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Log of Changes and Improvements to Sierra Chart

This list contains major items of development, and changes and additions which users need to be informed about.

This is not a comprehensive changes and additions log. And it should never be relied upon for such. It only represents a very small percentage of the actual development being performed every day. The vast majority of development is not documented here. Or receives, one small comment after it is all complete. There are not version notes for each version. The main Sierra Chart documentation is updated as needed relating to the changes and additions.

The maintenance of this page has mostly been abandoned by Sierra Chart development for many years due to the difficulty of maintaining it and because users can be incorrectly misled by or misinterpret notes that are made here. This does not change, the development of Sierra Chart which is very active every day and new releases are made nearly weekly or several times a week. The Sierra Chart project is still very active, with extensive development and it remains a very high quality software in the world. The engineering is at the very top of the world.

• 417 Release Date: 2009-04-03

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  • When you double click on a Highlight chart drawing in the middle, it will move it instead of adjusting it.
  • Added new calculated values to the Chart Calculator Tool. These can be found under Global Settings >> Tool Settings >> Calculator.
  • Corrected a problem from the prior release where this error was given: "c_Chart::GetWndPtr: c_Chart object doesn't have assigned Window." This has now been solved.
  • Added the Automatic Trendlines study.
  • Added to the Time and Sales settings window, controls to highlight lines based on the specified price or volume conditions.

• 416 Release Date: 2009-04-02

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  • Corrected a problem with the sc.Parabolic ACSIL function where it would not function properly when used with the Watcom compiler.
  • Added the study function scsf_StudyPriceOverlay to Studies6.cpp. This function works like the Study/Price Overlay study. It does not copy all of the settings of the source study, as the built-in version. We have provided it as an example of how the Study/Price Overlay study works.

• 415 Release Date: 2009-04-01

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  • Corrected some issues that arose with version 414 with downloading historical data from the Barchart Real-Time and Historical Data Service.
  • Corrected a problem from version 414 with the Commodity Channel Index not being back compatible with existing study collections.

• 414 Release Date: 2009-03-31

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  • The Spreadsheet System for Trading study has been improved. There is now a cell that allows you to disable all trading, this is located in cell J28 and titled Disable Auto Trading. There are also 2 new cells that record the last DateTime of Entries and Exits. These cells are located in cell J42 and J43 respectively and titled Last Trade Entry DateTime and Last Trade Exit DateTime.
  • The ACSIL has a minor improvement. sc.PlaySound now displays a more descriptive alert line in the alert log. Additionally, Go To Chart now works with alert lines generated from sc.PlaySound.
  • Historical intraday data for the SC Real-Time Data (DDF) service is now downloaded directly by Sierra Chart instead of using the Barchart API.
  • Added the ability to quickly change the color of chart drawings. To do this, right click on a chart drawing, and select one of the colors from the Color submenu.
  • Settings for the line style and width were added for the Linear Regression tool.
  • Added the Save Message Log To File option in the General Settings that will save the log to a file. The file is saved in the Logs subfolder where Sierra Chart is installed to. The saving of the log is automatic once this option is checked. The file is updated every time a new message is added.
  • Added a new study collection for the Buffy Trading system named Buffy 2. This is installed when you choose to install the Additional Files in the installer.
  • When using the chartbook and window tabs, the active tabs are now highlighted.

• 413 Release Date: 2009-03-20

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  • Added support for Financial Advisor accounts trading through Interactive Brokers. To fill in your Financial Advisor information, select File >> Date/Trade Service Settings on the menu and go to the More Interactive Brokers Settings... section.
  • Removed the Immediate and Good Till Date/Time expiration types from the TransAct client because they are not known to be supported.
  • If the bid and ask are both the same as the value of a trade, then the volume of that trade will be split evenly into the bid volume and ask volume of the bar so that the sum of the bid volume and the ask volume will equal the total volume. Previously the sum of the bid volume and the ask volume had both been set under this condition so that the sum ended up being greater than the total.
  • A Zoom In tool has been added.

• 412

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  • The ACSIL Trading interface has been improved. A new member variable has been added, sc.GlobalTradeSimulationIsOn, that is set to TRUE when a user has enabled Trade Simulation, and is set to FALSE when the Trade Simulation is disabled. Another new member function has been added to modify orders. The declaration for this function is int sc.SCTrading_ModifyOrder(const SCString& OrderID, s_scTradingOrderInput& OrderModifications);.
  • Fixed an issue where the replay control window did not work on detached charts.
  • Added Good Till Canceled, Good Till Date/Time, and All or None order options to the TransAct trading interface.
  • Corrected a problem where if a text file did not contain the carriage return character at the end of a line, and only had a line feed character, the lines were not read in correctly. This applies to historical text files and when importing intraday data. Files created by Sierra Chart were not affected.

• 411 Release Date: 2009/03/13

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  • This version includes the latest TransAct API.
  • The message log can now be minimized. If an important message is added to the message log while it is minimized, the log window will flash in the task bar.
  • Corrected a problem from a recent release where stopping a replay causes high CPU usage when using Trade Simulation and when disconnected from the feed.

• 410

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  • A new member varable has been added to the sg struct for ACSIL trading, sc.SupportAttachedOrdersForTrading. When this variable is set to TRUE, the orders that are entered from the ACSIL trading interface will use the Attached Orders that are specified from the Trade / Settings Window of the chart in which the ACSIL study is applied to. This only applies to Buy/Sell Entries, Exits can not have attached orders attached to them.

