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I guess the "subject" pretty much says it all. I finally found the Formula Primer and have been working my way through it but, even there, the programming language is not specified. The first indicator in the primer uses the word "close" as a formula; but, the word "close" is not a formula. The word "close" is a second layer of assembly language: there's additional programming behind it that we don't see. If I typed the word "close" into an Excel spreadsheet, it would do nothing. What's the assembly language that enables my computuer to know what to do with the word "close"? What programming language is used to write the source code for MS?
I'm still in the beginner stages of programming. I've looked at the source code for some of the custom indicators on the MS forum and don't understand anything I'm looking at. I'm looking into taking some progamming classes to better understand the basics in general but want to focus on the right language (no sense learning C++ if MS is written in Visual Basic).
Any help would be appreciated!
Thom
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Thom,
MetaStock uses its own proprietry language, the MetaStock Formula Language (MSFL). The contents and syntax of the MSFL is contained in the MS Users Manual and you have found practical examples in the MS Formula Primer.
The term CLOSE ( abbreviated to just C ) is not a command in the MSFL, but refers to a specific data array, the closing price of a stock.
I wouldn't bother about taking any classes or paying anyone to learn the MSFL, just read the MS Users Manual, cover to cover, then attempt the MS Formula Primer examples. By the end of this process you will find you will have enough knowledge to get you out of most of the situations you might find yourself in with MS.
If you have done a little work yourself ie reading the manual and the primer, you will find the good folk here and at Equis support very helpful if you get a bit stuck.
As for learning other programming languages. If you ever get to the stage that you want to write your own MS add-ins then a thorough understanding of C++ will be invaluable; VisualBasic is useful if you want ot access the MetaStock File Library and make form based applications etc
wabbit :D
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Rank: Member
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Thanks Wabbit.
I'm working through the Formula Primer, but don't see examples that even come close to resembling the source code I've seen on this site for many of the custom indicators written by people like Jose. While looking at the source codes for these custom indicators, I don't understand what I'm looking at to enable me to change parameters within those formulas to fit my own uses—I don't know what the components are.
But, I will continue to work through the primer as suggested and see where I'm at when finished. The learning process is always daunting.
Thanks again for the response
Cheers
Thom
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Hey Thom-
Jose and others are Olympians (Greek Gods?). It isn't fair to think that their level of competence is where you should be after reading the formula primer. As Wabbit stated, and I firmly believe, it will be an excellent start. Afterwards, download and print out more complex samples and study them line by line. Soon you will be seeing things that you never did before. If you are having trouble understanding portions of the code, you will find that our resident gurus are truly the best educators that exist. They love answering questions in order to help others learn.
When you are ready, you might want to check out Roy Larsen's excellent newsletter. In it, he rips everything down to the elemental level and explains step by step what's going on. All in all, a level of instruction that exists in its own class. I couldn't possibly give anything remotely the same satisfaction score on my path to learning all about MS.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered, Registered Users, Subscribers, Unverified Users
Joined: 10/28/2004(UTC)
Posts: 3,111
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Was thanked: 16 time(s) in 16 post(s)
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Thom,
Noone here started at the highest level. We all started with the MS equivalent of "Hello World" and moved on from there. Just as if you were going to learn to any programming language, you have to start with the very basics of the language; get the syntax right and discover the perculiarities of each language. Its only then that you can start writing advanced applications.
Keep up the good work with the Primer and the manual, and I am sure you will be well amongst it in no time.
wabbit :D
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Rank: Member
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Thanks again guys.
I'm sure I'll have questions as I move forward; it's good to know, that those who know, are willing to pass on what they know (rather than saying, "No")!
Cheers,
Thom
PS — consider the issued resolved.
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