CountIf Issue

kevinkdog · December 8th, 2020, 08:36 AM

I am directing this at any Easy Language expert, but especially @ABCTG, since he is the best EL expert I know here...

OK, I am officially stumped.

I tried the countif function on a 5 minute chart of @ES, exchange time, last date of 1081231 (last time of 1520):

Looking at the chart, on the last bar you can easily see that the lowest low of the last 5 bars is 689.0

On Dec 31, 2008 at 1520 Exchange time, the lowest low of the last five 5 minute bars is 689.0 (on second to last bar).

Everyone should agree on that.

Now, if I run this code:

Code

Var:PriceToTest(0); 
  
If date=1081231 and time=1520 then begin 
  PriceToTest = 689.1; 
  Value1 = CountIf( (Low of data1<= PriceToTest), 5 ); 
  Print("Value1= ",Value1, "    PriceToTest = ", PriceToTest, "    LookBack = ", LookBack); 
end;

I get

Value1= 0.00 PriceToTest = 689.10 LookBack = 5.00

which is wrong. Value 1 should be equal to 1, since there is one low (689.0) which is below 689.1

Next I change the code to this:

Code

Var:PriceToTest(0); 
  
If date=1081231 and time=1520 then begin 
PriceToTest = 689.1; 
Value1 = CountIf( (Low of data1<= 689.1), 5 );  //hard code 689.1 here, replacing variable PriceToTest 
Print("Value1= ",Value1, "    PriceToTest = ", PriceToTest, "    LookBack = ", LookBack); 
end;

And now it is correct:
Value1= 1.00 PriceToTest = 689.10 LookBack = 5.00

Can someone explain what is going on here? Am I misunderstanding what Countif is doing?

ABCTG · December 8th, 2020, 08:46 AM

kevinkdog,

you set the value for the variable PriceToTest on the very bar you call the "CountIf" function. Therefore, PriceToTest[1] should equal to 0 (and so should PriceToTest[2] etc..).

When you take a look at the CountIf code you can see that the "Test" input is back referenced within the loop and it appears the iterations with the loop counter > 0 are not true because these bars have "PriceToTest" at 0.

When you use a static value you do not have this problem as your second test confirms.

Regards,

ABCTG

kevinkdog

I am directing this at any Easy Language expert, but especially @ABCTG, since he is the best EL expert I know here...

OK, I am officially stumped.

I tried the countif function on a 5 minute chart of @ES, exchange time, last date of 1081231 (last time of 1520):

Looking at the chart, on the last bar you can easily see that the lowest low of the last 5 bars is 689.0

On Dec 31, 2008 at 1520 Exchange time, the lowest low of the last five 5 minute bars is 689.0 (on second to last bar).

Everyone should agree on that.

Now, if I run this code:

Code

Var:PriceToTest(0); 
  
If date=1081231 and time=1520 then begin 
  PriceToTest = 689.1; 
  Value1 = CountIf( (Low of data1<= PriceToTest), 5 ); 
  Print("Value1= ",Value1, "    PriceToTest = ", PriceToTest, "    LookBack = ", LookBack); 
end;

I get

Value1= 0.00 PriceToTest = 689.10 LookBack = 5.00

which is wrong. Value 1 should be equal to 1, since there is one low (689.0) which is below 689.1

Next I change the code to this:

Code

Var:PriceToTest(0); 
  
If date=1081231 and time=1520 then begin 
PriceToTest = 689.1; 
Value1 = CountIf( (Low of data1<= 689.1), 5 );  //hard code 689.1 here, replacing variable PriceToTest 
Print("Value1= ",Value1, "    PriceToTest = ", PriceToTest, "    LookBack = ", LookBack); 
end;

And now it is correct:
Value1= 1.00 PriceToTest = 689.10 LookBack = 5.00

Can someone explain what is going on here? Am I misunderstanding what Countif is doing?

kevinkdog · December 8th, 2020, 08:51 AM

That is it, thanks!

CountIf Issue

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CountIf Issue