Program 65 | Zig zag function with Fibonacci ratio detection

Zig zag function with Fibonacci detection

Program 65 consists of a new zig zag function and a companion show me study that demonstrates how to call the function. Both programs are included in the download.

When the function is called it calculates and draws zig zag lines on the chart together with text at the zig zag pivots. The text shows the vertical height of each zig zag leg. If the vertical ratio of two most recent zig zag lines is close to a Fibonacci ratio, text is also displayed to show which Fibonacci ratio it is close to and the zig zag line is drawn with a heavier weight.

Both Fibonacci retracements and extensions (projections) are looked for. The following ratios are compared in the calculation:

• 38.2
• 61.8
• 100.0
• 138.2
• 161.8

The function also returns 4 vectors:

• 

  The UpMoves vector contains the last MaxVectorCount up moves. The most recent can be accessed using UpMoves.items[0] astype double the second most recent can be accessed using UpMoves.items[1] astype double etc

• The DnMoves vector contains the last MaxVectorCount down moves. The most recent can be accessed using DnMoves.items[0] astype double
• The HiZZ vector contains the bar numbers of the last MaxVectorCount high zig zag pivots. The most recent can be accessed using HiZZ.items[0] astype int, the second most recent can be accessed using HiZZ.items[1] astype int etc
• The LoZZ vector contains the bar numbers of the last MaxVectorCount low zig zag pivots. The most recent can be accessed using LoZZ.items[0] astype int

Before attempting to access an element of a vector it is important to check that the element exists by taking a count of the vector. This is achieved by using LoZZ.Count.

The function does not contain a mechanism for regulating the number of text objects on the chart.

Calling the function

The function is called as follows:

With the following inputs and color options:

Inputs

RetracePerc( 0.2 ), // Percentage above running pivot that pivot must be formed to start a new zig zag
Tolerance( 10 ), // Percentage tolerance calculating a range above and below last change
ZigZagColUp( “AliceBlue” ), // Color of up zig zag line (see the program web page for available colors)
ZigZagColDn( “Orange” ), // Color of up zig zag line
ColorOfText( “Yellow” ), // Color of number label
LineThickness( 3 ), // Thickness of line if new zig zag if close to a Fibonacci ratio (valid options are 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6)
MaxVectorCount( 100 ), // The maximum number of elements in the UpMoves, DnMoves, HiZZ, and LoZZ vectors
Font( “Ariel” ), // Font for text objects
FontSize( 16 ); // Font size for text objects

Color options

Technical lessons

Legacy drawing objects

I created an earlier version of the program using both legacy drawing objects AND the more recently introduced drawing objects. I am including this ‘legacy’ program with the download (with the associated calling program) as you may be interested to see how to write code for either of these two technologies or to replace one technology with another.

Drawing legacy trendlines

Legacy trend lines are drawn using the following syntax:

Dates use YYMMDD or YYYMMDD format (three digits are used to express the year 2000 and later), and times use 24-hour format, HHMM.

The problem with it is that on certain charts several bars might have the same HHMM stamp which can lead to unexpected results on tick and seconds charts.

In the following image the legacy drawing tools (the thinner lines) have difficulty positioning a drawing object accurately when more than one bar shares the same minute based time signature. The new drawing tools position the line accurately.

New drawing objects

To draw lines with the new drawing objects we create a pair of BNPoint objects using a bar number and price. The trend line is created and styled and then added to the chart.

