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Now I've been programming AFL for about a year, reflecting on my own learning process, I'd say the single most important thing that would have helped me as a beginner, is an article explaining in detail through code examples, the AFL execution cycle...
I know TJ that to you it's as plain as the nose on your face... as indeed it is to me now I know!!! But it took me a heck of a lot of tinkering around to work out exactly how the execution cycle operates.
Just a suggestion... but I'm pretty sure a lot of beginners can't even get beyond the fog that comes from not understanding how that execution cycle works.
--- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "sidhartha70" <sidhartha70@xxx> wrote:
>
> "How could I use VarSet to create an array of arrays?"
>
> Was that a rhetorical question Brian...?
>
> --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "brian_z111" <brian_z111@> wrote:
> >
> > Yes, I understand the distinction between array and multi-dimensional arrays and I appreciate ABs' capabilities in the speed with which it handles arrays.
> >
> > > I can understand your difficulties but the fact that you don't >understand something
> > > or don't know how to use some functionality, does not mean that it >does not exist nor that it is not useful.
> >
> > Yes, that is true (except for the difficulties part ... I am not having any difficulties .... happy to discuss the pros and cons of AB for the benefit of newcomers though).
> >
> > > I sincerely appreciate your willingness to teach me what array is, >and what can be considered array function and what not.
> >
> > I don't know about that.
> >
> > Really I think it us just an interesting and educational discussion and other 101'ers must have got something out of it (possibly they found the Wiki link relevant too).
> >
> > Once again I thank you for a very good educational post.
> >
> >
> > Re VarSet/VarGet:
> >
> > You have mentioned using them to produce dynamic arrays before (in this forum I think) BUT the help manual doesn't say anything about the possibility in using them that way .... it indicates that the function only accepts a value (singular) for the argument and the example uses only a single value .... unless you changed something in the beta (I don't use beta releases ... I wait for the new version upgrade + manual).
> >
> > How could I use VarSet to create an array of arrays?
> >
> >
> > VARSET
> > - sets the value of dynamic variable Miscellaneous functions
> > (AFL 2.60)
> >
> >
> > SYNTAX VarSet( ''varname'', value )
> > RETURNS NUMBER
> > FUNCTION Sets the value of dynamic variable. Returns 1 on success, 0 on failure.
> > Dynamic variables are variables that are named dynamically, typically by creating a variable name from a static part and a variable part. The following example dynamically constructs the variable name from a variable prefix and a static suffix.
> >
> > EXAMPLE for( i = 1; i < 10; i++ )
> > {
> > VarSet( "C"+i, Ref( C, -i ) );
> > }
> >
> > // creates variables C1, C2, C3, C4, ...., C10 equal to Ref( C, -1 ), Ref( C, -2 ), ..., Ref( C, -10 )
> > // respectively
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Tomasz Janeczko" <groups@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > Sorry, but it is complete waste of time to discuss basics and wikipedia refs.
> > > You are mixing terms and you don't really understand what I am saying.
> > >
> > > FWIW: matrix is not the same array, at least not in the meaning I used in the post.
> > > When I speak about array - I mean one dimensional array (vector) the only one that is
> > > directly representable in computer (linear) memory.
> > > And array are of course natively supported in AFL (unlike other languages that DO NOT feature
> > > array operations (you can not use simply operator + to add arrays (element by element) in other general purpose languages).
> > > Matrix is 2 and higher dimension - the "array of the array(s)"
> > >
> > > (FWIW: MATLAB, IDL, S-lang are NOT general purpose languages. General purpose languages
> > > are those in which actual applications are written, i.e. C, C++, Java, Basic, Pascal, etc).
> > >
> > > Your response clearly shows that you don't even know what you want
> > > (see "very good for developers/instutions and the handful of traders who want to write their own trading program [...]
> > > hardly what the average trader wants to have to do before they can start trading" in the response
> > > to me pointing out direct database read/write interface that you claimed does not exist ).
> > >
> > >
> > > I can understand your difficulties but the fact that you don't understand something
> > > or don't know how to use some functionality, does not mean that it does not exist nor that it is not useful.
> > > Some things simply require learning and time to "sink in". Take your time and you will see enourmous
> > > possibilities existing in AFL and will understand that the limit is only your imagination.
