Plot functions

plot (string Name, var Value, int Type, int Color)

plot (string Name, vars Data, int Type, int Color)

plotBar (string Name, int Pos, var Label, var Value, int Type, int Color)

plotGraph (string Name, var X, var Y, int Type, int Color)

plotText (string Name, var X, var Y, string Text, int Style, int Color)

plotData (string Name): DATA*

plotChart (string FileName)

Parameters:

Remarks:

• In [Test] mode the chart viewer either appears automatically after the test, or at pressing [Result], dependent on PLOTNOW. In [Trade] mode a chart is plotted every day or in shorter intervals, dependent on PlotPeriod. In [Train] mode no charts are plotted; instead parameter histograms are displayed in a browser that show the objective value and the number of winning and losing trades for each parameter. Histograms and charts can not be plotted at the same time; plotBar overrides plot.
• The vertical axis of charts and histograms is automatically scaled so that all elements are visible. This causes 'flat lines' when elements are too far apart or at wrong positions, for instance a plot at position 0 on a chart with a 1.1 - 1.2 price range. Elements by plotGraph can affect the scale even when they are outside the visible chart section.
• Zorro charts are very informative, but not particularly pretty. For better looking charts, set LOGFILE. The data from the histogram or chart is then stored in a *_plot.csv file in the Log folder that can be further evaluated and made into a more colorful chart with Excel™ or other spreadsheet programs.
• When extra charts are opened with NEW, the order of plot calls determines in which chart the curves are plotted. The order is determined by the first plot call in or after the FIRSTRUN. Subsequent calls can then be in arbitrary order. When plot order matters and plots depend on if(...) conditions, enforce the right order in the first run f.i. with if(is(FIRSTRUN)).  Candles and bands are only plotted in the main chart.
• If plot is called several times with the same Name in the same run cycle, only the last data value is plotted. If a plot command is not called during a bar, the plotted curve will have gaps at the skipped bars. This can be used for plotting dotted lines.
• Every plot on a chart must have the same Type and Color. For plotting a curve in different colors, use alternating curves with the same value and different Name. In a histogram, any graph or symbol can have an individual color.
• plotGraph and plotText limit to the number of elements (lines, symbols, texts) per plot to the number of bars on the chart. Exceeding the limit causes an Error 038 message. For adding more elements to the chart, use another plotGraph with a different Name.
• Any plot command is normally linked to the current asset. When multiple assets are traded, only prices, trades, and curves linked to the asset selected with the [Asset] scrollbox are plotted; curves linked to other assets are only plotted when PlotMode got set to PL_ALL. For plotting parameters of different assets together, store them in different variables and then plot all together without calling asset() inbetween. For instance, inside an asset loop you can store them in a var array with one element per asset, then plot all elements of the array after the asset loop. The curves are then visible on the chart when you select the last asset of the loop and click [Result].
• For removing chart elements such as price candles or equity curves, set their Color to 0.
• Use the color function for setting color ranges in multicolor histograms. An example can be found in profile.c for the heatmap plotting.
• Use plotData for exporting plots to data files and displaying them with other charting software. The equity curve can be exported to a CSV file.
• Example for plotting a symbol only at every second bar: if(Bar%1) plot(...);.
• For adjusting scale, colors, symbol sizes, x axis labels etc, set up the corresponding plot variable.
• Special histograms, such as trade profiles, MAE graphs, seasonal profiles, correlograms or heatmaps can be plotted with the functions from the profile library.
• Curves can be plotted even without a run function - f.i. for HFT simulation - when the bars are increased by priceQuote. Make sure that the plot function is then called at every bar for avoiding gaps in the curve.

Examples (see also profile.c):

// Compare price distribution (red) with random distribution (blue)
function run()
{
  vars Price = series(price(0));
  int num = NumRiseFall(Price,20);
  plotBar("Price",2*num,num,1,SUM|BARS,RED);	

  vars Random = series(0);
  Random[0] = Random[1] + random();
  num = NumRiseFall(Random,20);
  plotBar("Random",2*num+1,0,1,SUM|BARS,BLUE);	
}

// plotGraph test
function run()
{
  set(PLOTNOW);
// plot green dots above the price at every 20th bar
  if(Bar%20 == 0)
    plot("Dotted",1.01*price(),DOT,GREEN);
 
  if(Bar == 500) {
// plot a single blue rectangle in the price chart 
    plotGraph("Rectangle",0,0.99*price(),LINE,BLUE);     // start point
    plotGraph("Rectangle",-500,0.99*price(),LINE,BLUE);  // 1st corner
    plotGraph("Rectangle",-500,1.01*price(),LINE,BLUE);  // 2nd corner
    plotGraph("Rectangle",0,1.01*price(),LINE,BLUE);     // 3rd corner
    plotGraph("Rectangle",0,0.99*price(),LINE|END,BLUE); // 4th corner and end point
 
// plot a single red dot
    plotGraph("Single Dot",-250,price(),DOT,RED);
  } 
}

// Plotting a histogram bar
void plotHistogram(string Name,var Value,var Step,int Color)
{
  var Bin = floor(Value/Step);
  plotBar(Name,Bucket,Step*Bin,1,SUM+BARS+LBL2,Color);
}

// Plotting a chart title
if(Init) plotText("Title",60,25,"My Chart",32+64+128+7,BLACK);

See also: