Typical way to draw information from variables on a chart?

[NinjaTrader_Brett]

Hello,

You would use DrawText() for this, part of the DrawText() method is specify which bar its tied too.

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt7/drawtext.htm

[forrestang]

One question about DrawText().

Can this be tied to a quadrant on the chart like the DrawTextFixed() can? In looking through all of the inputs for it, it seems like you can position the DrawText() function a certain number of bars back as the x position, and a certain height up as the y position. I can see how this would change depending on the scaling of the charts.

The DrawTextFixed() on the other hand will allow you to simply place your text box in a quadrant, i.e. upper left, lower right etc.

[forrestang]

Brett. If I am wanting to use text that will instead be tied to price bars and not always default to the most recent bar on the charts, what is the common way of accomplishing that?

BTW.... just for clarification, When I mean 'tied to a price bar' what I was meaning was that the information displayed on the text will be displayed for whatever the latest bar visible on the chart was.

So that if one where to scroll back in history on a chart, that information would change depending on what the latest bar on the chart was.

[forrestang]

I am currently using the DrawTextFixed() to display some information on the chart.

I see there is a way to control the font. Is there an example somewhere of this? As Initially I would just like to make all my text bigger.

Also, I am wondering if there is a way to control all of the variables I have being plotted in the text I have below. As I would like to gain control of the colors of each of the strings I have being outputted. I could draw each one individually I suppose, but I would like to maintain a certain spacing and look on my chart, while being able to keep my text box always in the same location on the chart.

Here is the code I am using for this now along with a picture of it's current output:

			string stringToEx1 = "Ex: " +High[1].ToString();	
			string stringToHi = " Hi: " +High[0].ToString();
			string stringToT = " T: " +(High[1]+filter).ToString();
			
			string stringToOp = "Op: " +Open[0].ToString();	
			string stringToCl = " Cl: " +Close[0].ToString();
			string stringToR = " R: " +(High[0]-Low[0]).ToString();	
			
			string stringToEx2 = "Ex: " +Low[1].ToString();	
			string stringToLo = " Lo: " +Low[0].ToString();
			string stringToT2 = " T: " +(High[1]-filter).ToString();		
			
			//Added this to not disturb original		        //4 decimal places				
			double temp5 = acclTop[0];					temp5 = Math.Round(temp5, 4);	string stringToAcclTop = "AcclTop: " +temp5.ToString();	
			double temp6 = acclTop[0] - acclBot[0];		temp6 = Math.Round(temp6, 4);	string stringToAcclRange = "Accl Band Range: " +temp6.ToString();
			double temp7 = acclBot[0];					temp7 = Math.Round(temp7, 4);	string stringToAcclBot = "AcclBottom: " +temp7.ToString();				
			
			string stringToStopShort = "SL for Short: " +stopTop[0].ToString();	
			string stringToStopLong = "SL for Long: " +stopBot[0].ToString();			
			
			DrawTextFixed("Box1", 
									stringToEx1 + stringToHi + stringToT + "\n" 
									+ stringToOp + stringToCl + stringToR + "\n"
									+ stringToEx2 + stringToLo + stringToT2 + "\n" + "\n"
									+ stringToAcclTop + "\n" 
									+ stringToAcclRange + "\n"
									+ stringToAcclBot + "\n" + "\n"
									+ stringToStopShort + "\n"
									+ stringToStopLong 
																				, TextPosition.TopLeft );

[koganam]

To have a table with consistent look and feel, you will need to use a monospaced font and custom string formatting.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0c899ak8%28v=VS.85%29.aspx

[forrestang]

To have a table with consistent look and feel, you will need to use a monospaced font and custom string formatting.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...=VS.85%29.aspx

So this can still be done with the DrawTextFixed() method correct? This that you posted is just defined in each string I am using?

[koganam]

So this can still be done with the DrawTextFixed() method correct? This that you posted is just defined in each string I am using?

Yes, you can format the text any which way with DrawTextFixed(). The text are strings that obey all the rules of C# formatting.

The color, however is applied to the function as a whole, and color formatting cannot be applied to individual text in DrawTextFixed().

[forrestang]

Yes, you can format the text any which way with DrawTextFixed(). The text are strings that obey all the rules of C# formatting.

The color, however is applied to the function as a whole, and color formatting cannot be applied to individual text in DrawTextFixed().

Right. But is it possible to define the color of the string itself when I create the string, PRIOR to the use of it in the DrawTextFixed() function?

I thought that was what you were saying initially?

[forrestang]

If I can't do this, it seems I will need another way of drawing text on a chart, as I want to keep it in a box of some sort so it stay organized and in a certain location on the chart, along with being able to individually color the text based on some conditions each time onBarUpdate() occurs.

[koganam]

If I can't do this, it seems I will need another way of drawing text on a chart, as I want to keep it in a box of some sort so it stay organized and in a certain location on the chart, along with being able to individually color the text based on some conditions each time onBarUpdate() occurs.

In that case, you will have to create a custom dataBox, by overriding the Plot() method. DrawTextFixed() is a custom function within the NT framework, that has its own restrictions, as do all functions in any product.

[forrestang]

Ok gotcha.

[forrestang]

I've switched to using: public override void Plot(), that is residing under my main OnBarUpdate().

And I am getting it to display in exactly the manner I want! But I have a simple question: Can I pass it variables from the main portion of my script?

I don't actually need it to return anything out of it, just to recieve some variables, and display them on the chart.

Can this be done?

[forrestang]

Can I pass it variables from the main portion of my script?

I don't actually need it to return anything out of it, just to recieve some variables, and display them on the chart.

Can this be done?

The answer is YES! Although indirectly.

The variables created in main function declared globally are available to that function.

Also, if you have this in a separate study as I do, and what the study just to draw some text on a chart..... you can first capture into the main body of script variables from OTHER studies, and then those variables are available to the plot() function.

[marty087]

Hi forestang,

Would you be kind enough to share your code for formatting the text as you have?

This is just what I need to do.

Thanks in advance for any help

[forrestang]

Hi forestang,

Would you be kind enough to share your code for formatting the text as you have?

This is just what I need to do.

Thanks in advance for any help

Couple indies in here, but "FP_LinkonAdvisors" is the indie that puts text on the chart.