This script functions as a visual "control panel" for technical indicators, allowing you to adjust specific settings dynamically using a slider-like interface directly on your trading chart. Instead of manually typing numbers into the settings menu and watching the indicator refresh, this tool creates a physical layout of boxes and markers that you can interact with to see real-time changes.
How it Works
1. The Visual Slider System The script generates a series of labeled boxes and numerical values on your chart. Each row represents a different setting (such as "K Period," "D Period," "Slowing," or a custom "Level").
- Boxes: These represent the range of possible values for that specific setting.
- Numbers: Above each box is a number indicating the exact value assigned to that position.
- Markers: You can move a clickable marker (an icon) back and forth across these rows.
2. Real-Time Interaction The logic is designed so that the script constantly monitors the position of your markers. When you click and drag a marker into the area of a specific box, the script "reads" the value associated with that box.
For example, if you move the marker for "Period%K" over a box labeled "20," the indicator immediately recognizes that input as your active setting. This happens instantly on every price tick, allowing you to see how changing a value affects the visual lines of the indicator without having to restart or re-enter data manually.
3. Dynamic Calculation Behind the scenes, the script takes the values selected by your markers and feeds them into the core calculations of the indicator (in this specific case, it is configured for Stochastic calculations).
- It only recalculates the data for the part of the chart you can currently see, which helps maintain the smoothness of the platform.
- It updates four distinct data "buffers" based on where your markers are placed.
4. Optimization and Testing Tool While it functions as an interactive display, its primary purpose is for optimization and backtesting. It allows a trader to quickly "scan" different settings by sliding the markers across the various values to find the "sweet spot" where the indicator performs best visually or historically.
User Guidelines
- Static Layout: Once the boxes are drawn on the chart, you should not move them. The script calculates positions based on where they were originally placed. If you need to change their location, you must adjust the internal settings and reload the script.
- Tick Dependency: The values update based on market activity (ticks). If the market is closed or "frozen," moving a marker might not reflect an immediate change until the next price movement occurs.
- Limitations: Each slider is limited to testing 50 different possible values to ensure the chart remains clean and manageable.
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Sliders
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Sliders Indicator |
//| Created by mimp |
//| Updated version posted Nov 2012 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
//| DISCLAIMER: Use this indicator at your own risk. Intended for optimization and backtesting only. Not intended for live trading. |
//| |
//| This indicator allows you to alter up to 4 values of an indicator (displayed in a separate window) by adjusting the location |
//| of markers in relation to a scale of boxes in the chart window, to be used like "sliders". Each box is labelled with the |
//| value which will be applied to the indicator in the separate window if a marker is placed within the relevant slider box on the |
//| chart. If you wish to change the way that the 4 values are applied to the buffers of the indicator simply add buffers as you |
//| would do normally, and then insert the relevant SliderValueArray[#] in the correct place in lines 440 to 460. |
//| |
//| The period will only respond to movements in a marker every tick. The code considers a marker to "be" in the corner of the |
//| marker selection box (where the little tiny square dot is). If you lose a marker, you will need to reload the indicator. Do |
//| not move the boxes once they have been drawn, because the markers respond to their original X and Y co-ordinates. If you wish to|
//| draw the chart objects in a different place then adjust these settings (in the Internal Variables section) and then re-compile |
//| and re-load. If you wish to use the indicator while offline or during non-trading hours (when there are no ticks), then simply |
//| refresh the chart every time you move the marker to a new period. You can do this by pressing Alt+C+R. Alternatively you can |
//| run a separate script which posts "fake" ticks to the chart window every few seconds, which can be found here posted by 7Bit |
//| and copyright "© Bernd Kreuss" http://forum.mql4.com/35406/page2#373533. |
//| |
//| NOTE: The buffer values for the visible window, and ONLY the visible window, are re-calculated when a slider value is changed. |
//| |
//| Permission granted to alter, copy, distribute, improve or otherwise use my code here (for personal use, not for use in sale). |
//| Thanks to phy (mql4.com) for the idea of only redrawing visible bars. (Code copied from http://forum.mql4.com/9594/page2). |
//| Thanks to mladen (forex-tsd) for helping to tackle updates per tick. |
//| Thanks to Drey (forex factory) for pointing out how to refresh by hotkey (when no ticks are available), |
//| (see http://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?t=267385). |
//*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
#property indicator_separate_window
#property indicator_buffers 8
#property indicator_color1 White
#property indicator_color2 Red
#property indicator_color3 Silver
#property indicator_color4 Silver
#property indicator_color5 White
#property indicator_color6 White
#property indicator_color7 White
#property indicator_color8 White
#property indicator_width1 1
#property indicator_width2 1
#property indicator_width3 1
#property indicator_width4 1
#property indicator_width5 1
#property indicator_width6 1
#property indicator_width7 1
#property indicator_width8 1
#property indicator_maximum 100
#property indicator_minimum 0
//#property indicator_level1 50
//#property indicator_level2 30
//#property indicator_level3 70
//#property indicator_levelstyle STYLE_DOT
//#property indicator_levelcolor Red
// External variables ----
extern bool UseSlider1 = TRUE;
extern string Slider1_name = "Period%K"; // Values for slider line 1.
