Paul, I am pleased to hear good things about Premium Data (go the Aussies!).
If you are interested in some reading material enter #99927 in the message search box when in individual message view>click go and when message 99927 comes up change to group view. You will then be able to scroll through the topic from the top. It is a topic on script language. There is a link there in one of my posts to a down-loadable Microsoft file that I found helpful. Tomasz pointed out to me that it is not all that relevant to AFL but it still helped me to put some things in context. I only read one of the sections in the download as that was all I needed at the time (I think I read the JScript part; anyway whichever part is the easiest is the one I read). There is also a post there from Graham with links to some *educational* websites. The W3 site was handy. There is a lot of free stuff on the web if you need it. Go back to individual message view and repeat for 99213. It has the title of a basic programming book that I bought that I was happy with. After the first few chapters the penny dropped and I was quite comfortable with learning AFL as a stand alone language without reference to other languages. If I come up against any programming challenges later on I can always go back to the text books. BrianB2. --- In [email protected], "paulradge" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > hi Brian,, > thank you for your kind words and also thank you to Michael Mann as that one is also due from me,, > > Brian,,,i've now joined premium data and within their trial period,, and very happy with their very easy to use installation within amibroker of the data base and history and 1 click update of data,the cost is very good also compared to other providers and i'm looking at keeping both ASX and US data for my swing trading. > > i think Michael hit the nail on the head with his comment i'm trying to jump start the language,,,i've found a rose in amongst the weeds in the library thats more than satisfying to my current trading style so now i'm going to learn this funny language, > > i've watched all the tutorial video's and now into the other areas of reading about creating own explorations etc and actually doing the white belt stuff of aping the examples,,, > > so i'll put my dummy back in my mouth grab teddy and chuck him back under my arm after sowing his arms and legs back on and soldier on,, > > considering buying C for Dummy's to get a grip of the array business but will search around here see if there's something about, > > thank you for your post,, > no doubt i'll be back with more beginner questions > > warm regards > Paul > > > > > Subject: [amibroker] Re: Amibroker vs. other software > > > Hello Paul, > > I noticed your opening posts. > I was going to take them if someone else didn't. > > We all have to start somewhere. > One step at a time. > > Unfortunately there are not enough hours in the day for *the forum* > to answer every single question or give perfect answers. > There are a lot of us who would like to do that if we could. > > I highly recommend using the search functions to find stuff in the > group archives. > It is tedious but I have turned up a lot of good advice from that > source. > I would like to read every one of the 100k posts but I don't think > anyone will ever do it. > I simply search for answers to specific questions, especially > searching by function name. > I usually get my answer. > > O.K. > > If you don't know Xcel just learn AFL, full stop, although learning > a little about the basics of Xcel would be an excellent training > exercise if you want to go that way and you already own it (just > learn how a row of data is arithmetically manipulated and how that > flows into the next row (array)). > Compare that to the array example given in the help manual. > Tomasz is always mega-phoning the benefits of learning the array > concept, and for good reason. > I think there is some additional examples of array processing using > trading signals in the Houston lecture PDF file which is floating > around somewhere (this is slightly more advanced). > It will take time until it clicks but believe me it is not rocket > science. > If it was I wouldn't be doing it. > > Know your limitations; I don't try to trade like Fred, he's an Alpha- > Tech and I am not. > I trade like Brian.z123, end of story. > I did copy his Polynomial stuff though because one day I might try > to follow the logic and expand my repertoire or just learn something > that looks like it is hard for me to do (strengthen my weaknesses). > > Top up your AFL study up with a little background on basic > programming as you need it (available on the net). > > I advise downloading a very small database from Yahoo, say one month > only, and use that as your training database ( the DowJones > constituent list provided by Ami is perfect. > I use that for training. > With only one month of data available I can view everything I am > doing on the chart without scrolling. > For training purposes, try a function out, or try some code and then > plot everything you can think of that relates to your code so you > can see what the function/code is doing. > Use explorer to *print* the results of functions/code and compare > that to what you are seeing in your charts. > > That is how I learn and also how I