Adding and subtracting time using time as Integer

[marketmasher]

I have a time parameter where time is set to integer (TimeSpan gives me problems). Does anyone have code that adds/subtracts time when time is set to integer? For instance, add 30min to an input of 93000? Since I discovered from a General Charting question that NT timestamps it's bars at close (meaning, getting the open price of a bar referencing the same time on the same instrument but on, say, a 5min vs 30min chart will be different) - that means if I have a start-time input parameter set as integer, I either have to remember to enter an offset time that is the time-interval of the bar, or have the code add/subtract the bar interval to the same input start-time on both charts.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

marketmasher,

You would need to do the math by hand. Remember the starting bar on a 30 minute chart would be timestamped 10AM. On 5min, it would be timestamped 9:35AM. You can use Bars.Period.Value to get the actual time frame of your chart and then you can run your addition/subtraction from based off of that.

input = 93000
Bars.Period.Value = 30
input + 100 * Bars.Period.Value = your time

[marketmasher]

marketmasher,

You would need to do the math by hand. Remember the starting bar on a 30 minute chart would be timestamped 10AM. On 5min, it would be timestamped 9:35AM. You can use Bars.Period.Value to get the actual time frame of your chart and then you can run your addition/subtraction from based off of that.

input = 93000
Bars.Period.Value = 30
input + 100 * Bars.Period.Value = your time

Thanks for the response! The example you give would make 93000 + 3000 = 96000 though, which is an invalid time.

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

Indeed. In that case, additional math would be needed. It may almost be easier if you just used a DateTime/TimeSpan variable. You can just use the C# functions to add 30 minutes and forget the math.

[marketmasher]

Indeed. In that case, additional math would be needed. It may almost be easier if you just used a DateTime/TimeSpan variable. You can just use the C# functions to add 30 minutes and forget the math.

Thanks again - I am working on it. I have not been able to make TimeSpan save my input parameters and have to re-input them every time the chart is loaded. Is there a Serialize method to save TimeSpan inputs?

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

Sorry I would not know. That would be more advanced C# than what I can offer support on.

[marketmasher]

Sorry I would not know. That would be more advanced C# than what I can offer support on.

Thanks anyway - I was hoping Ninja had a method like the way you can Serialize Color to save them as inputs.

[Ralph]

To simulate the start-date of a bar, I use tho following piece of code:

[FONT=Courier New][SIZE=2][FONT=Courier New][SIZE=2]
lastDate = Bars.Get(lastBar).Time.AddMinutes(-Bars.Period.Value);
[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]

Regards
Ralph

[marketmasher]

To simulate the start-date of a bar, I use tho following piece of code:

[FONT=Courier New][SIZE=2][FONT=Courier New][SIZE=2]
lastDate = Bars.Get(lastBar).Time.AddMinutes(-Bars.Period.Value);
[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]

Regards
Ralph

Thanks a lot for the help. This is for the Date Stamp on the last bar on the chart? For adding time to an integer-based startTime input value I worked out this: AddTostartTime = startTime + (Bars.Period.Value*100); if (AddTostartTime % 10000 > 5959) AddTostartTime = 10000*Math.Round(((AddTostartTime)/10000),0);

[Ralph]

Hi marketmasher,

Yes the result is a DateTime structure. The index variable lastBar is some bar number, but in this particular case it is the last bar processed by the indicator so far. Generally I use DateTime structs for my time variables because sometime I compare time stamps of different days, or even substract the DateTime values of different days. That way, it is simple calculation. If, for some reason, I need a real time value, I do access i.e. lastDate.TimeOfDay().

Regards
Ralph

[luxurious_04]

Anyone there can help me on this:

startTime = new DateTime(0001, 1, 1, 9, 30, 00); // ignore the date portion. It is unused
endTime = new DateTime(0001, 1, 1, 16, 00, 00);

if (ToTime(Time[0]) >= ToTime(startTime) && ToTime(Time[0]) <= ToTime(endTime))

Why does it will continue to trade when it is equal to my endTime? What's wrong with my code? Please help.

[Ralph]

You could try to use "<" instead of "<=".

Regards
Ralph

[luxurious_04]

Thanks Ralph.
Does the ToTime(Time[0]) will work in a market replay? I have a problem with my strategy with the startTime and endTime.

[Ralph]

You can test that with a print statement in OnBarUpdate:

Print("ToTime(Time[0]): " + ToTime(Time[0]);

Regards
Ralph