What does "bars ago" mean in Strategy Builder? Example

[MatthewLesko]

I'm trying to configure an automated strategy where I either enter long or short based on whether the previous bar had more volume up than volume down.
So if I'm on a new bar now and it's time to calculate an entry, I'm looking at the previous bar for that.
Does this mean that I put "1" in "bars ago" on both the left side and right side of the operator/condition?

[NT-Roland]

Hi MatthewLesko,
I assume, you use Calculate.OnBarClose and compare Up and Down Volume for full bars.
If true, ...
BarsAgo index refers to closed bars. The currently forming bar is not (yet) accessible.
BarsAgo "0" refers to the most recent (already) closed bar.
BarsAgo "1" refers to one bar before (= elder) the most recent closed bar.
NT-Roland

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello MatthewLesko,

Thanks for your post.

As forum member NT-Roland hinted when using Calculate.OnBarClose, the "current bar" would be the "just" closed bar have a bars ago of 0 (zero) and the prior bar would [1] and the bar before that [2], etc. etc.

In the cases of Calculate.OnPriceChange or Calculate.OnEachTick, on live or playback with market replay data only, the bar references change and the bar that is currently forming would be [0], the just close bar would now be [1].

[MatthewLesko]

Hi MatthewLesko,
I assume, you use Calculate.OnBarClose and compare Up and Down Volume for full bars.
If true, ...
BarsAgo index refers to closed bars. The currently forming bar is not (yet) accessible.
BarsAgo "0" refers to the most recent (already) closed bar.
BarsAgo "1" refers to one bar before (= elder) the most recent closed bar.
NT-Roland

Thanks so if I have 3 bars, and I'm at the start of a 4th bar, is the 4th bar where the "bars ago" is starting from?
So if I have "1 bars ago" on the left side, it's referring to the state of MACD for bar #3?
And if I have "1 bars ago" on the right side, it's referring to the state of MACD for bar #2?