design systems. > > Good luck, > > Don't be embarrassed to ask simple questions....the forum definitely > has a lot of time for sincere effort. > > BrianB2. > > --- In [email protected], "paulradge" <paulradge@> wrote: > > > > Graham,, > > that was a good read,,,for me,,someone with his > head blown apart but i know nothing of excel, > > P > > > > > > > > Sorry, I should have checked that I had replied privately about > this AFL > > The code was prepared for customers > > > > -- > > Cheers > > Graham > > AB-Write >< Professional AFL Writing Service > > Yes, I write AFL code to your requirements > > http://www.aflwriting.com > > > > > > > > > > On 17/10/06, brian.z123 <brian.z123@> wrote: > > Hello Jlami11, > > > > The virtues of AB are often extolled in this forum (along with > the > > vices) but I don't think I have seen a post that even goes > close to > > doing it justice. > > Tomasz is too modest to list all the good points in one place > > himself, although God knows that after 100k posts it is well > overdue. > > Here is my attempt that will have to suffice until bettered. > > > > > ******************************************************************* > > Conclusion: > > > > The bad news is that it takes a lot of patience to master > AmiBroker, > > especially for those who are not seasoned traders/programmers. > > The good new is that it is worth the effort. > > If there is a better program out there Tomasz would have known > about > > it a long time ago ;-) > > > > (If you are in a hurry skip to list at the bottom of the post). > > > > > ******************************************************************* > > > > An interesting question. > > As a relatively new Ami user I can empathise with you. > > Keep in mind that there is no *holy grail* of software or > anything > > else in trading. > > Also my only intention is to offer help to you and give credit > to > > AmiBroker where it is due. > > > > What you are really asking is; "Will AmiBroker be worth the > time I > > will have to put in to learn it, will I be capable of learning > it > > and what will I be able to do with it when I am competent?", > > (that is like looking for your glasses!). > > Ultimately you are the only one who can answer that. > > > > You need to clarify how serious you are about trading and > clearly > > state your trading objectives to yourself first. > > I am continually amazed by the number of people who come into > this > > forum and who, presumably, want to be winning traders, but > obviously > > do not have a winning attitude (I am not suggesting that is > you. I > > am simply providing some context to my comments). > > If that is the case they can not blame the software for their > > eventual and inevitable failure. > > > > > > My experiences may provide some guideance for you. > > > > I am a non-programmer, non-mathematician and a self-taught > computer > > layperson. > > I do not have a tertiary education. > > I am probably of above average intelligence but I don't know > exactly > > where I am on that line and I have no interest in finding out. > > Fortunately I do have abilities and talents of some kind that > get me > > by, althoguh I am not sure exactly what they are either. > > > > Four years ago I had zero experience in investment of any kind > when > > I set myself very high investment goals. > > I will rephrase the last part; I knew specifically what I > wanted to > > achieve as an investor (if the format would allow it I would > bold or > > underline specifically, as in, the % return I am going to get > and > > the hours per week I am going to get it in). > > After the intitial learning phase I also quickly identified > what > > investment styles I *believed* in and which ones suited my > personal > > characterstics and objectives e.g. I don't want to spend hours > > reading company reports, financials etc so I went away from > that > > type of trading. > > Once again I would underline *belief* and *personal > characteristics*. > > > > In short, when I bought AB I knew why I was buying it. > > At that stage I had already settled on *trading* as my chosen > > primary investment vehicle and I also had a definite trading > style. > > I wanted to use AB as the tool to develop and implement that > on a > > wider scale. > > I am continually improving and growing so I never say never as > far > > as trading goes but so far nothing I have learnt in AmiWorld > has > > changed my view on trading; it has simply confirmed and > enhanced it. > > > > I didn't know exactly what I was getting with AB but I did > exchange > > a couple of emails with support in which I discussed the > capability > > of AB in the key areas of my interest. > > My questions were somewhat naive, and Tomasz probably > scratched his > > head a little, but he gave me a professional reply. > > Specifically I enquired about customising my own stops and one > or > > two other similar questions, as I do not trade in anything I > don't > > understand. > > If I can code it myself I definitely understand it. > > > > I had also found that what passes as folklore in common > investment > > culture more often than not does not stand up to analysis, so I > > prefer to go my own way; no *canned* anything for me. > > > > My conclusion was that on the balance of probability AB would > do the > > job. I also formed a favourable