hi could anyone help me please. i have the following problem: in the ref() formula one must use only constant data i.e. ref([censored],-1) or ref([censored], lastvalue(aaa) ) what should i do when i want to use different values for every bar i.e. a:=calculated value for each bar; ref([censored],-a) i cannot use ref([censored],lastvalue(a) ) beacause then only the last value is inserted into the ref() formula, but i need different values for every bar . i.e i want to calculate : (present value of the indicator) - (value of the indicator "a" periods ago) and "a" is different for every bar (it is calculated exclusively for each bar) thank you for your help

I think this topic has already been discussed on the forum.... have a look at the capabilities of the valuewhen() function and see if that can solve your problem... otherwise post yuor code and we will see if there is a better/alternate way to achieve your aim wabbit :D

kwadrat, Have you tried fitting, LastValue(Ind+PREV-PREV) into the solution? wabbit :D P.S. kwadrat, please post your code and we shall see if we can get this question sorted out once and for all. This could be a really interesting problem, but at the moment it is just a cryptic crossword with no clues! P.P.S. For any others reading this post, does the +PREV-PREV confuse you? Does this exceptionally powerful function need more explanation? Let us know.

What you have asked for, which most people call and ADAPTIVE Ref() function, is not offered in Metastock. Just to clarify, this means that the number of periods input for the indicator can be a DATA ARRAY. The Metastock version requires that the input be a CONSTANT. Allowing a DATA ARRAY as input (technically a time-series function) allows you to change the number of lookback periods from bar-to-bar. Another subtle use of an indicator like this would be to supply a VARIABLE as input (and don't go looking 'cause this is not a real data type in Metastock), even if the input did not change from bar-to-bar. For example, the use of "sin(10)" as input to the ref() function is illegal, because it is not a CONSTANT, but it is also not a DATA ARRAY that changes from bar-to-bar. But getting back on track...there are MANY, MANY uses for adaptive indicators in general, not just the ref() function, and not just for use as an end indicator. For example, an adaptive Mov() function is a useful end indicator, where as an adaptive Ref() function can be thought of instead, as a VERY useful tool that can extend the power of the Metastock formula language. Therefore, over the years there have been workaround to acheive a true adaptive indicator, but all of them fall short in some way or another. The lastvalue() function is a complete no-no, as it results in "retroactively" calculating previous bar's values for the result, which, of course, violates the rule that an indicator can not "look into the future"... The (lastvalue()+PREV-PREV) function is also not a good idea. It has never been condoned by Equis, and it has the following drawbacks: 1.) it is very slow. it can only be used once or twice (not in a single indicator, but over the entire set of indicators you have loaded). Any more than this, and it completely bogs down the processor. 2.) It gives INCORRECT results. It just plain gives the wrong answer sometimes. This is obviously a problem.

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