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FFcal - Plot News indicator

  • #361
  • Sep 2, 2008 4:38pm Sep 2, 2008 4:38pm
While I'm thinking of it, I'd like to comment on previous requests to incorporate this tool into EA's to trade the news.

David made the excellent point that you can't really use this tool to get up-to-the-second news results. The ForexFactory server, from which this tool gets the news information, would be overloaded by constant automatic requests for real-time updates. It's not architected for that purpose and it simply won't work.


However..., David's tool could definitely be put to use by an EA which seeks to be AWARE of upcoming news events, and make decisions accordingly. One could either close trades before the event; or refuse to open trades within X minutes of upcoming important news events; or manage a trade by opening up stop-losses (or tightening them??) before news events. I'm not making specific suggestions, nor have I even attempted to write such a thing... I'm just saying it would be possible as it is presently architected.

Pips4life (Kent)
  • #362
  • Sep 3, 2008 7:03am Sep 3, 2008 7:03am
Hi David and Kent,
After all, we all know that still we can do something with the ultimate FFCal.
Thanking you all so much.
I have a question, how can we link it to an EA to do trading or as a reminder as an alert?
John HP HollowPoint Trader Manual Trading At It's Best
  • #363
  • Sep 3, 2008 9:29am Sep 3, 2008 9:29am
Hi David,

At the end, we have someone helped us with his excellence.

Good job Kent,

Thanks and let me try it...
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #364
  • Sep 3, 2008 1:28pm Sep 3, 2008 1:28pm
Great Stuff Hanover !!!
But Is It Possible To Create Alternative Optics ...

For example i tried following News Indicator from http://codebase.mql4.com/3744 !!! This Indicator looks great - but don`t works !!!

http://codebase.mql4.com/c/codebase/2008/06/wqs..gif

Honestly, I like the optic in this news indicator (with the newsticker on the left & and the vertical lines) much more than your´s with your number ... Don`?t understand me wrong i am using your indicator and think he`s really useful !!! No doubt ...

But i think that it could be much usefuller (for u, for me and perhaps for any user) with an another optic !?

My question is :
---------------
IS IT POSSIBLE TO CREATE A NEWSTICKER (WITH MUCH NEWS AS I WANT) ON THE LEFT & VERTICAL LINES (AS BILLIARD BALL NUMBERS), WHEN IT WILL BE HAPPEN, IN YOUR NEWS INDICATOR ALSO ???

i don`t know - but i think it wouldn`t be much worser ...

Best wishes hanover & stay on point for this NEWS INDICATOR !!!

Keyser Söze
  • #365
  • Edited 2:07pm Sep 3, 2008 1:31pm | Edited 2:07pm
Quoting hollowpoint
Hi David and Kent,
After all, we all know that still we can do something with the ultimate FFCal.
Thanking you all so much.
I have a question, how can we link it to an EA to do trading or as a reminder as an alert?
While I said FFcal could be added to an EA to make it aware of upcoming news, I haven't written any EA's. However, the clue as to how to do it would be from reviewing Alert_News.mq4, which David provides in the zip file. Every tick, the program does:

if (eTime[i] >= TimeCurrent() && (eTime [i] - TimeCurrent()) <= AlertMins * 60 && eAlerts[i] > 0 && StringSubstr(eText1[i],2,1) == ":") {
Alert("NEWS: " + eText1[i]);

In words, it means...
If the news event is in the future, AND...
if the future news event will occur less than the Alert-#-minutes from now, AND...
if the 3rd character of the alert Name is a ":" (which is just extra insurance that the object we have is in fact a properly formated News Alert)...
THEN issue an Alert.

An EA can do similar checking to see if an upcoming news alert is within some period of time. There are other tags a program could look at to know whether the news is of High/Med/Low priority, and whether it is from a Country you want your program to care about or not. (i.e. NZD events are not likely to be important to some other unrelated/uncorrelated pair).


Pips4life

P.S. Please IGNORE this attached file. It's just a copy of the usual zip file, but re-zipped with another program. I'm seeing if it has similar problems downloading with IE.

UPDATE: File removed.
  • #366
  • Edited Sep 4, 2008 2:18am Sep 3, 2008 4:11pm | Edited Sep 4, 2008 2:18am
Keyser:
I assume that you're aware that when you hover the mouse cursor over the top of a "billiard ball", the description/details are displayed?

Re additionally displaying the text as an on-screen comment, what you're asking is probably better suited to Pips4Life's version, since it is constantly updating, whereas my version simply plots the news when the indicator is first attached to the chart.

In the next version, I will create an option to display the text of the most recent "X" events, and the next "Y" events that are about to occur, where the user supplies values for X and Y. Leaving X and Y at zero (the default settings) will simply disable this feature. Hopefully that will keep everybody happy.