impression of the > CEO/developer i.e. > > he was obviously no dummy with an exceptional empathy for his > users > > and that is an important thing when buying and using trading > > software. > > You have to have confidence. > > (That wasn't too bad an assessment based on two short emails > was it? > > Time has proven that to be spot on). > > > > Like all products, only long term ownership will provide a > complete > > answer to buyer satisfaction, so I went ahead and purchased. > > I am quite used to spending money on dead leads etc; that is > normal > > business practise and I consider it to be a part of development > > costs. > > I didn't hesitate to spend USD$199 on Ami. > > Like any business, there was no guarentee that cost would ever > be > > recouped. That is not to mention the intellectual capital > invested > > e.g. my first 2 trading years and $15000 were purely > speculative > > ventures, until I reached a point where I was able to prove to > > myself that, compared to the majority, I was quite good at it. > > > > For the record my trading disposition is objective, mechanical > > system, TA based, but I do keep an open mind and will snap up > > anything that works. > > I consider myself to be a developing trader. > > It is not something that can be mastered in a few hundred or > even a > > few thousand hours; not from my background anyway. > > > > > > I could write a book on the subject, and I might one day, but > to cut > > to the chase. > > > > I have used a lot of other market programs but my experience is > > lightweight compared to some in this group. > > I will benchmark my comments against the last program I used, > which > > was one of the majors. > > I was very happy with it in every respect until after 1000's of > > hours of commitment to learning it, I found it couldn't > actually do > > what I really needed it to. > > The backtester didn't work, at least not the way I expected it > too, > > and at that time my expectations were not as high as they are > now. > > > > I managed to jig around that problem by using the programs > explorer > > as a psuedo-backtester and exporting the results to Xcel for > > analysis. > > I was proud of myself, as a non-programmer, for achieving that. > > I set up four older computers with a KVM switch as my test- > bank and > > reeled off a few thousand hours of backtesting until I simply > came > > to the end of the line, fullstop. > > Why stuff around with homemade backtesters when there are > > professionals writing and maintaining them for a living? > > > > Hence AmiBroker, which incidentally was recommended to me by > the > > developer of a quite well known money management program. > > > > It was very hard to have to start all over again in a new > program, > > especially after being able to use the old one fluently. > > The first 3 months of Ami were very de-motivating. > > I found it to be a hard program to learn and I had to grit my > teeth > > more than a few times. > > One of the reasons it is hard to learn is that it has a lot > more > > depth and breadth than my previous program. > > That automatically demands more learning time. > > It also has a different business model to what most of us have > come > > to expect e.g the manual in AB is not a textbook that is > posted in > > the mail nor is it merely the help files. > > The *manual* in Ami is dynamic and offers a lot more than help > files > > but it is also less structured. > > It also leaves out a few bits and pieces here and there that a > lot > > of beginners would expect to find. > > I am comfortable with that but some people aren't. > > It is not a good system for beginners but it is a great system > for > > seasoned performers. > > Why begrudge them that; they are entitled to their place in the > > world? > > I guess in a way, that makes Ami a boutique program, although > I am > > sure Tomasz will correct me if that is wrong. > > My attitude is; "if you can't beat them join them". > > I am playing catch-up at a furious rate. > > > > > > My trading objectives are very high. > > I bought AB in the belief that it was the program most likely > to > > enable me to meet those objectives. > > I have had the program approx 6 months and have spent a lot of > hours > > per week on it. > > I don't have the definitive answer but so far AB has not > > disappointed. > > The ultimate responsibility is not on Tomasz's shoulders, it > is on > > mine. > > Initially Tomasz answered my *buying* questions and provided a > free > > trial. > > It was my decision to buy. > > Let the buyer beware. > > > > > > I am continually learning and improving so the things I want > to do > > in the future may well be different from my current > expectations but > > I am confident Ami will accommodate my growth. > > I have said that if I don't achieve my trading goals with Ami > there > > will not be another program, which is my way of saying that > Ami is > > good enough if I am good enough. > > I do have a cut off point and I will retire my trading career > if I > > retire Ami. > > > > I won't look back and list the negatives of other programs. > > I will not list the negatives of AmiBroker either (I am into > > positivity) although I will say it is not perfect. > > > > > ****************************************************************** > > > > My list of AB positives (not in any particular order): > > > > 1. price > > 2. *fully* customiseable > > 3. distant horizon (most traders will never exceed its ability. > > Those who do exceed AB's limits don't mind sharing their > > knowledge and Tomasz doesn't like coming second so that should > tell > > you something). > > 4. transparent and controllable > > 5. honest dialogue > > 6. ethical company > > 7. allows use with a wide range of data providers > > 8. cheap and free data options for those who need that > > 9. trading orientated program (truly for traders by traders) > > 10. trading friendships > > 11. trading mentorships > > 12. active forum with a sprinkling of diverse specialists > > 13. quick responses to program 'bugs' > > 14. 