Max() and AbsoluteValue() in ThinkOrSwim

[Cribbage]

I've been backtesting a strategy for a while and realized I can probably automate what I'm doing with better Think Script. I currently use a study that tells me what percentage a stock moved above it's previous day's close. I rewrote the same study for the percentage it closes below the previous day's close. If the value is greater than 10% it changes color which makes it easier for me to manually test the information when I look back. This is the part I want to automate - I want to make 5 different versions of this watchlist columns (WLCs) so I can just pull up a stock from 5 days ago and the 5 columns will tell me what I'm looking for rather than manually entering the data.

plot PerMove = round (((high - close[1]) / close [1] * 100), 2);
PerMove.assignValueColor (if PerMove>10 then color.green else color.magenta);

The thing I'm getting hung up on is how to tell the WLCs which number to use. I want the column to return its value based on which ever absolute number is greater (I think absolute is the correct math term?). In other words:

Stock A's high was 15% higher then previous day, its low was -3%, WLC would show 15%
Stock B's high was 3% higher than previous day, low was -15%, WLC would show -15%

And preferably, if the absolute value of the percent move is below 9.5 I would like the column to be blank.

I know I should be able to write this but I can't for the life of me figure it out. Any help is appreciated.

 

[rad14733]

@Cribbage Take a look at the Max() function in the Thinkscript Learning Center... That should get you headed in the right direction...

 

[Cribbage]

@Cribbage Take a look at the Max() function in the Thinkscript Learning Center... That should get you headed in the right direction...

Okay, I see where you're going but I don't know how to convert the percent values into negative numbers. Obviously if the number is positive I don't have to worry about it, but is there a way to remove negative values from numbers so that in the case that there was a move >-10% it will show as being greater than any number between 0-9 that the other calculation my produce?

For example, if Stock XYZ's low was 15% lower than previous day close, and its high was 5% greater than prev day close, I want the column to plot the lower number so I have to make it positive in order for it to be greater than the high. Hopefully this makes sense and thanks for pointing me.

 

[rad14733]

@Cribbage Check out the AbsValue() function... While you're there, check out the rest of the handy functions there... You'll surely come away learning more than you intended... I still go through the entire Learning Center looking for ways to improve my Thinkscript coding skills but other times I just stumble across them while looking for something else...

 

[Cribbage]

@Cribbage Check out the AbsValue() function... While you're there, check out the rest of the handy functions there... You'll surely come away learning more than you intended... I still go through the entire Learning Center looking for ways to improve my Thinkscript coding skills but other times I just stumble across them while looking for something else...

Just what I was looking for - Thanks Rad. I'll post the final code when I get it working.

 

[Cribbage]

@Cribbage Take a look at the Max() function in the Thinkscript Learning Center... That should get you headed in the right direction...

Thought I had it, but I still have a hiccup - Since I want to be able to export it to a spreadsheet, I want the negative values to show as negative. I used the close to help me determine whether it was an up/down move and then color-coded. So I've got a working script, but if I export it I still have to go in and manually enter the "-" sign on my spreadsheet. Is there anyway to tell it to keep the negative values despite using absolute numbers to gauge what shows? For instance, is there a way to tell it to show a negative value on the "magenta" and "red" line. Or can I multiply the value by -1 if its magenta or red somehow?

Here's what I've got:

def PerMoveHigh = round (((high - close[1]) / close [1] * 100), 2);
def PerMoveLow = round (((low - close[1]) / close [1] * 100), 2);

Plot PerMove = Max (PerMoveHigh, absvalue(PerMoveLow));

PerMove.assignValueColor
(if close > close[1] and PerMove>9.5 then color.green
else if close > close[1] and PerMove<9.501 then color.yellow
else if close < close[1] and PerMove<9.501 then color.magenta
else if close < close[1] and PerMove>9.5 then color.red
else color.white);

 

[rad14733]

@Cribbage Here is an idea... Why not just test your conditions using AbsValue() but actually retain the original signed value for display and export...???

 

[Cribbage]

@rad14733 Because it has to choose between 2 values: a higher one/lower one. Unless I'm missing something, I have to tell the column to display either the high or the low. Can I use an "if/then" in my plot statement? I haven't seen this in think script before so I have no point of reference. I think I could finagle it if that's possible.

 

[rad14733]

@rad14733 Because it has to choose between 2 values: a higher one/lower one. Unless I'm missing something, I have to tell the column to display either the high or the low. Can I use an "if/then" in my plot statement? I haven't seen this in think script before so I have no point of reference. I think I could finagle it if that's possible.

You can use virtually any conditional logic in a plot statement, just as you can for a def... The only difference is that def only stores the result whereas plot stores and displays the result...

 

[Cribbage]

Thanks for walking through that with me @rad14733.

This will give you a day's percent move from the previous day's close.

def PerMoveHigh = round (((high - close[1]) / close [1] * 100), 2);
def PerMoveLow = round (((low - close[1]) / close [1] * 100), 2);
def AbsHigh = PerMoveHigh;
def AbsLow = absvalue(permovelow);

Plot PerMove = if AbsLow>AbsHigh then permovelow else Permovehigh;

PerMove.assignValueColor
(if permove > 0 then color.green else if permove < 0 then color.red else color.white);