Time-delay issue

[Burga1]

Hi,

I'm trying to use a time-delay in my strategy. I want to simply do some actions "on bar close", then wait 2 minutes, and perform some more actions. I'm using the following code to attempt to "wait 2 minutes":

if(Time[0].Subtract(Time[0]).Minutes > 2){Print( "2 Minutes... ");}

This compiles fine but doesn't seem functional, the message never prints to the Output Window. I have changed the "calculateonbarclose" to "false" to enable tick-by-tick processing (I'm using "Firsttickofbar" for the "CalculateonBarclose" stuff) .
I also thought about manipulating this code from the Help:

// Checks if current time is greater than the bar time stamp
if (DateTime.Now.Ticks > Time[0].Ticks)
Print("Do something");

I'm not sure how to go about correcting this code to have it perform as I wish...any suggestions appreciated.

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

For sure that will not work since you are subtracting the same time instance from itself.

You will want to do:

if(Time[0].Subtract(Time[1]).Minutes > 2){Print( "2 Minutes... ");}

[Burga1]

Oh, thanks, nice catch. That works however it seems to be printing upon every tick of the bar, regardless of whether the tick occurs within the 2 minutes or not...

Is there a way (within the "FirstTickofBar" code) to set the current time of that "first" tick and then use this to determine if 2 minutes have elapsed from that point? From there I suppose I could use a variable to prevent additional processing of the code upon each tick...

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

You could store local DateTime variables and on first condition, assign DateTime.Now, then check against DateTime.Now later etc...

[Burga1]

Thank you Ray. So I should do something like this?:

if(FirstTickofBar)
{
double Start = DateTime.Now;
}

if(Start.Subtract(Time[1]).Minutes > 2){Print( "2 Minutes... ");}

I'm not sure if that syntax is correct?

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

No

DateTime start = DateTime.Now

then later

DateTime.Now.Subtract(start).Minutes > X

[Burga1]

OK thank you, I'll try it out.

[Burga1]

Sorry for my confusion, it still prints on each tick regardless of what time it is, I'm doing:

#region Variables
DateTime start;
#endregion

protectedoverridevoid OnBarUpdate()
{
if (FirstTickOfBar)
{
start = DateTime.Now;
}

if(DateTime.Now.Subtract(start).Minutes > 2){Print( "2 Minutes... ");}
}

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

Then the condition must always be true, you would have to debug to see what values you are comparing etc...

[Burga1]

Thanks again, Ray. I think I've got that worked out but I notice another issue. Since the running of the code is dependent on the updates of each tick, this leads to a condition where the desired code will be run only at or (almost always) some time after the "2 minute condition" has elapsed...depending on when the ticks happen.

My question is if there is some way to "force" the "2 minute condition" without relying on the randomness of ticks...perhaps NT has an internal clock or can access the Windows system clock in order to ensure an "absolute" condition of 2 minutes of elapsed time?

[NinjaTrader_Dierk]

You certainly could code that in NinjaScript. Please check out the timer reference sample I referred you to before: http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/v...ead.php?t=5965

[Burga1]

Thanks Dierk, that helps.

[Burga1]

Hello again,

Regarding that code in the Reference sample. It seems to be creating a "constant" time delay/event.

if (CurrentBar > 0)
{
// Initiate our Timer object with an interval of 120000ms (2 minutes)
myTimer.Tick += new EventHandler(TimerEventProcessor);
myTimer.Interval = 120000;
myTimer.Start();
}

I'm trying to "reset" it upon the Close of each bar. Thus on each new bar on the chart I'd like the Timer to begin counting from that point until 2 minutes have elapsed. The way it is now is that it just constantly begins a new event every 2 minutes, regardless of whether there are new bars or not...I've tried changing "(CurrentBar > 0)" to "(FirstTickofBar)" but saw no difference in results. It must be possible to accomplish that?

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

Yes it is for sure but this you are really are into general programming now and not NinjaScript. Apart from the guidance we have so far provided we are unable to provide any more help in this area.