Indicator draw line from active bar?

[Hyper]

Hi.

In your system-provided PriceLine.cs Indicator; you have
some very nice code which draws some horizontal lines from a
configurable percentage left of the right chart margin, to the
chart's right margin. It's great example code found
in the override
void OnRender(ChartControl, ChartScale)

I WOULD LIKE to draw that horizontal line starting at the x position
of the "currently forming bar", and extending to the right margin,
instead of a fixed length horizontal line.

How could I do that, instead, in my OnRender(...)?

Thanks! hyper

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello Hyper,

Thanks for your post.

Try this:

float startX    = ChartControl.GetXByBarIndex(ChartBars, BarsArray[0].Count-1);

To get more acquainted with SharpDX rendering, please see the Help Guide article below, and please see the SampleCustomRender indicator that comes with NinjaTrader.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/help..._rendering.htm

Happy Holidays!

[Hyper]

Thank you, Jim !; good idea and suggestion, which I'll try asap !
Happy Holidays to All ! and stay safe; the Vaccine Cavalry is on the way...
hyper

[Hyper]

I AM IMPRESSED ! IT WORKS. Thank you, Jim.

//startX = ChartControl.GetXByBarIndex(ChartBars, BarsArray[0].Count-1);
startX = (float)ChartControl.GetXByBarIndex(ChartBars, ChartBars.ToIndex);

I used the second of the 2 forms above; which I believe are actually equivalent.

Thank you so much !!
hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello hyperscalper,

They are not exactly identical, BarsArray[0].Count-1 would be the developing bar, and ChartBars.ToIndex would be the right most visible bar.

Let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.

[Hyper]

THANKS so much for that; it's a crucial distinction !! ; so I'll
correct my code.
Really appreciate the timely support !!!
Happy Holidays!
hyper

[Hyper]

INSTEAD OF A NEW THREAD, can I trouble you
for one more possibility.

Given X, Y relative on a Chart Canvas; can I map to
global display Screen Coordinates
by any convenient function?

THANKS!
hyper

[-=Edge=-]

Given X, Y relative on a Chart Canvas; can I map to global display Screen Coordinates by any convenient function?

//Variables
Chart curChart;

Get the current Chart using a dispatcher.. in State.DataLoaded or after

ChartControl.Dispatcher.InvokeAsync((Action)(() => { curChart = Window.GetWindow(this.ChartControl.Parent) as Chart; }));

From there you should be able to grab the absolute screen coordinates of WindowStartupLocation and perform whatever calculations you need..

curChart.Top
curChart.Left

Be Safe and Merry Christmas!

[Hyper]

Hi. I think the answer to my question of mapping to device coordinates is answered by

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/?chartingextensions.htm

the overloads for ConvertToVerticalPixels and ConvertToHorizontalPixels
which I understand as device coordinates.

I've really had to work hard to figure out how to implement this
"Auto Drag Left" function; and continue to wish the Platform could implement
this functionality as a standard option. The constant "sliding" of the chart
to the left on EACH new bar; is a big waste of I/O to remote servers;
something I've tried to explain with only limited success.

My Indicator implementation is forced to use Win32 API calls in order
to "drag" the chart leftward. But PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT could
simply set the position of the currently forming bar to the left; with a
completely clean implementation; OR expose that ability to Indicator
developers.

hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello hyperscalper,

I'm not sure I follow entirely.

Do you mean you want the developing bar to be always on the left so there is less redrawn and so performance is better when viewing remotely? Could you describe your "Auto Drag Left" idea further as well as it's usefulness? (Screenshots can help) I would approach this using SendKeys and having the right cursor key invoked. You could also decrease the size of the chart so less bars are visible. I'm not sure what the pain point is that you are trying to overcome.

Did you request this previously and have you gotten an SFT tracking ID for the request? (We receive numerous requests and cannot guarantee fulfillment, but we would like to have the idea tracked if it is not already.)

We look forward to assisting.

[Hyper]

Hi. Thanks for considering this. It is an "optimization" for those of
us who use Dedicated Servers or even Virtual Private Servers to
host NinjaTrader; but who use Remote Desktop for communications.

In my case, I benefit from seeing the Market price with the minimum
possible delay; which means the minimum possible ongoing I/O
to update charts. I use 1 Second interval charts; so there is a need
to "slide" the entire Chart image to the left, every single second.

However, a very simple Chart optimization would formulate a rule, such as:
When the current bar is within X% ( maybe 5% of chart width) from
the Right Margin, then a single "move left" (similar to a Mouse
Drag Left) would be done, to position the chart Left in a single
move, to maybe Y% ( maybe 20% from right margin) in a single
"jump". X% and Y% would be configurable parameters, where
Y% is always to the left of the X% trigger distance from margin.

This would work for Tick charts; as well as Interval charts, so that
repaint I/O "bursting" would be needed just once
on the Auto Scroll Left action; but then
essentially only the currently forming bar and perhaps axis
updates would be required; but the vast area of the Chart surface
(in many case, not all cases, rescaling being an exception)
remains a "static image" and thus the remote viewing RDP protocol
would have no need to re-transmit updates to those pixels.

This will result in probably 95% elimination of unnecessary I/O
in most cases where most of the Chart panel(s) data is not
required to update, during the period between the "scroll left" and the
eventual need to "jump scroll left" again. Between these events,
the Charts can update mostly without the need to repaint
the entire panel pixel surface; since RDP will optimize updates,
and will send only what is required for changed pixels.

