Simple Indicator Question

[kingmordecai]

Hello To All,

How can I program a simple indicator that does two things
1). Shows the calculated value in the Data Bax
2). Does not plot anything to the chart nor does it affect the charts price scale

Thank you for your Time
Scott

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello kingmordecai,

Welcome to the NinjaTrader forums!

To show a value in the DataBox, it is necessary to set a plot value.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/forum/forum/ninjatrader-8/indicator-development/1182243-exposing-the-wavetrend-indicator-for-strategy-builder#post1182264

https://ninjatrader.com/support/forum/forum/ninjatrader-8/strategy-development/104516-adxvma-with-ninja-8-strategy-builder?p=812238#post812238

To prevent a set plot from appearing on the chart, override OnRender() and do not call base.OnRender().

https://ninjatrader.com/support/forum/forum/ninjatrader-8/indicator-development/92289-add-price-markers-to-y-axis?p=786207#post786207

To prevent the indicator from affecting the scaling, set IsAutoScale to false.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/isautoscale.htm

[kingmordecai]

Ok I think I have followed your suggestions, but I am just not getting it
Here is the code

#region Using declarations
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Xml.Serialization;
using NinjaTrader.Cbi;
using NinjaTrader.Gui;
using NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart;
using NinjaTrader.Gui.SuperDom;
using NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools;
using NinjaTrader.Data;
using NinjaTrader.NinjaScript;
using NinjaTrader.Core.FloatingPoint;
using NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.DrawingTools;
#endregion

//This namespace holds Indicators in this folder and is required. Do not change it.
namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Indicators
{
    public class TestBars : Indicator
    {
        protected override void OnStateChange()
        {
            if (State == State.SetDefaults)
            {
                Description                                    = @"Enter the description for your new custom Indicator here.";
                Name                                        = "TestBars";
                Calculate                                    = Calculate.OnBarClose;
                IsOverlay                                    = true;
                DisplayInDataBox                            = true;
                DrawOnPricePanel                            = true;
                DrawHorizontalGridLines                        = true;
                DrawVerticalGridLines                        = true;
                PaintPriceMarkers                            = true;
                ScaleJustification                            = NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart.ScaleJustification.Right;
                //Disable this property if your indicator requires custom values that cumulate with each new market data event.
                //See Help Guide for additional information.
                IsSuspendedWhileInactive                    = true;
                IsAutoScale                                 = true;
                AddPlot(Brushes.Transparent, "BarsShowInDataBox");
            }
            else if (State == State.Configure)
            {
            }
        }

        protected override void OnBarUpdate()
        {
            //Add your custom indicator logic here.
            BarsShowInDataBox[0] = CurrentBar;
        }

        protected override void OnRender(ChartControl chartControl, ChartScale chartScale)
        {
            if (Bars == null || ChartControl == null)
                return;
            //return;
        }

        #region Properties

        [Browsable(false)]
        [XmlIgnore]
        public Series<double> BarsShowInDataBox
        {
            get { return Values[0]; }
        }
        #endregion

    }
}

#region NinjaScript generated code. Neither change nor remove.

namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Indicators
{
    public partial class Indicator : NinjaTrader.Gui.NinjaScript.IndicatorRenderBase
    {
        private TestBars[] cacheTestBars;
        public TestBars TestBars()
        {
            return TestBars(Input);
        }

        public TestBars TestBars(ISeries<double> input)
        {
            if (cacheTestBars != null)
                for (int idx = 0; idx < cacheTestBars.Length; idx++)
                    if (cacheTestBars[idx] != null &&  cacheTestBars[idx].EqualsInput(input))
                        return cacheTestBars[idx];
            return CacheIndicator<TestBars>(new TestBars(), input, ref cacheTestBars);
        }
    }
}

namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.MarketAnalyzerColumns
{
    public partial class MarketAnalyzerColumn : MarketAnalyzerColumnBase
    {
        public Indicators.TestBars TestBars()
        {
            return indicator.TestBars(Input);
        }

        public Indicators.TestBars TestBars(ISeries<double> input )
        {
            return indicator.TestBars(input);
        }
    }
}

namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Strategies
{
    public partial class Strategy : NinjaTrader.Gui.NinjaScript.StrategyRenderBase
    {
        public Indicators.TestBars TestBars()
        {
            return indicator.TestBars(Input);
        }

        public Indicators.TestBars TestBars(ISeries<double> input )
        {
            return indicator.TestBars(input);
        }
    }
}

#endregion
​

When I have the Plot set to a color and not transparent, I can see the bar numbers in the data box, but it also plots on the chart which is what I don't want.
When I set the Plot to use the transparent color, it doesn't plot on the screen but it also doesn't show in the Data Box.

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello kingmordecai,

The screenshots you have provided are very low quality and have a lot of white space on the bottom and right, so hard to see whats in the databox in the second screenshot.

However, the plot should be added with a color. Do not use transparent, try Brushes.Blue. By not rendering, the plot line is not drawn at all so not visible. By not including with auto scale, the scaling should not be affected.

Regarding the IsAutoScale, if you are setting this in State.SetDefaults, remove the script instance and add a new instance to pull the defaults. Othewise, set IsAutoScale to false in State.Configure.

[kingmordecai]

ahh I got it thank you for your help!