Two potential ‘gotchas’

Gotcha 1

A BNPoint refers to the absolute bar index (zero-based) of the collection of bars in a chart. This is not the same as the BarNumber function or CurrentBar reserved word which count the number of bars available for analysis after MaxBarsBack. So to create a BNPoint for the current bar (BarNumber) would be:

NewBar = BarNumber + MaxBarsBack – 1;

Gotcha 2

Another issue that can cause what appear to be spurious results are the ‘Show empty daily trading periods for traditional chart types’ and ‘Show empty intraday session periods for traditional chart types’ settings. These can be found by clicking View – Chart Analysis Preferences

If these are selected, the chart includes blank bars which ‘confuse’ the bar number for BNPoints. For example, in the following daily chart of IBM, the ‘Show empty daily trading periods for traditional chart types’ is selected. The chart looks like the following (notice how the pivots and the lines do not line up correctly):

In the following chart all settings are identical apart from “Show empty intraday session trading periods for traditional chart types” is deselected.

Note that vectors do not store a history. In other words, you cannot look back 5 bars and see what the vector was storing then (like you could with an array).

Program download

Program 65 was developed for TradeStation 9.5 and TradeStation 10.0 and above and is not compatible with MultiCharts because of some of the drawing technology used.

An UNPROTECTED version (i.e. the TradeStation EasyLanguage is fully functional and you can see the source code) and associated unprotected function is available for for IMMEDIATE download for $49- by clicking the ‘add to cart’ button. After download the program can be opened, you will be able to see the program code and modify it.

In addition I am including with a download a bonus show me study and function that include drawing object functionality in both the legacy and new drawing object types.

After purchase you will be redirected to a download page, so don’t close the browser. You will also receive an automated email with the download link and instructions for accessing the bonuses.

If you are a Gold Pass member make sure you enter the special coupon code to get 20% discount off these prices.

 Video demonstration of program 65 | introduction and using on a chart

Program 65 was developed for TradeStation 9.5 and above and is not compatible with MultiCharts.

For zig zag based programs see:

Program 65 | Zig zag function with Fibonacci ratio detection GOLD PASS download

Price: $49.00

Program 29 (array version)

Program 29 (array version) is a TradeStation and MultiCharts compatible ShowMe study based on Program 29. The original program used TradeStation EasyLanguage vectors and so did not work with MultiCharts. This program replaces the vectors with arrays. It uses historic horizontal zig zag moves (measured in numbers of bars) to attempt to estimate future zig zag turning points.

Price: $64.95

Program 70 | Flexible Zig Zag functions

Price: $49.00

Program 67 Zig Zag Fibonacci

Price: $39.95

Program 65 | Zig zag function with Fibonacci ratio detection

Price: $49.00

Program 29

Program 29 is a TradeStation and compatible ShowMe study which uses the vector class. It uses historic horizontal zig zag moves (measured in numbers of bars) to attempt to estimate future zig zag turning points.

Price: $64.95

Program 14 | Analyzing zig-zags to find when turning points occur most often

Program 14 is a ShowMe study that calculates zig zag patterns and stores the times at which the turning points occur in an array. Each time a new turning point is confirmed the time at which it occurred is compared with those already in the array. If the time is already in the array its 'significance index' is incremented by one. A user input determines how many lines should be drawn and the program sorts the array and draws vertical lines on the times where the most number of turning points occurred previously.

Price: $74.95

File type : TradeStation ver8.7TradeStation ver9.0

Program 8 | Zig zag conflux

This program finds turning points in price action using the zig zag method. Once a new turning point is found, its price level is compared with price levels already stored in an array (if any). If the new level is within a user-specified tolerance of an existing line then the two lines are 'combined' by increasing the 'significance index' and updating the date and time associated with the level.

Price: $69.95

Program 1 | Fibonacci Zig Zag Confluence

This Fibonacci-Confluence show-me study works by drawing percentage based zig zag lines and each time a new zig zag line is confirmed, Fibonacci levels are calculated. An array is created which stores Fibonacci levels. If a new Fibonacci level is found to be within a certain tolerance of an existing Fibonacci level stored in the array, it is 'merged' with the existing line. This is done by increasing the thickness parameter of the line. Lines are extended to the right if their thickness parameter is greater than an input value. The maximum thickness of a line plotted is TradeStation line thickness 4.

Price: $74.95

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