How to use offset to subtract user variable

[agosinv]

I am working on a sell short strategy where I need to set my profit target to the current low minus the price defined by a multiplier of ATR(20) (user defined variable I call ATRFactor).

What this means is that I would set my profit target at the following:
Low(0) - ATR(20) * (1 + ATRFactor).

I have struggle with this for a while as I don't know how to "subtract" in the wizard.

I know I an use the Offset type to add or subtract a fixed number in the Condition Builder, and I know I can use the same to add a variable or indicator

How do I subtract it?

It must be simple but I cannot find it

Thanks for your help

[sledge]

I am working on a sell short strategy where I need to set my profit target to the current low minus the price defined by a multiplier of ATR(20) (user defined variable I call ATRFactor).

What this means is that I would set my profit target at the following:
Low(0) - ATR(20) * (1 + ATRFactor).

I have struggle with this for a while as I don't know how to "subtract" in the wizard.

I know I an use the Offset type to add or subtract a fixed number in the Condition Builder, and I know I can use the same to add a variable or indicator

How do I subtract it?

It must be simple but I cannot find it

Thanks for your help

I just tried to do as you are trying to do, and I couldn't figure it out either. It doesn't look possible.

I tried to research it, and couldn't find anything about it.

[agosinv]

Do I have to create an "indicator" or a function that inverts a number in a variable?
It seems easy from a programming point of view.
Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

agosinv, yes for realized those arithmetic operations please create an indicator / function performing this task which you could in turn then call in your wizard script. Extending this area in the wizard interface is on our feedback list for future consideration, I will make sure your vote is noted here as well.

[agosinv]

agosinv, yes for realized those arithmetic operations please create an indicator / function performing this task which you could in turn then call in your wizard script. Extending this area in the wizard interface is on our feedback list for future consideration, I will make sure your vote is noted here as well.

Bertrand

I tried creating the function using the wizard. I could not find how.

Do you have some sample code I can use?

The trick is passing the variable as input when I call the function.

Thanks a lot

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

I would just create an indicator displaying / calculating those ATR stop values, then the ATRFactor you have could be a user input that would be callable / optimizable in your strategy from the wizard interface then as well.

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/showthread.php?t=5782

Two of such stop variants are also offered in our user sharing section here, you might be able to use them as 'base' to further develop on -

http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/forum/local_links_search.php?action=show&literal=1&search=ATR+trail&desc=1

[agosinv]

I was thinking about a simple function that will return the opposite (or negative value) of a variable. Let's call it NEG(x)

I would use in the following way
Variable0=ATR(20) * (1 + ATRFactor)
Variable1=Low(0) + NEG(Variable0)

I believe I can use the standard Offset Type in the Condition Builder to set the formulas above

Then if I am correct this would return the same value as
Variable1=Low(0) - ATR(20) * (1+ATRFactor)

So I need to create the NEG indicator that takes an input (Variable0) and return the opposite (negative) of that variable.

What I don't understand is how to create this function that uses a variable as input and returns the variable into its negative value.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

agosinv, that would unfortunately not be an option to create as the indicator you would create for providing this functionality would expect a series as input, a format your custom user variable could not provide. I think best would be creating / calculating the complete needed value in a custom indicator and then referencing in your wizard script.

[koganam]

I was thinking about a simple function that will return the opposite (or negative value) of a variable. Let's call it NEG(x)

I would use in the following way
Variable0=ATR(20) * (1 + ATRFactor)
Variable1=Low(0) + NEG(Variable0)

I believe I can use the standard Offset Type in the Condition Builder to set the formulas above

Then if I am correct this would return the same value as
Variable1=Low(0) - ATR(20) * (1+ATRFactor)

So I need to create the NEG indicator that takes an input (Variable0) and return the opposite (negative) of that variable.

What I don't understand is how to create this function that uses a variable as input and returns the variable into its negative value.

Hope this makes sense.

Thanks

Sounds like a "Rube Goldberg Machine". If you want to subtract a value, why not just subtract a value? Coding an indicator to negate a value, while doable, seems like using a sledge-hammer to kill a mosquito.

[agosinv]

Sounds like a "Rube Goldberg Machine". If you want to subtract a value, why not just subtract a value? Coding an indicator to negate a value, while doable, seems like using a sledge-hammer to kill a mosquito.

I agree but I did not find a way to perform a simple subtraction using the wizard. However I was able to "trick" the system using a negative ATRFactor.

If I set my ATRFactor user variable to be be less than -2 and I use the percent Offset Type in the Condition Builder this will allow me to perform a "simple" subtraction.

Just a very complicated way just because I am still tied to the wizard in my strategy development.

Sooner or later I will unlock the code and ..... fly

Thanks