====== Quick Start ======

This quick guide is designed for new users.
It covers the most common workflow with **Fetcher** and **Generator**.
For a full script index, see [[start|User Guide]].

===== Before you start =====

  * Open a terminal in the ''express-generator'' folder.
  * Make sure Node.js is installed.
  * Use default settings first. You can customize later with ''--settings my-file.ini''.


===== Step 1: Refresh metadata =====

Download Forex rates and symbol information:

    express-generator> node ./bin/fetch.js --server Premium --fx-rates true --symbol-info true

Why this step matters:

  * FX rates are used for conversions.
  * Symbol info provides market metadata required for data fetch and validation.


===== Step 2: Fetch historical data =====

Fetch one market:

    express-generator> node ./bin/fetch.js --server Premium --symbol EURUSD --period M30

Fetch multiple markets and periods:

    express-generator> node ./bin/fetch.js --server Premium --symbols EURUSD GBPUSD --periods M15 M30 H1

Tip:

  * Use ''--if-missing-or-older-than 60'' to skip frequent re-downloads when files are fresh.


===== Step 3: Generate a new collection =====

Generate strategies from your downloaded data:

    express-generator> node ./bin/gen.js --server Premium --symbol EURUSD --period M30

Typical result:

  * Generator prints progress and summary stats.
  * A collection is exported in ''./collections''.

Tip for long runs:

  * Press ''Ctrl + C'' to stop gracefully and export the current collection.


===== Step 4: Validate an existing collection =====

Revalidate a collection on current data:

    express-generator> node ./bin/gen.js --server Premium --symbol EURUSD --period M30 --input ./collections/Coll_Premium_EURUSD_M30.json

Validate and continue generating:

    express-generator> node ./bin/gen.js --server Premium --symbol EURUSD --period M30 --input ./collections/Coll_Premium_EURUSD_M30.json --validate-then-generate true


===== Step 5: Use a settings file =====

Run Fetcher with a custom settings file:

    express-generator> node ./bin/fetch.js --settings my-fetch.ini

Run Generator with a custom settings file and one CLI override:

    express-generator> node ./bin/gen.js --settings my-gen.ini --symbol GBPUSD

Run Generator with several settings files (layered overrides):

    express-generator> node ./bin/gen.js --settings gen.ini EURUSD.ini --symbol EURUSD

Settings priority:

  * default settings file
  * user settings file(s), left to right
  * CLI options

When using several files, each next file overrides values from the previous one.
The order of options in the CLI command is not important.
The order of parameters inside each INI file is not important.


===== Next steps =====

  * Learn Fetcher options: [[fetch-js|Fetcher (fetch.js)]]
  * Learn historical data details: [[fetch-data|Fetch historical data]]
  * Learn Generator options: [[gen-js|Generator (gen.js)]]
  * Learn settings files and precedence: [[settings-files|Settings files]]
  * Learn Generator sections: [[forward-testing|Forward testing]], [[acceptance-criteria|Acceptance criteria]], [[monte-carlo|Monte Carlo]]
  * Revalidate across markets: [[mm-js|Multi-Market (mm.js)]]