Unable to use variable across time frames

• 07/24/2018 at 12:08 PM #76600
  Vonasi

  I’m trying to get a strategy to decide on weekly candles to close a position but then not actually close it until the market opens the following Monday but I get this error:

  

  This is the code:

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) if onmarket and (exit conditions) then sellflag = 1 endif timeframe(default) if sellflag = 1 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market sellflag = 0 endif

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) if onmarket and (exit conditions) then sellflag = 1 endif   timeframe(default) if sellflag = 1 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market sellflag = 0 endif

  It seems a bit odd to not be able to set a variable in one time frame and then use it in another. At the moment I cannot find a solution which makes the MTF rather limited for improved exit times. Maybe I am missing something obvious – any ideas?

  

  Vonasi

  Moderator

  Topics: 192

  Replies: 5088

  Been thanked: 1811 times
  07/24/2018 at 12:27 PM #76604
  robertogozzi

  Line 7 is fine since you are simply using it, while line 9 ASSIGNs a value to a variable first used in a different TF, which is not allowed!

  

  robertogozzi

  Moderator

  Topics: 69

  Replies: 16517

  Been thanked: 3663 times
  07/24/2018 at 12:33 PM #76606
  Vonasi

  I think I found the solution:

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) c5 = (my exit conditions) timeframe(default) if c5 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market endif

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) c5 = (my exit conditions)   timeframe(default) if c5 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market endif

  So a condition can be used across time frames but a variable cannot be altered across timeframes.

  

  Vonasi

  Moderator

  Topics: 192

  Replies: 5088

  Been thanked: 1811 times
  07/24/2018 at 12:50 PM #76608
  Vonasi

   

  I wanted to set the variable to 1 in one time frame and then use it to make a decision and then turn it off in another timeframe which is apparently not allowed. Setting a condition apparently is so I will just have to start thinking in a different way about how I code as I tend to like using ‘flags’ on or off. I guess another alternative is that I could have turned it off with:

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) if not onmarket then sellflag = 0 endif if onmarket and (exit conditions) then sellflag = 1 endif timeframe(default) if sellflag = 1 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market endif

  1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

  timeframe(weekly,updateonclose) if not onmarket then sellflag = 0 endif   if onmarket and (exit conditions) then sellflag = 1 endif timeframe(default) if sellflag = 1 and time = 143000 and dayofweek = 1 then sell at market endif

  Same result but more code!

  

  Vonasi

  Moderator

  Topics: 192

  Replies: 5088

  Been thanked: 1811 times
  07/25/2018 at 10:23 AM #76685
  robertogozzi

  Actually you should not need to bother about setting a flag in a lower TF.

  You’d better set a flag from within the LOWER TF when conditions in the HIGHER TF are met, since when, say, a new day start, also a new hour or minute or 4-hour TF starts!

  That’s why, I guess, they require TFs to be multiple of the lowest one!

  So if you want to set a flag in a hourly TF, just set/clear it on a 1-minute (or 5-minute, whatever) TF and you’ll be able to read it elsewhere, be it daily, weekly….

  

  robertogozzi

  Moderator

  Topics: 69

  Replies: 16517

  Been thanked: 3663 times
  07/25/2018 at 10:30 AM #76686
  Vonasi

  I fear my brain will need a little re-training. 🙂

  

  Vonasi

  Moderator

  Topics: 192

  Replies: 5088

  Been thanked: 1811 times
• Author
  Posts