extern double Slider1_from = 2; // Lowest value to be tested.
extern double Slider1_to = 50; // Highest value to be tested. Must be <= 50 values.
extern double Slider1_step = 1; // Increase slider value in increments.
extern bool UseSlider2 = TRUE;
extern string Slider2_name = "Period%D"; // Values for slider line 2.
extern double Slider2_from = 2; // Lowest value to be tested.
extern double Slider2_to = 50; // Highest value to be tested. Must be <= 50 values.
extern double Slider2_step = 1; // Increase slider value in increments.
extern bool UseSlider3 = TRUE;
extern string Slider3_name = "Slowing"; // Values for slider line 3.
extern double Slider3_from = 2; // Lowest value to be tested.
extern double Slider3_to = 50; // Highest value to be tested. Must be <= 50 values.
extern double Slider3_step = 1; // Increase slider value in increments.
extern bool UseSlider4 = TRUE;
extern string Slider4_name = "Level"; // Values for slider line 4.
extern double Slider4_from = 2; // Lowest value to be tested.
extern double Slider4_to = 50; // Highest value to be tested. Must be <= 50 values.
extern double Slider4_step = 1; // Increase slider value in increments.
extern color Slider1Colour = Red;
extern color Slider2Colour = Gold;
extern color Slider3Colour = Lime;
extern color Slider4Colour = Aqua;
extern int BarsToCount = 5000; // Number of bars back to be used in the indicator.
extern bool ShowCoordinatesOfMarker1 = FALSE; // Update the Comment() with the X and Y coordinates of Marker1
// Internal variables ---- // WARNING: The chart spacings may not automatically adjust if you change these.
int Corner = 2; // Selects which corner of the chart the X and Y co-ordinates of objects relate to.
// 0 = TopLeft, 2 = BottomLeft.
int StartValue_X = 50; // Default initial X co-ordinate for chart objects.
int StartValue_Y = 50; // Default initial Y co-ordinate for chart objects.
int Marker_StartValue_X = 50; // Adjust these following values up and down to move the objects in the chart window.
int Marker_StartValue_Y = 420; // WARNING: the marker will not update the period correctly if you
int Box_StartValue_X = 50; // move objects around the chart once they have been drawn.
int Box_StartValue_Y = 420; // If you wish to draw the chart objects in a different place
int Number_StartValue_X = 55; // then adjust these settings before loading the indicator.
int Number_StartValue_Y = 420;
int PeriodLabel_StartValue_X = 3;
int PeriodLabel_StartValue_Y = 24;
int NumberVerticalOffset = 20; // Distance of numbers above boxes.
int HorizontalOffset = 20; // Distance between boxes.
int MultipleLineVerticalOffset = 60; // The vertical offset for each new row of boxes.
int MarkerType = 115; // Windings number.
int MarkerSize = 20;
int BoxType = 111; // Windings number.
