Bar Numbering

[Dale1670]

I am trying to find a bar numbering indicator, similar to what Al Brooks uses. I found a numbering indicator, but it doesn't start with bar 1 of the current chart and I don't see any way to change it. Does anyone have such a thing?

Dale

[NinjaTrader_Austin]

Dale, you could certainly create your own indicator that numbers the bars. Just stick this line of code inside OnBarUpdate() of an indicator (perhaps a new indicator to keep stuff separate) and you'll be good to go:

DrawText("bar number" + CurrentBar, CurrentBar.ToString(), 0, High[0] + 3 * TickSize, Color.Black);

[Dale1670]

Thanks Austin, I tried your suggestion, and just got a pile of error messages.

Db

[NinjaTrader_Austin]

Dale, please try this:

1) Tools -> New indicator -> name it -> next -> next -> next until the code appears
2) Paste the line into OnBarUpdate()
3) Hit the F5 key to compile
4) Put your new indicator on a chart.

[Dale1670]

Hi again Austin, I discovered the problem, I use 6.5 for my trading, I haven't switched to 7 for live trading yet. When I created the indicator in 7 it worked, however there is already an indicator called Bar Numbers created by someone else which does the same thing. Could you tell me how to set it so the count starts with the first bar of the day? Right now it starts with the first bar of the first day of the chart series.

DB

[NinjaTrader_Austin]

Dale, you'll have to create some sort of a counter that resets upon each new session. We aren't allowed to write code for customers, but I knew this would be hard to explain and it would result in much back-and-forth between you and us, so I just coded it out for you. Please take a look and study the code so you can see how and when the numbers reset. Of primary interest is the property Bars.FirstBarOfSession - this property returns true if and only if the bar is the first bar of a new session.

public class SessionBars : Indicator
{
    private int sessionBar = 0;
    private int difference = 0;
    protected override void Initialize()
    {         
        Overlay                = false;
    }
    protected override void OnBarUpdate()
    {
        if (Bars.FirstBarOfSession)
        {
            sessionBar = 0;
            difference = CurrentBar;
        }
        
        if ((sessionBar + difference) != CurrentBar)
        {
            sessionBar = sessionBar + 1;
        }
        
        DrawText("bar number" + CurrentBar, sessionBar.ToString(), 0, High[0] + 3 * TickSize, Color.Black);
        
    }
}

If you want to show less text, you could draw only on every odd numbered or even numbered bar by using the modulo operator (%). It basically gives you the remainder after a division operation.

if (CurrentBar % 2 == 0)
{
   // place the draw text code here
}

The screenshot only shows every other bar number.

[Dale1670]

Thanks Austin, I appreciate your help, I will try it out tommorrow, I really know nothing about code, and my focus right now is on improving my trading results.

Dale

[Mindset]

Five stars to Austin

Excellent - takes half the time and supports a new user.

[JoshDance]

Is it possible to number the bars at the bottom of the screen? Kind of like the attached picture.

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

Hi JoshDance,

One of our members has shared an indicator that does this - available in the file sharing section:

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/local_links.php?action=sendtofriend&catid=4&linkid=430

[JoshDance]

Thanks very much Ryan-- I would like to see if I can modify it to show numbers on two separate rows like in the picture I posted, as when we get into the double digit bars starting with 10 it becomes a bit crowded. Thanks for pointing me to this!

[freddie1]

Dale, you'll have to create some sort of a counter that resets upon each new session. We aren't allowed to write code for customers, but I knew this would be hard to explain and it would result in much back-and-forth between you and us, so I just coded it out for you. Please take a look and study the code so you can see how and when the numbers reset. Of primary interest is the property Bars.FirstBarOfSession - this property returns true if and only if the bar is the first bar of a new session.

public class SessionBars : Indicator
{
    private int sessionBar = 0;
    private int difference = 0;
    protected override void Initialize()
    {         
        Overlay                = false;
    }
    protected override void OnBarUpdate()
    {
        if (Bars.FirstBarOfSession)
        {
            sessionBar = 0;
            difference = CurrentBar;
        }
        
        if ((sessionBar + difference) != CurrentBar)
        {
            sessionBar = sessionBar + 1;
        }
        
        DrawText("bar number" + CurrentBar, sessionBar.ToString(), 0, High[0] + 3 * TickSize, Color.Black);
        
    }
}

If you want to show less text, you could draw only on every odd numbered or even numbered bar by using the modulo operator (%). It basically gives you the remainder after a division operation.

if (CurrentBar % 2 == 0)
{
   // place the draw text code here
}

The screenshot only shows every other bar number.

Austin, I used the above code and even-number only modification you suggested, to create the bar-numbering indicator I wanted so thank you very much. It just has one bug I can't figure out how to fix: the first bar on my 5-minute chart (i.e. the one that closes at 9:35am Eastern) is numbered 0. I need it to be numbered 1 or else it throws off the count for the whole day. What do I need to change in the code? Thank you.

[koganam]

Start your session count at a value of 1

if (Bars.FirstBarOfSession) 
{             
sessionBar = 1;             
difference = CurrentBar - 1;
}

[freddie1]

Thank you. I tried that, and now the first bar is numbered 2. Here's the full script; is there something else in there throwing it off? Thanks again.


public class SessionBars : Indicator
{
private int sessionBar = 0;
private int difference = 0;
protected override void Initialize()
{
Overlay = false;
}
protected override void OnBarUpdate()
{
if (Bars.FirstBarOfSession)
{
sessionBar = 1;
difference = CurrentBar;
}

if ((sessionBar + difference) != CurrentBar)
{
sessionBar = sessionBar + 1;
}

if (CurrentBar % 2 == 0)
{
DrawText("bar number" + CurrentBar, sessionBar.ToString(), 0, High[0] + 3 * TickSize, Color.White);

}
}
}
}

[koganam]

I believe I may have edited it while you were working? At any event, what you have is not what I last wrote.

difference = CurrentBar - 1;

Funnily enough, once you use that line, it will not matter if you set sessionBar to zero or one: you should get the same result.