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Hello,
"Not sure if this is the latest, but try http://store.traders.com/v19may70prod.html.";
This one is VERY, VERY OLD (version 3.50 which is ancient in "AB-time").
Since then there were:
2 reviews in Active Trader magazine (the newest is in October 2004 issue)
www.activetradermag.com
1 review in Futures magazine
and 2 reviews in non-english T/A magazines
Best regards,
Tomasz Janeczko
amibroker.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Ervi" <daniel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2004 10:29 PM
Subject: Re: [amibroker] Re: AmiBroker vs Wealth-Lab
My take on the questions, although some of it may be incorrect:
1) Yes, you can PlotShapes() to plot symbols and digits on a chart programmatically. I don't think you can have text plot on a
chart programmatically, although you can change the Title and/or use interpretation/guru commentary to perform similar tasks.
2) You have to keep track of this using a boolean logic array. For example, ValueWhen(Buy, BarIndex()) as a proxy for
PositionEntryBar(). It isn't foolproof in the case of multiple buys and sells, which is why I prefer the Position Management
functions.
3) Yes. They can be loaded and saved, and are really just textfiles, which means you can use an external editor for long coding
sessions. Syntax highlighting configuration files for UltraEdit and other editors have been posted here in the past. A search
should turn them up.
4) Yes. AB supports the $Include directive, and function/procedure calls.
5) Not sure if this is the latest, but try http://store.traders.com/v19may70prod.html.
Daniel
On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 20:00:00 -0000, virtuouz_pagan wrote:
>
>
> i think the feature i would miss the most is the Position
> Management. I also liked the WLD layout and editor. just started
> evaluating Amibroker and the editor there seems/feels like just a
> textbox..a large one.
>
> I have some systems i would like to try and convert to AmiBroker.
> will see what that entails. Questions:
> 1) can you annotate your charts programmatically in AmiBroker? 2)
> if position management functions are not available, how can you
> keep track of open trades and such things as profit, bars, MFE,
> etc? 3) writing Systems. Each system is represented by an AFL
> file, correct?
> 4) can scripts be reused? for instance, i have some Utility scripts
> i use in WLD. i can include them using the "$I" include instruction
> and this gives me access to all functions in that script. Can a
> similar thing be done in AmiBroker? 5) Can anyone point me to any
> recent reviews of AmiBroker?
>
> thanks
>
> --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Daniel Ervi <daniel@xxxx> wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I'm still around, and probably much more active with AmiBroker
>>
> than I have ever been. The acquisition of Wealth-Lab by Fidelity
> tipped the scales back to Amibroker for me. I've been porting all
> my WLD systems and DLLs back to AmiBroker. Now that AmiBroker
> supports automated trading, at least in beta format, I have no
> compelling reason to stay with WLD, and many reasons not to.
>
>>
>> However, I will still miss a few things from the WLD platform:
>>
>> - Better graphics support. This means the Windows Device
>>
> Context drawing add-in API, along with all the easy WealthScript
> DrawCircle, DrawHorzLine, DrawText, DrawRectangle, DrawTriangle,
> etc, functions. All my addin DLLs used the Windows API directly,
> which was the single biggest hurdle for me in porting my material
> back to AmiBroker. Having this available would allow such a rich
> set of drawing features to be made available, the platform would
> truly become unlimited. LineArray() helped, but it allocates a
> complete array for each trendline I draw in my pattern DLL
> routines, which slows things down. Tomasz has promised this in a
> future release, and he does keep his promises so I am happy to make
> do in the mean time.
>
>>
>> - Position management functions - I'm guessing this would be
>>
> tough to implement in AmiBroker as it might require changes to the
> backtester, but from a traders viewpoint it really does simplify
> how we code our systems. PositionBasisPrice, PositionMAE,
> PositionEntryPrice, PositionActive, PositionExitBar,
> PositionProfit, etc, really make evaluating a trade simple, and you
> don't have to remember the boolean state of your system. Scaled
> exits with SplitPosition was a bonus too.
>
>>
>> - Separate position sizing scripts. I loved this feature
>>
> most!!! It made it so simple to code five or six different MM
> schemes (Volatility, % risk, Round lots, Streaks, etc.) and then
> apply it to any system simply by clicking. The influence that MM
> can have on a system is phenomenal, and I still think WLD is the
> undeniably best way of exploring this. AmiBroker is capable of all
> the same tests, but your MM and trading scripts are tied together
> in the same AFL. If you write a new script you need to integrate
> all your MM code again, or maybe build an #include hierarchy for
> it. It is doable, but point and click it much easier, and allowed
> for rapid evaluation of different schemes...
