What you will learn
- Compare two feeds
- Identify stale quotes
- Check missing bars
- Restore a saved layout
Compare two feeds
Compare feeds only after matching instrument and timestamp conventions. Differences can arise from venue coverage, quote-side choice, aggregation and delay. Record the size and timing of the discrepancy before choosing an explanation.
Identify stale quotes
A stale quote may remain displayed after updates stop. Check timestamps, connection indicators and whether related fields are changing. A visible live badge without a fresh observation is insufficient evidence that the data is current.
Check missing bars
Missing bars are not automatically zero-return intervals. They may indicate closure, missing data or an aggregation issue. Mark the reason where known; inserting fabricated observations can alter indicators and backtest results.
Restore a saved layout
Restore a saved layout and verify its settings rather than assuming every field was preserved. Provider updates, symbol changes or device differences can alter the result. A small verification checklist makes the saved workspace reproducible.
Worked example
A five-minute series jumps from 10:00 to 10:15. Before calculating an indicator, determine whether the missing intervals represent a market closure or absent observations. Filling them with the last price imposes an assumption that must be explicit.
Try it yourself
Write a data-quality note for that gap and specify how a strategy requiring uninterrupted bars should behave until the reason is known.
Show the worked solution
Record the missing timestamps, source and investigation status. A strategy that requires complete intervals should withhold the dependent calculation or clearly mark it unavailable until its documented missing-data policy can be applied.
Apply this to your course project
Submit a chart template with instrument, timezone, price type and data-source notes.
Keep the calculation inputs, assumptions and decisions with your work. Practical exercises are self-reviewed; the scored knowledge checks assess the questions shown, not an independent certification of practical competence.