Re: Need Help on If Function....

[Dave Nadeau <dave_nadeau@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ong,

YES, you can plot an indicator that starts somewhere in the middle of your chart.

To plot an indicator, Metastock will evaluate all variables within the expression and won't plot anything until each one is defined 
(i.e. "not null").  This can be an advantage or disadvantage, depending on what you are trying to do.  You can see this in action by 
plotting an indicator, say RSI(9) on a chart.  Look at bars 1-9.  There's no graph of the RSI because MetaStock can't calculate 
RSI(9) based on the data yet.

So, in this case, by using a function which is not defined until later in the chart you can begin plotting an indicator anywhere you 
like, depending on how you set the definition of your variables.

Here's an example:

CUSTOM INDICATOR

StartInd:=Cum(1)=50;
StartPt:=ValueWhen(1,StartInd<>0,1);
If(StartPt=1,RSI(9),0)

This example uses number of bars to set the starting point.  You can adjust the "StartInd" to be equal to 150 or 300 or any value 
you'd like.

Let's say you want to start the indicator when the close first crosses above 100:

StartInd:=If(Close>100,1,0);
StartPt:=ValueWhen(1,StartInd<>0,1);
If(StartPt=1,RSI(9),0)

Try these out on a plot, and you'll see that you can start your indicator anywhere you'd like.

Dave Nadeau
Fort Collins, CO


Dave Nadeau
Fort Collins, CO 



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