Can bars be 'colored' by another bar state?

August 13th, 2010, 12:05 PM

I have looked at Point n Figure (PnF) barcharts occasionally, and do think of making a strategy built on some of that functionality.

Meanwhile, I wonder if it is possible to color (example) range bars (bearish, bullish) based on the last 'state' of the PnF whether the last drawn was an 'O' or an 'X' ?? Likely best done only in NT7 as PnF is 'native' there. Would this best be done as a new bar type or as an indicator? From the discussions about bar types here I am not too keen on even attempting those

I did look at the code of the NT7 '@BarsTypes.cs" but cant make enough sense of it to know where to start getting the 'trigger' to change the color state of the range bar. Of course, I want to still be able to change the input parameters available in NT7 to change the PnF bar parameters.

Any help is appreciated (but I am am still a novice at code writing and specific example code is ssSSOOO useful, generalization of steps will likely just get me asking more questions),

TIA
Jon

August 13th, 2010, 12:18 PM

Trader.Jon

I have looked at Point n Figure (PnF) barcharts occasionally, and do think of making a strategy built on some of that functionality.

Meanwhile, I wonder if it is possible to color (example) range bars (bearish, bullish) based on the last 'state' of the PnF whether the last drawn was an 'O' or an 'X' ?? Likely best done only in NT7 as PnF is 'native' there. Would this best be done as a new bar type or as an indicator? From the discussions about bar types here I am not too keen on even attempting those

I did look at the code of the NT7 '@BarsTypes.cs" but cant make enough sense of it to know where to start getting the 'trigger' to change the color state of the range bar. Of course, I want to still be able to change the input parameters available in NT7 to change the PnF bar parameters.

Any help is appreciated (but I am am still a novice at code writing and specific example code is ssSSOOO useful, generalization of steps will likely just get me asking more questions),

TIA
Jon

NinjaTrader has a zigzag indicator, which can probably be used to simulate a point and figure chart. All you would need to do is to substitute the minimum devaition of the zig zag for the reversal size of the point and figure chart. Make sure that the zigzag is attached to the close. Once a zigzag is drawn, this starts a new column of your P&F charts. You can easily use this approach to colour your bars.

August 13th, 2010, 01:42 PM

Jon,
I think it would be easiest for you to create an indicator to do this. I have the following code that I think you could modify this pretty easily to suit your needs.

Code

                            

ind.Set(Close[0]);                        
                        
            if (trend==1)
            {
                if (ind[0]<=hw)
                {
                    trend=-1;
                    hw=ind[0]+signal*TickSize;
                    tnum++;
                    DrawArrowDown(tnum.ToString(),true,0,High[0]+2*TickSize,Color.Red);
                    signaled=true;
                }
                else hw=Math.Max(hw,ind[0]-signal*TickSize);
                                
                BarColor=Color.Blue;                                
            }
            
            else if (trend==-1)
            {
                if (ind[0]>=hw)
                {
                    trend=1;
                    hw=ind[0]-signal*TickSize;
                    tnum++;
                    DrawArrowUp(tnum.ToString(),true,0,Low[0]-2*TickSize,Color.Green);
                    signaled=true;
                }
                else hw=Math.Min(hw,ind[0]+signal*TickSize);
                                
                BarColor=Color.Red;
            }        
            
            else
            {
                trend=1;
                hw=ind[0]-signal*TickSize;
            }

Trader.Jon

I have looked at Point n Figure (PnF) barcharts occasionally, and do think of making a strategy built on some of that functionality.

Meanwhile, I wonder if it is possible to color (example) range bars (bearish, bullish) based on the last 'state' of the PnF whether the last drawn was an 'O' or an 'X' ?? Likely best done only in NT7 as PnF is 'native' there. Would this best be done as a new bar type or as an indicator? From the discussions about bar types here I am not too keen on even attempting those

I did look at the code of the NT7 '@BarsTypes.cs" but cant make enough sense of it to know where to start getting the 'trigger' to change the color state of the range bar. Of course, I want to still be able to change the input parameters available in NT7 to change the PnF bar parameters.

Any help is appreciated (but I am am still a novice at code writing and specific example code is ssSSOOO useful, generalization of steps will likely just get me asking more questions),

TIA
Jon

August 13th, 2010, 01:49 PM

I dont do PnF charts, but here are a few comments:

* BarTypes are for building bars, not really the right place to color a bar

* ChartStyles are for displaying the bars in a custom manner, you could set the color here, but since you want to use another bar type to set the color of this bar type, it is not going to be easy to do, if its even possible

* Indicator - this is the place to do it, as an indicator can also set the color of the bars based on pretty much anything you can get access to. I think you could add another data series to an indicator (i.e. add a PnF period bar), and then use the state of the second data source to color the bars. This is a NT7 feature.

Perhaps others have some more ideas.

August 13th, 2010, 03:13 PM

Fat Tails

NinjaTrader has a zigzag indicator, which can probably be used to simulate a point and figure chart. All you would need to do is to substitute the minimum devaition of the zig zag for the reversal size of the point and figure chart. Make sure that the zigzag is attached to the close. Once a zigzag is drawn, this starts a new column of your P&F charts. You can easily use this approach to colour your bars.

That approach had never even crossed my mind ... I'll put it on my 'to do' for my eyeballs and see what it looks like!

Thanks,
Jon

August 13th, 2010, 04:05 PM

MooreTech

Jon,
I think it would be easiest for you to create an indicator to do this. I have the following code ... }

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Moore,

1 vote for indicator !!!

Thanks for the inspiration ... I will give a go at it, I do wonder though if its going to be an issue as the PnF bars have multiple segments, and waiting on the bar close will effect the outcome ... 'top of my head' guess at the code snip you provided looks as designed for bar to be closed .. or am I wrong?

Jon

August 13th, 2010, 04:07 PM

aslan

I dont do PnF charts, but here are a few comments:

* BarTypes are for building bars, not really the right place to color a bar

* ChartStyles are for displaying the bars in a custom manner, you could set the color here, but since you want to use another bar type to set the color of this bar type, it is not going to be easy to do, if its even possible

* Indicator - this is the place to do it, as an indicator can also set the color of the bars based on pretty much anything you can get access to. I think you could add another data series to an indicator (i.e. add a PnF period bar), and then use the state of the second data source to color the bars. This is a NT7 feature.

Perhaps others have some more ideas.

Aslan,

2 votes for indicator !!!

I appreciate the analysis of the options ... I parsed out the PnF parts from the NT7 BarsType.cs and will use that to help me chart these unknown waters.

Jon

August 13th, 2010, 04:19 PM

Jon,
You can run the code provided intrabar (CalculateOnBarClose=false).

Trader.Jon

Moore,

1 vote for indicator !!!

Thanks for the inspiration ... I will give a go at it, I do wonder though if its going to be an issue as the PnF bars have multiple segments, and waiting on the bar close will effect the outcome ... 'top of my head' guess at the code snip you provided looks as designed for bar to be closed .. or am I wrong?

Jon

Can bars be 'colored' by another bar state?

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Can bars be 'colored' by another bar state?