Indicator - Who Called Me?

[dkrumholz]

Is there a way to determine, within OnBarUpdate, if the indicator is being placed on a chart as opposed to being called from the Market Analyzer? I want to display a message box if the indicator is being placed on a chart but not if it is being called because it is a column in the market analyzer.

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello dkrumholz,

Thank you for your post.

I am not aware of a method to check if the indicator is applied to a chart or Market Analyzer.

However, you may wish to create a custom Market Analyzer column alone for this indicator. You can view the code used for the Market Analyzer columns by going to the following directory on your PC: (My) Documents\NinjaTrader 7\bin\Custom\Market Analyzer

Custom Market Analyzer columns are not supported in the confines of NinjaScript support but if you have any questions I may be able to point you in the right direction.

Please let me know if I may be of further assistance.

[sledge]

Is there a way to determine, within OnBarUpdate, if the indicator is being placed on a chart as opposed to being called from the Market Analyzer? I want to display a message box if the indicator is being placed on a chart but not if it is being called because it is a column in the market analyzer.

Since you asked ---

1) If you are using the same period, the indicator might be cached in both places and there is only 1 instance from my understanding.

2) Override Plot, and set a variable...for your OnBarUpdate to check. I'm going to theorize that Market Analyzer won't call that Plot. I could be mistaken..

Please report back. Thanks.

[dkrumholz]

Good Thought - But

Thanks. Not only did that occur to me - but I tested it. I was pretty surprised, but the plot method still got called!

[sledge]

Thanks. Not only did that occur to me - but I tested it. I was pretty surprised, but the plot method still got called!

Bummer!

Let's go 1 step further -

In the overriden plot, is either ChartControl == null ? Bars == null? That could determine if chart or 'something else' such at Market Analyzer.

[dkrumholz]

I didn't try that - but I will. Thanks! I'm dealing with how to create a global function to write to a stream writer which is a little more pressing for me at the minute.

[koganam]

Is there a way to determine, within OnBarUpdate, if the indicator is being placed on a chart as opposed to being called from the Market Analyzer? I want to display a message box if the indicator is being placed on a chart but not if it is being called because it is a column in the market analyzer.

Have you simply tried checking if a ChartControl exists? It should only exist on a chart, but not in the Market Analyzer. At least, I hope NT is not putting the indicator on a hidden chart in the Market Analyzer.

[koganam]

Thanks. Not only did that occur to me - but I tested it. I was pretty surprised, but the plot method still got called!

I should expect that the Plot will get called. After all, it is one of the things that Market Analyzer can use as a comparator.

[dkrumholz]

I don't find ChartControl documented. Where might I find its definition and use?

[koganam]

I don't find ChartControl documented. Where might I find its definition and use?

Oops. ChartControl is not documented or supported by NT. Maybe I should not have mentioned it. However, you can search the forum for it: there are quite a few threads showing what folks have discovered that you can do with it.

[sledge]

I don't find ChartControl documented. Where might I find its definition and use?

Just type in ChartControl

I put the code below.

if ( ChartControl == null )

if that doesn't work, checks Bars

if ( ChartControl == null || Bars == null )
{
//no chart, set a flag
}
else
{
// we have a chart, set flag
}

[xTrader1]

My Workaround

Just type in ChartControl

I put the code below.

if ( ChartControl == null )

if that doesn't work, checks Bars

if ( ChartControl == null || Bars == null )
{
//no chart, set a flag
}
else
{
// we have a chart, set flag
}

The above didn't work for me. But I have rather ugly workaround. Just place an additional parameter in your indicator:

        [Description("0 from a chart, 1 from strategy , 2 from market analyzer")]
        [GridCategory("Parameters")]
        public int CalledFrom
        {
            get { return calledFrom ; }
            set { calledFrom = value ; }
        }

and take care to set it accordingly when calling from a chart, indicator or strategy.

A suggestion for ninja: implement it internally in NinjaScript. Looking at your caching code, it should be simple.

[cdjindia]

The above didn't work for me. But I have rather ugly workaround. Just place an additional parameter in your indicator:

        [Description("0 from a chart, 1 from strategy , 2 from market analyzer")]
        [GridCategory("Parameters")]
        public int CalledFrom
        {
            get { return calledFrom ; }
            set { calledFrom = value ; }
        }

and take care to set it accordingly when calling from a chart, indicator or strategy.

A suggestion for ninja: implement it internally in NinjaScript. Looking at your caching code, it should be simple.

It'd be a good idea to make a enum with easier to understand names like calledFromChart, instead of integers such as 0 and 1.

[xTrader1]

It'd be a good idea to make a enum with easier to understand names like calledFromChart, instead of integers such as 0 and 1.

Agree, go on.