FFcal - Plot News indicator | Page 20 | Forex Factory

Options

Go to
Permalinks
Print Thread

Similar Threads

Request for working FFCal Expert Advisor indicator 21 replies

FFCAL Indicator 4 replies

New FFCAL Indicator 8 replies

Is there an economic indicator which is better than FFcal? 1 reply

Attachments: FFcal - Plot News indicator
Exit Attachments

FFcal - Plot News indicator

  • #381
  • Edited 4:53am Sep 6, 2008 4:26am | Edited 4:53am
Quoting jokokendil
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,
Hi Joko,

Please make sure that you have the latest version installed as described in post #377, and also the DisplayPrior and DisplayNext parameters set to the number of news items you wish to have printed (these are initally set to 0). Use the xStart and yStart parameters to set their screen location.

Post #377 should answer all of your questions. If you are still having problems, please post again.

David
  • #382
  • Edited 8:09am Sep 6, 2008 7:11am | Edited 8:09am
Quoting hanover
Hi Joko,

Please make sure that you have the latest version installed as described in post #377, and also the DisplayPrior and DisplayNext parameters set to the number of news items you wish to have printed (these are initally set to 0). Use the xStart and yStart parameters to set their screen location.

Post #377 should answer all of your questions. If you are still having problems, please post again.

David
Well David, I've tried and it works though only on corner 0 (left hand upper side of the chart screen), I couldn't see it when I set it into 1 till 3.
The settings are:
DisplayPrior = 2;
DisplayNext = 10;
Window = 0; (viewable, but not, when 1, 2, or 3)
xStart = 110; (to allow position ticket viewable)
yStart = 20;

Still observing it, and I wonder whether is it usable or not when we add vertical line accordingly.

Oh yeah, one more thing David, I've found messages in the experts tab of terminal window as:

"2008.09.06 20:04:10 Plot_News GBPUSDm,M15: object name passed to ObjectDelete function cannot be an uninitialized or empty string"

What is all about probably?

Many thanks David.
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #383
  • Edited 6:48pm Sep 6, 2008 3:15pm | Edited 6:48pm
Hi Joko,

I think you're confusing 'Window' and 'Corner'. There is no Corner option. I tried to implement it, but it was too difficult getting all of the labels to align correctly. Use xStart and yStart to position the text anywhere you wish in the main chart window (window 0). For example, I have a wide-screen monitor, and I drag the 'chart shift' arrow as far left as possible, so that the chart prices can be moved left, clearing the right area of the screen; then I set xStart = 600 and yStart = 0, which prints the text in the top right corner (see first screenshot below).

Setting 'Window' = 1,2,3 etc allows you to have the text printed in a separate window below the main chart (just like you have RSI or MACD display in a separate window). See post #377 for instructions on how to create an empty lower window. The second screenshot illustrates the result with Window = 1 (and xStart = 0).

I am not going to allow vertical lines. See my reply to Keyser in post #380.

Re the errors in the log, see my reply to Pips4Life in post #387. I'm currently tidying up Plot_News' deletion routine, and also including Pips4Life's enhancements, to make the whole process more robust. I hope to release the new version in the next 2-3 days.

David
Attached Image(s) (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: joko3.gif Size: 36 KB
Click to Enlarge Name: joko4.gif Size: 34 KB
  • #384
  • Edited 6:03am Sep 7, 2008 5:19am | Edited 6:03am
I'm sorry David for miss interpreted the input option, and it looked great for having separate window option.

I have a stupid idea as: is it possible for us to add a marking on a specific closest upcoming news?
For example: a green dot or arrow or something else next to our billiard ball for the upcoming news of the news list?
I mean it just to put apart the passed news with the upcoming one to make our eyes easier to catch it.

Additional Question:
Is there any meaning with value in the brackets as mentioned or I did mistakes again? JFYI: I tried to change the color.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: plot_news.gif Size: 24 KB
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #385
  • Sep 7, 2008 7:03am Sep 7, 2008 7:03am
Quoting hanover
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.
OKAY, OKAY, OKAY - David ...

Don`t understand me consciously or unconsciously wrong !!!
With suggestions you can press Tom Cruise under pressure not me ...
I am too cool to be a fool !!!

