MessageBox Class

[texasnomad]

I'm trying to do some basic error checking with a complicated group of inputs. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I just assumed that MessageBox.Show() would be the best method to accomplish this.

I tried placing Show() inside of Initialize(), but Initialize() runs before the user has a chance to modify the inputs. So, I moved Show() down to OnBarUpdate(). I tried changing it over and over again, until I finally tried this:

protected override void OnBarUpdate()
        {
         MessageBox.Show("This is an OnBarUpdate() test", "Testing OnBarUpdate()!");
        }

I can't get Show() to run.

Can someone either a) Explain why this isn't working or b) suggest an alternative?

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

Hello texasnomad,

This is unfortunately beyond our scope of support. To check values you can use Print() statements and view output window. (Tools > Output Window)

As a hint, you probably need to add the Using statement to your indicator.

using System.Windows.Forms;

[texasnomad]

Hello texasnomad,

This is unfortunately beyond our scope of support. To check values you can use Print() statements and view output window. (Tools > Output Window)

As a hint, you probably need to add the Using statement to your indicator.

using System.Windows.Forms;

Ryan,

Thanks for the hint, but I already had that in there.

I also have loads of print statements goign to the output window. Do you have any suggestions for how to alert the user to conflicting inputs that are within the scope of your support?

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

You can call Alert() method. This requires an open alert window to view the message. (File > New > Alert)

[texasnomad]

I switched gears and tried to use DrawTextFixed("error", "Something is wrong", TextPosition.TopRight);. I can't get it to show up anywhere on the chart.

I tried placing it in OnBarUpdate() and Initialize(). The text doesn't show up anywhere on the chart.

[MicroAl]

Using message box etc

Texas

May I suggest you look at the following thread

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/showthread.php?t=3292&highlight=windows+forms

You will find information on adding a strategy which produces a windows form box. If
you look at the files provided all the information is in there. Of course all this is 'unsupported'

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

It belongs in OnBarUpdate()

Perhaps add DrawOnPricePanel = true; to Initialize() method.

Check log tab of control center for any error messages.

Reapply any instances of indicator after making changes.

Let me know if you're still not seeing it and I'll put together a simple script.

[texasnomad]

Thank you for suggesting this. I think I'd rather go with a simpler solution.

Is anyone familiar with DrawTextFixed()? I think this will do the job well enough. I tried another simple experiment of the following:

[code] protected void OnBarUpdate() {
DrawTextFixed("tag1", "Text to draw", TextPosition.TopRight);
}

No text appears. Thoughts?

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

The sytnax looks fine. Perhaps try with attached sample and work from that.

[Buxxx]

here's my code snippet for displaying a form with custom label text and repeating sound.
messagebox is not good for me as when clicking "Ok" on it all variables got reset.
hope this will be of help to somebody.

using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Media;
using System.Threading;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.ComponentModel;


        #region Variables
        // User defined variables (add any user defined variables below)
            private static DateTime at;
        #endregion

    public class Splay
    {
    // This method that will be called when the thread is started
        public void play()
        {
                SoundPlayer simpleSound = new SoundPlayer(@"c:\Windows\Media\chimes.wav");
                while (true) {
                    simpleSound.Play();
                    Thread.Sleep(2000);
                }
        }
    }

    public class TestForm : Form
    {
        public Label lblResult;
        public Thread oThread;
        //constructor
        public TestForm()
        {
            ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(400,100);
            StartPosition = FormStartPosition.CenterScreen;
            lblResult = new Label();
            lblResult.Size = new Size(380,80);
            lblResult.Location = new Point(10,10);
            lblResult.Text="t: ";
            Controls.Add(lblResult);
            //this.Load += new System.EventHandler(this.TestForm_Load);
            this.Shown += new System.EventHandler(this.TestForm_Shown);
            this.FormClosing += new System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventHandler(this.TestForm_FormClosing);
        }
        private void TestForm_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
        }
        private void TestForm_Shown(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Splay splay = new Splay();
            oThread = new Thread(new ThreadStart(splay.play));
            // Start the thread
            oThread.Start();
            // Spin for a while waiting for the started thread to become
            // alive:
            while (!oThread.IsAlive);
        }
        private void TestForm_FormClosing(object sender, FormClosingEventArgs e)
        {
            // Request that oThread be stopped
            oThread.Abort();
            // Wait until oThread finishes. Join also has overloads
            // that take a millisecond interval or a TimeSpan object.
            oThread.Join();
        }
    }

//the below is placed in OnBarUpdate()

            if (CurrentBar==Bars.Count-1) {
                if (at!=Time[1])  {
                    TestForm frm = new TestForm();
                    frm.lblResult.Text="custom alert text put here";
                    frm.Show(); 
                    at=Time[1];
                }
            } 

[NinjaTrader_RyanM1]

Thanks for the code snippet, Buxxx.

[adamus]

That's seriously useful, but what do you have to do to clean it up afterwards?

I'm implementing it all over the place - should I have one form and then just dispose it in Termination() or is it fine just creating that new instance of the form class and leaving it to be garbage collected?

I suppose my user might want to have two windows open at the same time to compare them.

[ttodua]

Buxxx, thanks! helped much.