Hello Lyn, I started using AB around 2-3 years ago with no prior programming experience except for some limited Metastock use.
So far I have been able to do the things I want to but I am not orientated to programmatical trading and I only use 10-20% of AB's capabilities. Tomasz has famously said that with AB you can do anything ... perhaps he meant he can do anything ;-) What language is AFL based on? I believe it is most similar to C++. Tomasz is a C++ guy. Can AB do Fourier Transformation? Yes, some code exits (search this forum or the AFL library). Fred Tonetti ran a discussion topic on it a couple of years ago. AB is a home away from home for algorithmic (programming traders) and many of the common indicators have been coded - look in the members area for the examples that Tomasz writes for S&C magazine. Where is the best place to start? I doubt if any two of us could agree but IMO drill in the concept of array processing, which is used by AB..... ... as explained in this section (per Mike's link) http://www.amibroker.com/guide/h_understandafl.html What I do is imagine, in my minds eye, that I am entering rows into Excel, via the AFL code. Then I work sequentially through each row and plot it as an indicator so that I can visually see what I have produced (I don't post much code but when I do I nearly always leave my 'debugging' sequential plots in place so that other lay programmers can see how effective it is to build up some working code, line by line). This sounds patronising but it isn't - it's the same advice I give myself.... experienced programmers under estimate the power of visual programming, via plotting, and also using AB's Explorer to output the results of code.... (advanced ABers use debugging and prettification tools etc to help with programming but I haven't progressed to that, as yet). At times you need to digress from sequential programming and that is when you need to understand the Flow Control section of the AFL manual. Is it fun? Most of the time but sometimes it takes you somewhere else. Should I read a programming book? I haven't but it would probably help. It really depends on what type of person you are... do you really enjoy it or not and do you have further use for programming skills .... if you are young then I would say yes because it will stand you in good stead somewhere else down the line. Best of all - go over and over the AFL manual and the functions. They are like painting with numbers so once you understand them then you are part of the way there. Most of all - don't let the heady discussions in this forum put your head in a spin - many of us will never match the top programmers who drop into this forum. brian_z --- In [email protected], "LB" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Thanks again for the reply. That those links will probably help a lot. > As far as what I mean when I say indicator programmer. > I am mainly talking about eventually being able to write my own custom indicators, and being able to see other programming and be able to change and hopefully improve on them. > Kind of like this site I just found last night while looking around on the web. > This persons stuff seems very interesting and I would like to be able to look at others stuff and put it in AmiBroker if possible. > This is the site I am talking about. > > http://translate.google.com:80/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://hk- lisse.daily- bourse.fr/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq% 3Damibroker%2Bfourier%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1G1GGLQ_ENUS283% 26sa%3DN > > Is his programing similar to AmiBrokers and would it be hard to put his stuff in AmiBroker? Not being a programer and new to this stuff. I have no idea. > Take a look when you get time. > > Thanks again. > Lynn > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Mike > To: [email protected] > Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 10:01 PM > Subject: [amibroker] Re: learning amibroker coding for indicators etc. > > > Lynn, > > I haven't received my copy yet. So, I am unable to comment on the > depth of the content. > > A couple of other more immediate references that you can access are: > > http://www.amibroker.com/guide/tutorial.html > http://www.amibroker.com/guide/video.html (specifically "How to use > drag-and-drop charting interface"). > > It is not clear to me what you mean when you say "indicator > programmer". Are you referring to writing custom indicators (i.e. > your own design for identifying/predicting market action). Or, do you > mean simply using the wealth of existing indicators built into > AmiBroker (e.g. RSI, MACD, etc.)? I suspect that you mean the latter, > in which case the links provided should be a big help. > > Mike > > --- In [email protected], "LB" <limit@> wrote: > > > > Mike, > > > > Thanks. That looks like something I may really need and can use. > I will order it this week. Do you happen to know how much indicator > programing theory the book goes into as far as understanding the > programing and learning how to program? > > > > Are you a good indicator programmer? > > > > Any other suggestions, from anyone? > > > > Thanks again, > > Lynn > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Mike > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2008 6:51 PM > > Subject: [amibroker] Re: learning amibroker coding for indicators > etc. > > > > > > Hot off the presses ;) > > > > http://www.introductiontoamibroker.com/ > > > > Mike > > > > --- In [email protected], "LB" <limit@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > I am new to AmiBroker, not really a computer person and know > > nothing about programing etc. So I was wondering, starting at > zero > > and knowing nothing about programing what is the best and easiest > way > > to learn more about programing indicators etc. in AmiBroker? > > > I am not really looking to become a programing expert, but > wanting > > to be able to understand what is going on in the codes and why. > And > > also maybe down the road be able to do some of my own indicators- > > codes. Or at least if I need something coded I would know enought > to > > explain to others what I am looking for. > > > Also what is AmiBroker indicator programing close to as far as > > regular computer programing? > > > I know in most stuff you start with the basics and work up. If > > programing is the same. Where and how do I get started the right > way? > > > > > > Any hints on how to go about getting general knowledge on this > and > > how others that started, knowing nothing did it, would be > helpfull. > > > > > > Also are there any here that do simple indicator programing for > fun? > > > As probably most do. I have a ton of ideas, but don't even know > > where to start. yet. > > > > > > Thanks for any help. > > > Lynn > > > > > >