I like your NEWS INDICATOR VERY WELL !!! It`s a usefull Indicator !!! No doubt !!! I only tryied to make NEWS PLOT better !!! Nothing more !!! I am will supporting you much as i can ...


Quoting hanover
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
YES THANKS !!!

I AM ONLY TRYING TO MAKE News_Plot 4U, 4ME & FOR EVERY ONE ELSE BETTER !!! This was also an idea, inspiration - and opening door !!! You can let the door open, close it, go through it, or stay !!! It`s your live, you choice - your indicator ...

!!! I AM THANKFUL TO USE IT FREE OF CHARGE !!! No doubt ...

great suff & keep going DAVID
  • #386
  • Sep 7, 2008 7:11am Sep 7, 2008 7:11am
Quoting hanover
... The News Text Release In The Indicator Window ... How You Get It In ??? ... Watching The joko4 Chart !!!
Hello again DAVID,

now i am sawing the NEWS Text Releases in the indicator window - and that`s very smooth !!!

I am not a programmer !!! How Can i Get I Too ???

thanks ahead & have a good time ...

Keyser Söze
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: joko4.gif Size: 34 KB
  • #387
  • Edited 4:15pm Sep 7, 2008 3:58pm | Edited 4:15pm
Joko, Keyser,

The answers to both of your questions are in the instructions in post #377, but I'll repeat it here:

Joko: the number in the square brackets is the number of minutes until the news event occurs. It will count down toward zero, every time the indicator gets refreshed. The prior news events print first (without a number in brackets, because they've already happened), from oldest at the top of the list, to most recent, and then the yet-to-occur events print below them, starting with the next one to occur, to the furtherest one into the future. Hence the first event down the list that has a number in brackets, is the next news event that will occur. So hopefully a green arrow is not necessary.

Keyser: first you must create a new window by opening the Navigator (press Ctrl-N) and dragging a sub-window-type indicator, like Average True Range, onto your chart. Then change the color of that indicator to "None", which makes it invisible. Then change the Window parameter in Plot_News to 1, which will place it in the next lower window (the one you just created).

I'm sorry if I seem harsh in turning aside requests. If they are too difficult, or I see them as being unworkable, or too time-consuming, then I must turn them aside, in order to focus on the work I get paid for. My paying customers deserve priority. I currently have customers waiting in a queue, hence I'm very busy.

David
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: joko5.GIF Size: 20 KB
  • #388
  • Edited 6:34pm Sep 7, 2008 6:16pm | Edited 6:34pm
Hi David,

I hate programming after-hours and rushing through changes. I'm much more prone to make mistakes, and my v3 version of P4L Plot_News.mq4 contains a few. Recall that I re-copied my changes into your newest version, but as you had restructured your newest version (by adding hierarchy) and changed some variable names, I hadn't realized all the implications.

As you have probably begun editing the version and making additional changes, I'll simply list what should be changed here, so you don't have to guess what I fixed:


My bad version contains two instances of:
main_process();

Change both to:
main_process(FLAG_FutureFFEventFound);

My bad version contains:
void main_process()

Change it to:
void main_process(bool& FLAG_FutureFFEventFound)
(Please note the "&" to pass the variable by reference. It is critical in order to allow the procedure to actually change the high-level variable value so it is understood elsewhere in the program in the display_reminder() procedure)


My bad version contains:
string userEventString = "\034 \042"; // User-defined events should contain: doublequote(ascii=34), space, asterisk(ascii=42)
//ALT: string userEventString = StringConcatenate( StringSetChar(" ", 0, 34), " ", StringSetChar(" ", 0, 42));
if (eTime[eCount] > TimeCurrent() // If the event is in the future...
&& eNumber[eCount] > 0 // FF events are always positive. User-defined events *should* be negative but may not be
&& StringFind( eText1[eCount], userEventString, 0) < 0 // If the event 1st-line does NOT contain the userEventString
) FLAG_FutureFFEventFound = TRUE; // TRUE means a future FF event was found.

Change it to:
if (eTime[i] > TimeCurrent() // If the event is in the future...
&& eNumber[i] > 0 // FF events are always positive. User-defined events *should* be negative but may not be
&& StringFind(eText1[i],"\x22 *") < 0 // If the event 1st-line does NOT contain the user event string: double-quote, space, asterisk
) FLAG_FutureFFEventFound = TRUE; // TRUE means a future FF event was found.


