000000005E5A800>
NOTE: Updated 5 ships in @MUNSHIN/Sterny's Refuge shipyard.
NOTE: Import complete: 44 updated items over 1 stations in 1 systems


You can see that it tells you where the cookie file is stored. If you delete that file, it will no longer work, and will no longer have access to your account info, as that is stored in the cookie.

You can also see that not only did it pull the Commodity Market data, but also what ships are in the shipyard. This is great if you are looking for a ship at a later date. It can save lots of time. NOTE: There is a bug with the EDAPI. The ship data will NOT be pulled unless you have gone into the Shipyard at the station then hit exit. No way around it at this time. If you don't go into the shipyard then hit exit, it will only pull the Market Data.

Now that we have set this up, how can we use it?

There are two ways: One is with TDHelper, and that is simply done by landing at a new station and clicking the Import Button. It does all the work, takes about 10-12 seconds, and it pulls the information into your local database and sends to EDDN.

However, there is another way, and that is on the Command Line. Now why would you want to do that when there is this nice button you ask? Well, let me tell you.

I have a batch file that I created in the Trade Dangerous folder. I called it "EDAPI Pull.bat" and it has only one line as you see below.

Code: Select all

trade.py imp -P edapi -O eddn


When run, it imports the station data with the ESAPI pluggin, then forwards it to EDDN. Simple.

But Why you ask? Because I am not always trading. I might be doing RES or CZ's. Maybe I am just out doing Bulletin Board missions. Every time I land, I can run the batch file, and get the data, and share it to EDDN. Its a win win.

Oh, did I mention that I use voice attack? Yep, so all I do in Voice Attack is say "Pull Data" and that command runs this batch file. I do it at every station. Part of my routine. So I help myself, and everyone else at the same time.

So that is why I use it, and how I use it. I hope that you will end up using it as well, but if not, at least you read a LOT of stuff I wrote and can point out mistakes :)

Conclusion:

Trade Dangerous has made me more money, in less time than any other tool I have used. Running TD Helper, and trade Dangerous uses less memory, and has less of a performance hit that using Chrome. I can update data to EDDN and my local database faster and with less mistakes that EliteOCR. And everyone benefits even when I am not trading because I can pull that data so easily.
Last edited by Loriath on Mon Jun 22, 2015 10:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Flip » Wed Jun 17, 2015 3:01 pm

Wow, great job, Loriath! Trading bores me to death, so I probably won't use this, but I hope others will!
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby StaticRadion » Wed Jun 17, 2015 3:02 pm

+1 Great write up, I am going to have to find time to try or figure this all out.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Loriath » Wed Jun 17, 2015 4:39 pm

I just added some more info, but my mind is beat, I want to play, eat pizza and relax. I will add more tomorrow.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby UnmarkedBoxcar » Wed Jun 17, 2015 5:10 pm

The thought, effort, and thorough attention to detail that you've put into this, Loriath, are absolutely amazing. You definitely deserve some pizza and downtime.

Thank you so much.
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Re: How to use Trade Dangerous and TD Helper GUI

Postby Ghaleon » Wed Jun 17, 2015 11:25 pm

Is this any more accurate than, for example, Slopey's BPC? What stops fraudulent data in the system from overwriting my current data?

Updates:
The first thing we want to do is to update the local database with the latest information that is hosted on Maddavo's Market Site. To update, Simply hit the Update Button on the Bottom. It will take a few minutes. When you update, it will downloads the latest data, but it will compare it with what is in your local data. If you have information for a station that is new in your local data, it will not overwrite the data. The update that you get will include corrections and removal information included. If there was bad data in the last update you got, this will correct it. Such as someone posting wrong prices or station information due to malice or innacuracy of data from a source, such as EliteOCR confusing zeros and eights, or someone mistyping a station name.


Wouldn't the update possibly add incorrect information? I know most crowd-sourced programs have such issues, especially the common ones.


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