Trying to code a screener but has error

• 10/12/2025 at 9:25 PM #252514
  steff_bcn

  Hello!
  I’m just learning about everything trading and trying out strategies. I tried to build a screener with help of Chat Gpt but it seems not to know the right syntax.
  There is a problem with this line:
  macdLine=emaF-emaS

  Is it something easy to fix?
  Would appreciate your help.

  Thank you!

  ** Entire proposed code **

  Strategy

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 natrP=14 natrThresh=8 minGain=5 maxGain=20 volRatio=1.3 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 maxWidthPct=40 ma20=Average[maP](close) atr=Average[natrP](TrueRange) natr=(atr/close)*100 emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) macdLine=emaF-emaS macdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](macdLine) highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct AND natr<natrThresh high10=Highest[10](close) is10high=close>=high10 IF close[1]<>0 THEN pctMove=((close-close[1])/close[1])*100 ELSE pctMove=0 ENDIF pctOk=pctMove>=minGain AND pctMove<=maxGain volSpike=volume>volume[1]*volRatio priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=macdLine>macdSignal cHeight=high-low IF cHeight>0 THEN IF close>=open THEN uWick=high-close ELSE uWick=high-open ENDIF uWickPct=(uWick/cHeight)*100 ELSE uWickPct=100 ENDIF uWickOk=uWickPct<=50 resistance=highCons closedAboveRes=close>resistance scanBuy=priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND is10high AND pctOk AND volSpike AND uWickOk AND closedAboveRes SCREENER[scanBuy]

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  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 natrP=14 natrThresh=8 minGain=5 maxGain=20 volRatio=1.3 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 maxWidthPct=40   ma20=Average[maP](close) atr=Average[natrP](TrueRange) natr=(atr/close)*100   emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) macdLine=emaF-emaS macdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](macdLine)   highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct AND natr<natrThresh   high10=Highest[10](close) is10high=close>=high10   IF close[1]<>0 THEN pctMove=((close-close[1])/close[1])*100 ELSE pctMove=0 ENDIF pctOk=pctMove>=minGain AND pctMove<=maxGain   volSpike=volume>volume[1]*volRatio priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=macdLine>macdSignal   cHeight=high-low IF cHeight>0 THEN IF close>=open THEN uWick=high-close ELSE uWick=high-open ENDIF uWickPct=(uWick/cHeight)*100 ELSE uWickPct=100 ENDIF uWickOk=uWickPct<=50   resistance=highCons closedAboveRes=close>resistance   scanBuy=priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND is10high AND pctOk AND volSpike AND uWickOk AND closedAboveRes   SCREENER[scanBuy]

  

  steff_bcn

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  10/13/2025 at 9:01 AM #252524
  Iván

  In ProBuilder, some words such as truerange or macdline are reserved identifiers or simply don’t exist with that exact name.
  That’s why you get syntax errors.
  There’s also a small conceptual mistake: the closing price (close) can never be strictly greater than the highest closing price of the last N periods — it can only be greater or equal.

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 natrP=14 natrThresh=8 minGain=5 maxGain=20 volRatio=1.3 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 maxWidthPct=40 ma20=Average[maP](close) atr=Average[natrP](tr)//(TrueRange) natr=(atr/close)*100 emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine) highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct AND natr<natrThresh high10=Highest[10](close) is10high=close>=high10 IF close[1]<>0 THEN pctMove=((close-close[1])/close[1])*100 ELSE pctMove=0 ENDIF pctOk=pctMove>=minGain AND pctMove<=maxGain volSpike=volume>volume[1]*volRatio priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=mymacdLine>mymacdSignal cHeight=high-low IF cHeight>0 THEN IF close>=open THEN uWick=high-close ELSE uWick=high-open ENDIF uWickPct=(uWick/cHeight)*100 ELSE uWickPct=100 ENDIF uWickOk=uWickPct<=50 resistance=highCons closedAboveRes=close>=resistance scanBuy=priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND is10high AND pctOk AND volSpike AND uWickOk AND closedAboveRes SCREENER[scanBuy]

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  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 natrP=14 natrThresh=8 minGain=5 maxGain=20 volRatio=1.3 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 maxWidthPct=40   ma20=Average[maP](close) atr=Average[natrP](tr)//(TrueRange) natr=(atr/close)*100   emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS   mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine)   highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close)   IF lowCons<>0 THEN    consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE    consWidth=0 ENDIF   isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct AND natr<natrThresh   high10=Highest[10](close) is10high=close>=high10   IF close[1]<>0 THEN    pctMove=((close-close[1])/close[1])*100 ELSE    pctMove=0 ENDIF   pctOk=pctMove>=minGain AND pctMove<=maxGain   volSpike=volume>volume[1]*volRatio priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=mymacdLine>mymacdSignal   cHeight=high-low IF cHeight>0 THEN    IF close>=open THEN       uWick=high-close    ELSE       uWick=high-open    ENDIF    uWickPct=(uWick/cHeight)*100 ELSE    uWickPct=100 ENDIF uWickOk=uWickPct<=50   resistance=highCons closedAboveRes=close>=resistance   scanBuy=priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND is10high AND pctOk AND volSpike AND uWickOk AND closedAboveRes   SCREENER[scanBuy]

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  steff_bcn

  

  Iván

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  10/13/2025 at 10:38 AM #252528
  steff_bcn

  Iván, thank you for your time, it works now!
  Unfortunately it shows no results. I wonder if I have to wait or there is some requirement too strict and I should change. I’ll have to play around with the criteria.
  If you have any thought on it, would be welcome.

