Standard indicators and Indicator methods

[skiguy]

Can anyone explain why the code for standard indicators like SMA in Ninja do not conform to the equivalent Indicator Method in Ninja.

For example,

Indicator method SMA:
Examples

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

// Prints the current value of a 20 period SMA using default price type
double value = SMA(20)[0];
Print("The current SMA value is " + value.ToString());

In Ninja script for SMA however the code does not appear to use the SMA method but has the following code. Why doesn't it just use the SMA Indicator Method?

{
if (CurrentBar == 0)
Value.Set(Input[0]);
else
{
double last = Value[1] * Math.Min(CurrentBar, Period);
if (CurrentBar >= Period)
Value.Set((last + Input[0] - Input[Period]) / Math.Min(CurrentBar, Period));
else
Value.Set((last + Input[0]) / (Math.Min(CurrentBar, Period) + 1));
}
}

[Tasker-182]

The example is a usage of SMA. The code below the example is how the SMA is created.

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello skiguy,

Thank you for your post.

Tasker is correct here, the method is SMA() and the code for the SMA is needed to actual calculate the SMA() value.

[skiguy]

Thanks guys. I thought that might be the case.

In summary, the SMA method behind the scenes uses the code shown and this also applies to other indicator methods.