MJ-Testing customary indicators

Just some small ideas/items to check when writing customary indicators.

Especially in the light of MTF indicators and writing separate function for PastData calculation and LiveData calculation as well as passing variables on between them and each live tick.

much of it comes from my indicator thread: http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=285687

BTW: for most of my indicator one has to enable for that tests: bShowIndicatorInfo = true (but already in the beginning when one adds the indi)


LiveData Calculation:

Chart Interval version and MTF Interval Version: must use the same calculated live data.

e.g.: ChartInterval Version M5 and MTF ResourceInterval M5 on a M1 chart

see pic below Live Values

Any Indicator:

How to Test:

After indicator initialization (e.g. new start of MT4 terminal) :

1. place a vertical line at Chart Bar 1 (pic1 Yellow vertical line)
* I calculate first the required PastData
(Note that for MTF indis LiveData calculation might readjust(repaint) data back to the Opening time of the original Resource Intervals 0 Bar.)

* After that I start the LiveData calculation:

2. let it run for some time IMPORTANT without restarting or changing anything (pic2 Aqua vertical line) should not be the Chart bar 0.
(Note for MTF indies let it run at least more than a whole Resource Interval period)

3. Without restarting or changing anything else add a additional same indicator (maybe you should change the 'sUniquePrefix')
(pic3)

* This will calculate the PastData till the active Bar (covering the previous 'LiveData calculation from indicator 1 between Yellow and Aqua vertical line.

4. Now make sure that the bars between the Yellow and Aqua vertical line have for both indicators the same Values

best to user the 'Data Window' (pic4) and (pic5)

again for MTF indies watch out that LiveData calculation readjusts backwards till the MTF Resource Last Bar OpenValue.


BTW: for most of my indicator one has to enable for that: bShowIndicatorInfo = true (but already in the beginning when one adds the indi)

For MTF indis: e.g. Resource MTF interval is M5 Chart is M1.

All of the above must also work:


When variables for further calculation are passed on between the PastCalulation function to the LiveCalculation function:



it is important to check it works when data is passed on at a:
- MTF New Bar (e.g. 10:55 indicator initialization - e.g. terminal restart)
- as well as at a Between Bar: (e.g. 10:58 indicator initialization - e.g. terminal restart)

In many cases different Data have to be passed on. (This can be a cause of problems in the code)

Suggested Order of testing:

1.
Indicator's Single Chart Interval Version

2.
Indicator's Single MTF Interval Version (using the Chart Version above as reference)

e.g.: ChartInterval Version M5 and MTF ResourceInterval M5 on a M1 chart

The MTF Version must have the same values at MTF New Bars as the corresponding ChartInterval indi.

e.g. MTFIndi M1 at 10:50 SAME AS ChartIndi M5 at 10:50
MTFIndi M1 at 10:55 SAME AS ChartIndi M5 at 10:55


3.
Than use them as reference for the MultiLine Indicator Versions.

What to test: Indicator's Single Chart Interval Version:

MUST PASS: (always try using also more extreme input settings)

1. LiveData Calculation Plot must correspond with PastData Calculation Plot (Post: 3-6)

See pic 1: using a seconded time the same indi (different sUniquePrefix) to overlay as well the data window to check - ignore my test develop comments on the side
similar procedure as post 5,6 in this thread.

ADDITIONAL TESTS IF POSSIBLE:

1. If possible Test it against existing indicators.

See pic 2: using the internal MT4 MA indi to overlay as well the data window to check - ignore my test develop comments on the side
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

e.g.
* MJSMA_Chart can be tested against the MT4 built in Moving Average using:
Apply To = open( because MJSMA_Chart is based on Bar Open Value Calculations except the LiveAction.)

* MJEMA_Chart can be tested against the MT4 built in Moving Average using:
Apply To = open( because MJEMA_Chart is based on Bar Open Value Calculations except the LiveAction.)
(Note my EMA needs much more predata (9 times the MAPeriod) before plotting results. for reason check out some of my other threads)

* MJMACD_Chart can be tested against the MT4 built in MACD using:
Apply To = open( because MJMACD_Chart is based on Bar Open Value Calculations except the LiveAction.)

* MJSTO_Chart I don't know any other indi to test against it: I guess the best is to test against one with close price and shift 1:
Like the attached one (for info read: http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=299537)

see pic 3: but there is still quite a bit of difference at times: as I calculate things with 'real Bar Open Price)
So the main test for this indi is the internal one against itself

What to test: Indicator's Single MTF Interval Version:

MUST PASS: (always try using also more extreme input settings)


1. Chart Interval version (using the same chart as the MTF Resource Interval) and MTF Interval Version: must use the same calculated live data. (see Post 2 in this thread.)
See pic1 yellow spot LiveData0

2. LiveData Calculation Plot must correspond with PastData Calculation Plot (using similar procedure as with the Chart Version indi in the previous post)

Very important: must work also when the Indi is initialized at a MTF NEW Bar as well as when the indi is initialized at a MTF Between Bar.

see post 3-7 in this thread


ADDITIONAL TESTS IF POSSIBLE:

For MTF Versions it's often hard to find some other similar indies so that additional external tests are mostly not possible.

except using similar external indies like int Post 8 and just comparing the values at the time of a MTF New bar.

If this are ok they between bars must connect each one in a straight line.

See pic2 (Organge Lines are times at New MTF Bars: using a customary indi for easier test) see post 8 for manual testing

This thread is officially on hold.
(but anyone can still post here if they want)


The time has come to say goodbye to ForexFactory:
Due to planned major changes in my life, I won't be around any more.

Don't look for me where I can not be found