> > >
> > > I sincerely appreciate your willingness to teach me what array is, and what can be considered array function and what not,
> > > what is native function or not, but as far as I remember I wrote AmiBroker myself so probably, I know a little about all that
> > > already.
> > >
> > > Best regards,
> > > Tomasz Janeczko
> > > amibroker.com
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "brian_z111" <brian_z111@>
> > > To: <amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 2:27 PM
> > > Subject: [amibroker] Re: AFL 101
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hello Tomasz,
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for your educational post, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
> > > >
> > > > Quirky != bad;
> > > >
> > > > (some people like quirkiness ... like Bob Dylan in his song "Simple Twist of Fate")
> > > >
> > > > Of course I am just giving an opinion from my perspective (personal).
> > > >
> > > > Re your points:
> > > >
> > > > C language - I was just quoting from one of your posts .... I should have given the link because you did include some context
> > > >
> > > > http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/135059
> > > >
> > > >> As for "matrix" operations - that this does not belong to the >definition of any general purpose language.
> > > >
> > > > I did a little bit of reading on 'languages that have array functions' when we had a short discussion on array programming before
> > > > and found this link:
> > > >
> > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_programming_languages_(array)
> > > >
> > > > (it comes from the Wikipedia array page)
> > > >
> > > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Array
> > > >
> > > > As I said, there is no point in comparing AFL to a GP language .... it is quirky to me that AFL is an array language and doesn't
> > > > have a full suite of array functions .... perhaps other languages that are intended to handle price arrays etc would be a better
> > > > comparison.
> > > >
> > > >> Having said that, for anyone needing multiple dimensional arrays in AFL there are several options:
> > > >
> > > >> a) use VarGet/VarSet (the 2-dim array is simply array of the array, so for N:M 2-dim array you need N AFL arrays)
> > > >> b) using embedded JScript parts with AFL
> > > >> c) using free open source Osaka plugin (you can extend it to your needs since all sources are available)
> > > >> d) using any external COM object (written in VB for example if you need that)
> > > >
> > > > Except for a) none of these meet the criteria of "Native" to the language (AFL)
> > > >
> > > > VarGet/VarSet can hardly be described as a suite of array functions.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Neither a, b, c or d achieve your own stated objective:
> > > >
> > > >> SIMPLICITY OF USE plus compactness of code is the paramount design >decision.
> > > >
> > > >> The database is exposed in two ways:
> > > >> First (more general)
> > > >> full OLE read/write direct access to the database - see Stocks/Stock/Quotations/Quotation objects:
> > > >> http://www.amibroker.com/guide/objects.html
> > > >> - and this OLE interface is DIRECTLY available from AFL level.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > That is very good for developers/instutions and the handful of traders who want to write their own trading program built around
> > > > AB.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > .
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, all of this could be done much easier from within AFL using AFL functions .... there is no need at all to use OLE for this
> > > > type of thing .... it seems like overkill to me for a simple array processing language.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> Second (easier)
> > > >> AddToComposite/Foreign - gives you easy to use way to STORE and >READ from the AmiBroker database.
> > > >
> > > > ATC is time dependent ... when timeframe compression is used it starts to become quirky and that is just the beginning.
> > > >
> > > > Once again hardly a substitute for a full suite of native database functions.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Tomasz Janeczko" <groups@> wrote:
> > > >>
> > > >> Hello,
> > > >>
> > > >> There are several misconceptions in what was written here.
> > > >> AFL is specifically designed to protect the newbie and people without coding experience
> > > >> from programming stuff like memory allocation/deallocation, pointer manipulation,
> > > >> declarations, type casting, etc.
> > > >>
> > > >> So although it looks like C it is way more easy than C.
> > > >>
> > > >> What is single operator in AFL (like array addition) involves many line of code in C
> > > >> plus memory allocation/deallocation (and keeping track on all that).
> > > >>
> > > >> SIMPLICITY OF USE plus compactness of code is the paramount design decision.
> > > >> That's why arrays in AFL are automatically managed, have size that automatically
> > > >> refers to "visible" area, so you can simply add arrays with single + operator.
> > > >>
> > > >> With general purpose C language with "normal" arrays you would need to manage memory for arrays by yourself,
> > > >> alignment (if size differs which elements to add), looping (you need to perform calculations
> > > >> on individual elements of array).
