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Your explanation, Super, is great. Big Papa, the latch function is
well worth the time investment needed to understand it. It has
allowed me to clean up my indicators and do things I could only do in
TradeStation before.
And the other functions in the Forum.dll are just icing on the cake.
From: superfragalist <no_reply@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wednesday, January 7, 2009, 12:21:23 PM
Subject: [EquisMetaStock Group] Re: Expert Advisor Signals Run Amok
Just use the formula I put into the discussion.
{Buy Expert For Example}
buy:=C>Mov(C,50,E);
exit:=C<Mov(C,50,E);
set:=buy;
reset:=exit;
Init:= Cum(set+ Reset>-1)=1;
Trade:= BarsSince(Init OR Set)<BarsSince(Init OR Reset);
Trade AND Alert(Trade=0,2);
{Exit Expert For Example}
buy:=C>Mov(C,50,E);
exit:=C<Mov(C,50,E);
set:=exit;
reset:=buy;
Init:= Cum(set+ Reset>-1)=1;
Trade:= BarsSince(Init OR Set)<BarsSince(Init OR Reset);
Trade AND Alert(Trade=0,2);
Without the latch, this buy formula would put experts all over your
chart. With the latch code it now generates only one buy signal and
one exit signal. You need a separate buy and exit expert.
I don't use the latch DLL so someone else will have to comment on
that. It needs to be in the external function dlls folder before you
can call it up. Then you'll need to the put the buy, exit in the right
position with zero's in the others.
Here's what mine looks like when I look it up in the functions section
of the indicator builder. ]
ExtFml( "Forum.Latch", LE, LX, SE, SX)
So the code is:
(Buy Expert Example}
buy:=C>Mov(C,50,E);
exit:=C<Mov(C,50,E);
z:=ExtFml( "Forum.Latch", buy,exit,0, 0);
z=1 AND Ref(z,-1)<>1
{Sell Expert Example}
buy:=C>Mov(C,50,E);
exit:=C<Mov(C,50,E);
z:=ExtFml( "Forum.Latch", buy, exit,0, 0);
z=0 AND Ref(z,-1)=1
Maybe Roy will explain it if he's not too upset with the way I
butchered his explanation of latches.
Super
--- In equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Big Papa" <denver69692002@xxx>
wrote:
> Super,
>
> A sincere thank you for the guidance. I downloaded the DLL from
> Equis, but when I select it is says ExtFml( "Latch.Latch", , , , ).
> I suspect I haven't found the right one yet, I'll keep looking. I
> appreciate the point in the direction. I was able to do the Trends
> entry like you suggested for now, while I work the other issue out.
>
> I've had MetaStock now 1 year and am very much the newbie you make
> me out to be. I played with it until about May before I made my
> first trade. So far on an account of $30k, I'm up 15% or so. Capital
> preservation techniques, again learned through reading and studying,
> have probably saved me more over the past 2 quarters than anything.
> I've tried to research, read my manual (it fell into two pieces the
> other day, because of use), search the internet, read books, and
> try, try, try to language first.
>
> So far, I've found this the most valuable resource.
> I do see two types of folks posting here.
> 1. Please give me a formula to make me rich.
> 2. Please give me some guidance so that I may learn.
>
> I'd like to believe that in my postings, I fall under Group #2.
> I've also noted the response styles of yourself, Preston, Steve, and
> Roy. Much is pointed out in ways to find the right answer, without
> actually giving it. Something about teaching a man to fish versus
> just feeding him.
>
> I'm also fascinated by how one question can lead to a discussion
> such as the Raw RSI the other day. I've duplicated the RSIr now in
> one of my indicators. For being so new, I haven't quite figured out
> how to apply it, but working on it.
> I've also recreated what Steve was doing with the StochRSI entry and
> a SEB exit on a few stocks. Fascinating.
>
> Here is a formula:
>
> C> Mov(C,200,e)
> And
> Sum(Security("E:\Metastock Data\Indices & Indicators\US & Canadian
> Indices\.VIX",(RSI(2))),2)>90
> And
> Open>Ref(Security("E:\Metastock Data\Indices & Indicators\US &
> Canadian Indices\.VIX",c),-1)
> And
> Sum(RSI(2),2)<30
>
> I pulled this one from a narrative in a book I've read recently.
