Comparing An Indicator On Current Bar vs previous bars

[trilliantrader]

Hello! I'm stumped on a calculation I'd like to make for a customization. I'd like to use the built-in indicators and see their rate of change to help determine trend, so comparing the value on the current bar vs previous bars.

I was thinking I should use a private variable, but how can I have this update every x candles on a time-based chart?

Hoping this is a simple question and I'm just missing the terms to search the docs for. Thank you!

[NinjaTrader_Gaby]

Hello trilliantrader,

Thank you for your post.

You can use an int variable to know how many bars has passed.

When the first condition happens, set the bar number.

if (<your condition>)
{
firstConditionBar = CurrentBar;
}

if (CurrentBar - firstConditionBar == 3) // 3 candles have happened
{
//do something here
}

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

Indicators can also be accessed via barsAgo indexing.

For example,

//print the current value of a 20 period SMA
double value = SMA(20)[0];
Print("The current SMA value is " + value.ToString());

//print the value 1 bar ago ago
double value = SMA(20)[1];
Print("The current SMA value is " + value.ToString());