Support Board
Date/Time: Mon, 21 Apr 2025 14:41:33 +0000
[User Discussion] - ACSIL Tutorials
View Count: 2803
| [2020-01-22 13:55:29] |
| User94606 - Posts: 327 |
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Are there any tutorials available for ACSIL other than the reference guide: Advanced Custom Study Interface and Language (ACSIL)
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| [2020-01-23 21:12:46] |
| User94606 - Posts: 327 |
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What is the best way to learn how to develop using ACSIL?
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| [2020-01-25 05:48:10] |
| Merlin - Posts: 83 |
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I'm not aware of any good tutorials. Personally, I learned the basics of C++ programming from cplusplus.com. I had previously programmed in other languages, but never C++. I downloaded Notepad++ as my editing tool, then I spent time studying the ACSIL documentation on the Sierra website. But the most valuable study material is the source code that Sierra provides for the vast majority of its built-in studies. This source code can be found in the SierraChart\ACS_Source directory, in the series of files with names like "studies1.cpp". Having this source code is enormously valuable. When I start a new project, I still begin by finding a study that comes with Sierra that does something similar to what I want to do, finding the source code for it, then making a copy and modifying it to meet my needs. This saves an enormous amount of time compared to starting from scratch. |
| [2020-01-27 19:04:50] |
| Sierra_Chart Engineering - Posts: 19285 |
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Thank you for Post 3.
Sierra Chart Support - Engineering Level Your definitive source for support. Other responses are from users. Try to keep your questions brief and to the point. Be aware of support policy: https://www.sierrachart.com/index.php?l=PostingInformation.php#GeneralInformation For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, use the Teton service: Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing |
| [2024-08-02 17:28:47] |
| User413206 - Posts: 36 |
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RE: Post #3 I just started learning ACSIL, and I have to concur with Merlin. Furthermore, with the advent of ChatGPT, the learning curve can be flattened. If you don't understand a concept, write a prompt. Of all the large language models available (LLMs), ChatGPT tends to be the most mature versus others, such as Claude. ChatGPT is fully aware of ACSIL whereas Claude is not. I hope this helps any newcomers. |
| [2024-08-02 21:18:01] |
| ondafringe - Posts: 322 |
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Visual Studio 2022 Community is the best IDE, and it's free, yet people are still using Notepad++ as an editor. Go figure. :) Yes, yes, I know. There is an additional learning curve for VS stacked on top of the learning curve for ACSIL, but, IMO, it is well worth the effort. Actually, all you really need to know is how to get your project created and set up properly in VS so you can start coding. I've already been through all that -- and it was a time-consuming PITA! lol So if anyone wants to give VS a try, I would be more than happy to help you get up and running. Date Time Of Last Edit: 2024-08-03 03:13:51
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| [2024-08-04 01:26:18] |
| ForgivingComputers.com - Posts: 1042 |
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I first started developing ACSIL studies with Notepad++, but ran into limitations trying to debug with sc.AddMessageToLog messages. That's when I switched to Visual Studio and learned how to use the debugger. Tremendous leap in productivity. I also learned how to do version management with Git, and now Git is integrated in VS, so it is really easy.
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| [2024-08-11 11:15:38] |
| skalaydzhiyski - Posts: 71 |
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@ondafridge, I am running into an issue with VS 2022 Scenario: 1. build my .dll and copy to Data dir 2. load my study 3. everything works perfectly 4. while my study is loaded by sierram, I make a change and rebuild teh study with my target path in Data dir again 5. this time I get an error "cannot open file". I am pretty sure this is something to do with permnission of file locks, but I am really new to Windows 11 (prev was on Linux) and don't know how to fix these kinds of things :( |
| [2024-08-11 12:06:56] |
| User431178 - Posts: 652 |
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this time I get an error "cannot open file"
Three commands to be aware of: 1. Release All DLLs and Deny Load 2. Release Single DLL and Deny Load 3. Allow Load DLLs You can access via: a. Menu - Analysis Menu: Build (Build Advanced Custom Studies DLL Window) b. Control bar button c. Programatically via the UDP interface (e.g. powershell script) as part of your build process - UDP Interface I am sure that some kind person shared a script for item c on the support boards so maybe you can find it with search. |
| [2024-08-11 12:18:53] |
| ondafringe - Posts: 322 |
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@skalaydzhiyski See my recent thread on that here: How to Use Visual Studio 2022 Community to Develop Custom Studies for Sierra Chart Since you asked, a little later today, I will update that thread with the exact steps I took to solve that problem, and I will attach two Powershell script files you can use so you do NOT have to rely on: 1. Release All DLLs and Deny Load 2. Release Single DLL and Deny Load 3. Allow Load DLLs All the above can be done automatically, all from within VS. Date Time Of Last Edit: 2025-03-02 18:16:14
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| [2024-08-11 12:23:30] |
| User431178 - Posts: 652 |
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@ondafringe I am sure that some kind person shared a script for item c on the support boards so maybe you can find it with search. So I guess you were the kind person who went to the trouble of sharing the PS script for release dlls / allow load dlls. Thanks. Date Time Of Last Edit: 2024-08-11 12:25:59
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| [2024-08-11 12:34:35] |
| ondafringe - Posts: 322 |
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Others had this problem before me. Some of them posted their PS script files, which I pointed out in the other thread. But I believe they had to run their scripts manually.
Date Time Of Last Edit: 2024-08-11 12:35:29
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| [2024-08-11 15:35:09] |
| ondafringe - Posts: 322 |
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Ok, I just updated the other thread for you. How to Use Visual Studio 2022 Community to Develop Custom Studies for Sierra Chart Date Time Of Last Edit: 2025-03-02 18:16:40
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| [2024-08-11 15:44:54] |
| skalaydzhiyski - Posts: 71 |
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Amazing, thank you !
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| [2024-08-30 22:03:16] |
| User413206 - Posts: 36 |
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Actually, Notepad++ has one great purpose. If my computer crashes, it will cache my changes that I didn't manage to save.
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| [2024-08-31 11:34:49] |
| PS - Posts: 42 |
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@User94606, I started learning how to use ACSIL a few months ago, and am not an expert by any means, but I think my learning curve was on the faster side. Unconventional recommendation — subscribe to GPT Plus. Use GPT 4o. Search in the GPT store for “SierraChart The GPT” (made by another independent user I believe). I think it’s been trained on much of the ACSIL documentation. When prompted correctly, it’s able to code most easy - medium complexity indicators / strategies without a hitch. I’d recommend you learn to prompt, start prompting it with things you’d like to code, see if it works, and then learn how it was coded. A bit of a backwards approach but I found that immensely helpful. |
| [2025-03-02 16:41:49] |
| User153286 - Posts: 57 |
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check out sierra chat tutorial videos by Frozen Tundra Trader in youtube I think that is what's needed to get one going with this code base. I found tutorial 4 about how to draw using tool extremely helpful
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