> > > >> (maybe you don't know but in C and there are no built-in dynamic arrays, only fixed compile-time size is supported,
> > > >> and dynamic array is implemented via pointers and explicit memory allocation malloc/free)
> > > >>
> > > >> As for "matrix" operations - that this does not belong to the definition of any general purpose language.
> > > >>
> > > >> There are no "matrix" operations in any popular general purpose language C/C++/Java/JScript/Basic/Pascal.
> > > >>
> > > >> In C/C++ even scalar trigonometric operations like sin( x) or string concatenation are NOT part of the language.
> > > >>
> > > >> The language itself defines:
> > > >> a) syntax
> > > >> b) basic arithmetic operators + precedence working on primitive types only (scalar integer and/or float)
> > > >> c) flow control (conditional execution, loops)
> > > >> d) structural concepts (variables/functions/procedures/structures/objects)
> > > >> e) some miscellaneous stuff like run-time type info, exception handling etc.
> > > >>
> > > >> And that's it.
> > > >>
> > > >> Anything more is supplied by LIBRARIES. In C there is a library for basic string manipulation (such as concatenation
> > > >> - strcat) or floating point. The same with any high-level stuff like matrices - this is the area which
> > > >> is implemented by EXTERNAL libraries (not part of the language).
> > > >> Libraries in AFL can be provided by:
> > > >> a) #include - the AFL code implementing features via functions
> > > >> b) AmiBroker Development Kit - allowing to write extensions (functions) as a DLL in any compiled language.
> > > >> c) JScript/VBScript
> > > >> d) any external COM object http://www.amibroker.com/guide/a_aflcom.html
> > > >>
> > > >> This covers any imaginable application and any imaginable need you may have.
> > > >>
> > > >> Having said that, for anyone needing multiple dimensional arrays in AFL there are several options:
> > > >> a) use VarGet/VarSet (the 2-dim array is simply array of the array, so for N:M 2-dim array you need N AFL arrays)
> > > >> b) using embedded JScript parts with AFL
> > > >> c) using free open source Osaka plugin (you can extend it to your needs since all sources are available)
> > > >> d) using any external COM object (written in VB for example if you need that)
> > > >>
> > > >> If anyone is "advanced enough" to need multiple dimensional arrays, it is also "advanced enough" to use these options
> > > >> without any trouble.
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> Also with regards to:
> > > >> > - some of the architecture of AB is quirky also e.g. essentially it is a database, at the binary level, but you can't write
> > > >> > directly to the native database
> > > >> That is entirely not true.
> > > >> The database is exposed in two ways:
> > > >> First (more general)
> > > >> full OLE read/write direct access to the database - see Stocks/Stock/Quotations/Quotation objects:
> > > >> http://www.amibroker.com/guide/objects.html
> > > >> - and this OLE interface is DIRECTLY available from AFL level.
> > > >>
> > > >> Second (easier)
> > > >> AddToComposite/Foreign - gives you easy to use way to STORE and READ from the AmiBroker database.
> > > >>
> > > >> Best regards,
> > > >> Tomasz Janeczko
> > > >> amibroker.com
> > > >> ----- Original Message -----
> > > >> From: "brian_z111" <brian_z111@>
> > > >> To: <amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >> Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 1:46 AM
> > > >> Subject: [amibroker] Re: AFL 101
> > > >>
> > > >>
> > > >> > My perspective as a newcomer to programming when I started into AB/AFL around 2-3 years ago:
> > > >> >
> > > >> > - Tomasz says that AB is most like C
> > > >> > - primarily one has to learn AFL fullstop
> > > >> > - experienced programmers sometimes have to unlearn somethings and find this hard to do for a while
> > > >> > - in some ways programming naivity paid off for me as I am at home with array programming
> > > >> > - in other places I am lost because nothing can fill the missing link of not being familiar with syntax that is common to other
> > > >> > languages (called experience)
> > > >> > - AFL is quirky ..... some things that intuitively and logically seem needed are 'missing' and then you have to work around
> > > >> > that
> > > >> > e.g. IMO it is bizarre that AFL has been around for many years but doesn't have dynamic arrays or matrix functions ... the
> > > >> > quirky
> > > >> > aspects of AFL make it extremely difficult for lay people ... every time you get on a roll you find an exception
> > > >> > - some of the architecture of AB is quirky also e.g. essentially it is a database, at the binary level, but you can't write
> > > >> > directly to the native database
> > > >> > - to save you future distress....many in the past have asked for an AFL book...the logic seems compelling to me
> > > >> > - everyone starts from a different place so some need an 'Intro to AB', book
> > > >> > - I like Howards contributions overall but IMO it is rather old world to publish in hard copy ... an ebook would be much better
> > > >> > ... we have to consider that AB/AFL is way beyond the 500 pages allocated to it ib Howard's 2 books.
