Arithmetic in Strategy Builder/Data Series

[medicmiked]

Good morning,

I was looking to calculate the width of Bollinger Bands for a strategy using (upper band - lower band) / middle band. I understand I can't do that directly in strategy builder, but from reading similar posts, it's possible using a data series? My problem is figuring out how to manipulate the individual series results after they've been defined. I don't see a way in the conditions and actions area to subtract one from the other and store the result in a variable or another series. Thanks for your help!

[ajgauss13]

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[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello medicmiked,

Yes that is possible with a custom series. The first part of your math could be accomplished by using a series, the upper - lower can be assigned to a series. As a separate action for a second series you can use the result / middle.

These are the steps to do that.

1. In the builder go to the additional data tab
2. Expand the Custom Series section
3. Click Add
4. Name your first series as diff and leave its default as type double.
5. Click Add again and add a second series named Result

In Set 1 there should be no conditions

1. In set 1 actions click Add
2. Select Misc -> Set diff
3. Hover the mouse over the series value field and click Set
4. In the window that appears select Indicators -> Bollinger -> Select the Upper plot
5. In the properties that appear you will see the offset area, select the minus symbol
6. Hover the mouse over the 0 value and click Set
7. Select Indicators 0-> Bollinger -> select the lower band plot

Back in Set 1 click Add to add another action

1. Select Misc -> Set Result
2. Hover the mouse over the series value field and click Set
3. Select Misc -> Custom Series and select diff
4. In the Offset area select Division
5. Hover the mouse over the 0 value and click Set
6. Select Indicators -> Bollinger -> Select the middle band

At this point the result is set to the Result series To use the value in other sets you can find it under the Misc -> Custom series option. Custom series work the same way as other series like the close price, you can specify a bars ago if needed, the current value will be at 0 bars ago.

[medicmiked]

PERFECT! Thanks so much for your help! I figured out how to set them, just now how to reference/manipulate them. Never thought to look into the "custom series" under Misc. Thanks again and have a great weekend!