int BoxSize = 20;
string NumberFont = "Arial";
int NumberFontSize = 10;
color NumberColour = White;
string PeriodLabelFont = "Arial";
int PeriodLabelFontSize = 14;
// Program variables ----
int onceonlytoggle;
int marker1_currentvalue_X;
int marker1_currentvalue_Y;
double boxperiod;
int boxcounter;
int counter;
string name;
int counted;
// Arrays ----
int UseSliderArray[5];
string SliderNameArray[5];
double SliderFromArray[5];
double SliderToArray[5];
double SliderStepArray[5];
color SliderColourArray[5];
int SliderDigitsArray[5];
double SliderValueArray[5];
double BoxArray[201][5];
// Buffers ----
double Buffer0[];
double Buffer1[];
double Buffer2[];
double Buffer3[];
double Buffer4[];
double Buffer5[];
double Buffer6[];
double Buffer7[];
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
{
//----
SetIndexStyle(0,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(0,Buffer0);
SetIndexLabel(0,"Buffer0");
SetIndexStyle(1,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(1,Buffer1);
SetIndexLabel(1,"Buffer1");
SetIndexStyle(2,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(2,Buffer2);
SetIndexLabel(2,"Buffer2");
SetIndexStyle(3,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(3,Buffer3);
SetIndexLabel(3,"Buffer3");
SetIndexStyle(4,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(4,Buffer4);
SetIndexLabel(4,"Buffer4");
SetIndexStyle(5,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(5,Buffer5);
SetIndexLabel(5,"Buffer5");
SetIndexStyle(6,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(6,Buffer6);
SetIndexLabel(6,"Buffer6");
SetIndexStyle(7,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexBuffer(7,Buffer7);
SetIndexLabel(7,"Buffer7");
IndicatorShortName("Sliders");
//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
{
//----
counter = 0;
while ( counter <= 201 )
{
ObjectDelete("Box"+counter);
ObjectDelete("Number"+counter);
if ( counter <= 4 ){ObjectDelete("Marker"+counter); ObjectDelete("ValueLabel"+counter);}
counter++;
}
Comment("");
//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator iteration function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
{
// Redraw indicator buffers only within the visible window ----
for( int i = MathMax(WindowFirstVisibleBar(), BarsToCount-IndicatorCounted()); i>= 0; i--)
{
//----
// ************************************************************************************************************************
// Code in this section only runs the first time the indicator is loaded ----
if ( onceonlytoggle == 0 )
{
// Warn if more than 50 values chosen for any given Slider#, or if Slider#_step is set to zero ----
if (
( Slider1_step != 0 )
&& ( Slider2_step != 0 )
&& ( Slider3_step != 0 )
&& ( Slider4_step != 0 )
)
{
if (
( ((Slider1_to - Slider1_from) / Slider1_step) > 50 )
|| ( ((Slider2_to - Slider2_from) / Slider2_step) > 50 )
|| ( ((Slider4_to - Slider4_from) / Slider3_step) > 50 )
|| ( ((Slider4_to - Slider4_from) / Slider4_step) > 50 )
)
{
Comment("!WARNING! Each Slider may only be tested for up to 50 possibilities. Reduce the relevant Slider#_to value, Slider#_from value or Slider#_step external variable.");
Alert("!WARNING! Each Slider may only be tested for up to 50 possibilities. Reduce the relevant Slider#_to value, Slider#_from value or Slider#_step external variable.");
Print("!WARNING! Each Slider may only be tested for up to 50 possibilities. Reduce the relevant Slider#_to value, Slider#_from value or Slider#_step external variable.");
}
}
else
{
Comment("!WARNING! A Slider#_step external variable is set to 0.");
Alert("!WARNING! A Slider#_step external variable is set to 0.");
Print("!WARNING! A Slider#_step external variable is set to 0.");
}
// Warn if Slider#_to is less than Slider#_from ----
if (
( Slider1_to < Slider1_from )
|| ( Slider3_to < Slider3_from )
|| ( Slider3_to < Slider3_from )
|| ( Slider4_to < Slider4_from )
)
{
Comment("!WARNING! A Slider#_to external variable has been set to less than a related Slider#_from external variable.");