  Again, thanks for the help!

  

  steff_bcn

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  10/13/2025 at 1:49 PM #252543
  JS

  Hi,

  It looks like you’re trying to use MultiTimeFrames (MTF), since I see terms like “minConsWeeks”…

  Should certain parts of your screener operate on a different timeframe…?

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  steff_bcn

  

  JS

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  10/13/2025 at 2:13 PM #252547
  steff_bcn

  Thanks JS.
  I don’t think I’m looking for MTF. The minConsWeeks would refer to looking for a 6 week consolidation period.
  This is be the criteria I’d like to screen for, but if it doesn’t work something can be taken out.

  • Price above 20-week moving average

  • 6+ weeks of consolidation before breakout

  • MACD bullish alignment: MACD line above the signal line

  • Breakout candle:

    Must close above resistance
    Body > 50% of the candle
    10-week high or higher
    Candle gain between +5% and +20% vs previous week’s close.
    Volume spike ≥ +30% vs previous week
    NATR < 8

  

  steff_bcn

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  10/13/2025 at 3:28 PM #252550
  JS

  Hi,

  I’ve checked all the conditions, and in principle, the issue isn’t with the conditions themselves…

  The problem is the number of conditions that have to be true at the same time — that combination almost never occurs…

  In the 100 weeks I checked, it didn’t happen even once…

  

  JS

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  10/13/2025 at 8:02 PM #252560
  steff_bcn

  I’ll check what I can loosen.
  Thanks a lot for the help!

  1 user thanked author for this post.

  JS

  

  steff_bcn

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  10/13/2025 at 8:25 PM #252561
  steff_bcn

  I tried to simplify and use the code Iván suggested, but get another Syntax error (mymacdsignal not used).
  Would you kindly have another look at it?

  2nd try

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 maxWidthPct=40 volRatio=1.25 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 ma20=Average[maP](close) emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine) highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=macdLine>macdSignal resistance=highCons wasBelowOrAtRes = close[1] <= resistance closedAboveRes = close > resistance breakoutCandle = wasBelowOrAtRes AND closedAboveRes volSpike = volume >= volume[1] * volRatio scanBuy = priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND breakoutCandle AND volSpike SCREENER[scanBuy]

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 maxWidthPct=40 volRatio=1.25 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9   ma20=Average[maP](close)   emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS   mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine)   highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct   priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=macdLine>macdSignal   resistance=highCons wasBelowOrAtRes = close[1] <= resistance closedAboveRes = close > resistance breakoutCandle = wasBelowOrAtRes AND closedAboveRes   volSpike = volume >= volume[1] * volRatio   scanBuy = priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND breakoutCandle AND volSpike   SCREENER[scanBuy]

  

  steff_bcn

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  10/13/2025 at 9:04 PM #252562
  JS

  Hi,

  I made a few adjustments to the code:

  highCons = Highest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) // using Close[1] instead of Close, so the current bar is excluded

  lowCons = Lowest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) // using Close[1] instead of Close, for consistency with highCons

  macdBull = mymacdLine > mymacdSignal // using mymacdLine instead of macdLine (reserved keyword) and mymacdSignal instead of macdSignal (reserved keyword)

  These changes ensure that the calculations don’t include the current bar in the range evaluation and that the MACD comparison uses your custom variables consistently…

  Second Try

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 maxWidthPct=40 volRatio=1.25 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9 ma20=Average[maP](close) emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine) highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=mymacdLine>mymacdSignal resistance=highCons wasBelowOrAtRes = close[1] <= resistance closedAboveRes = close > resistance breakoutCandle = wasBelowOrAtRes AND closedAboveRes volSpike = volume >= volume[1] * volRatio scanBuy = priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND breakoutCandle AND volSpike Screener[scanBuy]

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

  minConsWeeks=6 maP=20 maxWidthPct=40 volRatio=1.25 macdFast=12 macdSlow=26 macdSig=9   ma20=Average[maP](close)   emaF=ExponentialAverage[macdFast](close) emaS=ExponentialAverage[macdSlow](close) mymacdLine=emaF-emaS   mymacdSignal=ExponentialAverage[macdSig](mymacdLine)   highCons=Highest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) lowCons=Lowest[minConsWeeks](close[1]) IF lowCons<>0 THEN consWidth=((highCons-lowCons)/lowCons)*100 ELSE consWidth=0 ENDIF isCons=consWidth<=maxWidthPct   priceAboveMA=close>ma20 macdBull=mymacdLine>mymacdSignal   resistance=highCons wasBelowOrAtRes = close[1] <= resistance closedAboveRes = close > resistance breakoutCandle = wasBelowOrAtRes AND closedAboveRes   volSpike = volume >= volume[1] * volRatio   scanBuy = priceAboveMA AND isCons AND macdBull AND breakoutCandle AND volSpike   Screener[scanBuy]

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  steff_bcn

  

  JS

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  10/13/2025 at 9:17 PM #252564
  steff_bcn

  Works! Appreciate the help a lot!

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  JS

  

  steff_bcn

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