(Your original and new versions both used "eCount" so it compiled but in the new version, eCount had a different use. I changed the userEventString to follow your hex definition style you used elsewhere in the program)


Sorry for the bother. I believe these are all the changes that are needed.

Attached is v4 of my P4L Plot_News.mq4 program.

Pips4life
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 P4L Plot_News.mq4   20 KB | 861 downloads
  • #389
  • Sep 7, 2008 6:42pm Sep 7, 2008 6:42pm
By the way, I too tried to figure out how to move the new displayPrior feature over to the top-right corner but it's a big hassle. It would be nice if the program would give a location for the bar[0] in terms of pixels (xDistance) but I couldn't figure it out.

As a clue how, though, I think that the vHandsTrade.mq4 program and it's library, VisualTestingTools.mq4 possibly contain an approach one can use, although I couldn't read that very complex program to figure it out. Somehow it counts bars and figures pixel size and places an array of objects in a location it determines is visible and, I think, after bar[0]. (I haven't used that program in awhile). Just thought I'd mention it. You can search for the program names and find them easily, such as at: http://articles.mql4.com/301

Pips4life
  • #390
  • Sep 7, 2008 6:59pm Sep 7, 2008 6:59pm
Hi Kent,

I'd already picked up the fact that 'eCount' needed to be changed to 'i' in the check that sets 'FLAG_FutureFFEventFound' to TRUE.

I don't think it's necessary to pass 'FLAG_FutureFFEventFound' by reference. All I did was simply make it global, i.e. declare it after the 'extern' parameter definitions and before any of the init(), deinit() and start() functions. My understanding is that any variable defined there is visible to (and able to be modified by) the entire program. At least that's the way it seems to work.

I'm happy enough experimenting with xStart to get the news events clear of the chart action. I spent > 3 hours trying to use Corners but it was proving too difficult and time-consuming. And of course we can always have the news print in its own lower window, like I just explained to Keyser.

All going well, I will release v 1.31c in a couple of hours.

David
  • #391
  • Sep 7, 2008 7:13pm Sep 7, 2008 7:13pm
Quoting hanover
I don't think it's necessary to pass 'FLAG_FutureFFEventFound' by reference. All I did was simply make it global, i.e. declare it after the 'extern' parameter definitions and before any of the init(), deinit() and start() functions.

David
Of course you're right. But I swear I was confounded by some strange behavior in that I had made the corrections to eCount yet I still saw my Reminder text. It finally went away when I passed it by reference, but... I've seen other strange behaviours that are only cleared by fully shutting down MT4 and restarting, in order to completely clear the memory of the old program and it's variables. Having now eliminated the pass-by-reference variable, it's working fine for me too.

I'll wait for your next version. Thanks,
Pips4life
  • #392
  • Sep 8, 2008 3:20am Sep 8, 2008 3:20am
Quoting hanover
Joko, Keyser,

I'm sorry if I seem harsh in turning aside requests. If they are too difficult, or I see them as being unworkable, or too time-consuming, then I must turn them aside, in order to focus on the work I get paid for. My paying customers deserve priority. I currently have customers waiting in a queue, hence I'm very busy.

David
Alright David,
Don't waste your time too much for us. You helped us a lot with your time and of course it was too expensive later on.
Have a nice day anyway and I wish you luck and success with your very own business.
Thanks again,
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #393
  • Edited 4:56am Sep 8, 2008 4:54am | Edited 4:56am
Hi DAVID,

i am will supporting so much as i can !!!
http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/dj_2.gif http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/dj_2.gif http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/dj_2.gif http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/dj_2.gif http://www.my-smileys.de/smileys3/dj_2.gif

If i understand your last postings right you will release a newer NEWS_Plot in the next few days !? ?! !? However, i got for a few minutes the idea to make the i-sessions much more complete - with more differents of the time sessions ...

Perhaps you can integrate or complete or verify the trading sessions of the asian/europe/us equity markets in following one ...