Alert("!WARNING! A Slider#_to external variable has been set to less than a related Slider#_from external variable.");
Print("!WARNING! A Slider#_to external variable has been set to less than a related Slider#_from external variable.");
}
// Set start co-ordinates ----
Marker_StartValue_X = StartValue_X;
Marker_StartValue_Y = StartValue_Y;
Box_StartValue_X = StartValue_X;
Box_StartValue_Y = StartValue_Y;
Number_StartValue_X = StartValue_X + 5;
Number_StartValue_Y = StartValue_Y;
// Set Digits array ----
if (MathMod(Slider1_step,1) == 0){SliderDigitsArray[1] = 0;} else{SliderDigitsArray[1] = Digits;}
if (MathMod(Slider3_step,1) == 0){SliderDigitsArray[2] = 0;} else{SliderDigitsArray[2] = Digits;}
if (MathMod(Slider3_step,1) == 0){SliderDigitsArray[3] = 0;} else{SliderDigitsArray[3] = Digits;}
if (MathMod(Slider4_step,1) == 0){SliderDigitsArray[4] = 0;} else{SliderDigitsArray[4] = Digits;}
// Set UseSliderArray ----
UseSliderArray[1] = UseSlider1;
UseSliderArray[2] = UseSlider2;
UseSliderArray[3] = UseSlider3;
UseSliderArray[4] = UseSlider4;
// Set SliderNameArray ----
SliderNameArray[1] = Slider1_name;
SliderNameArray[2] = Slider2_name;
SliderNameArray[3] = Slider3_name;
SliderNameArray[4] = Slider4_name;
// Set SliderFromArray ----
SliderFromArray[1] = Slider1_from;
SliderFromArray[2] = Slider2_from;
SliderFromArray[3] = Slider3_from;
SliderFromArray[4] = Slider4_from;
// Set SliderToArray ----
SliderToArray[1] = Slider1_to;
SliderToArray[2] = Slider2_to;
SliderToArray[3] = Slider3_to;
SliderToArray[4] = Slider4_to;
// Set SliderStepArray ----
SliderStepArray[1] = Slider1_step;
SliderStepArray[2] = Slider2_step;
SliderStepArray[3] = Slider3_step;
SliderStepArray[4] = Slider4_step;
// Set SliderColourArray ----
SliderColourArray[1] = Slider1Colour;
SliderColourArray[2] = Slider2Colour;
SliderColourArray[3] = Slider3Colour;
SliderColourArray[4] = Slider4Colour;
// Set SliderValueArray ----
SliderValueArray[1] = SliderFromArray[1];
SliderValueArray[2] = SliderFromArray[2];
SliderValueArray[3] = SliderFromArray[3];
SliderValueArray[4] = SliderFromArray[4];
// Marker creation cycle ----
counter = 1;
counted = 0;
while ( counter <= 4 )
{
if ( UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 )
{
counted++;
name = StringConcatenate("Marker",counter);
ObjectCreate(name, OBJ_LABEL, 0, 0, 0);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_CORNER, Corner);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, Marker_StartValue_X);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, Marker_StartValue_Y + (MultipleLineVerticalOffset*(counted-1)));
ObjectSetText(name,CharToStr(MarkerType),MarkerSize,"Wingdings",SliderColourArray[counter]);
} // UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 conditional end
counter++;
} // while counter <= 4 end
// Box creation cycle ----
counter = 1;
counted = 0;
boxcounter = 0;
while ( counter <= 4 )
{
if ( UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 )
{
counted++;
boxcounter = (counter-1)*50;
boxperiod = SliderFromArray[counter];
while ( (boxperiod <= SliderToArray[counter]) && (boxcounter<(counter*50)) )
{
name = StringConcatenate("Box",boxcounter);
ObjectCreate(name, OBJ_LABEL, 0, 0, 0);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_CORNER, Corner);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, Box_StartValue_X + (HorizontalOffset*(1+boxcounter-((counter-1)*50))));
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, Box_StartValue_Y + (MultipleLineVerticalOffset*(counted-1)));
ObjectSetText(name,CharToStr(BoxType),BoxSize,"Wingdings",SliderColourArray[counter]);
name = StringConcatenate("Number",boxcounter);
ObjectCreate(name, OBJ_LABEL, 0, 0, 0);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_CORNER, Corner);
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, Number_StartValue_X + (HorizontalOffset*(1+boxcounter-((counter-1)*50))));
ObjectSet(name, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, Number_StartValue_Y - NumberVerticalOffset + (MultipleLineVerticalOffset*(counted-1)));