> Moving average above 200. 2 Period RSI of VIX>90. Today's VIX
> open>Yesterday's VIX Close. 2 Period RSI<30. I jumped around in joy
> when I finally got the Security reference in. Woohoo!
> But, I can't seem to get it the formula to work. Wrong comma in the
> wrong spot? Maybe. I do appreciate bringing these things forward to
> the group for a review and comment.
>
> Thanks again. I'll keep working on things, and reading these posts.
>
> Big
>
>
>
> --- In equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, superfragalist <no_reply@>
> wrote:
> > Latches and MS function language really don't have anything to do
> with
> > intelligence per se. It's a matter of practice and understanding of
> > what each of the MS functions do and the values they return.
> >
> > First from Roy, "A `latch' is a device that stores and holds, or
> > remembers, a particular event or condition. A `binary latch' can be
> > set to one of two values (normally zero and one but not necessarily
> > so), while a `price latch' can be set to virtually any value one
> could
> > think of. Each type has both advantages and disadvantages that
> will be
> > mentioned as appropriate."
> >
> > This is key. Right now on your chart you see multiple buy signals.
> > Your expert is recognizing every buy event that is true, not just
> the
> > first one. So it is not storing the condition when it first
> occurs.
> >
> > So you need to look at example 2. First you want to set the memory
> of
> > the first buy signal. That's the set signal part of the code. The
> set
> > signal is the buy formula. The reset is when the buy condition no
> > longer exists. In other words you have a sell condition. There can
> be
> > many buy signals that occur between the first one and when a sell
> > signal is encountered. Once a sell signal shows up. It's game over.
> > The next buy signal after a sell signal is the first one in a new
> > sequence of buy signals.
> >
> > Once the first buy signal is hit, then you want the buy condition
> to
> > stay true until a sell signal resets it. So each bar that the buy
> > signal is still true on prevents MS from treating it as a "new" buy
> > signal.
> >
> > set:=buysignal;
> > reset:=sellsignal;
> > Init:= Cum(set+ Reset>-1)=1;
> > Trade:= BarsSince(Init OR Set)<BarsSince(Init OR Reset);
> > Trade AND Alert(Trade=0,2);
> >
> > Init means the set and reset signals are valid. It solves a problem
> > with the BarsSince function returning an invalid response.
> Essentially
> > the cum value is going to be =1 if a legitimate buy signal and sell
> > signal has occurred in the past.
> >
> > How would you know that BarsSince can return a not valid signal?
> > Intelligence! No, only experience with MS coding will tell you
> that.
> > You get a few N/A screwing up your code, then you'll look for a
> > solution and eventually you'll either quit out of frustration or
> > you'll come up with some logic to get around the problem. Every
> coding
> > language has problems.
> >
> > Next Trade says that if the bars since the first buy signal is less
> > than the bars since a sell signal, then the sell condition remains
> > true and is set to 1. The last line Trade and Alert means a buy
> signal
> > must exist and it didn't exist on previous bars. In other words
> both
> > conditions must be true to hold the expert in a buy state.
> >
> > Write your expert with this last bit of code in it. Code the buy
> > conditions, usually buy:= whatever and sell:= whatever .
> >
> > Then set:=buy;
> > reset:=sell;
> > etc.
> >
> > That will be your entry expert. Your exit expert is set up the same
> > way except the exit or sell condition goes in the set and the buy
> > condition goes in the reset for the exit expert.
> >
> > This one one kind of latch, or condition state code. Some types of
> buy
> > signals require a different kind of condition state code. In
> addition
> > there are other types of code which can hold a state condition as
> > positive.
> >
> > In addition on the MS forum there is a latch code dll that you can
> > download.
> >
> > Here's the syntax for the latch in the Forum dll. The four
> parameters
> > are Long Entry, Long Exit, Short Entry and Short Exit. I suggest
> you
> > only use the first two and leave the "short" parameters at zero.
> The
> > Forum.dll file is around 188-189KB. Pay attention to the size of
> the
> > file to make sure you have the current version.