I posted a link to a video, showing Manual Drag Left periodically,
which achieves this goal, so I'll repost the link. Notice in particular,
that almost none of the Charting surface requires repaint, in
between the "drag left" events.

https://youtu.be/biqcvSCnvs8

In my case, yes, I benefit from seeing the Chart pricing with
less Latency; but I have a Triggering system which does not
depend upon my reaction time. For most traders, who do use
manual order placement; and who use a VPS or Dedicated
hosted machine; this will greatly reduce their "reaction time"
as less I/O will be required to keep their charts current.

Yes, perhaps most NinjaTrader users run on a local desktop;
and so the unnecessary I/O is completely irrelevant. But
for those of us who use only Remote hosted services; this
simple capability would greatly improve remote response.

Thanks for considering this enhancement to the standard
Charting properties and actions.

hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello hyperscalper,

I have submitted a feature request for this sort of feature. The ticket ID is SFT-5172. This is an internal number, but for anyone else wishing to have their interest tracked, please let our support staff know that you would like a vote added for this request.

This idea is rather niche and may be best accomplished from a script. I encourage you to share your script on our User App Share so others that want an improved remote experience can benefit.

Feature Request Disclaimer

We receive many requests and cannot reasonably implement all requested features or changes. Interest is tracked internally and if enough interest is tracked, it would be weighed against how feasible it would be to make those changes to consider implementing.

When new features are implemented, they will be listed in the Release Notes page of the Help Guide. The ID number will be different than the internal feature request tracking ID, but the description of the feature will let you know if that feature has been implemented.

Release Notes - https://ninjatrader.com/support/help...ease_notes.htm

I look forward to assisting.

[Hyper]

Thanks, Jim.

There is only one missing piece in my jigsaw puzzle
as to HOW this would be implemented, and it is simply
the ability to set the Active Bar to a specific X coordinate
on the panel.

Of course, as this is a GUI action; it would need to be
done in a Dispatch Action on the GUI thread; provided
that there was a way to set the appropriate variables.

There may be such an exposed set of variable(s) and, if
so, then I'd be able to create an indicator to do this.

Alternatively, the code needs to Simulate or Dispatch
Mouse Events using the Win32 API, and this is only
because of a lack of ability to change the X position
of the forming bar programmatically.

And one last observation: IF REMOTE USERS UNDERSTOOD
the underlying issues and benefits, then it would not be a "fringe request",
and lots of users would sign on for such a feature, I'm sure.

But, as you can see, even with my eloquence (LOL) take a look how
difficult it was for me even to communicate the idea in this
thread. I don't use a 9600 Baud modem; of course; since I have
the high speed Broadband internet that most of you have.

But there is no need to suffer the I/O loadings and latencies, if
charting is simply able to implement this behavior (for charts
where it makes sense).

hyperscalper

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello hyperscalper,

OnRender could be used to measure how many bar slots are visible in association to ChartBars.ToIndex, and once bar slots are less than X bar slots from ChartBars.ToIndex, you could call a method that invokes key presses to move the chart.

protected override void OnRender(ChartControl chartControl, ChartScale chartScale)
{
    ClearOutputWindow();
    Print(ChartBars.ToIndex);
    Print(Math.Floor(ChartControl.GetSlotIndexByX(ChartPanel.X + ChartPanel.W))-1);
}

We don't have a documented/supported means to scroll programmatically, but this could be accomplished all the same by invoking key presses on the cursor keys. My colleague Jesse shared a RolloverIndications script that invokes key presses and that could be used to navigate that part. I have included it here for the thread's reference.

https://ninjatraderecosystem.com/use...indications-2/

I'm confident you can get something working with what is presented here for a script, and we have tracked your interest to have a feature like this implemented in the platform out-of-box.

If there is another topic that we can assist with, please don't hesitate to open a new thread.

[Hyper]

Hi Jim. Thanks for the help.

I was hoping that the existing NinjaTrader Chart's code which responds to
a Mouse Drag Left and resets the actively forming bar,
could be exposed, or key variables on the
active bar's X position setting, were available to users.

But I have all of the elements necessary to implement this
functionality via Win32 functions on a small Indicator panel which
would be the target of the Mouse operations, to keep the
main chart, sufficiently offset from the right margin
periodically, as the forming bar comes within a specified
minimum offset % distance from the right margin.

It is always undesirable to have to do this via OS Win32 API
calls, and to simulate Mouse events; rather than directly within
the Chart's logic. I'm hoping this feature can be integrated
into an Option for Remote performance optimization across
Charts.

[edit] I've struggled with a name to label this concept, and
have only come up with "Auto Drag Left" or "Auto Jump Left"
but if you can't name something which very clearly encapsulates
the functionality and the benefits of the feature; then NinjaTrader
remote users will never recognize its importance; and it will
not be supported and implemented.

[edit2] Users who are fast scalpers, especially, will require that
the NinjaTrader instance is running on a server, which is as
close to the exchange as possible. In my case, at the moment,
I have a New York City hosted dedicated server; which is
capable of round-trip Market order completion in about
50 milliseconds; and which does its own local triggering; but that
triggering is based on my seeing the market situation with the
lowest possible latency, and manually enabling some triggers;
but, in general, most traders would prefer not to see
any "lag" in the charts' real time pricing status. This allows for
optimization of I/O (in my case, I'm located in the West, and
communicating with an East Coast server) so that "lag" is minimal.
Any unnecessary re-painting of Charting elements will necessarily
increase the real time lag of the Chart's image, despite powerful
broadband networking we all use today.

hyperscalper