How to start a custom drawing tool from a button?

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello codeowl,

Thank you for your patience while we looked into this matter.

To break this down drawing tools were not designed to work from an Add On windows call to the chart. So the functions we are trying here would not be supported:

• Calling a drawing tool from the Add On
• Controlling Snap Mode and receiving and displaying updates on Snap Mode from the chart
• Changing display of an Add On item (such as button) based on the Drawing State
• Access to drawing events in Add On
• Collecting drawing objects to see if the Add On drew them, removed, changed, or copied them

[FatCanary]

Hi Patrick

When you say, '...would not be supported', do you mean that starting a custom drawing tool from a button is just not possible, or that NT won't support someone trying to code it?

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello FatCanary,

Thank you for your response.

We would provide support on the matter to the extent possible. The Add Ons were not meant to call the Drawing Objects and using a custom button in another window such as an Add On to call a drawing object is not supported.

[FatCanary]

Thanks Patrick.

I may be missing the point, but what about calling a custom drawing tool from a custom button on the chart toolbar, not from another window?

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello FatCanary,

Thank you for your patience.

You can call the drawing objects from buttons to execute. For example:

NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart.ChartDrawingToolCommands.Line.Execute(this); // would start a Line drawing tool to draw

[FatCanary]

Yes, but as codeowl pointed out, when trying this with a custom drawing tool that method doesn't work.

From codeowl:
Following your example I have been able to start an existing drawing tool. However, I have written a custom drawing tool so there is no command for it in:

NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart.ChartDrawingToolCommands

I tried just creating my own static class and added a command for the tool:

public static class MyCommands
{
    public static ICommand MyCustomDrawingTool;
}

But when I run the MyCustomDrawingTool.Execute(this) method, it gives the error:
Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

So how can I start a "custom" Drawing Tool that I have created, from a button?
codeowl


Regards.
FatCanary

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello FatCanary,

Thank you for the clarification.

There would not be a means to do so in NinjaScript with a custom drawing tool.

[FatCanary]

That's a shame, but thanks for confirming.

[codeowl]

FYI, my AddOn is not in a separate window, it is docked in the same window as the chart like the Chart Trader is.

Regards,

codeowl

[HandsFreeTrader]

If it hasn't been done so already could this be added as a feature request. I've had requests to integrate custom draw tools into their custom indicator menus

Feature Request: Would like there to be a way to have a custom drawing tool be selected from a custom drop down menu generated from an indicator

[codeowl]

Patrick,

The following issues/questions were not covered in your previous post. Can you answer these for me please.

Issues:

• No way to delete a User Drawn DrawObject from the chart.(2)
• No way for the end user to modify drawnings created from code. (3)
• No way to add an indicator to a chart with code. (4)

Questions:

• Is there a way to programmaticly select a specific drawing on the chart?
• Is there a way to programmaticly scroll a specific drawing into view?
• I found that I can get a drawing created from code to appear straight away if I call: _Indicator.ForceRefresh(); Not sure this is the best approach. Please let me know if there is a better way of doing it.

Additional Notes:
(2) I have created a custom drawing tool to allow the user to collect data from the chart and send it to the Add-on. However when changing functions in the Add-on I need to be able to remove the drawings.

(3) I want the user to be able to load in a list of previos selections and edit them. This can't be done as you can't modify drawings created from code.

(4) Having to use an indicator to add a drawing on a chart, and detect when it is removed, means that I need to create an indicator that has no other purpose than this. Eg; id does not plot any lines on the chart or give the end user any value. Yet due to the inability to add an indicator to the chart via code, the end user is forced to add the indicator themselfs, for no perceivable benifite, other than the AddOn won't work without it.

Regards,

codeowl

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello codeowl,

Thank you for your response.

• User drawn objects cannot be removed via NinjaScript.
• Users can alter drawn objects from code. You would set the IsLocked bool to false: http://ninjatrader.com/support/helpG...rawingtool.htm
• There would not be a means to add an indicator to the chart via code other than AddChartindicator() through a strategy.

• You can select a specific object by it's tag: http://ninjatrader.com/support/helpG...rawobjects.htm
• There is no means to change the Z-Order of a drawn object.
• ForceRefresh would be the recommended means to refresh the chart and thus the objects on the chart: http://ninjatrader.com/support/helpG...rcerefresh.htm

I will forward your items to development as suggestions for possible implementation in a later release of NinjaTrader.

[codeowl]

Patrick,

Thanks for following up, and submitting feature requests, much appreciated.

Regards,

codeowl

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello codeowl,

The following items have been assigned internal tracking ids:

• Delete user drawn drawing tool: ID # SFT-1444
• Add an indicator to a chart through an Add On: ID # SFT-1445
• Set Z-Order for a drawn object on the chart: ID # SFT-1016

[codeowl]

Patrick,

Thanks for the update mate ;-)

Regards,

codeowl