Custom Index

[johnnymustard]

Hello,
I've contacted several developers with regards to coding a custom index for me. I'm getting a very wide range of responses as far as what is and is not possible.
I'm here to clear up if NT8 can do what I'm looking for before I lay out some $$$. The primary issue I'm seeing is how to enter the securities I want to include in
my custom index.

My initial idea was a blank field in the indicator properties and I'd manually type in the symbols. It was suggested that I create a list to take advantage of NT8's
native functionality. Ok great, that sounded good to me.

When I asked each developer to incorporate this into the build, that's when I started getting all kinds of different replies. So here are my questions...

1) What is the best method to enter securities? Is it one of the methods mentioned above or is there another way?
It was also suggested that the securities should be hard coded but that does severely limit my ability to change them and diminishes the effectiveness of a custom index in the first place.

2) When responding to this, I'll quote what one developer told me in the email...
How accurate is what this developer says below?

"NT8 usually breaks when you try to add instruments from a list, and NT doesn't support that modality of adding instruments to an indicator.
At the same time, NT doesn't support giving a client the ability to input the instruments from the properties window and they always say that the instruments should be hardcoded in the indicators.

We have done these things in the past for clients, where we put in the instruments as properties and some instruments it works for and some it doesn't, so this is really your decision if you want to go ahead with this. Last time we had issues with the VIX instrument, where it only worked if it was hardcoded, which is annoying for both the client and ourselves."

3) My last question is why did I get this message a few dozen times during the 10 minutes or so while typing this post?
Please see the pic "Error_Message".

I was planning on using Kinetick for this and I can't envision using more than 30 securities and usually
about 10 if those details are relevant.

I thank you for your time and look forward to learning something here. JM

[jeronymite]

johnnymustard To be able to assess the requirement more effectively and provide useful advice, could you describe the overall product you want, please? What is its purpose, and how do you want to use it?

Thanks.

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello johnnymustard,

There is some truth to this.

NinjaTrader Support does not officially support dynamically adding instruments with AddDataSeries(). Dynamically, meaning using variables in the method call instead of hard coded values.

From the help guide:
"Arguments supplied to AddDataSeries() should be hardcoded and NOT dependent on run-time variables which cannot be reliably obtained during State.Configure (e.g., Instrument, Bars, or user input). Attempting to add a data series dynamically is NOT guaranteed and therefore should be avoided. Trying to load bars dynamically may result in an error similar to: Unable to load bars series. Your NinjaScript may be trying to use an additional data series dynamically in an unsupported manner."

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/adddataseries.htm

The main reason for this is due to how NinjaTrader preloads historical data. Using dynamic variables in AddDataSeries() will break optimizations and can break performance reports.
If this indicator is only meant to be applied directly to a chart and is never meant to be called from host strategy or indicator, it would likely be ok to use an input to select an additional instrument.

You might consider using a BarsRequest to dynamically get data instead. Below is a link to an example.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/forum/forum/historical-beta-archive/version-8-beta/87988-barsrequest-question?p=742518#post742518

[johnnymustard]

johnnymustard To be able to assess the requirement more effectively and provide useful advice, could you describe the overall product you want, please? What is its purpose, and how do you want to use it?

Thanks.

I'm primarily looking for an Advance Decline line comprised of S&P stocks. Sometimes I'll focus on a specific sector or industry, sometimes more of the S&P
as a whole. I will also be looking into using various futures contracts but not exactly sure how or if there will even be any benefit. Once plotted, I'll use the
standard AD line methodology. The pre-defined AD lines available don't have the flexibility I'm looking for.
Eventually, I'll look at the FTSE 100, DAX and others but the S&P is enough for now.

Based on ChelseaB's comment (below), I think I should be alright.
"If this indicator is only meant to be applied directly to a chart and is never meant to be called from host strategy or indicator, it would likely be ok to use an input to select an additional instrument.
You might consider using a BarsRequest to dynamically get data instead."

I plan to simply plot my AD line on the chart and merely look at it. It won't be called from a strategy or another indicator. Hopefully I've answered your questions.
Any insight you can provide is appreciated. Thank you, JM

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello johnnymustard,

Below is a link to an Advance Decline indicator.

https://ninjatraderecosystem.com/user-app-share-download/advance-decline/

As long as you won't be calling the indicator from another script and you plan to directly apply it to a chart, using inputs for values to AddDataSeries() will work, though it will remain officially unsupported.

[johnnymustard]

Hello johnnymustard,

The main reason for this is due to how NinjaTrader preloads historical data. Using dynamic variables in AddDataSeries() will break optimizations and can break performance reports.
If this indicator is only meant to be applied directly to a chart and is never meant to be called from host strategy or indicator, it would likely be ok to use an input to select an additional instrument.
#post742518[/url]

ChelseaB, thank you for shedding some light on the matter for me. The indicator I'm looking for will be applied directly to the chart and
not used in a strategy or called by another indicator. I guess I'll have to wait to see if the code works as requested before referring the
programmer to your post and suggestion. Doing so before they write it seems rude. Thanks again, JM