Chart Cosmetics

[cptrader]

I wish to draw a series of horizontal lines as part of a chart template.

I have used the manual to create the formulas

DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3689,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3682,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3675,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3668,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3661,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3654,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3647,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1); DrawHorizontalLine("",false,3640,Color.Black,DashS tyle.Dash,1);

I am not sure where I put this in the ninja editor

Also I wish to use backgroung colour to highlight specific bar times on a 1 minute chart. Is this code correct
if (ToTime(Time[0]) = 74500)
{
BackColor = Color.PaleGreen;
}
I am not sure where I put this in the ninja editor either.

Thanks

Craig

[NinjaTrader_Ben]

Hello,

You want to put DrawHorizontalLine() within the OnBarUpdate() block.
Use a unique name for all of the lines otherwise they will overwrite eachother.

You can also Add() lines in the intialization. This link will help:

http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/Add.html

I have attached a very simple BackColor indicator you can use as a reference.
Your code looks OK for the BackColor except that you need to change "=" to "==" so it loks like this:
ToTIme(Time[0]) == 74500

You want to put it in the OnBarUpdate() block.

[cptrader]

Cosmetics2

Hi Ben
Thanks for you help
The code now works well
if(ToTime(Time[0]) == 75200)
BackColor = Color.PaleGreen;
How can I add text to the bar high lighted by this code as I am not sure how to use time with DrawText function.

The DrawHorizontalLine() works well in the OnBarUpdate() block.
As I understand your email I can use Add(new DrawHorizontalLine())
(Is this how you would write code)
under the initialization block as an alternative. Am I correct in thinking that the advantage of this is that the values of the line are stored and so can be used with other code?
Craig

[NinjaTrader_Ben]

Hello,


>>How can I add text to the bar high lighted by this code as I am not sure how to use time with DrawText function.

There are a few ways you could do this.

You could do something like this assuming you want to draw the text on the the current bar after your condition:
DrawText("my tag", "my text", 0, High[0], Color.Black)

Or you could use GetBar(Time[some_int]) to return the bar of the time want:
http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/GetBar.html

Also, you may want to use HighestBar() to get the highest bar for a certain look back:
http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/HighestBar.html


>>As I understand your email I can use Add(new DrawHorizontalLine())
(Is this how you would write code)
under the initialization block as an alternative. Am I correct in thinking that the advantage of this is that the values of the line are stored and so can be used with other code?

This is one way you could include it in the Initialized() method:
Add(new Line(Color.Gray, some_value, "line_name"));

You will want to use some_value, in this example, to determine were the line is. No, you cannot access this line via other scripts.

[cptrader]

Line Properties

Hi Ben

The Initialized() block is for things you want permanently on the chart from the start. Is this correct?
Would Add(new Line(Color.Gray, some_value, "line_name"));
use less computer resources than DrawHorizontalLine() in the OnBarUpdate() block. I want to draw quite a few lines on the chart from the start.
With Add(new Line(Color.Gray, some_value, "line_name"));
how would you add DashStyle.Dash or any other line style?

Thanks

Craig

[NinjaTrader_Ben]

Hello,


Yes, anything you put in the Initialize() block will remain unchanged while the script is running.

Generally speaking, if you will not be altering something and you have the option to put it in the Intialize() block you are usually better off putting it in the Intialized() block so your computer doesn't have to re-evaluate the code you have in OnBarUpdate() each time a bar is updated.


This link has information on Initialize():

http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/Initialize.html

To change the first Add(new Line(...)); to dashed, put this after the Add()'s:

Lines[0].Pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;

This link will help:

http://www.ninjatrader-support2.com/vb/showthread.php?t=3228