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<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>The question is simple but it has me stumped.
How can I determine, i.e. code, the Bars Since (barsince) from a buy or
sell signal in a system test application? In other words, what is the DATA ARRAY
function for these signals?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Thanks in advance,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 size=2>Pete Bock</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>
</x-html>From ???@??? Wed Mar 10 12:53:13 1999
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From: "Walter Lake" <wlake@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Metastock bulletin board" <metastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Excel
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 14:56:10 -0500
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Hi Jim
Have been following your problems. Hope everything is resolved soon.
As Guy mentioned, Metastock has excellent charting and other capabilities,
etc. I wouldn't give up on it.
I just assume that it is a "deadend" program. i.e., where is it going to be
in 5 years time? I have a foot stack of email folders with MS indicator
formulas from the past year. However indicators are not the "be all and end
all" for trade system development for me. (Kaufman's, etc. influence
probably)
So I have to look at what's going to be "sitting on my desk" in 3 to 5 years
time.
I don't believe that the benefits Vs the drawbacks of the commercial
programs are going to continue to tip in the favour of the commercial
programs. I just don't find them to be worth the hassle, whether they be
Trade Station, MS, OT or whatever.
So what's left? For me the answer is obvious. Do it myself.
As far as programming goes. Any novice, like myself, starts off with
formulas in the individual cells. All of Sweeney's MAE and MFE code is
written like that. Lots of cut and paste, and using AutoFill or whatever its
called. MS code, I have heard, was based on spreadsheet code, so it's very
easy to code in Excel.
Now I'm learning how to use macros and Visual Basic modules. They're
actually a lot easier to learn than it was learning to find my way around in
Excel.
My workbooks build up pretty quickly from templates and modules. One
workbook I'm working with has all of the end-of-day code from Street Smarts.
It's written with macros and Visual Basic and is very powerful. The code for
the reports is 6 pages of code but you just paste it in at the end of every
worksheet test. This was done privately, and I don't have permission to
release it.
Excel has annoyances, but using VBA you can program your way around almost
any annoyance. Lots of tips and support and addins and code are on the web
and in books. More than you could ever possibly use. It's a very well
supported program and the Redmond Rangers development group appear to be
very very bright guys with a huge installed base to work with.
As far as Excel97 being slow ... watching this puppy whiz through the
"Street Smart" workbook ... it sure doesn't look slow to me. I think that
I'm moving to a multiple computer set up with net connectors. Some
reasonable used machines are coming on the market now below $400CDN ... so
"slow" is a relative problem for me.
The "web queries" dialog in Excel97 at "Data --> Get External Data --> Run
Web Query" is pretty easy to work with either on your own or with the addins
that I've posted. I personally prefer Habermann's idea of embedding the web
query into each worksheet especially for futures contract work. Maybe if
Perl and QuoteMonster work out that might be better. Perl is very
well-respected in the UNIX community.
If traders want to do explorations on a large universe of tradeables then
use MS. If I want to do 500 "explorations" or "system tests" on a few
tradeables then Excel is my ticket. My interest in spreads, days-in-trade,
proven correct, MAE and MFE, bar patterns, etc. are all easier for me in
Excel.
I was scared ****less when I started down this path. It isn't so bad now.
I'm working with some good guys who no longer post on the bulletin board.
Other traders are coming out of the woodwork.
There needs to be a lot of trust involved in working with Excel users
because of the macro virus dangers when interchanging workbooks, for
example, I won't send or receive workbooks from anyone that I don't know and
trust to be careful. So that's another issue that needs to be talked about.
... will write later.
Best regards
Walter
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