Create a Function Wizard: Select External DLL
Create an Entry/Exit System Wizard: Select External DLL
Modify Function Definition Dialog: External DLL
Modify Entry/Exit System Dialog: External DLL
This dialog appears in several forms to allow you to create or modify existing function definitions and entry/exit systems. This page allows you to select or develop external DLL files to provide the logic for a function or entry/exit system.
& For help with function definitions, see Calculating Values and Financial Indicators.
& For help with entry/exit systems, see Creating and Analyzing Entry/Exit Signals.
Using a Previously Developed External DLL
Specify the following values for the External DLL:
¨ Function Prefix
This value indicates the prefix for the group of functions in the DLL associated with this function or entry/exit system.
Ä Note: This is typically set to a short name for the function.
¨ DLL Name
This value indicates the name of the DLL file (without its extension).
Pressing the Browse… button next to this entry allows you to select the DLL file. This will update both the DLL Name and the DLL Location.
Ä Note: This is typically the same as the Function Prefix unless there are multiple functions contained within a single DLL.
¨ DLL Location
This value indicates the directory where the DLL is located.
Pressing the Browse… button next to this entry will allow you to select a different directory.
Ä Note: The default location for External Indicator SDK source code is the "\NeuroDimension\TradingSolutions\Function DLLs" directory in your "My Documents" folder. Files in this location display an abbreviated path of "..\My Documents\..\Function DLLs\". Installed functions may also be stored in the "Function DLLs" directory under the TradingSolutions installation. Files in this location display an abbreviated path of "..\TradingSolutions\Function DLLs\".
Developing an External DLL
TradingSolutions facilitates developing external DLL’s by including template generation and debugging directly from the TradingSolutions interface.
Ä Note: Developing external DLL’s requires the TradingSolutions External Indicator SDK Add-on be activated on this computer.
To develop a new External DLL or to extend the functionality of an existing External DLL project, select Develop External DLL. This will enable the External DLL Development controls.
¨ Compiler
This setting indicates which compiler will be used to develop the external DLL. Different selections will result in different templates being generated, as well as different behavior for the edit and debug buttons.
Ä Note: You will generally want to select the latest version of the compiler installed on your computer.
Ä Note: TradingSolutions does not include its own compiler. It is necessary to own and install one of the listed compilers in order to develop external DLL’s.
¨ Project Location
This value indicates where the project files are located for the development of this DLL.
Pressing the Browse… button next to this entry allows you to select a different directory.
Ä Note: This is typically set to a directory with the name of the DLL in the TradingSolutions Function DLLs subdirectory. It is not necessary to pre-create this directory.
þ Use Debug version of DLL
This setting indicates whether to use the Debug or Release version of the DLL. Selecting to use the Debug version changes the DLL Location to the Debug subdirectory of the project and enables the Debug DLL… button. Turning off this setting reverts back the Release subdirectory of the project.
p Generate Template…
This button displays the Generate Template Dialog, which provides various options for generating project and code files in the selected Project Location.
p Edit/Compile Project…
This button opens the development environment selected in the Compiler setting to edit the project in the specified Project Location. The development environment can then be used to edit or compile the project.
Ä Note: To update the Status window after any code compilation changes, press the Refresh Status button.
p Debug DLL…
This button facilitates the debugging of the developed DLL. For more information about this feature, see Debugging an External DLL below.
p Release DLL…
This button releases the DLL from memory after it has been loaded for debugging. Exiting this dialog will also release the DLL.
p Refresh Status
This button updates the Status window to pick up any changes in the status or project.
Debugging an External DLL
Debugging an External DLL is accomplished by attaching the TradingSolutions process to the Visual Studio environment. Once attached, you can debug your function by using it normally, such as creating a field or updating data using the function.
The Debug DLL… button provides you with options for attaching the TradingSolutions process to Visual Studio. It also loads the External DLL into memory so that breakpoints can be set within the code.
Debugging with Visual Studio 6.0
TradingSolutions can open Visual Studio 6.0 with TradingSolutions attached for debugging.
If Visual Studio 6.0 is already open, you can attach TradingSolutions manually by selecting the "Build" menu in Visual Studio, followed by "Start Debug", then "Attach to Process" and selecting "TradingSolutions".
Ä Note: If the project was last open to the Release version of the DLL, Visual Studio 6.0 will attach to that version of the project. This will cause you to not be able to set any breakpoints.
Ä Note: Once Visual Studio 6.0 is attached to a process, the debugging session must continue until TradingSolutions is closed. If you close the debugging session or Visual Studio 6.0 first, it will close TradingSolutions improperly.
Debugging with Visual Studio .NET 2002 or .NET 2003
TradingSolutions can attach to Visual Studio .NET for debugging.
If Visual Studio .NET is not already open, TradingSolutions can open it to the selected project.
If it is already open, TradingSolutions can attach to it directly. Alternatively, you can do this manually by selecting the "Tools" menu in Visual Studio, followed by "Debug Processes", then selecting "TradingSolutions" with "Native" debugging selected.
Debugging with Visual Studio .NET 2005
TradingSolutions can be attached to Visual Studio .NET for debugging.
If Visual Studio .NET is not already open, use the Edit/Compile Project button to open it to the correct project.
Once it is open, you can manually attach to the DLL by selecting "Attach to Process.." from the "Debug" menu in Visual Studio.
Entering Additional Notes about New Definitions
If you are creating a new function definition or entry/exit system and would like to enter additional notes about the definition before saving it, select Enter additional notes about this definition before saving it. This option will change the Finish button to a Next button, providing you with an additional page for entering notes.
Ä Note: The Notes page will be available when you edit this definition whether or not you select to enter notes at this time.
What Do I Do Next?
If you are creating a new definition and have not selected to enter additional notes, press the Finish button to finish creating the definition. If you have selected to enter additional notes, press the Next button to continue on to the Enter Notes page. If you would like to exit the wizard without creating this definition, press the Cancel button. If you would like to change any aspect of the definition before creating it, press the Back button to return to a previous page.
If you are finished updating a previously created definition, press the OK button to save your changes or select another property page. If you would like to exit from this dialog without performing any changes, press the Cancel button.
Ä Note: The Cancel button will not undo any changes made in the development environment.
Additional Property Pages
These dialogs have the following property pages.
This page allows you to specify the name, group, and basic description of this definition.
This page allows you to specify the external DLL file to use for a function or entry/exit system.
0 Inputs
This page allows you to edit and reorder the inputs for this definition.
0 Notes
This page allows you to enter notes associated with this definition.
& For help using property pages, see the help for Property Pages.
How Did I Get Here?
The Select External DLL page appears after the Specify Inputs page in the Create a Function Definition Wizard and the Create an Entry/Exit System Wizard.
The Modify Function Definition Dialog is displayed when you press the Edit… button on the Define Functions Dialog from under the Function Definitions list.
The Modify Entry/Exit System Dialog is displayed when you press the Edit… button on the Define Entry/Exit Systems Dialog from under the Entry/Exit Systems list.