ObjectSetText(name, DoubleToStr(boxperiod,SliderDigitsArray[counter]), NumberFontSize, NumberFont, NumberColour);
if ( SliderDigitsArray[counter] == Digits )
{ObjectSetText(name, DoubleToStr(boxperiod,SliderDigitsArray[counter]), 5, NumberFont, NumberColour);}
BoxArray[boxcounter][0] = boxperiod;
BoxArray[boxcounter][1] = Box_StartValue_X + 3 + (HorizontalOffset*(1+boxcounter-((counter-1)*50)));
BoxArray[boxcounter][2] = Box_StartValue_X + 19 + (HorizontalOffset*(1+boxcounter-((counter-1)*50)));
BoxArray[boxcounter][3] = Number_StartValue_Y + 7 + (MultipleLineVerticalOffset*(counted-1));
BoxArray[boxcounter][4] = Number_StartValue_Y + 20 + (MultipleLineVerticalOffset*(counted-1));
boxcounter++;
boxperiod = boxperiod+SliderStepArray[counter];
} // while (boxperiod <= SliderToArray[counter]) && (boxcounter<(counter*50)) end
} // UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 conditional end
counter++;
} // while counter <= 4 end
} // onceonlytoggle == 0 conditional end
onceonlytoggle = 1;
// ****************************************************************************************************************************
// Code runs every tick from here onwards ----
// Markers location check cycle. Checks the location of each marker and returns the value of whichever box it is in ----
counter = 1;
boxcounter = 0;
while ( counter <= 4 )
{
if ( UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 )
{
if ( counter == 1 ){ boxcounter = 0; }
if ( counter == 2 ){ boxcounter = 50; }
if ( counter == 3 ){ boxcounter = 100; }
if ( counter == 4 ){ boxcounter = 150; }
while ( boxcounter <= ((counter-1)*50)+50 )
{
name = StringConcatenate("Marker",counter);
if (
( ObjectGet(name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE) >= BoxArray[boxcounter][1])
&& ( ObjectGet(name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE) <= BoxArray[boxcounter][2])
&& ( ObjectGet(name, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE) >= BoxArray[boxcounter][3])
&& ( ObjectGet(name, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE) <= BoxArray[boxcounter][4])
)
{SliderValueArray[counter] = BoxArray[boxcounter][0];}
boxcounter = boxcounter+1;
} // while end
} // UseSliderArray conditional end
counter++;
}
// Comment X and Y coordinates of Marker1 ----
if ( ShowCoordinatesOfMarker1 == TRUE )
{
marker1_currentvalue_X = ObjectGet("Marker1", OBJPROP_XDISTANCE);
marker1_currentvalue_Y = ObjectGet("Marker1", OBJPROP_YDISTANCE);
Comment(marker1_currentvalue_Y+" "+marker1_currentvalue_Y);
}
// Cycle to draw labels to show selected values ----
counter = 1;
while ( counter <= 4 )
{
if ( UseSliderArray[counter] == 1 )
{
ObjectCreate("ValueLabel"+counter, OBJ_LABEL, 0, 0, 0);
ObjectSet("ValueLabel"+counter, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, PeriodLabel_StartValue_X);
ObjectSet("ValueLabel"+counter, OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, PeriodLabel_StartValue_Y+(30*(counter-1)));
ObjectSetText("ValueLabel"+counter, SliderNameArray[counter]+" = "+DoubleToStr(SliderValueArray[counter],SliderDigitsArray[counter]), PeriodLabelFontSize, PeriodLabelFont, SliderColourArray[counter]);
} // UseSliderArray conditional end
counter++;
}
// ******************************************************************************************************************************
// Update and redraw buffers with values selected by the sliders.
// Insert SliderValueArray[1], SliderValueArray[2], SliderValueArray[3] or SliderValueArray[4] in the places you require ----
// ** Insert your desired buffers here **
Buffer0[i] = iStochastic(Symbol(), Period(), SliderValueArray[1], SliderValueArray[2], SliderValueArray[3], MODE_SMA, 0, MODE_MAIN, i);
Buffer1[i] = iStochastic(Symbol(), Period(), SliderValueArray[1], SliderValueArray[2], SliderValueArray[3], MODE_SMA, 0, MODE_SIGNAL, i);
Buffer2[i] = SliderValueArray[4];
Buffer3[i] = 100 - SliderValueArray[4];
WindowRedraw();
//----
}
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
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