Just so it is on the table, something like this is what I had in mind when I suggested a text or .csv config file for controlling output columns:
MetricName, ColWidth Net Profit, 30 Net % Profit, 35 Exposure %, 50 CAR, 25 etc. This is human readable, and easily editable in either Notepad or Excel. Offhand, I see no advantage to the end user in XML-izing this, at least so long as the presence and width of the column is all the info that is being carried. I think that this would be the simplest fully flexible solution, both to implement and to use. I would then add one new call in AFL that let's the user specify the path to the config file, allowing any of many to be chosen. --- In [email protected], Keith McCombs <kmcco...@...> wrote: > > As a user, who has already invested much time in learning AFL, I would > rather not have to learn yet another language such as XML (assuming it > is a language). What's wrong with an AFL function/procedure like > AddColumn() or AddCustomMetric()? In fact, don't we already have them? > > Steve Dugas wrote: > > > > I am glad you liked it. 8 - ) I don't know anything about XML or > > how that would work, but I would guess that most users would prefer > > not to write all their own stat functions from scratch, so perhaps > > your XML idea ( which sounds more flexible ) might be appreciated by > > more users? > > > > Steve > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Tomasz Janeczko <mailto:gro...@...> > > *To:* [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > > *Sent:* Monday, January 19, 2009 3:46 PM > > *Subject:* Re: Re[2]: [amibroker] Re: How NOT to show all the > > built-in metrics in the backtester? > > > > That's not bad idea :-). Either this or XML config file that you > > can manually edit would be solution for advanced users. > > > > Best regards, > > Tomasz Janeczko > > amibroker.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Steve Dugas <mailto:sjdu...@...> > > *To:* [email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]> > > *Sent:* Monday, January 19, 2009 8:17 PM > > *Subject:* Re: Re[2]: [amibroker] Re: How NOT to show all the > > built-in metrics in the backtester? > > > > Perhaps, if TJ doesn't plan on implementing individual column > > control, a much simpler feature might be just a switch > > allowing us to turn all columns on or off. Speaking for > > myself, I have written my own code for many of AB's stats, as > > well as other stats, originally for use in my charts but now I > > have added them to the backtest results also via the CBT, so I > > would be happy to just turn off AB's built-in stats ( would > > save a lot of scrolling and moving columns around ). Anyway > > just a thought, I don't know how others feel about it... > > > > Steve > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Herman <mailto:psy...@...> > > *To:* Tomasz Janeczko <mailto:[email protected]> > > *Sent:* Monday, January 19, 2009 4:43 AM > > *Subject:* Re[2]: [amibroker] Re: How NOT to show all the > > built-in metrics in the backtester? > > > > Column control was suggested long ago and I still think > > that being able to select, by disabling from afl (of > > course NOT using check boxes!) would be a good idea. I, > > without exception after each and every Backtest, have to > > use the scroll bar to see my columns of interest. I > > greatly miss being able to add/suppress columns without > > the use of the CBT. > > > > > > Since in the back tester column layout is fixed a simple > > afl function like HideColumns( 3, 2-9, 15 ) would do the job. > > > > > > A alternate solution would be for Tomasz to publish a CBT > > backtester on the KB that would mimic the standard BT but > > provided the above option. > > > > > > ... while on the topic of reports ... it would also be > > nice to have the AddSummaryRows() enabled for portfolio > > backtests :-) > > > > > > We have a wonderful product but there are always more > > wishes ;-)) > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > herman > > > > > > > > > > > > Sunday, January 18, 2009, 7:34:01 PM, you wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hello, > > > > > > > > "that no columns be displayed by default, and that the all > > columns and their widths be specified programmatically > > and/or in a settings page." > > > > > > > > Since there are 46 build in stats, implementing your idea > > means 46 new checkboxes > > > > and 46 edit fields (to define widths) > > > > > > > > That's 92 new controls (to be placed on dialogs, docs and > > so on). > > > > > > > > More settings -> more problems for beginners -> Lower > > sales. Plus more support > > > > (every beginner asking "where is K-ratio", and "why there > > are no metrics produced?" > > > > and "why there are so few metrics?") > > > > > > > > From my perspective it would not be improvement. Just the > > opposite. > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > Tomasz Janeczko > > > > amibroker.com > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > > From: Keith McCombs <mailto:kmcco...@...> > > > > To: [email protected] > > <mailto:[email protected]> > > > > Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 10:48 PM > > > > Subject: Re: [amibroker] Re: How NOT to show all the > > built-in metrics in the backtester? > > > > > > Ozzy -- > > > > Yes, at this point it seems to be easier to live with all > > the extra columns than to learn how OLE works. > > > > > > I believe, long ago, before the suggestion page was > > implemented on AB site, that I suggested to TJ that no > > columns be displayed by default, and that the all columns > > and their widths be specified programmatically and/or in a > > settings page. Obviously the suggestion was not > > implemented. IMHO, it would be a significant improvement > > over the present system. > > > > > > I did get your previous response. But I understand your > > concern. I had to post my request three times before it > > finally went through. My two others were on 1/14, 1:04am > > and 1/16, 1:39am. Just recently these were finally > > delivered. Yahoogroups can be unbelievably slow at times. > > > > -- Keith > > > > > > ozzyapeman wrote: > > > > Seems my response did not go thru. Reposting: > > > > > > Keith - did not get around to implementing any OLE. Living > > with the > > > > extra columns for now. But if I do write any code for it, > > will post it > > > > here in the future. > > > > > > --- In amibro...@yahoogrou > > <mailto:amibroker%40yahoogroups.com>ps.com > > <mailto:amibroker%40yahoogroups.com>, Keith McCombs > > <kmccombs@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Ozzy -- > > > > > Any chance you have already gone through the pain of > > implementing the > > > > > appropriate OLE code. If so, would it be possible to > > share it and some > > > > > brief instructions on how to use it? That would be > > greatly appreciated. > > > > > > > > > > Thank you. > > > > > -- Keith > > > > > > > > > > ozzyapeman wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > I asked this Q on the board a few weeks ago, and the > > consensus was > > > > "no". > > > > > > > > > > > > But you can export the report using OLE and run an > > exploration showing > > > > > > only the columns you want: > > > > > > > > > > > > http://finance. > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>groups.yahoo. > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>com/group/ > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>amibroker/ > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>message/132540 > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540> > > > > > > <http://finance. > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>groups.yahoo. > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>com/group/ > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>amibroker/ > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>message/132540 > > <http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/amibroker/message/132540>> > > > > > > > > > > > > --- In amibro...@yahoogrou > > <mailto:amibroker%40yahoogroups.com>ps.com > > <mailto:amibroker%40yahoogroups.com> > > > > <mailto:amibroker%40yahoogroups.com>, > > > > > > "huanyanlu" <huanyan2000@> wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > I just learned to add some custom metrics into > > backtester. But > > > > then I > > > > > > > find that some of the built-in metrics in the > > backtester are not > > > > > > > important in my way of analysis. So is there a way to > > show only > > > > some of > > > > > > > the built-in metrics , together with my added custom > > metrics ? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > According to the help file, it seems that the > > backtester object can > > > > > > > allow you either show all the built-in metrics, or > > not show any of > > > > > > > them . > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks for any help > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Huanyan > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
