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Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
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Author:  slipshod [ Sat May 19, 2012 3:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
They're basically the same thing under different names - a price-movement based method of creating bars (rather than the default elapsed-time based) that is, imho, quite an improvement on Renko.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the only "Constant Range" bars available is a somewhat buggy commercial version that's been decompiled and hacked. I don't know of any Empty4 release of "Momentum Bars". There, has, however, been a recent free release of the concept called Synthetic Bars on mql.com - the article can be found here:- http://articles.mql4.com/1033

The indicator released in this article did have a few shortcomings. Various people have suggested fixes & enhancements, and earlier today I posted a version with these implemented under the above article, also on forexTSD, but I thought it should be here too. To compile it needs a modified WinUser32.mqh in the include folder, which simply has an additional function declaration.

These bars can be used for backtesting by following this procedure:-

1. Download extra M1 data if you want a decent test period
2. Close Empty4
3. In your Empty4's history folder, create a new directory SynBars
4. Copy from your broker's history folder the following files:- symbols.raw, symbols.sel, symgroups.raw, ticks.raw and the *1.hst files of whatever pairs you want to test (eg AUDUSD1.hst, USDCAD1.hst etc) ... and paste them into the new SynBars folder. Actually for this step I prefer to use a clean new install of Empty4 for the SynBars folder, doesn't even have to be connected to a broker at all.
5. Restart Empty4. Go File->Login, don't worry about the ID and Password fields, and type SynBars in the Server field.
6. Tools -> Options -> Charts and change both the Max bars fields to 9999999999999.
7. Open a chart of one of the pairs - you should only be able to see anything in the M1 view. Add the SynBars4EA indicator (below), choose the bar size, and change the timeframe to 5. Once its finished processing, open a separate chart for that pair, and you should be able to see range bars in the M5 timeframe.
8. If all the above works, you can now run Visual Backtesting using M5 as the timeframe (and non-visual for that matter)
Author:  tritom [ Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
Hi, just a remark - it's probably not the best idea to replace the standard WinUser32.mqh file. These standard files are better left untouched; if the user installs some other customized version of this file ("required" by some other indicator etc) without the added winapi call later, your range bar indi won't compile anymore.

Better put this:

Code: Select all

#import "user32.dll"
   int   RegisterWindowMessageA(string lpString);
#import
right below the #include line in your code and you're done ;)
Author:  slipshod [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
I basically included it because the change to winuser32.mqh had been made by others before me, but you're totally correct. Its a simple change & belongs in the indicator, with the include file left alone.
Author:  slipshod [ Thu Aug 23, 2012 5:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
Just uploaded an updated version of the indicator - it has the change suggested by tritom above, and I've also added support for calculating/recording bar volume, which it didn't do previously.
Author:  Kaustubh [ Thu May 08, 2014 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
Hello,
Is anybody using this synthetic bars chart for live EA trading. Is the indicator working okay with EAs?
I am not able to see an offline chart with M9 period.
I have original synbar indicator in my folders. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks.
Author:  jago25 [ Sun May 11, 2014 7:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
This is not answering your question so sorry for that but since you mention M9 I suggest have a read of this to make sure you're clear on momentum bars. Just checking.

-> http://help.tradestation.com/08_08/trad ... _chart.htm
Kaustubh ยป Thu May 08, 2014 8:33 pm wrote:Hello,
Is anybody using this synthetic bars chart for live EA trading. Is the indicator working okay with EAs?
I am not able to see an offline chart with M9 period.
I have original synbar indicator in my folders. Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks.
Author:  Kaustubh [ Sun May 11, 2014 8:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Synthetic/Constant Range/Momentum Bars
Thanks for reply.
I have used range bars, renko bars and the synbars before and I use them for trading.
The problem with the synbar indicator is that the EA does not work on these charts.
The modified SS_RangeBars indicator posted in top post is supposed to create an offline chart for M9 period, however I dont see any offline chart with M9 period when I load indicator on 1 min chart.
Also I am not able to run an EA on synbar chart. Thats' the issue and wanted to know if anybody is running live EA on synbar offline chart.
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