CET (Central European Time)
-------------------------------

01:00 - 07:00 UTC/GMT +10 hours ASX - Australian Stock Exchange (Sydney)

01:00 - 03:00 UTC/GMT +9 hours TSE - Tokyo Stock Exchange (Tokyo)
04:30 - 07:00 UTC/GMT +9 hours TSE - Tokyo Stock Exchange (Tokyo)

03:00 - 05:30 UTC/GMT +8 hours HKE - Hong Kong Exchage (Hong Kong)
07:30 - 09:00 UTC/GMT +8 hours HKE - Hong Kong Exchage (Hong Kong)

03:00 - 06:30 UTC/GMT +8 hours SGX - Singapore Exchange (Singapore)
08:00 - 11:00 UTC/GMT +8 hours SGX - Singapore Exchange (Singapore)

05:00 - 11:00 UTC/GMT +5:30 hours BSE - Bombay Stock Exchange (Bombay)

08:30 - 16:30 UTC/GMT +3 hours MICEX - Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (Moscow)

09:30 - 17:30 UTC/GMT +1 hours LSE - London Stock Exchange (London)

15:30 - 22:00 UTC/GMT -5 hours NYSE - New York Stock Exchange (New York)


Best regards & stay cool in the hot markets !!!
Keyser Söze
Attached File(s)
File Type: txt Time Frames.txt   < 1 KB | 557 downloads
  • #394
  • Sep 8, 2008 5:48am Sep 8, 2008 5:48am
Quoting Keyser Söze
Perhaps you can integrate or complete or verify the trading sessions of the asian/europe/us equity markets in following one ...
Keyser, the latest version of Plot_News will have a facility to display the time zones for the major currencies: USD/CAD (GMT–4), GBP (GMT+1), EUR/CHF (GMT+0), JPY (GMT+9), AUD (GMT+10), NZD (GMT+12). Of course the time zone +/– values change as the various countries move into/out of daylight saving.

Here are two very good web pages for world time zones:
Time zones website: http://www.worldtimezone.com/
World clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
They will give you the current times in Hong Kong, India, etc.

David
  • #395
  • Sep 8, 2008 5:54am Sep 8, 2008 5:54am
Quoting hanover
Keyser, the latest version of Plot_News will have a facility to display the time zones for the major currencies: USD/CAD (GMT–4), GBP (GMT+1), EUR/CHF (GMT+0), JPY (GMT+9), AUD (GMT+10), NZD (GMT+12). Of course the time zone +/– values change as the various countries move into/out of daylight saving.

Here are two very good web pages for world time zones:
Time zones website: http://www.worldtimezone.com/
World clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
They will give you the current times in Hong Kong, India, etc.

David
Great Stuff, DAVID !!!
That`s what i thought too ...

Keyser Söze
  • #396
  • Edited 7:16am Sep 8, 2008 7:04am | Edited 7:16am
Attached is the latest version, for you all to try. Please report any bugs. If none are reported over the next 2-3 days, I'll add it to the ZIP file in post #1.

All of the facilities outlined back in post #377 continue to work exactly as described there. Please refer to post #377 for more information.

New parameters and features:

AutoRefresh: this replaces the RefreshEveryTick parameter.
-- If this parameter is set to true, refreshes now occur every 1 minute (instead of every tick). This should reduce CPU time, and also reduce the risk of FFcal.EXE (when you run it, to pick up the latest news events from FF calendar) crashing with an "Access Denied" error, which is caused when both the Plot_news indicator and FFcal.EXE are competing for exclusive use of the News.CSV file.
-- If this parameter is set to false, then you need to manually refresh Plot_News. Either edit the indicator (press Ctrl-I, P, Alt-E, Enter, Enter) or move to a different timeframe on the chart, and then back again.

AlertMins: this duplicates the facility offered by the Alert_News indicator, although each alert will only sound/display once per news event.
-- Setting the parameter to a negative value (e.g. -1) disables the Alerts.
-- Setting it to a zero or positive value, will cause an Alert to sound/display X minutes before the news event, where X is the value you enter here.
Once the alert has sounded once, refreshing the indicator (either edit it, or switch chart timeframes), resets the alert, allowing it to sound again, i.e. for a given news event.
See post #321 in this thread for more information.

RemindToRunFFcal: This parameter was created by Pips4Life.
-- If set to true, it will display a message "Reminder: run FFcal.EXE to get future events" at the end of each week.
-- If set to false, this facility is turned off.
See post #369 in this thread for more infomation.
NOTE: If you wish to pick up "Actual" values following news announcements, and/or news events in the FF calendar that get changed during the week, then you will likely need to run FFcal.EXE several times during the week.