>
>>
>> Having addressed what *I feel* are AmiBrokers shortfalls, there
>>
> are so many features that I missed, that I have rediscovered:
>
>> - I missed how FAST Amibroker is. My pattern engine can blow
>>
> through 100's of stocks in just seconds. WLD with the same pattern
> engine, would take 5-7 minutes for a scan of 25 patterns against
> 500 stocks.
>
>> - I missed AFL brevity. Testing new ideas is so quick using AFL.
>> - I missed the Plugin API. Given this will only appeal to
>>
> programmers, but it is such a joy to use with the syntax
> highlighting and tight integration. Now that I can use my Delphi
> code via the API I am a very happy camper!
>
>> - I missed the native AddToComposite feature. This is the best
>>
> implementation of such a feature I've seen in any package I've ever
> used.
>
>> - There is more, but I don't want this to sound like a
> commercial...
>
>> I'd suggest trying the Amibroker package out. Go back and read
>>
> some of the posts here, maybe try some of the AFL systems posted at
> http://www.amibroker.com, talk to a few other users, and then form
> your own opinion. We all use the package differently, much like we
> all trade systems differently. What works for me might not be a
> fit for you.
>
>>
>> If you don't have any software whatsoever, at $129.00/$199.00,
>>
> nothing can touch Amibroker. I compare WLD and AB only because I
> already own both. If I had to buy only one again, AB is simply a
> much better deal.
>
>>
>> Daniel
>>
>>
>> On Wed, 20 Oct 2004 03:37:18 -0000, virtuouz_pagan wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> daniel,
>>> if you are still around. i would very much value your evaluation
>>>
> on
>>> the latest version of Amibroker or any other software.
>>>
>>> currently i have used WLD, NeoTicker and to lesser degree,
>>> AmiBroker. WLD i am most familiar with, but with fidelity
>>> taking over..time to move on. NeoTicker is very powerful, but
>>> support
>>>
> and
>>> user community is very lacking.
>>> that leaves AmiBroker, which i am hoping you can give an update
>>> on...
>>>
>>> --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Daniel Ervi
> <daniel@xxxx> wrote:
>
>>>> Sorry for the late reply, but I missed this thread.
>>>>
>>>> I own both AmiBroker and Wealth-Lab, and have used, and still
>>>>
> use,
>
>>> both pretty extensively. Below are the pro's and cons for
>>> each, based *on my usage* of them and their suitability to my
>>> needs. Please don't flame me, as this is based on my
>>> perceptions, and yours will probably differ. :)
>>>
>>>
>>>> Amibroker Pro's:
>>>>
>>>> - Fast. Incredibly fast!
>>>> - Automation interface is very complete, and Plugin API is
>>>>
>>> excellent
>>>> - Built in Composite support.
>>>> - Great for rapid indicator/system testing because of the
>>>> simple
>>>>
>>> array notation
>>>> - The latest betas have portfolio testing which is truly
>>>>
> necessary
>
>>> IMHO
>>>> - Excellent support, with thorough answers within hours -
>>>> The community following (this list) is a great resource for
>>>>
>>> newbies of both trading and programming
>>>> - The third-party addins add some really great features and
>>>> most
>>>>
>>> are free
>>>> - Tick-by-tick updates of indicators is great for monitor
>>>>
> systems
>
>>> in an auto-trading environment
>>>> - I prefer the C++-style syntax over the Delphi syntax
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Amibroker Con's:
>>>>
>>>> - No Quote.Com support. I know the developers API is
>>>> expensive,
>>>>
>>> but Quote.com is the only data provider to supply > 120 days of
>>> historical 1 min data and unlimited symbols. It goes back to
>>>
> 1997
>>> for most stocks and indexes on a 1 min basis. I have >10 gigs
>>>
> of 1
>>> min data for the SP500 components at my disposal thanks to
>>> Quote.com.
>>>
>>>> - Limited drawing support. What is here is great, but there
>>>>
> are a
>
>>> few things that would make it superb. Being able to plot a
>>> triangle or box would allow one to plot Gartley's or highlight
>>> trades with a green or red box based on whether they made a
>>>
> profit
>>> or not, or maybe highlight the opening range in orange until it
>>>
> is
>>> over. Changing background colors would allow gradients to show
>>> a condition getting better or worse. You get the idea...
>>>
>>>> - No position management functions. I find it harder to
>>>> program
>>>>
>>> systems when you rely on a simple boolean on/off for entry/exit
>>> signals. In WL, once a position is created, you can use
>>>
> position-
>>> based functions like PositionEntryBar() or PositionActive() or
>>> PositionMFE() to loop through a collection of positions and
>>> apply simple tests/exits to them. Multiple concurrent
>>> position systems are greatly simplified this way as trade
>>> management is done on a trade by trade basis. FWIW, this
>>> would eliminate the need for functions like ExRem().
