unable to display the close of the previous bar on the final bar of a chart

[jcm21]

I have been unable to display the close of the previous bar on the final bar of a chart. I am using the "Back Test: Donchian with Trailing Stops" example from the EFS tutorial series. That code is displayed below. My only change is at the bottom where I replaced the original return statement with
output1=high(-1);
return output1;
to demonstrate my problem.

I expected the high of the previous bar to appear on the final bar, as it has done on all other charts I have ever created? My question is: Why is this happening?

An image of the results is shown in the attachment.

Thanks

/*********************************
Copyright © eSignal, a division of Interactive Data Corporation. 2006. All rights reserved.
This sample eSignal Formula Script (EFS) may be modified and saved under a new
filename; however, eSignal is no longer responsible for the functionality once modified.
eSignal reserves the right to modify and overwrite this EFS file with each new release.

This sample is for educational purposes only. It is not intended for trading.

Strategy Logic:
This Strategy example is a basic strategy that goes long when a new
10 period Donchian high occurs and goes short when a new 10 period Donchian
low occurs. The exit strategy for this sample uses the Average True Range study
for the basis of the trailing stop logic. The initial stop is set to the Middle Donchian
channel. The trailing stop will increment in the direction of the position by 25% of the
previous bar's 10 period ATR.
*********************************/

function preMain() {
setPriceStudy(true);
setStudyTitle("Back Test: Donchian with Trailing Stops ORIGINAL temp copy");
setCursorLabelName("Upper Donchian", 0);
setCursorLabelName("Lower Donchian", 1);
setCursorLabelName("Stop", 2);
setDefaultBarFgColor(Color.blue, 0);
setDefaultBarFgColor(Color.blue, 1);
setDefaultBarFgColor(Color.red, 2); // Stop color
setDefaultBarThickness(2, 2); // Stop Thickness
setPlotType(PLOTTYPE_FLATLINES, 2); // Stop plot type
}

// Global Variables
var xUpper = null;
var xMiddle = null;
var xLower = null;
var xATR = null;
var nStop = null;
var bInit = false; // initialization flag


function main() {
// Back Testing formulas are not for real time analysis.
// Therefore, prevent processing and exit at bar 0.
if (getCurrentBarIndex() == 0) return;

if(bInit == false) {
// This code block executes only once at the beginning of initialization.
// Initialize Donchian Series Objects.
xUpper = upperDonchian(10);
xMiddle = middleDonchian(10);
xLower = lowerDonchian(10);
xATR = atr(10);
bInit = true; // Prevents this code block from executing again.
}

// Retrieve previous bar's values of Donchian Series for back testing conditions.
var nU = xUpper.getValue(-1);
var nM = xMiddle.getValue(-1);
var nL = xLower.getValue(-1);
var nInc = 0.25 * xATR.getValue(-1); // Stop increment.

// Validate the study variables to ensure they contain valid data.
if(nU == null || nM == null || nL == null || nInc == null) {
return; // Exit the formula if variables contain invalid data.
}

// Reset nStop to null so that it does not plot if no longer in a position.
if (Strategy.isInTrade() == false) {
nStop = null;
} else {
/*****
If the strategy is in a position, increment the trailing stop value.
*****/
if (Strategy.isLong() == true) {
nStop += nInc; // Moves up by nInc value
} else if (Strategy.isShort() == true) {
nStop -= nInc; // Moves down by nInc value
}
}

