alignment problem when using close([Symbol]);

[bullman]

I discovered this problem working with one minute bars. I cannot find a work around.

If a security has no trades during a one minute period, eSignal does not draw a bar or leave an empty space. So, if I want to plot an indicator, such as $VIX using close([Symbol]) in a study below the chart, the first time either the security or VIX skips a bar due to no activity, the study is not aligned with security.

As a hard example, open an advanced chart of $VIX. Create an EFS formula which is simply one line in main ():

return (close (0,"MMM"));

$VIX misses bar 09/19/2003 14:57, so below the previous 14:56 bar of the vix, the study plots the 14:57 bar of MMM. This problem is cumulative as you progress backwards.

I am somewhat new to efs, so maybe I am missing an obvious solution. But, it seems I need one of two things to fix this:

1. Allow a chart option for eSignal to maintain alignment by plotting an empty space when a security does not trade in a one minute period - there would then be a fixed 390 bars during any day.

2. Allow a method to get a value specified by an exact date/time. I could get the date and time of the current bar (of $VIX in the example above) and call up the matching value (of MMM in the example above) by that date/time - maintaining alignment.

Any solutions to this problem?

[Doji3333]

Solution...

Loop back until you find the bar/indicator that matches the bartime of the symbol you are using...

For example...

// record current MMM time.
var mmmtime = getValue("rawtime",0,0,"MMM");

// Find matching VIS time
var i = 0;
while (mmmtime > getValue("rawtime",i,0,"$VIX") {
i--;
}

// Record VIX value for matching time to MMM
var VIXValue = getValue("Close",i.0."$VIX");

Hope this helps..

Brad

[bullman]

RE: Reply to post 'alignment problem when using close([Symbol]);'

Thanks!

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]=20
Sent: Sunday, September 21, 2003 10:16 PM
To: Mike Bielinski
Subject: Reply to post 'alignment problem when using close([Symbol]);'


Hello bullman,

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~