Getting Draw Object's Default Template Properties

[Unsuitable]

Hello,

Is there a better way to retrieve default template properties? My current method is to create a draw object and assign it to the 'Default' template. From there, grab the information from the object's properties and then remove the object. It works but is it possible to avoid the creation of an object?

private NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools.SimpleFont defaultTextTemplateFont;
private Brush defaultTextTemplateTextBrush;
private TextAlignment defaultTextTemplateTextAlignment;
private Brush defaultTextTemplateOutlineBrush;
private Brush defaultTextTemplateAreaBrush;
private int deafultTextTemplateAreaOpacity;

...

Text defaultTemplateText = Draw.Text(this, "defaultText", "defaultText", 0, Close[0], true, "Default");

defaultTextTemplateFont = new NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools.SimpleFont(defaultTemplateTe xt.Font.Family.ToString(), defaultTemplateText.Font.Size)
{
  Bold = defaultTemplateText.Font.Bold,
  Italic = defaultTemplateText.Font.Italic
};

defaultTextTemplateTextBrush = defaultTemplateText.TextBrush;
defaultTextTemplateTextAlignment = defaultTemplateText.Alignment;
defaultTextTemplateOutlineBrush = defaultTemplateText.OutlineStroke.Brush;
defaultTextTemplateAreaBrush = defaultTemplateText.AreaBrush;
deafultTextTemplateAreaOpacity = defaultTemplateText.AreaOpacity;

RemoveDrawObject("@defaultText");

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

The supported way would just be to drawn an object using an xml template, and then see what properties the template applied to the object.

The unsupported way would be to read the xml file using unsupported C# code from the Documents\NinjaTrader 8\templates\Drawing folder.

[Unsuitable]

Hi ChelseaB,

That's what I figured. No xml file reading for me!. Anyways I implemented a feature where the user can submit a custom template via a string name. I made sure to implement a Try and Catch in case it's empty or no template with that name is found. However, it seems that NT handles that.

"The name of the drawing tool template the object will use to determine various visual properties (empty string could be used to just use the UI default visuals instead)"

https://ninjatrader.com/de/support/helpGuides/nt8/?draw_text.htm

So no need for a Try and Catch then?

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

A try and catch would not be necessary.

A string is a non nullable type, if a string variable is not set it will have a value of string.Empty.

If the object type was a nullable type, then you should check the variable holding the object is not null before using it.

[Unsuitable]

Hi ChelseaB,

A string is a non nullable type, if a string variable is not set it will have a value of string.Empty.

Makes sense. Do you know how NT handles templates that don't exist? Does it just set the template to "" and use UI default visuals?

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

A drawing template that doesn't exist will not be loaded and the default values for the object will be used.

[Unsuitable]

Hi Chelsea_B,

By default values do you mean the default template? If so what if that's deleted?

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

I mean the default values as if there was no template applied.

As if you did not have a template, and then manually drew an object.

[Unsuitable]

Hi Chelsea_B,

Wouldn't that use the "Default" template? What if the user deleted the Default template, will it use NT's default values?

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

No, this would not instead load a template named Default. No, the default template loading would not be the same as no template loading. Please give it a try and let us know the results.

Yes, the drawing object will use the default properties, even if the user does not delete a template named Default.

The default text brush for text drawing objects when using the default Slate Gray skin is Brushes.White.

[Unsuitable]

Hi ChelseaB,

I went ahead and deleted the template name "Default". When drawing a new text object, the backup default values set the text to Arial Black

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

Are you using the default skin: Slate Gray? (If so, that would be unexpected for this skin. I've just tested on my end and the color was white. I've also checked the skin and the value is white in the skin file.)

*It's close to white. It's actually 'Slate Gray - Text Color' which is #CCCCCC instead of #FFFFFF.

[Unsuitable]

Hi ChelseaB,

NT uses the chart properties. In my case, I have one of the dark themes but my chart background is set to white and the chart text is set to black.

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello Unsuitable,

That is correct. Manually changing color values will override the values from the skin.

By you setting the color, that will be the default color for text drawing objects on that chart. If you do not override the colors and use the default values, these will come from the skin.