Meantime, here are three possible workarounds:

1. Keep FFcal.EXE's Event History database (press F9) open in a separate window, where it can be easily referred to (press Alt-Tab to quickly switch windows).

2. Use the Alert_News indicator to display recent news text.

3. Use Derk Wehler's indicator

[Edit] I have enhanced the indicator to print the news events as text. Please see post #377 below.

HollowPoint:
It's really not feasible to write a one-size-fits-all EA, since everybody will have a different news trading strategy (please see my comments back in post #362). There is no need to "link" Plot_News to a news-trading EA, simply run both tools simultaneously. There's no reason why a news trading EA couldn't use the News.CSV file output by FFcal.EXE as its source input.

Pips4Life:
Many thanks for your excellent contribution.
I will add it to a separate section of the ZIP file in post #1, with the next release. When I complete the add-on for Keyser, you may want to include it in your version also, which will probably be more useful, since it updates automatically with every bar.

David
  • #367
  • Edited Sep 4, 2008 2:20am Sep 3, 2008 5:06pm | Edited Sep 4, 2008 2:20am
Superseded by post #377 below.

David
  • #368
  • Edited Sep 4, 2008 6:10pm Sep 3, 2008 9:20pm | Edited Sep 4, 2008 6:10pm
Version 1.31b allows Plot_News to print News Events as text instead of, or in addition to, the numbered symbols, on your MT4 charts.

The text that's being displayed should be self-explanatory.
The number inside the square brackets is the number of minutes until the relevant News Event occurs. If there is no number, it's a past Event.
The colors match the numbered circles, and denote the (FF-expected) impact of the Event.
Note: User-defined News Events (swap times, etc) are not printed as text.

The new parameters are:

-- RefreshEveryTick: if true, the indicator (both numbered symbols and news text display) will autoamtically re-plot themselves every time a tick occurs. This means that the text will scroll automatically as a rolling window, with obsolete events dispapearing, and new ones being added to the bottom of the list. The 'number of minutes' will also countdown automatically.
During peak times, this may cause significant slowing with MT4, hence you may want to switch the setting to false. This means that the chart must be refreshed manually, by editing the indicator (Ctrl-I, P, Alt-E, Enter, Enter) in the 'traditional' fashion.
Notes:
1. You will still need to run FFcal.EXE whenever you wish to pick up new or changed data from the FF calendar. However, if RefreshEveryTick is set to true, then the chart will update itself automatically, the first tick it receives after FFcal.EXE has completed.
2. If RefreshEveryTick = true, an 'Access Denied' error may occur when running FFcal.EXE, because both applications are attempting to access the News.CSV file simultaneously. Either (i) set RefreshEveryTick to false, or (ii) run FFcal.EXE again, and hope that the process completes between ticks.

The remaining parameters relate solely to the text display:

-- DisplayPrior: enter the number of the most recent news events whose description you want printed, relative to the current time.

-- DisplayNext: enter the number of the most imminent news events whose description you want printed, relative to the current time.

-- Window: this allows you to have the text displayed in a lower window, so that it doesn't obscure your main price chart. Zero (the default value) is the main chart window, and lower windows are numbered 1, 2, 3, etc. You can create an 'empty' window by dragging any sub-window-based indicator (e.g. Average True Range) onto the main chart, and then setting its color to 'None', which makes it invisible, effectively creating a new, empty window.

-- xStart: the horizontal position in the window where you want the printing to start. Zero is as far left that's permitted; the higher the number, the further across to the right.

-- yStart: the vertical position in the window where you want the printing to start. Zero is as Near to the top that's permitted; the higher the number, the further downward.

I've been forced to use "Courier New" font, to achieve proportional spacing, and font size 9, so that the various text labels align themselves correctly. Hence the font, size and colors can not be changed.

-- If you want only the text, without the numbered symbols, set all of the Plot_High, Plot_Medium and Plot_Low indicators to false.
-- If you want only the numbered symbols, but not the text display, set both the DisplayPrior and DisplayNext parameters to 0.


To install, copy the attached MQ4 file into your ...\experts\indicators folder, and restart MT4.
Or simply perform the full installation as instructed in post #1 of this thread.

Disclaimer: This software is offered, free of charge, on an "as is" basis, with no guarantee of correct operation, or support. My PC config allows testing on Win-98 and Win-XP Pro only. While I have firewalls and anti-virus operating on my PCs, by downloading and running the software, you agree to do so AT YOUR OWN RISK. I accept NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER for any losses or damage.

Please feel welcome to post comments and queries in this thread.

