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Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
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Author:  The_Snowman [ Thu May 16, 2013 10:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
spotdespot wrote:Thanks for bringing this to slowkey - I had a quick play to try if I could replicate (and hopefully improve and maybe eventually automate) my personal favourite manual strategy. I came a cross an issue almost straight away in that I could not use multi-time frame indicators - e.g. use an H4 Stoch on the H1 timeframe.

However I checked to see what is in the "pro" version in Alpha and discovered:

"Forex Strategy Builder Pro adds additional functionality to strategy slots. These features concern Opening Logic Conditions and Closing Logic conditions.

Possibility to set individual symbol and period for each indicator. Periods works only if they are higher than the strategy main period. If the period is lower, program uses main period."

Brilliant! I thought I would post here as I am sure others will be interested in this functionality. I will have a look at the pro version and report back (it may take a while as I am snowed under a bit).

Cheers,
Dave.
This is probably why I cannot seem to set the parameters I want to test - BUT from the above statement, what determines the "strategy main period"?

For example, first requirement is price to be above an EMA on daily chart, entry trigger by an indicator level on 1 hour chart; if the "strategy main period" is Daily, does that then mean it will not observe the requirement of indicator on 1 hour chart?

That is how I'm reading it, in which case, not much use to me :( and obviously, not much programming power either as any coder here can whip up those few parameters in Empty4 I'm sure.
Author:  slowkey [ Fri May 17, 2013 4:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
When I looked at this program a year ago I was underwhelmed because of the constraints within the logical structures of the program. You might say the program was not code equal. However what I underestimated was the speed that strategies can go from development to Demo. I am not surprised that my trading system or some other trading system will not fit within the constraints of the program logic. However there are many that will. But that is not what the program really is trying to accomplish. It is not a replacement for code. What it does is allow non-coders the freedom to explore and develop strategies rapidly with immediate feedback. It is a fun tool to use and quite addictive. It got me hooked to see a small percentage of the strategies I put on demo actually making a little bit of money.

How many ways are there to combine this many indicators and how much logic is really needed. I think there is more than enough here and new logic is being developed for the program. Is developing strategy more art than a skill. Anybody can find this out with this program and it is free.

What I do know is that Steve can code anything we develop of promise with the software. Every body gets to learn more about trading and trading logic. Everybody gets to feel part of the team. I think it is a win win. How many strategies can this program produce. I think that is a multiple of the creativity and interest of the members. It empowers non-coding members to take a new look at automated trading systems.
Author:  slowkey [ Fri May 17, 2013 10:31 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
Added a link in post 1 for exporting a strategy as a indicator. Powerful but more advanced concept.

http://forexsb.com/wiki/fsb/strategy_to_indicator
Author:  ginnyman [ Fri May 17, 2013 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
Hi Slowkey, I cannot get FSB to link to my Empty4 account. Any suggestions on how to fix the problem. I checked in FSB options as per the web site but, could not find the required Empty4 installation files. Thx
Author:  spotdespot [ Fri May 17, 2013 11:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
ginnyman wrote:Hi Slowkey, I cannot get FSB to link to my Empty4 account. Any suggestions on how to fix the problem. I checked in FSB options as per the web site but, could not find the required Empty4 installation files. Thx
When I ran the installation of the Strategy Trader it didn't install the files in all my Empty4 instances. What I had to do was search for Empty4-FST Library.dll and put a copy of that in to the experts/libraries folder of the Empty4 instance you are using and put Empty4-FST Expert.mq4 in the experts folder.

I hope that helps.

Cheers,
Dave.
Author:  scheinwerfer [ Fri May 17, 2013 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
FSB has been mentioned in this forum before :D
http://www.stevehopwoodforex.com/phpBB3 ... f=15&t=235

But it is really great piece of software and I'm very happy about others who use and appreciate it.

A few notes though, there are 2 types of higher timeframe indicators for the standard FSB, HTF developed by zuijaideai and WTF by Krog. Use only the latter, WTF indicators, because HTF are buggy as hell.

In the near future there will be a free, open-source FSB and more capable but commercial FSB Pro. Considering it has been free for more than 6 years with constant developing, this development is expected and makes justice to the developer.

I see many are put off by the fear of curve fitting, but this is the nature of developing automated trading strategies, it's not walk in the park (or just hitting the "generate" button, if you will), it's a proper task to be handled. Like Doug says, be aware of it, find the solutions and get on with it. :lol: Sure, there are easier ways, the last I remember was $40,000 for a 2-year license... Take your pick! :D

Doug, an excellent initiative from you. Building automated strats is so much different from the manual stuff, in my opinion. It's very important to discuss about the ways and methods of doing efficient strategy development work. I really hope this thread succeeds in this respect.

