File Path Picker Specific Directory

[ZeroKuhl]

Is there a good way to specify a specific drawing tool directory to select the template XML?

[Display(Name = "Template Name", Order = 1, GroupName = "Options")]
[PropertyEditor("NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools.FilePathPicker", Filter = "Xml Files (*.xml)|*.xml")]
public string TemplateName
{ get; set; }​

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello ZeroKuhl,

You can use the InitialDirectory to specify a starting directory, unfortunately variables cannot be used in this case so you would have to hard code the documents path rather than getting the location from the platforms globals.

[Display(Name = "Template Name", Order = 1, GroupName = "Options")]
[PropertyEditor("NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools.FilePathPicker", Filter = "Xml Files (*.xml)|*.xml", InitialDirectory = @"C:\Users\username\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\templates\DrawingTool")]
public string TemplateName
{ get; set; }​​

[ZeroKuhl]

Hello ZeroKuhl,

You can use the InitialDirectory to specify a starting directory, unfortunately variables cannot be used in this case so you would have to hard code the documents path rather than getting the location from the platforms globals.

[Display(Name = "Template Name", Order = 1, GroupName = "Options")]
[PropertyEditor("NinjaTrader.Gui.Tools.FilePathPicker", Filter = "Xml Files (*.xml)|*.xml", InitialDirectory = @"C:\Users\username\Documents\NinjaTrader 8\templates\DrawingTool")]
public string TemplateName
{ get; set; }​​

It is terrible that we can't define paths with variables inside of the NT directory. Is this on the road map to change in the future?

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello ZeroKuhl,

In this case this is more of a C# limitation with how attributes work. Attributes that decorate public properties in C# cannot use any kind of dynamic variable that is generated in runtime, it needs to be a constant. While you can define a specific path using the InitialDirectory that path has to be hard coded to be able to compile. The only way around that would be to create a custom file picker of your own where its property editor uses logic to find the users documents directory

The following would be how you would approach that, you would have to create a new .cs file in the addons folder to define the custom property editor. This also requires adding a reference to the WpfPropertyGrid dll file in the program files NinjaTrader 8 folder.

requires System.Windows.Controls.WpfPropertyGrid.dll

using System.Windows.Controls.WpfPropertyGrid;
using System.Windows.Markup;

namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.AddOns
{
public class CustomFilePicker : PropertyEditor
{
public CustomFilePicker()
{
InlineTemplate = CreateTemplate();
}

DataTemplate CreateTemplate()
{
const string xamlTemplate =

@"
<DataTemplate>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width=""30""/>
<ColumnDefinition Width=""*""/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<Button Grid.Column=""0"" Content=""..."" Padding=""0"" Margin=""0""
HorizontalAlignment=""Stretch"" VerticalAlignment=""Stretch""
HorizontalContentAlignment=""Center""
MinWidth=""30""
Width=""30""
MaxWidth=""30""
Command =""pg:PropertyEditorCommands.ShowDialogEditor""
CommandParameter=""{Binding}"" />
<TextBox Grid.Column=""1""
Text=""{Binding StringValue}""
ToolTip=""{Binding Value}""/>
</Grid>
</DataTemplate>
";

ParserContext context = new ParserContext();
context.XmlnsDictionary.Add("", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation");
context.XmlnsDictionary.Add("x", "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml");
context.XmlnsDictionary.Add("pg", "http://schemas.denisvuyka.wordpress.com/wpfpropertygrid");
DataTemplate template = (DataTemplate)XamlReader.Parse(xamlTemplate, context);
return template;
}

public override void ClearValue(PropertyItemValue propertyValue, IInputElement commandSource)
{
if (propertyValue == null || propertyValue.IsReadOnly)
{
return;
}

propertyValue.StringValue = string.Empty;
}

public override void ShowDialog(PropertyItemValue propertyValue, IInputElement commandSource)
{
PropertyGrid propGrid = commandSource as PropertyGrid;
string lastPath = propertyValue.StringValue;

if (propGrid == null) return;

OpenFileDialog openFileDialog = new OpenFileDialog();
openFileDialog.Filter = "All files (*.*)|*.*";
openFileDialog.InitialDirectory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolde r.MyDocuments);
openFileDialog.ShowDialog();

propertyValue.StringValue = openFileDialog.FileName != String.Empty ? openFileDialog.FileName : lastPath; // change this string and compile, the ui does not see this change

propGrid.DoReload();

propGrid.RaiseEvent(new PropertyValueChangedEventArgs(PropertyGrid.Propert yValueChangedEvent, propertyValue.ParentProperty, ""));
}
}
}​

and then use it in your script:

[NinjaScriptProperty]
[PropertyEditor("NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.AddOns.CustomFilePicker")]
[Display(Name="Image1 File Path", Description="File Path for Image1", Order=15, GroupName="5. Images")]
public string Image1Path
{ get; set; }