This one has been annoying me, so I did some testing to verify my suspicions. I used the TEMA function for the test because I don't use it in practice (at least not so far) so I didn't have a default set for it. Here's what I did, and what I observed:
1. I added the TEMA indicator to a chart and set the period to 21.
2. For the input series, I selected TEMA again and set the period to 34.
3. I closed the Indicators window to add the TEMA-on-TEMA to the chart.
4. I reopened the Indicators window, selected the 21-period TEMA and opened its Input Series window. The input series shown was the previously-selected 34-period TEMA.
5. I closed the Input Series window, then I right-clicked in the Indicators window and set the default for TEMA. This meant the default was now a period of 21.
6. I opened the Input Series window again. Now the input series shown was a 21-period TEMA. So my previously-selected period of 34 was lost, superseded by the new default value.
Yes, it's true that I can keep the value I entered by simply cancelling and dismissing the Input Series window. But consider if I did TEMA on TEMA on some third function and wanted to change the third function's parameters. In that case I would also have to fix the second TEMA's period. But I shouldn't have to! Defaults should be applied to new functions only, while pre-existing values should be preserved.
1. I added the TEMA indicator to a chart and set the period to 21.
2. For the input series, I selected TEMA again and set the period to 34.
3. I closed the Indicators window to add the TEMA-on-TEMA to the chart.
4. I reopened the Indicators window, selected the 21-period TEMA and opened its Input Series window. The input series shown was the previously-selected 34-period TEMA.
5. I closed the Input Series window, then I right-clicked in the Indicators window and set the default for TEMA. This meant the default was now a period of 21.
6. I opened the Input Series window again. Now the input series shown was a 21-period TEMA. So my previously-selected period of 34 was lost, superseded by the new default value.
Yes, it's true that I can keep the value I entered by simply cancelling and dismissing the Input Series window. But consider if I did TEMA on TEMA on some third function and wanted to change the third function's parameters. In that case I would also have to fix the second TEMA's period. But I shouldn't have to! Defaults should be applied to new functions only, while pre-existing values should be preserved.
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