Thanks again!
Sch
Author:  slowkey [ Fri May 17, 2013 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
ginnyman wrote:Hi Slowkey, I cannot get FSB to link to my Empty4 account. Any suggestions on how to fix the problem. I checked in FSB options as per the web site but, could not find the required Empty4 installation files. Thx
Oh, So sorry...

Here are the 2 files. Just put the dll file under your expert/libraries and the other expert file under experts

That should get you going.

:D

I will put these in the post 1 for any other person who might find this problem.
Author:  slowkey [ Fri May 17, 2013 5:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
scheinwerfer wrote:FSB has been mentioned in this forum before :D
http://www.stevehopwoodforex.com/phpBB3 ... f=15&t=235

But it is really great piece of software and I'm very happy about others who use and appreciate it.

A few notes though, there are 2 types of higher timeframe indicators for the standard FSB, HTF developed by zuijaideai and WTF by Krog. Use only the latter, WTF indicators, because HTF are buggy as hell.

In the near future there will be a free, open-source FSB and more capable but commercial FSB Pro. Considering it has been free for more than 6 years with constant developing, this development is expected and makes justice to the developer.

I see many are put off by the fear of curve fitting, but this is the nature of developing automated trading strategies, it's not walk in the park (or just hitting the "generate" button, if you will), it's a proper task to be handled. Like Doug says, be aware of it, find the solutions and get on with it. :lol: Sure, there are easier ways, the last I remember was $40,000 for a 2-year license... Take your pick! :D

Doug, an excellent initiative from you. Building automated strats is so much different from the manual stuff, in my opinion. It's very important to discuss about the ways and methods of doing efficient strategy development work. I really hope this thread succeeds in this respect.

Thanks again!
Sch
Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes I did not see that under the coders section. Thanks for pointing that out. Realizing that the software was quite deep and having over 30 years experience playing with every operating system out there I thought videos would be an easy way to get the uninitiated up and running. There is a lot of power in the software once you accept the software for what it is. I think the odds of curve fitting increase when you use the links in the generator to have the indicators start interacting with each other. A good practice would be not to use them or only a couple of them together.

In every thread the word renko will be brought up. I am still waiting :lol:

Curve fitting is now out of the way. :D

One of the things I have found difficult is navigating the support forums at http://forexsb.com/wiki to try to get the drift of what is happening. I always feel like there is a conversation going on but that I am walking in late not know what was said before. Any help as to where to start would be appreciated.
Author:  scheinwerfer [ Fri May 17, 2013 8:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
I thought videos would be an easy way to get the uninitiated up and running. There is a lot of power in the software once you accept the software for what it is.
Yep, totally agree. Accepting its pros and cons is the hardest thing, once you get over it, real work starts.
In every thread the word renko will be brought up. I am still waiting :lol:
No problems, it is doable. Save a renko chart as a chosen timeframe, options like "check data" need to be turned off, first data bar needs to be edited to look like a proper OHLC bar, then it works fine. Renko is not native to FSB, so some issues may rise, but I'm pretty confident they are easily solvable.

Here's a link about it for more hard-core fans
http://forexsb.com/forum/topic/2550/ran ... -possible/
One of the things I have found difficult is navigating the support forums at http://forexsb.com/wiki to try to get the drift of what is happening. I always feel like there is a conversation going on but that I am walking in late not know what was said before. Any help as to where to start would be appreciated.
Doug, you cannot be always on time, can you? My advice to you is that as long as your post doesn't include ramblings like "I would like to backtest FSB strategy in Empty4 to see if FSB is correct", you are fine whatever you post. If your topic has been covered, you'll be nudged in the right direction. :D
Author:  slowkey [ Fri May 17, 2013 9:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forex Strategy Builder and Trader
Doug, you cannot be always on time, can you? My advice to you is that as long as your post doesn't include ramblings like "I would like to backtest FSB strategy in Empty4 to see if FSB is correct", you are fine whatever you post. If your topic has been covered, you'll be nudged in the right direction. :D
Thanks, I think it is just that I need to go back through a lot of topics over time to see just how things evolved and it is not that I am really looking for a particular answer to one question. However it is nice to know it is a friendly group. :D


Sort of two kinds of nerds in the world. The ones that read the manual first and the ones who just jump in and start doing. I tend to be the manual reader but this time I just jumped in so I am a little out of my element.

One thing I found odd was that the MA indicator tops out at 200. If you followed any of Bobs threads here you know we use a 240 weighted open 4 hour and a 960 weighted open 1 hour. Is there any way to get longer averages.

I really only scratched the surface with the videos of the FSB. I will be doing a video on logical groups and one on exporting a strategy as an indicator once I get my head around that concept. There is a lot more power in the program than what is first utilized and once users start to learn the logic they will be able to move on to more advanced concepts.

Thanks for the info and participating.
Doug
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