Adding User Defined Strategy Variable?

[elkinm]

Different strategies have different variables or parameters that the user can change when running the strategy.

I would like to know how to add such a parameter to my strategy that is visible and editable through the "Edit Strategy" dialogue. Just making the variable in the code is not enough and I have been unable to find this on the forums or the help documentation.

Also, I would like to add a new column under the strategies tab to display some of these variable at all time, but that is secondary to creating them.

Thank you.

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello elkinnm,
To assist you further may I know are you editing the strategy via the Strategy Wizard or via the NinjaScript Editor.

I look forward to assisting you further.

[elkinm]

I am editing through the NinjaScript editor. I would not mind using the strategy wizard, but I have very specific goals and don't know if the wizard will be sufficient.

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello elkinm,
Thanks for the clarification.

You need to create custom properties to do it. For example if you are calling an SMA with and periodicity of 14 from a strategy then the code will be.

double smaValue = SMA(14)[0];

Now if you want to make the periodicity (i.e. 14) a variable (so that you can enter any value via the strategy parameters dialog), then please modify it as per below:

in variable

private int smaPeriod = 14;  //default value is 14

in OnBarUpdate

double smaValue = SMA(smaPeriod)[0];

in properties

[Description("Period for SMA")]
[GridCategory("Parameters")]
public int SMAPeriod
{
	get { return smaPeriod; }
	set { smaPeriod = Math.Max(1, value); }
}

You can also refer to this post which discusses more on NinjaScript parameters

http://ninjatrader.com/support/forum/showthread.php?t=4770

Please let me know if I can assist you any further.

[elkinm]

Thanks, but so far it did not work.

in the properties I added:

public int MaxPos
{
get{return maxPos;}
set{maxPos = MaxPos;}
}

In variables I have:
private int maxPos = 5;

and under Initialize I have:
this.MaxPos = maxPos;

Then I compiled with no errors.
Then I tried adding applying my new strategy expecting to find a new MaxPos variable, but it was not there.

Is there anything else I missed?

Thanks again.

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello,
Please modify your code as per below:

public int MaxPos
{
      get{return maxPos;}
      set{maxPos = [COLOR="Green"][B]value[/B][/COLOR];}
}

this is fine

private int maxPos = 5;

no need for this
this.MaxPos = maxPos;

Please let me know if I can assist you any further.

[elkinm]

Got it. The last piece I was missing was:
[GridCategory("Paramaters")]
without it it was showing up under misc and I could not see it.

For the last piece, can you help me add a column under the strategies tab to display a value constantly, so I don't need to stop and edit the strategy to see it.
So in this case I have a Parameters column, but I want a separate MaxPos column visible at all times.

Some time ago I saw a post about doing this, but I don't remember how or how to find that post?

Thanks again.

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello elkinm,
Glad to know you are able to run the strategy.

Unfortunately, you cannot have a separate column for any individual strategy parameter. The Parameter column will display all the parameters.

[elkinm]

I thought for sure I saw a post about addint a new column.
For example, if I want to see some strategy value such a working quantity or some other calculation from the strategy?
And if there is no way, how can I see the strategy parameters without stoping the strategy. I often want to check what values it is using as it is running, but I don't want to turn it off.

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello elkinm,
You can view the parameters from the Parameters column itself. However there are no way to have separate columns for each parameters.

[elkinm]

OK, That works, what about a value from my code that is not a parameter? Is there a way to see it other then printing continually to the output window?

Thanks again.

[NinjaTrader_Joydeep]

Hello elkinm,
There is no way other than printing the values in the Output Window for any private variable.

If you are using the chart to run the strategy then you can also consider using the code DrawTextField which will display the values of the private variables.

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt7/index.html?drawtextfixed.htm

Please let me know if I can assist you any further.