Q-1: You claim that the data underlying the pictures is robust. Why then is it not guaranteed?

A-1: All data is sourced and processed in good faith. Because source data has been found to contain errors from time to time in cross-checking, there are data validation and data cleansing operations performed. The detected error-rate over the course of several years has been so low as to be ascertained to be of minimal impact or concern, despite the huge volumes of underlying data, or perhaps just on that account, as blips tend to be ironed out and corrected quite quickly within the constant flow of updates. Just the same, as the integrity of the sources are beyond our control, there can be no guarantee given.

Q-2: Why are the pictures so cluttered?

A-2: There is a standard set of criteria charted out for every map. At first this may make the maps seem a little cluttered in comparison with the charts for the market that are typically available. But then those ('snails spoor trail') charts probably dont tell you very much that is meaningful at all. For most maps only 2 lines will be really significant -- these the most heavily emphasised. But for some maps the other line .. (the feint one).. becomes valuable as an auxiliary of the first two, and so they are included on all maps. Firstly, there is no way to tell in advance for which maps the extra line will suddenly take on an important role. Secondly, with all maps having a standard set all the time, a set one grows to be familiar with, leaving out the extra line just sometimes could well prove to be more disconcerting than helpful. In following the drill-down that matches emphasis to significance, simply ignore the more feint lines until a reason arises to scrutinise them. Once acquainted with the set of lines, and as they are standardised, the cluttered perception will fade.

Q-3: Why are the X'd returns only approximations of the dividends dates?

A-3: Typically the component events of a dividends transaction span several different actual dates. The purpose of the X's is to merely indicate a date close to but following the announcement, and in advance of payments being actually receipted, and which may assist budgeting. For this reason, these dates were originally given in the form of the month only. Following a call for some usefully finer graining, an approximate day has been added to the date. The approximate "day" can, of course, be ignored in favour of just the month.