TimeZones: this allows an additional line to be printed, in between the prior and upcoming news events, showing the current time in the time zones of the 8 major forex currencies:
US: time in New York, USA (USD), and also in Toronto, Canada (CAD).
GB: time in London, England (GBP).
EU: time in Europe (EUR), including Geneva (CHF).
JP: time in Tokyo, Japan (JPY).
AU: time in Sydney, Australia (AUD).
NZ: time in Auckland, New Zealand (NZD). [The city where I was born - LOL.]
-- If set to true, this facility is enabled (see screenshot below).
-- If set to false, this facility is disabled.

TimeZoneColor: sets the color for the printing of the additional line.

NZshift
AUshift
JPshift
EUshift
GBshift
USshift: The number of hours this country is ahead (enter a positive value) or behind (enter a negative value) your MT4 time. These values will obviously need to be adjusted as countries move into/out of daylight saving time. Here are two very good web pages for world time zones:
Time zones website: http://www.worldtimezone.com/
World clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
For information on daylight saving time, please see here.

Please note that the parameters FromDate, ThruDate, Plot_High, Plot_Medium, Plot_Low, Plot_USD, Plot_CAD, Plot_EUR, PLot_GBP, Plot_CHF, Plot_JPY, Plot_AUD, Plot_NZD now also filter the printed news events as well as the numbered symbols above/below the price candles.


To install, copy the attached MQ4 file into your ...\experts\indicators folder, and restart MT4.

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_news3.jpg Size: 235 KB
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Plot_News.mq4   26 KB | 896 downloads
  • #397
  • Sep 8, 2008 11:10am Sep 8, 2008 11:10am
Dear DAVID & anyone else which is trying to make this indicator better ...

I Have 1 Question About The News_Plot !!!
a) How Can I Make A New Indicator Window ???
b) How Can I Put The News_Plot Indicator In The New Indicator Window ???

Thanks ahead :

Keyser Söze
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: newsplot.gif Size: 23 KB
  • #398
  • Sep 8, 2008 11:20am Sep 8, 2008 11:20am
Quoting hanover
Attached is the latest version, for you all to try. Please report any bugs. If none are reported over the next 2-3 days, I'll add it to the ZIP file in post #1.

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

David
Hi David and All,
I'm trying to help myself by streamlining information within the most admirable indicator, by adding up vertical line and some others, like fonts, lining up the column of previous|forecast|actual, and the news balls which hanging around on top rather than floating everywhere following the price.
The ball linked with the running price by vertical lines accordingly.
Sorry if i'm disturbing this thread.
I'm just making myself easier.
Thank you very much and well trade...
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: plot_news.gif Size: 27 KB
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Plot_News_JK.mq4   26 KB | 717 downloads
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #399
  • Sep 8, 2008 11:27am Sep 8, 2008 11:27am
Hi David,
Why I cannot use objname while adding up vertical line, but it works by using conventional one as "vline"+i below? Then the line appearing...

if (ShowLine) {
ObjectCreate("vline"+i,OBJ_VLINE,0,eTime[i],vertpos);
ObjectSet("vline"+i,OBJPROP_COLOR,vLineCol);
ObjectSet("vline"+i,OBJPROP_STYLE,STYLE_DOT);
ObjectSet("vline"+i,OBJPROP_BACK,true);
ObjectSetText("vline"+i,eCurrency[i]); }

I'm learning slowly now from you and others.
Probably this kind of script is wrong and maybe will damage the whole system. Because I was just cut and paste it from other source.
Please advice and thanks.
Joko Kendil Trading For Live
  • #400
  • Sep 8, 2008 11:50am Sep 8, 2008 11:50am
Hello DAVID, JOKOKENDIL & anyone else which is trying to make this indicator better ...

@ 1st THIS INDICATOR IS VERY USEFUL IN MY EYES !!!
But I am realizing right here right now, that the News_Plot is 1h ahead !!!

HOW CAN BE THIS ???
CAN I CHANGE THIS SIMPLE - BUT IMPORTANT - PROBLEM IN THE EDITOR ???
AND WHEN YES !? ?! !? CAN ANYONE TELL ME HOW ???

Best regards & thanks ahead :

Keyser Söze
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
Click to Enlarge Name: newsplot3.gif Size: 72 KB
1 trader viewing now