// Trailing Stop Exit Strategy
if (Strategy.isInTrade() == true) {
/*****
First check for a stop before looking for entry signals. If a stop
is found on the current bar, prevent a new entry from occuring on the
same bar. This is accomplished by placing the entry logic inside an else
statement that follows this trailing stop exit condition.
******/
if (Strategy.isLong() == true) { // Long Trailing Stop Exit
/*****
First check to see if the bar opened below the stop price. If so, exit
at the open of the bar.
*****/
if (open(0) <= nStop) {
Strategy.doSell("Long Stop", Strategy.MARKET, Strategy.THISBAR);
} else if (low(0) <= nStop) {
/*****
Next, check to see if the low of the bar breached the stop price.
If so, exit with a stop order at the stop price.
*****/
Strategy.doSell("Long Stop", Strategy.STOP, Strategy.THISBAR, Strategy.ALL, nStop);
}
}
if (Strategy.isShort() == true) { // Short Trailing Stop Exit
/*****
First check to see if the bar opened above the stop price. If so, exit
at the open of the bar.
*****/
if (open(0) >= nStop) {
Strategy.doCover("Short Stop", Strategy.MARKET, Strategy.THISBAR);
} else if (high(0) >= nStop) {
/*****
Next, check to see if the high of the bar breached the stop price.
If so, exit with a stop order at the stop price.
*****/
Strategy.doCover("Short Stop", Strategy.STOP, Strategy.THISBAR, Strategy.ALL, nStop);
}
}
} else { // Entry Strategy
/*****
Look for new entry only when the Strategy is not holding a position. By including
this entry logic in this else block, we ensure that we are not in a position when
these entry conditions are evaluated.
*****/
if (high(0) >= nU) { // Long Trade Signal
/*****
"if the current bar's high is equal to or greater than the previous bar's Upper
Donchian channel, go long with a limit order at the value of the previous bar's
Upper Donchian value or the open of the bar, which ever is greater.
*****/

Strategy.doLong("Long Signal", Strategy.LIMIT, Strategy.THISBAR, Strategy.DEFAULT, Math.max(nU, open(0)) );

// Set the initial stop value at the previous bar's value of the
// Middle Donchian channel.
nStop = nM;
} else if (low(0) <= nL) { // Short Trade Signal
/*****
"if the current bar's low is equal to or lower than the previous bar's Lower
Donchian channel, go short with a limit order at the value of the previous bar's
Lower Donchian value or the open of the bar, which ever is smaller.
*****/

Strategy.doShort("Short Signal", Strategy.LIMIT, Strategy.THISBAR, Strategy.DEFAULT, Math.min(nL, open(0)) );

// Set the initial stop value at the previous bar's value of the
// Middle Donchian channel.
nStop = nM;
}
}

if(Strategy.isLong()) {
setBarBgColor(Color.darkgreen);
} else if(Strategy.isShort()) {
setBarBgColor(Color.maroon);
}

// Plot the current bar's Donchian Channel values and the trailing stop.
//return new Array(xUpper.getValue(0), xLower.getValue(0), nStop);
output1=high(-1);
return output1;

[jcm21]

I tried to attach a BMP file several times with no success

I tried to attach a BMP file several times with no success. Maybe it was too large - but I received no warning messages.
Anyhow if a picture is required I will try to attach it or include it in the main message.

Joe Miller [jcm21]

[Guest]

Re: unable to display the close of the previous bar on the final bar of a chart

Hi Joe,

If you look through the efs, there is a step that checks for bar index. If equal to zero, a return step is executed. This is explained by comments in the efs right before this step.

Originally posted by jcm21
I have been unable to display the close of the previous bar on the final bar of a chart. I am using the "Back Test: Donchian with Trailing Stops" example from the EFS tutorial series. That code is displayed below. My only change is at the bottom where I replaced the original return statement with
output1=high(-1);
return output1;
to demonstrate my problem.

I expected the high of the previous bar to appear on the final bar, as it has done on all other charts I have ever created? My question is: Why is this happening?

An image of the results is shown in the attachment.

Thanks

[jcm21]

Still does not work for me?

Thanks Steve.

I commented that statement out [ie] "if (getCurrentBarIndex() == 0) return;" but the plot still does not go the the final bar?
Shouldn't the plot go one more bar [to the final bar] if the statement is commented out?

I had tried that previously with the same results. Maybe it is something else I am doing wrong.

[jcm21]

Ignore my previous reply.

Steve,

Ignore my previous reply. Looks like it may be working now - after your suggestion. Not sure yet because I have to straighten out the rat's nest of code I have here.

Thanks again for your help.