24-48 hour support > > 15. rapid pace of development > > 16. responsive to suggestions > > 17. extensive support material albeit hard to find at first > > 18. open architecture > > 19. personal contact with CEO > > 20. CEO accepts and answers criticism in public > > 21. trading specific programming language (you don't need to > learn > > C++ etc just learn AFL. If that is your first language it will > be a > > challenge but I am doing it. I only read half a dummies book, > > quarter of an online manual on scripting and a bit of > Wikipedia here > > and there and away I went. My prior formula language and > backtesting > > experience does help though). > > 22. the last market software program I will ever have to master > > 23. challenging > > 24. offers trading opportunities I hadn't thought of before > > 25. good rapport with and respect for the developer > > 26. provides easy access to basic fundamental data in formulas > > 27. provides access to unlimited external database (especially > > useful for referencing extensive fundamental databases) > > 28. cheap and reliable *industry standard* charting program > for > > those who just want that > > 29. time efficient (there are no unneccessary frills anywhere > in > > Amiworld. If anything there are probably not enough frills > depending > > on who you ask). > > 30. mature program (10+ years) > > 31. extensive library (official and unofficial) of popular > industry > > indicators etc > > 32. licenced to use on more than one machine > > 33. speed > > 34. 64 bit and dual core processors not a future problem? > > 35. backward compatibility not a problem? > > 36. has trading orientated functions the others do not have? > > 37. array based processing which is a very *commonsense* > approach > > for laypeople. Use is analagous to Xcel spreadsheet rows > except for > > more advanced uses where programming procedures like looping > come > > into play (when you can see your code output being written > into Xcel > > rows in your minds eye you are nearly there). > > I have spent a lot of time in Xcel prior to AB so that helps > me to > > step into AFL. If you are good with Xcel functions you will > > definitely be good with AFL. > > 38. industry standard *canned scans* are easily achievable with > > simple code > > 39. It is a very pragmatic program e.g I have 5-10 tasks on my > > advanced list that are industry wide trader breakers. I have > already > > cracked two or three of those in Ami without even getting out > of > > second gear and I am optimistic about the rest (Null data > handling, > > custom indexes and survivor bias are the first three demons to > bite > > the dust). > > 40. readily perform trainging examples and problem solve using > > explorer. > > 41. ASCII import for the data masochists > > > > In short it does exactly what the publicity blurb on the > homepage > > says it will do, and more! > > > > > > There are probably additional postives but a mint tea and a > bowl of > > muesli is calling. > > > > BrianB2. =8-) > > > > P.S Tomasz, this doesn't provide you future immunity from my > > withering critiques. > > > > --- In [email protected], "jlami11" <jlami11@> wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > I just wanted to know how Amibroker compares to other > software. > > > > > > In particular I heard tradingblox was pretty good and could > do > > alot, > > > while requiring less programming. Or would programming > required be > > the > > > same if more advanced functions were needed e.g. dynamic pos > > sizing, > > > dynamic risk control etc etc. > > > > > > Has anyone used tradingblox? and if Amibroker and > Tradingblox were > > the > > > same price, which one would you prefer? > > > > > > Lastly is Amibroker generally superior to other software? I > ask > > this > > > as I come from a non-programming background and would not be > easy > > for > > > me to adapt to diff. software in future. > > > > > > Thanks in advance any help is appreciated. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between users > only. > > > > To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail directly to > > SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com > > > > For other support material please check also: > > http://www.amibroker.com/support.html > > > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > Please note that this group is for discussion between users only. To get support from AmiBroker please send an e-mail directly to SUPPORT {at} amibroker.com For other support material please check also: http://www.amibroker.com/support.html Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
