Request concerning horizontal time scale on charts

[Hyper]

Hi. I am aligning a NinjaTrader chart with 1 second candles, against
one of my own charts, vertically, one above the other; and I'd like the
timescales to maintain themselves so that Minute 1 on my chart,
aligns with Minute 1 on the Ninja Chart.

My charting package always maintains the horizontal axis so that
there is never any "missing time" where there may be no data.
If there is no data; the timescale is always advanced.
I am probably not explaining this well...

But what happens is that, while each candle on the Ninja chart is
shown against the timescale; it is not the case, apparently, that if
there is no data in a particular 1 second interval, that the horizontal
timescale basically does not "advance"; and the result is that the
time represented on the left side of the chart keeps changing, and
does not maintain a constant time value.

So Ninja does appear to "timestamp" each Bar in which there is
actual data; but it does not plot that data against a strictly linear
horizontal axis. That axis has "missing time" and so it is not possible
to maintain, say, 5 minutes from the right side, to the left side of
a chart. That 5 minute period shrinks and expands, whenever
there is an interval which has missing data.

[edit] so I am really asking that an interval which has "no data"
be nevertheless represented on the chart as "blank" and that
the timescale be advanced, so that it is strictly a linear displayed
horizontal axis timescale, with no missing times. So there would
exist "null" candles, basically if no data appeared in that interval.

That was a terrible way of explaining things; but this can easily
be seen in, say, an overnight sparse market; using time based
candles, and trying to maintain the left of the timescale precisely
a fixed time delta from the right side of the timescale.

When there is missing data; the timescale "shrinks". That means
I can't align my own fixed timescale (which never shrinks) with
Ninja Trader's chart, if it happens that there are intervals when
there is no data.

A terrible explanation; but I'd like to see the horizontal timescale
be "linearly mapped" to the passage of time; and not have what
is a "variable" horizontal timescale, when there is missing data.

I wish I were more eloquent
Maybe I can post a picture.
hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Spencer]

Hello Hyper,

Thank you for your post.

Just to confirm I understand what you are referring to if you could please provide a screenshot as an example.

To send a screenshot with Windows 7 or newer I would recommend using the Windows Snipping Tool.

Click here for instructions

Alternatively to send a screenshot press Alt + PRINT SCREEN to take a screenshot of the selected window. Then go to Start--> Accessories--> Paint, and press CTRL + V to paste the image. Lastly, save as a jpeg file and send the file as an attachment.

Click here for detailed instruction

[Hyper]

This chart doesn't have as much "missing data" but it shows the alignment
I wanted to maintain; and the Ninja timescale on the left continues to "drift"
because missing data doesn't advance the timescale. These are time-based
1 second candles. The magnitude of the misalignment would be much more
obvious on an extremely sparse after hours market. Hope this helps. hyper

[Hyper]

Yeah. I was watching, and what I'm requesting is that it produce a bar
every second; but what I see on MNQ after hours is that bars are skipped;
and perhaps that's by design; or perhaps due to a bug; or, since I usually
don't work with candles; maybe I don't understand how bars or candles
are even supposed to behave

But I'd like to see a candle on a 1 second bar/candle chart generate something
every second; and that would probably fix the problem as the alignment
would then be constant, in theory anyway.

Or the way in which existing data (with missing data) is mapped onto the
horizontal time axis could also be an avenue to achieve the effect; where the
time axis would be linear with no missing times.

hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Spencer]

Hello Hyper,

Thank you for your note.

The reason for this behavior is due to the way that Second bars are built:

• How bars are built

Second bars are built from tick data, and if there are no incoming ticks for that specific second then no bar is created as there is no data to create a bar.

There is no way to print 'ghost' bars using the default settings within the platform however you may be able to accomplish this with custom coding, and if you are not a programmer yourself, a third party vendor could assist further with creating such an item.

However, you may create a space where the bar(s) would have been by disabling the 'Equidistant bar spacing' option by right-clicking in your chart window and selecting 'Properties'.

Then to ensure you are receiving all available data in your chart you may use the 'Default 24/7' Trading Hours Template:

• Right-click on your chart and select Data Series.
• In the Data Series menu, set the "Trading hours" property to 'Default 24/7', then click OK.

[Hyper]

Thanks for that explanation; it confirms what I thought.

So I'll just leave you with the observation that an "interval" chart should
not have missing time on the horizontal time axis. Period. By definition.

But I understand that the logic would need to change; and so
consider this a request that the logic be changed so the
behavior is correct.

hyperscalper

[Hyper]

I think the comments I've made may apply only to *very sparse* situations; and
my comments were too harsh. From a practical point of view, I don't think there
is a problem at all.

I'll withdraw my criticisms; and add how much your great support is appreciated !!

In a feeble attempt to offer something positive, here is a small NinjaScript I
wrote (my first one!), which overlays Red Vertical Lines 1 minute apart
for a 10 minute interval from the right margin, for interval Bar/Candle type charts.

Anyone may download
[ATTACH]n1124949[/ATTACH] A small trivial contribution where most of the action is in the
OnBarUpdate callback; and maybe it will help somebody looking for vertical
alignment markers. Looks like this:



hyperscalper