Please fix Parabolic SAR once and for all!

[kocmodpom]

The kind that only reverses when the price action touches or crosses the indicator value. Hence you actually can use it for automated strategies.

Instead of

* If tomorrow's SAR value lies within tomorrow's price range, a new tend direction is then signaled, and the SAR must "switch sides"

I would prefer

* If tomorrow's SAR value lies within tomorow's price range, the SAR must be set to the closest price bound or today's value, whichever will yield a valid stop order

* If the stop is activated (either touched or crossed by price action) the SAR must "switch" sides.

I think that explains why the strats haven't been working consistently.

[roonius]

The kind that only reverses when the price action touches or crosses the indicator value. Hence you actually can use it for automated strategies.

Instead of

* If tomorrow's SAR value lies within tomorrow's price range, a new tend direction is then signaled, and the SAR must "switch sides"

I would prefer

* If tomorrow's SAR value lies within tomorow's price range, the SAR must be set to the closest price bound or today's value, whichever will yield a valid stop order

* If the stop is activated (either touched or crossed by price action) the SAR must "switch" sides.

I think that explains why the strats haven't been working consistently.

Well ParSAR i removed did exactly that except it had to cross to reverse, only touching isn't enough

[kocmodpom]

Yea, but Ninja will activate the order on a touch in backtesting. So then you kind of get stuck in an order that you can't use. The example posted below in post #21 (the same area as the zoomed area on the graph with yours and their versions.

[roonius]

Yea, but Ninja will activate the order on a touch in backtesting. So then you kind of get stuck in an order that you can't use. The example posted below in post #21 (the same area as the zoomed area on the graph with yours and their versions.

Why can't you place your stop 1 tick behind value? in that case you will be sure that it has reversed

[kocmodpom]

well because the SAR doesn't have to move in increment values, it could then cross the SAR but not cross the stop. hmmmm maybe so, that could be a possibility.

[roonius]

well because the SAR doesn't have to move in increment values, it could then cross the SAR but not cross the stop. hmmmm maybe so, that could be a possibility.

... stop value rounded to ticksize and closest to sar value but still behind it

[dave_b_quickc]

parabolic

I had to code my own parabolic because I use the highest or lowest close for the calculation rather than the highest high or lowest low. Also I use a separate upper and lower line so it's more clear where price has to close to get a flip. Also I made the bars change color when it flips so it's easier to see when it's in an upwave or downwave or when it just flipped.

(Use NT file/utilities/import to extract the zip file to the list of available indicators.)

[keepdchange]

PSAR Indicator

I had to code my own parabolic because I use the highest or lowest close for the calculation rather than the highest high or lowest low. Also I use a separate upper and lower line so it's more clear where price has to close to get a flip. Also I made the bars change color when it flips so it's easier to see when it's in an upwave or downwave or when it just flipped.

(Use NT file/utilities/import to extract the zip file to the list of available indicators.)

I tried to change the plot style from line to dot, to see it a little better. I noticed that on some bars, two dots are shown, one for each direction. Is that suppose to be a neutral area (see Attach.1)? Also, can this PSAR indicate a change in direction as soon as it flips, instead of waiting for the bar to close?

I would appreciate a reply.

[dave_b_quickc]

dots

I wasn't thinking in terms of dots when I set it up, I was using lines, so I didn't see that 2-dot effect. On the bars that flip from down-wave to up-wave the upper line ends at the bar and the lower line starts at the same time. It looks kind of kooky with the dots because that means 2 dots on 1 bar. You can never be sure of a flip until the bar closes, but I do occasionally anticipate a bit if bar-close is approaching and price is trading beyond the level that would make a flip. Sometimes I get faked out too and it doesn't flip after all, oh well. You might try making the lines wider or changing colors instead of using dots (see attachment).

[kocmodpom]

Also, can this PSAR indicate a change in direction as soon as it flips, instead of waiting for the bar to close?

I would appreciate a reply.

I know that PFG Best Direct ProTrader's Parabolic SAR, does reverse the instant that the price action crosses the SAR value. I don't think it makes a difference though if it waits to bar close. Only in an extremely fast breakout whipsaw following a period of consolidation. Very unlikely.

[keepdchange]

Parabolic SAR

I know that PFG Best Direct ProTrader's Parabolic SAR, does reverse the instant that the price action crosses the SAR value. I don't think it makes a difference though if it waits to bar close. Only in an extremely fast breakout whipsaw following a period of consolidation. Very unlikely.

That is the correct version. It should flip as soon as the current bar pushes the PSAR dot either up/down, and penetrates through the previous dot's level. It should not wait for the bar to close. This makes a big difference in this fast moving market. I have been using PSAR in TD Ameritrade's Strategy Desk, and that is how it has been. Is there anyone here who can convert some othe platforms PSAR to NinjaTrader. Seems like we can not get any help from NinjaTrader staff. I have tried so many times to let them know that the version they are using is not correct. But, no one seems to care. I can not get any descent answer. This is getting real frustrating. And this is just a simple indicator. I seriously hope that NnjaTrader can pay closer attention to these kind of stuff. Things that should not even be a problem!!!!!!!!!

[keepdchange]

Parabolic SAR

... stop value rounded to ticksize and closest to sar value but still behind it

Could you please take a look at other platform's PSAR indicator and convert it to NinjaTrader. I do not think we are ever going to get anything from NinjaTrader on this issue. I wish I knew how to program. I did not know I was going to have so much problem with such a simple indicator on a platform like NinjaTraders'.

[roonius]

Could you please take a look at other platform's PSAR indicator and convert it to NinjaTrader. I do not think we are ever going to get anything from NinjaTrader on this issue. I wish I knew how to program. I did not know I was going to have so much problem with such a simple indicator on a platform like NinjaTraders'.

Is version fixed by NT in post #20 still wrong?

[keepdchange]

Psar

Is version fixed by NT in post #20 still wrong?

Thank you for your response. To answer your question, to be honest with you, I am not so sure! Please take a look at the attachment. The blue circled areas are my concern. Should'nt the PSAR dot be at the highest point of the bar in each situation? I have been using TD Ameritrade's Strategy Desk and in situations like this, the dot moves with the bar and stays at the top of the bar. But, if the bar pushes the dot higher/lower than the previous PSAR dot, then it flips....Also, can we get the PSAR to flip as soon as it reverses, rather than wait for the bar to close? Please clarify...Thank you.

[dave_b_quickc]

parameters

There is no one best set of parameters. Some folks will want to calculate based on the highs/lows, like Wilder did when he invented the parabolic. Other folks, like me, prefer to use the highest and lowest closes. So for one parabolic to suit everybody these parameters should be among the user settings choices along with the acceleration factor and max acceleration numbers.

The parabolic only gets closer, so price can't "push" it, price can only go past it or not. If you have it set to use the highs/lows any poke past the parabolic level for the current bar should cause a flip on the next bar. If you have it set to use the close, a poke past the parabolic won't cause a flip unless the bar closes there.

In the first circle on the chart in post #44 price poked above the parabolic but didn't close above it, and there was no flip. In the next 2 circles it did close above it, and it did flip. The last flip near the right side of your chart is the odd one, as price poked above the parabolic and then closed below, and it flipped anyway (???).

Also odd on the chart in post #44 is that the parabolic often stays at the same price for several bars in a row. By Wilder's formula it's supposed to get closer on each bar by the amount specified in the "acceleration factor" (multiplied by the # of bars since the last flip) or the "max acceleration" (whichever is less). So even when there's no new high or low to measure from, the parabolic should still get closer on each bar.