How to locate indicator files when installing Thinkorswim indicators on Apple / Mac computers

If you're using Thinkorswim (TOS) on an Apple Mac computer, you may have trouble locating downloaded indicator files in TOS, even though you can see them in Finder.  Here's something to check that may help.

When you download BCT indicators for Thinkorswim from our indicator download page, the file you save is a zipped file.  That file contains one or more Thinkscript files, which have a file type of .ts, such as MQMomentum.ts or MQTrend.ts.  Apple recognizes file types automatically and doesn't always show them.  Instead, it shows an icon for that file to show what program will be used if you open that file.  The .ts file type is also used by video files, short for "Transport Stream".  That's the default recognition for .ts files, which is why the Mac shows a video icon for a Thinkscript (.ts) file.  If you try to open the icon by clicking on it, it will launch the video player, and since it's a Thinkscript file and not a video, the video player will give an error because it can't play the file. 

In Thinkorswim, we must import the indicator from within Thinkorswim's Edit Studies dialog.  Open the Edit Studies dialog (usually by clicking the flask icon), and then click the Import button that appears below the list of indicators.  You'll be asked to browse your files to find the zip file.  Locate the file and import it, and you're ready to use the indicator.

This is why it's important to unzip or decompress the zip file before importing it.  Having the zip file decompressed into its own folder makes it easier for Thinkorswim to locate it.  If you have unzipped the file so it's ready to import, and you browse to locate it from within Thinkorswim, and you still can't find it, then it's likely that the Thinkorswim app doesn't have the right permissions to be able to view files.  Open the Privacy and Security settings on your Mac and give full disk access to Thinkorswim. Restart Thinkorswim, then try to import the file again, and hopefully this time it will appear, since the Thinkorswim app now has access to the drive and its files.