How to draw a line into the future without it drawing past the current bar?

[davydhnz]

I want to draw a one hour line and I have the start datetime and end datetime,
that works fine. It doesn't draw until the bar is at the correct time, and ends correctly,
BUT. I don't want the line to draw past the current bar. I want it to stop at the current bar and keep updating with each bar
to stay out of the margin area where I have important levels.

Here's the original code:

Draw.Line(this, "Open" + dt.Month + dt.Day + dt.Year, false, dtStartTime, OpenPrice, dtEndTime, OpenPrice, Brushes.DodgerBlue, OpenDashStyleHelper, OpenLineWidth);

Thank you to anyone and everyone who replies!

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello davydhnz,

Use the Time[0] of the current bar on as the endTime parameter and call the draw method on each new bar update.

[PaulMohn]

Chelsea, any example of calling the draw method on each new bar update?

My goal is to extend the draw line one bar at a time on each new bar, until a next crossover/below signal bar occurs.

But the problem is the endBarsAgo cannot be known in advance because
we don't know when/on what bar in the future the signal will occur.

I have this Draw.Line method.

Draw.Line(
this,
"A2"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
false,
0, // startBarsAgo
High[0], // startY
-10, // endBarsAgo
High[0], // endY
Brushes.Cyan,
DashStyleHelper.Dot,
10);

How to get the endBarsAgo to plot the line one new bar at a time, and stop plotting on the new crossover/below bar?
How do you capture the value of the next signal/listen for it and store it in a variable to use as endBarsAgo value?

I thought of this pseudocode:

// Next Signal bar CurrentBar capture
if(CrossBelow(Values[0], Values[1], 1))
{
FutureSignalendBarsAgo = CurrentBar;
}

if( CrossAbove(Values[0], Values[1], 1)
{
Draw.Line(
this,
"A2"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
false,
0, // startBarsAgo
High[0], // startY
FutureSignalendBarsAgo, // endBarsAgo
High[0], // endY
Brushes.Cyan,
DashStyleHelper.Dot,
10);
}


I looked at the endTime syntax method but it's the same issue.

// Next Signal bar CurrentBar capture
if(CrossBelow(Values[0], Values[1], 1))
{
crossBarUp = CurrentBar;
}


if( CrossAbove(Values[0], Values[1], 1)
{
Draw.Line(this,
"A1"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
false,
Time[CurrentBar-crossBarUp],
Low[CurrentBar-crossBarUp],
Time[0],
Low[CurrentBar-crossBarUp],
HLinesCUpColor,
DashStyleHelper.Dot,
2);
}

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello PaulMohn,

The object would be drawn to barsAgo 0 on each bar update.

Attached is a simple example that updates the drawing object to set the endBarsAgo to 0 on each bar update as long as the SMA(7) is above the SMA(14).

[PaulMohn]

Hello Chelsea,

Thanks for the sample.

I tested this on your sample:

 Draw.Line(this, "myLine1" + startBar, CurrentBar - startBar, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], 0, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], Brushes.Green);​

The problem is it plots only once on the new signal bar, not on each new bar until the next signal bar (dynamically).
How to make it plot dynamically?

In the below screenshot, hot to make it plot as the magenta horizontal line on each new bar until the next cross above bar?

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello PaulMohn,

The line is dynamically drawn to the close of the most recent bar on every bar update.

Meaning the line continuously gets longer until the condition to draw is no longer true.

Below is a link to a video demonstrating.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uKZKr2oT6LhEz3uCEcRZJ8dyjqf_507_/view?usp=drivesdk

[PaulMohn]

Hello Chelsea,

I just figured it does plot dynamically (sorry I couldn't spot the thin lines before).

A last problem. I get this error :
NinjaScript File Error Code Line Column
Operator '<' cannot be applied to operands of type 'NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Series<double>' and 'NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Series<double>' CS0019 394 12

with this code

                            if (Values[0] < Values[1])
                            {
                                Draw.Line(
                                    this,
                                    "A3"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
                                    false,
                                    CurrentBar - crossBarDown, // startBarsAgo
                                    High[CurrentBar - crossBarDown], // startY
                                    0, // endBarsAgo
                                    High[CurrentBar - crossBarDown], // endY
                                    Brushes.Cyan,
                                    DashStyleHelper.Dot,
                                    5);
                            }​

Why doesn't it compile for those double values?

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello PaulMohn,

Values[0] is a plot series.
Values[0][0] is a double and is the most recent bar of that plot series.

You are asking if an entire series is greater than another entire series, you are not checking a specific value.

[PaulMohn]

Ok thanks it works now with
if (Values[0][0] < Values[1][0])

[PaulMohn]

The script for later reference:

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 DrawToCurrentBarExample : Indicator
{
private SMA SMA1, SMA2;
private int startBar, startBarDwn;

protected override void OnStateChange()
{
if (State == State.SetDefaults)
{
Name = "DrawToCurrentBarExample";
Calculate = Calculate.OnPriceChange;
IsOverlay = true;
}
else if (State == State.DataLoaded)
{
SMA1 = SMA(7);
SMA2 = SMA(14);

SMA1.Plots[0].Brush = Brushes.Red;
SMA2.Plots[0].Brush = Brushes.Blue;
}
}

protected override void OnBarUpdate()
{
if (CrossAbove(SMA1, SMA2, 1))
startBar = CurrentBar;

if (SMA1[0] > SMA2[0])
{

Draw.Line(
this,
"A3"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
false,
CurrentBar - startBar, // startBarsAgo
High[CurrentBar - startBar], // startY
0, // endBarsAgo
High[CurrentBar - startBar], // endY
Brushes.Magenta,
DashStyleHelper.Dot,
5);

// Draw.Line(this, "myLine0" + startBar, CurrentBar - startBar, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], 0, Close[0], Brushes.Green);
// Draw.Line(this, "myLine1" + startBar, CurrentBar - startBar, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], 0, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], Brushes.Green);
}

if (CrossBelow(SMA1, SMA2, 1))
startBar = CurrentBar;

if (SMA1[0] < SMA2[0])
{
Draw.Line(
this,
"A3"+CurrentBar.ToString(),
false,
CurrentBar - startBar, // startBarsAgo
Low[CurrentBar - startBar], // startY
0, // endBarsAgo
Low[CurrentBar - startBar], // endY
Brushes.Cyan,
DashStyleHelper.Dot,
5);

// Draw.Line(this, "myLine0" + startBar, CurrentBar - startBar, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], 0, Close[0], Brushes.Green);
// Draw.Line(this, "myLine1" + startBar, CurrentBar - startBar, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], 0, Close[CurrentBar - startBar], Brushes.Green);
}
}
}
}

region NinjaScript generated code. Neither change nor remove.

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

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

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

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

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

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

#endregion

[trdninstyle]

PaulMoan, I'm glad you guys got it ironed out