> > > >> > - the AFL library is not the place to learn code ... good for sharing code between experienced AFL'ers
> > > >> > - this forum is a book and contains at least 1000* the code, help, code and trading tips available anywhere else .....
> > > >> > unfortunately it lacks sections, an index and topics etc .... once again the logic for a better forum (from an educational
> > > >> > perspective) seems compelling.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > (Sorry Rik but Google searching Yahoo doesn't reference threads does it?)
> > > >> >
> > > >> > - AB/AFL is huge ... I don't think any layperson will ever cover it all without a big effort to become a programming expert,
> > > >> > albeit one who specialises in AFL
> > > >> >
> > > >> > - AB is not a democracy or an open project
> > > >> >
> > > >> > BTW all of the advice given in this thread so far is spot on.
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> > --- In amibroker@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "louies88" <Louies88@> wrote:
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> I think Amibroker is great, especially its AFL. Although I don't know enough about it to claim that it's superior than most
> > > >> >> other
> > > >> >> scripting languages out there, I know for a fact that this is one of the best. That also begs the question of how a person w/
> > > >> >> virtually no programming background can get started w/ AFL. I followed this forum long enough to note that some of you in here
> > > >> >> are excellent coders. The codes that I often see are flawless and eloquent, which then makes me think how long does it take a
> > > >> >> coding newbie such as myself to attain that coding level.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> I look at it this way. Coding a computer language is pretty similar to learning a foreign language. I remember how my first
> > > >> >> English class went. I started out by learning a few basic vocabulary words, then use some of it in the form of a noun, then a
> > > >> >> verb, finally an object. Sentence structures, or in computer language better known as syntax, govern if a sentence is
> > > >> >> grammatically correct or if it's not. With that in mind, I also started out by looking at the AFL Library in Amibroker. I
> > > >> >> downloaded all of the functions in the hope of building myself an Amibroker vocabulary and started to put some of the basic
> > > >> >> vocabulary words together to make a "sentence."
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> However, since there isn't any kind of document FORMALLY teaching the ABC of coding in Amibroker, I'm left w/ a question how
> > > >> >> does
> > > >> >> Amibroker syntax work? Some of the experienced coders here often compare AFL syntax to that of C++. But for a person w/
> > > >> >> neither
> > > >> >> background in AFL or C++ or any other computer langugae, the question remains: How do I get start? Where's the square one?
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Anybody w/ such experience is highly appreciated if he/she's willing to shed a light on this.
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >> Thanks
> > > >> >>
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> > ------------------------------------
> > > >> >
> > > >> > **** IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ****
> > > >> > This group is for the discussion between users only.
> > > >> > This is *NOT* technical support channel.
> > > >> >
> > > >> > TO GET TECHNICAL SUPPORT send an e-mail directly to
> > > >> > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
> > > >> >
> > > >> > TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS please use FEEDBACK CENTER at
> > > >> > http://www.amibroker.com/feedback/
> > > >> > (submissions sent via other channels won't be considered)
> > > >> >
> > > >> > For NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTS and other news always check DEVLOG:
> > > >> > http://www.amibroker.com/devlog/
> > > >> >
> > > >> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >> >
> > > >>
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > **** IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ****
> > > > This group is for the discussion between users only.
> > > > This is *NOT* technical support channel.
> > > >
> > > > TO GET TECHNICAL SUPPORT send an e-mail directly to
> > > > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
> > > >
> > > > TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS please use FEEDBACK CENTER at
> > > > http://www.amibroker.com/feedback/
> > > > (submissions sent via other channels won't be considered)
> > > >
> > > > For NEW RELEASE ANNOUNCEMENTS and other news always check DEVLOG:
> > > > http://www.amibroker.com/devlog/
> > > >
> > > > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
------------------------------------
**** IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ****
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This is *NOT* technical support channel.
TO GET TECHNICAL SUPPORT send an e-mail directly to
SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com
TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS please use FEEDBACK CENTER at
http://www.amibroker.com/feedback/
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