David
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: plot_news2.gif Size: 35 KB
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Plot_News.mq4   15 KB | 743 downloads
  • #369
  • Sep 3, 2008 11:47pm Sep 3, 2008 11:47pm
Thanks for all your work on this. Much appreciated.
  • #370
  • Edited 12:56pm Sep 4, 2008 12:54pm | Edited 12:56pm
Quoting hanover
Version 1.31b allows Plot_News to print News Events as text instead of, or in addition to, the numbered symbols, on your MT4 charts.
Great Stuff DAVID !!!
Not Far Away From The Buddhaship

Dear David,
I am don`t wanna playing the Crybaby right here right now !!! Furthermore I will use your indicator !!! No doubt ...

But for me it would be much more easier with vertical lines like i am drawing in the attemp chart right here right now for example ...

I am not a programmer ...
But i think you only have to overwrite the "billiard ball" with the "vertical lines" !!! And if you would write the Infos @ the vertical lines (perhaps on the left side the name of the Indicator with the actuallity & forecast - and on the right side all previous you/we have from the forexfactory calendar) i think we would have much more value and information and open trading capabilities as without !!!

I am realizing that this is a fastidiously idea and wish !!! But i think that this apple would have great taste (perhaps for every another FF News Trader also)

Thanks again for the Plot_News to print News Events as text and thanks ahead for trying to realize my wishes !!!

Best regards & better trades :
Keyser Söze
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: FF-News-00.jpg Size: 52 KB
  • #371
  • Edited 6:15pm Sep 4, 2008 5:44pm | Edited 6:15pm
Quoting Keyser Söze
But i think you only have to overwrite the "billiard ball" with the "vertical lines" !!! And if you would write the Infos @ the vertical lines (perhaps on the left side the name of the Indicator with the actuallity & forecast - and on the right side all previous you/we have from the forexfactory calendar) i think we would have much more value and information and open trading capabilities as without !!!
Keyser, the vertical lines could be added as an option. However, they will hide the upper and lower wicks of the candles (even if you set Chart Foreground on, the wicks are still difficult to see).

The text alongside creates an additional problem. It will occupy lots of screen space. When there are several news events occurring at (or near) a given time, the various texts will overwrite each other, making them unreadable. They will also potentially obscure price, and any other indicators on the chart.

I think that they way it currently works is very good. The "billiard balls" sit directly over/under the relevant price candles. You can turn on the crosshairs (press Ctrl-F, or click the mouse wheel) to provide a temporary vertical line, and hover the mouse cursor near the top of a "billiard ball" to see all of the informational text, if you wish. Also, it is fairly easy to match the ball color/number with the same color/number alongside the displayed text.

This indicator was created for my own use. It is offered to the community free of charge, on a "take it or leave it" basis, with no obligation on my part to fix or enhance it. You are most welcome to use it, if you wish.

David
  • #372
  • Sep 4, 2008 6:55pm Sep 4, 2008 6:55pm
Just a quick note to say your contribution is much appreciated!!!
  • #373
  • Sep 4, 2008 8:02pm Sep 4, 2008 8:02pm
Well done!

But still above the top of the sky has another sky with another top.
Lately, I've found such amazing indicator created by in10tion as http://www.forex-tsd.com/blogs/in10t...ws-reader.html which is I thought the best ever made news reader.

The main question is whether this indicator is a memory-hungry one on our system or not.

Hope that it will not stop us to create and develop our FFCal.

Thanking you all!
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #374
  • Edited 3:58am Sep 5, 2008 2:29am | Edited 3:58am
MerlinBrasil and Entropy, thanks for the feedback.


Quoting jokokendil
Well done!

But still above the top of the sky has another sky with another top.
Lately, I've found such amazing indicator created by in10tion as http://www.forex-tsd.com/blogs/in10t...ws-reader.html which is I thought the best ever made news reader.

The main question is whether this indicator is a memory-hungry one on our system or not.

Hope that it will not stop us to create and develop our FFCal.

Thanking you all!
Joko,

Yes, the programmer at TSD has obviously spent a massive amount of time developing his indicator. It not only displays news, but also international time clocks, spread & swap data, currency pair correlations and relative strengths, and a 'traffic light' bullish/bearish summary in each timeframe, all in a very elegant 'dashboard' presentation. What also impresses me is how he's managed to grab news from the Ff calendar from within an MQ4-based DLL.

Nonetheless, I prefer my own creation simply because it does what I want it to do, i.e. plot news directly under the candle where it occurred, so that I can quickly and visually examine its effect on price. Horses for courses. LOL.

David
  • #375
  • Sep 5, 2008 3:35am Sep 5, 2008 3:35am
Hi David,

Yes, you're right, from the other side, according to programming skill and creativity is okay.

But for ease of use, is another story.

