Call ReloadNinjaScript Action after hotkey is hit

[cyberpete76]

Hi, I have this script for a custom indicator, where I draw a rectangle and text on my chart, when hitting a hotkey:

namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Indicators
{
    public class EMAChartToggle : Indicator
    {
        private SimpleFont    largeFont;        

        [NinjaScriptProperty]
        [Display(ResourceType = typeof(Custom.Resource), Name = "In Trade - Chart off", GroupName = "Make chart invisible", Order = 0)]
        public bool ChartOff { get; set; }

        [NinjaScriptProperty]
        [Display(Name = "Hotkey", GroupName = "Make chart invisible", Order = 1)]
        public string Hotkey { get; set; }


        protected override void OnStateChange()
        {
                if (State == State.SetDefaults)
                {
                Name = "EMA Chart Toggle";
                IsOverlay = true;
                largeFont = new Gui.Tools.SimpleFont("Arial", 20);
                ChartOff = false;
                Hotkey = null;
                Calculate = Calculate.OnBarClose;
            }

            else if (State == State.Configure)
            {
                // Attach key press event to chart control
                ChartControl chartControl = ChartPanel.ChartControl;
                if (chartControl != null)
                {
                    chartControl.PreviewKeyDown += OnPreviewKeyDown;
                }
            }
            else if (State == State.Terminated)
            {            
                largeFont = null;
                if (ChartPanel != null && ChartPanel.ChartControl != null)
                {
                ChartPanel.ChartControl.PreviewKeyDown -= OnPreviewKeyDown;    
                }
            }
        }
        protected override void OnBarUpdate()
        {

            if (CurrentBar < 100)
            {
                return;
            }

            if (ChartOff)
            {
                int barsAgo = 100;
                double highestHigh = MAX(High, barsAgo)[0];
                double lowestLow = MIN(Low, barsAgo)[0];
                Draw.Rectangle(this, "ChartOffRectangle", false, barsAgo, lowestLow, -15, highestHigh, Brushes.Transparent, Brushes.White, 100);
                Draw.TextFixed(this, "ChartOffText", " IN TRADE ", TextPosition.Center, Brushes.Black, largeFont, Brushes.Transparent, Brushes.Lime, 100);

            }
            else
                {
                RemoveDrawObject("ChartOffRectangle");
                RemoveDrawObject("ChartOffText");
            }
        }

        private void OnPreviewKeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
        {
            Key hotkey;
            if (Enum.TryParse(Hotkey, out hotkey) && e.Key == hotkey)
            {
                ChartOff = !ChartOff;
            }
        }
    }
}    ​​

But the rectangle and text is not drawn until I relaod the NinjaScript on the chart. So I would like to add also the ReloadNinjaScript action to my code or any other function, that would relaod the Ninjascript after the designated hotkey is hit. I have checked various other threads in this and other forums but did not find anything that would do the job. There was also some advice to call the F5 key by using "SendKeys.SendWait("{F5}");" at the end of the code, which would reload NinjaScript on the chart. But that causes the compiler to stop with errors: "The name SendKeys does not exist in the current context."
Can anyone help?

Thanks
Peter

[NinjaTrader_ChrisL]

Hi cyberpete, thanks for your post. The reload will need to be completed using SendKeys because there is no other documented way to programmatically reload a script. You must add "using System.Windows.Forms" to your using directives at the top of the script to use this. There are a few examples that implement custom hot keys on the NinjaTrader Ecosystem website:

https://ninjatraderecosystem.com/user-app-share-results/?fwp_usa_search=Hot%20Keys

The NinjaTrader Ecosystem website is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered a solicitation to buy or sell a futures contract or make any other type of investment decision. The add-ons listed on this website are not to be considered a recommendation and it is the reader's responsibility to evaluate any product, service, or company. NinjaTrader Ecosystem LLC is not responsible for the accuracy or content of any product, service or company linked to on this website.

[cyberpete76]

Thank you Chris, for your reply. I added this line: System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.SendWait("{F5}"); to my code. The compiler is OK with that. But the behavior on the chart is quite weird:
I would expect, by hitting the designated hotkey, e.g. F7, the code would draw the rectangle and text onto the chart, as after the hotkey is hit under private void OnPreviewKeyDown(object sender, KeyEventArgs e), it also triggers the F5 key by this line: System.Windows.Forms.SendKeys.SendWait("{F5}"); and that would cause the script to reload on the chart. But if I hit the F7 key once, the rectangle and text appear for a very quick moment and dissapear again, as the script is reloaded to the State.SetDefaults, meaning ChartOff = false. But if I hit the F7 key quickly twice, then I get the desired result: quickly twice for the first time draws both the rectangle and the text onto the chart. Quickly twice hitting F7 (hotkey) for the second time removes both objects. I would expect that to work just for one keystroke. Any idea?

[NinjaTrader_ChrisL]

Hi Pete, unfortunately, this goes outside of the scope of support I am able to provide on the subject.