Plot in Strategies

[kenb2004]

Is it possible to use plots in strategies instead of Drawing Objects, the same way you would use them in an Indicator? I have dots in a strategy that draw at a specific price under certain conditions. They create a line of dots for a period of time. I would prefer a simple dash (hash), but they are not available in drawing objects.
Thanks

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

Hi Ken,
Yes, you could follow this sample for plotting within a NinjaScript strategy:

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/showthread.php?t=6651

[kenb2004]

Thanks. How would pen width and dashstyle be added?

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

See here for common plot formatting like width and dashstyle:

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/showthread.php?t=3228

[kenb2004]

Thank you...

[kenb2004]

I've successfully added strategy plots but they seem to use a lot of code. For 3 dotted lines it uses this code:

protectedoverridevoid Initialize()
{
Add(StrategyPlot(0)); // Buy Entry Price
StrategyPlot(0).Plots[0].Pen.Color = Color.Lime;
StrategyPlot(0).Plots[0].Pen.Width = 3;
StrategyPlot(0).Plots[0].Pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;
StrategyPlot(0).PanelUI = 1;


Add(StrategyPlot(1)); // Buy Target Price
StrategyPlot(1).Plots[0].Pen.Color = Color.White;
StrategyPlot(1).Plots[0].Pen.Width = 3;
StrategyPlot(1).Plots[0].Pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;
StrategyPlot(1).PanelUI = 1;


Add(StrategyPlot(2)); // Buy Stop Price
StrategyPlot(2).Plots[0].Pen.Color = Color.Gold;
StrategyPlot(2).Plots[0].Pen.Width = 3;
StrategyPlot(2).Plots[0].Pen.DashStyle = DashStyle.Dash;
StrategyPlot(2).PanelUI = 1;

}
protectedoverridevoid OnBarUpdate()
{
if (condition)
StrategyPlot(0).Value.Set(EntryPrice); // Buy Entry Price

if (condition)
StrategyPlot(1).Value.Set(TargetPrice); // Buy Target Price

if (condition)
StrategyPlot(2).Value.Set(StopPrice); // Buy Stop Price
}

Is there a more condensed or effecient way of accomplishing this and can "StrategyPlot(0)" be named something else like "EntryPricePlot"? This seems to use a lot of lines of code..

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

StrategyPlot is a dummy indicator, basically a placeholder for what you do with the plots in the strategy. You can name your own dummy indicator whatever you like.

A strategies main purpose is for automated order placement, not charting. This structure is required in order to have the strategy do things that are generally more suited for an indicator.

[kenb2004]

I changed the Name from "StrategyPlot" to "BuyTarget" and got an error that "BuyTarget" does not exist". How do I make it exist?

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

You only changed in the strategy? Create a new indicator through the indicator wizard and name it BuyTarget.