>>>
>>>> - No native class/object support. This can be done via the
>>>> API,
>>>>
>>> so it's not that big a deal. But for complex scripts (ie a
>>>
> native
>>> AFL genetic algorithm implementation via includes) this would be
>>>
> a
>>> life-saver.
>>>
>>>> - No auto-trading interface/API. This for me is the biggest
>>>>
>>> reason I have WL.
>>>> - Position Sizing algorithms needs to be done via your
>>>>
> script. WL
>
>>> allows you to separate the Positions Sizing from the trade
>>> entry/exit scripts. This makes it easy to try various position
>>> sizing algorithms without the need to change any code.
>>>
>>>> - No built in debugger (ie breakpoints, etc)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wealth-Lab Pro's:
>>>>
>>>> - Native auto-trading with attached portfolio management.
>>>> This
>>>>
>>> was implemented really well because of the attached portfolio,
>>>
> and
>>> I have used it with over 20 positions auto-trading at once on a
>>> 5 min timeframe. It didn't miss a beat.
>>>
>>>> - Rich set of graphics features. I have some pretty advanced
>>>>
>>> plots that highlight all types of scenario's during the trading
>>>
> day.
>
>>>> - Built in debugger, with breakpoints and the ability to look
>>>> at
>>>>
>>> variable contents
>>>> - API's available for most areas of the program, including a
>>>>
>>> broker interface
>>>> - Language is based on Delphi/Pascal (OOP) and allows for
>>>>
>>> classes/inheritance/polymorphism/etc.
>>>> - Ability to download new "chartscripts" (systems, indicators,
>>>>
>>> etc) via a menu option. This is a great *built-in* repository
>>>
> for
>>> those starting out, or for those looking to explore other
>>> ideas. Simply refresh the system by choosing "download
>>> chartscripts"
>>>
> from
>>> the menu.
>>>
>>>> - Position Sizing is a separate script. Once you see the
>>>>
>>> difference that position sizing can have on a strategy, this
>>> feature becomes critical. You can apply any sizing strategy
>>>
> during
>>> system ranking/optimization/portfolio simulations/etc. This
>>> can dramatically change the results of these methods.
>>>
>>>> - Custom optimization fitness functions. You can program an
>>>>
>>> expectancy function and use it as your optimization criteria
>>> for example.
>>>
>>>> - Full suite of position management functions.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Wealth-Lab Con's:
>>>>
>>>> - Slow. Molasses slow compared to AB. If you have greater
>>>> than
>>>>
>>> 100,000 bars, forget about it.
>>>> - Indicators don't update on tick intervals. The last price
>>>> bar
>>>>
>>> (aka ghost bar) does, but nothing else.
>>>> - Plugin API is based on COM (slower) and doesn't allow for
>>>>
> native
>
>>> syntax-highlighting
>>>> - You can't import ASCII files to a faster native binary
>>>> format.
>>>>
>>> So every system test you run has to re-parse the data, which
>>> can slow you down dramatically on large datasets.
>>>
>>>> - Simple/Rapid indicator and system development is slower
>>>>
> compared
>
>>> to AB. The Metastock-style array notation in AB is a huge
>>> timesaver. There are wizards in WL3 to help with this, but I
>>>
> still
>>> find the process cumbersome compared to AB/MS.
>>>
>>>> - You can't auto-trade on less than 1 minute bars. It would
>>>>
> have
>
>>> been nice to trade the ES or NQ on tick bars, but it can't be
>>>
> done
>>> yet.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> These are *my* impressions on the two packages. I use AB
>>>>
> whenever
>
>>> I need to rapidly test an idea, or if I am trying to run a test
>>>
> on
>>> a large set of data. I then move to WL to refine the ideas,
>>>
> apply
>>> position sizing, and then deploy them via the auto-trading. So
>>>
> for
>>> me at least, the two complement each other very well.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Hope I don't stir up any trouble with this post. I just
>>>> wanted
>>>>
> to
>
>>> stress that both packages have there place, and although AB is
>>> great in it's current state, there is always room for
>>>
> improvement.
>>> Or else TJ would have retired ages ago, right TJ? ;)
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Daniel
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Mon, 10 Nov 2003 03:44:07 -0000, seneca_kw wrote:
>>>>> I enoyed the recent informative thread on AmiBroker vs
>>>>> Metastock. I'd appreciate a similar comparison with Wealth-
>>>>> Lab. I searched the archive but found no mention of WL.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm not expecting a point-by-point rundown, but for those
>>>>> who
>>>>>
>>> have
>>>>> tried both, is there one feature or another that really was
>>>>> a difference maker?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks,
>>>>> Wayne
Check AmiBroker web page at:
http://www.amibroker.com/
Check group FAQ at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/files/groupfaq.html
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