> >
> > ExtFml( "Forum.Latch", , , , )
> >
> > I think the forum latch code should be built into the formula
> language
> > and put in the manual. But so far it isn't. Unfortunately BP, if
> you
> > want to use custom code in your experts, then you have no choice
> but
> > to learn the basics.
> >
> > I have learned to write code that is sloppy and less than elegant,
> but
> > it works. I don't worry too much about the MS function language
> > because as I've said many times, making money trading never
> depends on
> > programming complex formulas, etc.
> >
> > You'll get a little help for awhile on some of the forums. But
> once a
> > newbie has had time to learn things for themselves, the help will
> dry up.
> >
> > Only a dozen or so people supply coding help on all of the forums
> so
> > they remember who they've helped and how often. Unfortunately some
> of
> > the newbie's think the people on the forums are saps and will code
> > everything they want for them for free and forever. They don't
> want to
> > do the homework and take the tests. They want someone else to do it
> > for them, but they want the grade and the degree.
> >
> > So you and I have little choice but to struggle through this
> > ourselves, and I can tell you I hate spending time coding MS. I
> have a
> > large code library that I have collected over the years and
> basically
> > I can piece most things together by looking at other formulas and
> > doing some trial and error.
> >
> > I use very little code in my buy and sell formulas. They're pretty
> > simple. Most of the code gets used in my analysis screens, but in
> the
> > long run I think I would do just as well if I didn't use them. They
> > give me some comfort emotionally and intellectually.
> >
> > They are a lot of newbies who make breathless posts wanting code
> for
> > some magic formula they got from a guru of sorts. They often think
> > that if they just had that code they would make money. Here's the
> > bottom line. Equis can code anything. If there were formula's that
> > they could put into MS that would help traders, especially new
> > traders, make money, they would bust their butts to get those
> formulas
> > into MS because sales would take off like a rocket. Instead they
> > supply vague notions of systems that often can't be tested and that
> > work well only when the market is in a strong trend. Why might
> that be?
> >
> > I hope this bit of latch code gets you where you want to be with
> your
> > experts. All those signals are frustrating. I remember that time
> well.
> >
> > If you don't get it to work out, you can put your buy and sell code
> > into the highlight tab in the expert. Color code the buy and sell
> > conditions with a different color and as long as you have a buy
> > condition your bars (or whatever) will remain that color. It's the
> > same as getting one buy and one sell signal.
> >
> > Super
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Big Papa" <denver69692002@>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Well, I thought I was a bit intelligent until I tried to read,
> re-
> > > read and decipher the Latch article.
> > >
> > > My hats off to Mr. Larsen for his intelligence. I've also looked
> on
> > > Equis under latches and Googled Metastock Latches which gives me
> > > several more various articles from Larsen.
> > >
> > > Still struggling. I'd appreciate a guiding hand to push me a bit.
> > >
> > > First, are the latches their own seperate indicator or are they
> > > built into the buy and sell alerts on the expert advisor?
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --- In equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, superfragalist
> <no_reply@>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Look in the files section and download the Using Latches
> article.
> > > That
> > > > will explain how to stomp out those unwanted buy signals all
> over
> > > your
> > > > chart.
> > > >
> > > > Super
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --- In equismetastock@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Big Papa"
> <denver69692002@>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > I am having issues with my expert advisor.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have taken an indicator and dumped it into the expert
> advisor.
> > > > > Such as sell when C>HHV(C,7).
> > > > > It shows a sell sign at the right time, but then shows
> another
> > > sell
> > > > > sign each time that condition is true, regardless if a buy
> sign
> > > has
> > > > > generated or not.
> > > > > So now, my charts look like 20 sell signs right in a row. My
> > > charts
> > > > > look like a neighborhood in foreclosure!! I could probably
> deal
> > > with
> > > > > it, but looks terrible.
> > > > >
> > > > > Do I have to use the Write If function in the expert advisor
> to
> > > only
> > > > > have it show up once? It seems like I would need some logic
> to
> > > say If
> > > > > condition X, then sell, but then only show again if
> condition W
> > > (buy)
> > > > > is generated.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks.
------------------------------------
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