I, as well as your opinion, currently still I prefer to use your one. It straight at the time the news occur, so we can easily manage our strategy. Furthermore, the system memory is also lighter, and it would not has bad impact to our trading activity.

Thanks again, I'm still very happy with what we have now here...
Have a nice day and have a weekend bonus today from our NFP...

Anyway, do you have any idea which way to go for USD?
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #376
  • Sep 5, 2008 4:00am Sep 5, 2008 4:00am
Quoting jokokendil
......
Anyway, do you have any idea which way to go for USD?
Joko, I am a programmer, not a professional trader. LOL.

Thanks for your comments.

David
  • #377
  • Sep 5, 2008 3:05pm Sep 5, 2008 3:05pm
Quoting hanover
Pips4Life:
Many thanks for your excellent contribution.
I will add it to a separate section of the ZIP file in post #1, with the next release. When I complete the add-on for Keyser, you may want to include it in your version also, which will probably be more useful, since it updates automatically with every bar.

David

Hi David,

I decided to redo my changes to your most recent version, but as my own was sufficient for my needs, there wasn't much motivation to re-write it. However, in hopes that you will take the combined version forward with any new changes, here it is.

Changes (of course you're free to reject any):
I changed your every-tick option to every-bar. There is no need to waste CPU every tick with this indicator, but every bar is sufficient.
I added a delete_old_arrows function run by init(). Maybe it never crashes for you but mine does on occasion and it leaves old duplicates... so I delete them by simple pattern recognition.
The weekly reminder is included.
Added my Disclaimer text.
Fixed a minor bug where 'ObjectDelete("")' occurred which caused an error msg.
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 P4L Plot_News.mq4   20 KB | 568 downloads
  • #378
  • Sep 5, 2008 4:22pm Sep 5, 2008 4:22pm
Quoting pips4life
Hi David,

I decided to redo my changes to your most recent version, but as my own was sufficient for my needs, there wasn't much motivation to re-write it. However, in hopes that you will take the combined version forward with any new changes, here it is.

Changes (of course you're free to reject any):

I changed your every-tick option to every-bar. There is no need to waste CPU every tick with this indicator, but every bar is sufficient.
I agree, and this also reduces the likelihood of obtaining an "Access Denied" error in FFcal.EXE when both apps are competing simultanoeusly for access to News.CSV (this was one of my reasons for not having an auto-refresh at all, in the original version). In addition to including Keyser's wish, I decided that a countdown timer would be a nice add-on. To have this update every minute, one would be compelled to use M1 bars (as you do). Anyway, that's given me an idea for a better solution: simply refresh every time the minutes (or higher) component of TimeCurrent() has changed from its previous value.

I added a delete_old_arrows function run by init(). Maybe it never crashes for you but mine does on occasion and it leaves old duplicates... so I delete them by simple pattern recognition.
Mine has never crashed, but I agree that this is definitely a worthwhile addition.

The weekly reminder is included.
I will include this also, especially as it can be turned on/off as desired.

Added my Disclaimer text.
It's much more comprehensive than mine.

Fixed a minor bug where 'ObjectDelete("")' occurred which caused an error msg.
I would like to include this also. The deletion loop attempts to delete objects with every possible value of 'i', many of which might not exist. Since it didn't crash on me, I took the lazy option of simply deleting without first checking that an object of that name exists.
Hi Kent,

Many thanks once again for your efforts.

My responses to your points above in blue typeface.

With your permission, I will combine your enhancements into a single 'official' version. I apologize if I was being hasty previously; I just wanted to set a general rule to prevent my getting bogged down with unnecessary work; a 'dangerous' precedent should every individual suddenly decide that they want their own customized version. Since there may be additional changes going forward, it makes sense to maintain a single version.

David
  • #379
  • Sep 5, 2008 7:33pm Sep 5, 2008 7:33pm
Quoting hanover
Hi Kent,

Many thanks once again for your efforts.

My responses to your points above in blue typeface.

With your permission, I will combine your enhancements into a single 'official' version. I apologize if I was being hasty previously; I just wanted to set a general rule to prevent my getting bogged down with unnecessary work; a 'dangerous' precedent should every individual suddenly decide that they want their own customized version. Since there may be additional changes going forward, it makes sense to maintain a single version.

David
Hi David,

You have my permission to take my version, rename it, change it as you like, etc. I don't know that a bunch more enhancements will be requested or even needed at this point, but it does make sense to have one official version if at all possible.

Pips4life
  • #380
  • Sep 5, 2008 8:31pm Sep 5, 2008 8:31pm
I've tried several times, only billiard balls shown up, but the list on the right side as mentioned on your picture is not appearing.
May you have any suggestion please?
Thanks,
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
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