Opening Bell indicator NT8 - IsFirstBarOfSession not working?

[hcgaloi]

Hello,

This is my first attempt to write a simple NT8 indicator. The purpose is to play a sound file at market open. In the OnBarUpdate() method I have an if stmt:

if (bOpeningBellAlert && Bars.IsFirstBarOfSession && IsFirstTickOfBar && !String.IsNullOrEmpty(sSoundFile))
{
PlaySound(@"" + sSoundFile);
}
The sound file would not play at the first tick of a daily chart. When I changed the if stmt as such:
if (bOpeningBellAlert && !String.IsNullOrEmpty(sSoundFile))
{
PlaySound(@"" + sSoundFile);
}
Then, the sound file would play on every tick. I'm running NT8 version 8.0.14.2 64-bit. I have attached the indicator in hope that someone can take a look and see what I did wrong.

Also, I'm interested to know since playing a sound file at market open is a single event, would an indicator be over killed because it's continuously being check on every tick update?

Thanks in advance for your help

[NinjaTrader_AlanP]

Hello hcgaloi,

Thank you for your note.

What time series are you applying the indicator to? For example, a daily chart.
The warning at the following link of the helpguide states IsFirstBarOfSession is always false on Non-Intraday bar periods.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/en-us/?isfirstbarofsession.htm

Rather than playing a sound, if you call an alert which also plays a sound, and set the rearm period to a value which would prevent it becoming rearmed until the next day, does this resolve the issue?

For example,

if(Bars.IsFirstBarOfSession)
Alert("myAlert", Priority.High, "OpenAlert", NinjaTrader.Core.Globals.InstallDir+@"\sounds\Alert1.wav", 6000, Brushes.Black, Brushes.Yellow);

See Alert section of our helpguide,

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/en-us/?alert.htm

I look forward to your reply.

[hcgaloi]

Thank you for helping.

You were right! I applied the indicator to a Daily chart, thus, Bars.IsFirstBarOfSession returned false.
I have also tried to replaced PlaySound with Alert() and rearmed after 8 hours. Here is the new code:

protected override void OnBarUpdate()
{
if (BarsInProgress != 0)
return;


//
//Bars.IsFirstBarOfSession is for intraday charts. It will will
//always return false on non-intraday bar periods (e.g., Day, Month, etc)
//
if (bOpeningBellAlert && IsFirstTickOfBar && !String.IsNullOrEmpty(sSoundFile))
{

Print("KCDB IsFirstTickOfBar = " +IsFirstTickOfBar);

//
//instead of PlaySound, use alert to plays a sound, and set the rearm period to a
//value which would prevent it becoming rearmed until the next day (rearm after 8 hours (288000 secs)
//
//Alert("KevinOpeningSoundAlert", Priority.High, "OpeningAlert", sSoundFile, 288000, Brushes.Black, Brushes.Yellow);
PlaySound(@"" + sSoundFile);
}

}//protected override void OnBarUpdate()

Because Alert() can only be called when State is in State.Realtime, I'm unable to test with playback, so I use PlaySound() for testing purpose. However, PlaySound() doesn't get executed even though the if condition is true as verified by Print() stmt.

Thanks again for your help.

I have added the indicator in the attachment if you would kindly check my codes.

[SBMT17]

Will you be sharing this 'indicator' of an opening bell?

[hcgaloi]

Sure. I'll share once I test it fully ... 8-)

[SBMT17]

look very forward to it!!

[NinjaTrader_AlanP]

Hello Kevin,

Working with you via email but for those interested in the thread, I have put together an indicator which will have an alarm go off when the time is equal to the user inputted time.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

[hcgaloi]

Hello SBMT17,

With the help of NinjaTrader_AlanP, I got the OpeningBellAlert indicator working. I have attached the file here. You need to import the indicator to NT8 by Tools->Import->Ninja Script Add-On then choose the .zip file. The indicator sound is default to NT Alert1. If you prefer exchange opening bell sound, I have attached the OpeningBell.wav. You can copy the sound file to NT8 sound folder at Program Files (x86)\NinjaTrader 8\sounds.

To use the indicator, add it to Daily chart or any intraday chart. There are three user input fields if you want to change them:

1. Sound file is default to Alert1. You can click on it and pick any .wav file you want (OpeningBell.wav)
2. Rearm alert is default to 32400 seconds (9 hours), change it to any value that you want
4. Enable Alert is checked. Uncheck if you don't want an alert.

Cheers

NT8OpeningBellAlertIndicator.zip

[Johndc]

2. Rearm alert is default to 32400 seconds (9 hours), change it to any value that you want

[ATTACH]49384[/ATTACH]

I'm confused how to set it up to trigger the bell on 06:30 PST.

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello Johndc,

Thanks for your post and welcome to the NinjaTrader forums!

Hopefully, member hcgaloi will be able to respond to this 2018 forum thread.

In looking at the code of the indicator, it appears to be dependant upon the first bar of the session.

If you are using a trading hours template that is RTH based (Regular trading hours), then (assuming 6:30 PST equates to the opening time of the session), it should sound the alert and send an alert message to the New>alerts log window.

There are no abilities in the indicator to adjust the time.

[Johndc]

Thanks for the reply NinjaTrader_PaulH. Sorry to bump this thread..

After installing the opening bell indicator, it just triggered the alert on some random time.

[NinjaTrader_PaulH]

Hello Johndc,

Thanks for your reply.

Have you tried the indicator in Post #7, by my collegue AlanP, where you can specify the time?

That might be more suited to your needs.

[Johndc]

It does work, but there is no option to change the sound and just plays some default. I'll try to find someone who can able to add that option. Thanks

[Johndc]

Hello Johndc,

Thanks for your reply.

Have you tried the indicator in Post #7, by my collegue AlanP, where you can specify the time?

That might be more suited to your needs.

Okay I got it to work. I had to manually add the openingbell wav files in the Sound folder and changed the file name in the Script editor. Thanks

Hopefully someone can just add the option.

[Heart]

Hopefully someone can just add the option.

Did a small update on that code (untested)...