cBot with multiple indicators

vmajor

I would like to be able to choose which indicators/logic my cBot uses to trade, similar to the Clickalgo Switchback cBot.

Presently I have 4 different indicators, and not all of them should be active for all instruments (maybe) but I am not sure which, and I am also not sure if this assumption is correct so I want to be able to test it without having to write 24 robots, or logic lines to test all the combinations.

I thus need to be able to selectively enable or disable each indicator, eg.:

[Parameter("Bollinger bands", Group = "Logic selector", DefaultValue = true)] public bool useBollinger { get; set; }

The problem that I am presently stuck on is how do I selectively use each indicator in the order execution:

ExecuteMarketOrder(TradeType.Sell, SymbolName, volumeInUnitsshort, robLabel, stopLoss, takeProfit);

At the moment I stack the position open logic in a single line, for example:

if ((Positions.Count < maxOpenshort) & (Bid > prcSelluppershort) & (cCyclecycleshort < 0) & (cCycletriggershort < 0) & (tsMaresultshort < Bid))

However I cannot use this way in an elegant way (ie. not write each combination out manually), I would need to hard code the 24 combinations.

Thus please let me know how, or even if I should try to find a more elegant solution for using multiple selectable indicators for position management.

Mike

Hi, Victor,

Your question is more an architectural design query and not really a coding question, you will need to design the architecture of your project before you start coding, this is how you will find your answer.

I will not be able to write the code for you or provide a solution, but I can point you in the right direction, so instead of helping you write your code logic, it would be better, in the long run, to start by learning design principles and you will be able to build more sophisticated algorithms in the future.

I find it useful sometimes to have an A4 piece of white paper and drawing down how the cBot will function.

The following resources may also help you

Example cBot Project
The following cTrader Moving Average project contains source code that will show you the type of design structure that you can also use in your project, it should give you some ideas of how you should implement your logic.

https://clickalgo.com/simple-moving-average-strategy

vmajor

Hi, thanks for that. Yes I actually had a look at the very same links while trying to figure out how to lay out the selection logic.

I know what I want the robot to do, but I do not know what solutions exist to implement the selectable logic, hence my question.

Also, thank you for your suggestion to go back to basics and actually learn how to code in C#, but that is a bit beyond the scope of my ambitions :). I will learn as I go along.

So, let's say I have indicators A, B, C, D, E each with a boolean state where at least one has to be true, what could be a way to implement this without having to manually write each possible combination?

Mike

Hi, Victor,

It's all about design patterns for coding, these patterns repeat themselves in many scenarios and there are various ways of implementing them. A Google search would provide the answer for you if you know the right keys words.

One method of solving your problem would be to use boolean flags where only one needs to be true.

Set a,b,c,d, e to false

var a,b,c,d,e = false;

Add your logic to check each signal independently and if true set the related variable to true.

a = IsMACDSignal();
b = IsRSISignal();
...

After the signals have been checked just do a simple OR logic on the 4 variables.

if(a || b || c || d || e) { // your condition is true; }

What are Design Patterns?

In software engineering, a design pattern is a general repeatable solution to a commonly occurring problem in software design. A design pattern isn't a finished design that can be transformed directly into code.

https://sourcemaking.com/design_patterns

vmajor

Thank you. This is indeed very helpful. I am just taking a short break from this project due to other priorities that took up my free time, and the fact that I am waiting to see if the USA disintegrates before I restart my robots.