Tomasz, Thank you for making it possible for customers like me who use AFL as a programming language to create trading "platforms". Every time you add some big or little thing that provides additional AFL flexibility to control internal functions, I am able to quickly expand my horizons with how I use AmiBroker.
Yes, I struggled when writing the previous post when I realized that even though I had been thinking and referring to the Z-order as "layers" for a long time, that term had already been used in AmiBroker for visibility layers. When trying to use only "Z-order", I struggled because, this implies a verb, and conceptually I wanted to convey the idea of a noun of positions. It can be visualized both ways -- as outputting plots in groups with the group order defined by Z-order parameter, or as implemented where each Z-order refers to a different Z-layer with its own buffer. I find it much easier to visualize it as different Z- layers on the chart. I come from a background in CAD and photoshop type programs where layers refers to Z-layers. I don't have all the answers, all I can do is provide some feedback from my experience. I think Z-order is a good term to describe the "action" parameter of the command, and Z-layers or perhaps Z-levels is the static "result" of executing the commands. Perhaps someone else has a better idea about this. Best regards, Dennis On Feb 18, 2009, at 3:38 AM, Tomasz Janeczko wrote: > Dennis, > > Thank you for the feedback. All your findings are correct. It is > very encouraging seeing new feature being > fully utilised in such a short time. > Regarding naming conventions - yes I try to keep the "Z-order" name > for new z-order feature > and do not use the word "layer" to avoid mix with old functionality. > So, I would like to avoid names like z-layer. > > In fact the drawing studies (lines/rectangles/elipsses) can use both > functionalities *independently*. > The z-order defines the drawing order (above/below), while the layer > controls visibility (on/off) depending on interval displayed. > Having two as independent controls was intended and provided for > maximum flexibility. > > If anyone has better ideas on naming conventions, they can be changed. > > For me "z-order" name represents actual functionality best. I have > some doubts regarding "layer" word, because > this old functionality actually is just visibility switch. > > Best regards, > Tomasz Janeczko > amibroker.com > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Dennis Brown" <se...@writeme.com> > To: <amibroker@yahoogroups.com> > Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2009 3:01 AM > Subject: Re: [amibroker] Plot() and z-order > > >> Tomasz, >> >> Thanks for all the layers. I have already added them to my charts >> (which removed a bunch of spaghetti code) and have generically used >> up >> all 11 already! >> >> Having plot Z-layers makes my AFL much more modular and the includes >> are more complete. >> >> I just want to confirm that Gfx drawings plot above Z-layer 5 and >> below Z-layer -5. This effectively adds one more Z-layers -- since >> you can't mix Gfx overlay modes in the same chart. >> >> It appears that shapes plot to Z-layer 0 of the specified layer (like >> intraday layer). Plotting text seems to got to Z-layer 0, as well as >> drawing text studies. Calling two different things "Layers" may >> cause >> confusion, so we all should stick with Z-order or Z-layer to make it >> clear. >> >> For those who might wonder what to use all the Z-layers can be used >> for, here is an example of how I apportioned them on my charts for >> now >> --all are used (and I could even use a few more): >> >> -6 Gfx mode 1 (I do not use) >> -5 Bg fill area 1 (used for multiple overlapping bands layer settable >> in each indicator) >> -4 Bg fill area 2 >> -3 Bg fill area 3 >> -2 Bg fill area 4 >> -1 Ovals/Rectangles manual chart highlighting (default setting) >> 0 Study lines (default setting), PlotText(), PlotShapes() >> +1 Upper chart Volume bars, Middle chart Volume bars, Trade equity >> histograms & lines >> +2 Under price bar shadow areas >> +3 Price bars/lines, -- stops & limits (plot under) >> +4 Signal Ribbon displays at bottom of chart >> +5 Lower overlapped Volume bars and Volume indicators, Volume and >> signal Ribbon grid lines >> +6 Gfx mode 0 (8 pseudo "Z-layers" of Gfx button arrays) >> >> The beauty of Z-layers is that the calculation order is decoupled >> from >> the plot order. >> >> The Gfx drawings do not have Z-order. It would be nice to have them, >> but since my Gfx buttons can all be drawn at the end of the AFL, it >> is >> inconvenient, but not too difficult to arrange for the fact that the >> detection order and the drawing order are reversed. It just means >> that it is not completely modular with includes, and a bit error >> prone >> from manual editing. I can live with it though. >> >> This is a major milestone for my charts. >> >> Best regards, >> Dennis >> >> On Feb 15, 2009, at 4:12 AM, Tomasz Janeczko wrote: >> >>> Hello, >>> >>> With regard to 5.21.0 BETA new functionality >>> "Plot, PlotForeign and PlotOHLC now have new parameter zorder which >>> defines the Z-axis position of given plot. (FC#257)" >>> >>> It works correctly for PlotOHLC and PlotForeign. >>> For Plot() function, the XShift parameter is incorrectly used as z- >>> order. >>> This will be fixed in 5.22. >>> >>> So if you need z-ordering for Plot(), please use PlotOHLC instead >>> until 5.22 comes up. >>> >>> Thanks to Dennis for reporting this. >>> >>> Best regards, >>> Tomasz Janeczko >>> amibroker.com >> >>