• 409

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  • Added an option for the IB trading service to multiply stock data volume by the specified multiplier. By default this is 1. This option can be found under Global Settings >> Data/Trade Service Settings >> {Service set to Interactive Brokers} >> More Interactive Brokers Settings.

• 408 Release Date: 2009/03/10

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  • Added an Import function for importing a list of symbols from a text file, to the Global Settings >> Intraday File Update List window. Each symbol needs to be on its own line in the file.
  • Added an option for Simple Study Alerts to Evaluate on Bar Close.
  • This version has significantly reduced CPU usage. Especially when loading a large number of bars in a chart.

• 407 Release Date: 2009/03/09

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  • Corrected a problem from a recent release where some Trade Position related prices would sometimes not be set correctly for Simulated Trading. If you are using Simulated Trading, it is important to upgrade.
  • Automated trading now takes into consideration multiple attached orders when calculating the Internal Position with working orders quantity.

• 406 Release Date: 2009/03/04

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  • Updated interface files for Transact and the Barchart Real-Time and Historical Data Service are included.

• 405 Release Date: 2009/03/03

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  • Corrected a problem with the displaying of Compiler Output on the Build Studies DLL window.
  • Various low level improvements.

• 404 Release Date: 2009/02/27

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  • Corrected a problem with the Volume Weighted Average Price study where the last bar would produce incorrect results for the VWAP line.
  • On the Associated Symbols List there is now an Import button that lets you import symbols from a text file. Each symbol should be on its own line.

• 403 Release Date: 2009/02/26

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  • Created a new Buffy studies template. This is very fast and reliable compared to prior templates that were available.
  • Corrected a problem with the output displayed on the Build Studies DLL Window.
  • The problem with abnormal shutdown when using the IB service experienced by some users, apparently is due to extreme out of range trade position values received from the IB service. We now reject those values and this should resolve the problem.
  • When the connection to the TransAct trade server used for trading functionality is lost, a reconnect will automatically be performed unlike prior versions since support for the new TransAct pricing API. Working orders and Positions are also refreshed after the connection. It is important if you are using the trading functionality in Sierra Chart with Transact that you update to this version. Additionally, Transact has released a new trade engine file to solve some reconnection issues. That is available on our Support Board.

• 402 Release Date: 2009/02/24

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  • This version has new API files from Transact. This should resolve the problem where that data feed from Transact stops and does not resume. If you still have a problem be sure to let us know and we will contact Transact about the issue.

• 399 Release Date: 2009-02-19

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  • Fixed a problem with the Volume Weighted Average Price study that arose from a recent release.
  • This version solved the problem where some users would experience an abnormal shutdown when using IB. This relates to the code that processes Position Data from Trades. We are still in the process of determining the exact cause and have disabled position data processing. This will be reactivated in the next release. Therefore, in this release you will have to rely on the Internal Position data. Flatten and Reverse may not work.
  • Color Coded the data feed status window.
  • Added an associated symbol list feature for charts. This lets you add a list of symbols to a chart and be able to cycle through them on that chart. This can be found on the Chart Menu.
  • Added High/Low of Day study. This study will mark the high and the low of the day.

• 397 Release Date: 2009-02-17

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  • Improved the function for the Interactive Brokers debug logging.
  • Corrected a problem with the names shown on window tabs.
  • Color coded the data feed and program status window.

• 396 Release Date: 2009-02-16

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  • Corrected some issues from a recent pre-release where some menu commands and shortcuts were not working properly with Detached Charts.
  • Corrected a problem from 395 where charts were not updating in real-time.
  • Corrected a problem where the Start Market Depth Updates option was not always saved.
  • Finalized the development of three new options found on the Subgraphs tab of the Study Settings window for controlling the display of the Study Name, and the name and value for individual subgraphs, along the Region Data Line and in the Tool Values and Chart Values Windows.
  • Added Swing High and Low study.
  • Various other low level improvements.

• 394 Release Date: 2009-02-13

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  • Corrected a problem where the Profit Loss value in Simulation Mode was not always up to date.
  • Support for the new OEC Simulation environment API.
    
    IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR OEC USERS: If you are connecting to the OEC simulation system, you must upgrade to Sierra Chart version 394 or higher in order to use the OEC simulation system. Otherwise the connection will fail. To upgrade select Help >> Download Prerelease on the menu.
    
    If you are using the OEC production system you cannot use version 394 or higher until the OEC production system is updated with their latest API software.
  • In order to debug a problem some users are experiencing when using the IB service, we added a special logging feature. To enable this, use the command line parameter iblogging when running Sierra Chart. To do this, you may need to create or modify a shortcut to SierraChart.exe so that it includes this parameter. For example, the shortcut's target should be:
    C:\SierraChart\SierraChart.exe iblogging
    This will cause IB specific debugging messages to be added to the message log, and store the message log in the Logs folder where SierraChart.exe is located.
    
    If you experience an abnormal shutdown of Sierra Chart when using IB, please use this logging feature and at the time you experience the abnormal shutdown, provide the latest log file for support on the Support Board
  • When we get a session disconnect from TransAct, Sierra Chart will handle this as a connection lost and automatically reconnect.
  • Various other low level improvements including improvements to trading features.

• 391 Release Date: 2009-02-10

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  • This version has new API files from Transact. This should resolve the problem where that data feed from Transact stops and does not resume. If you still have a problem please be sure to let us know and we will contact Transact about the issue.
  • This version has also re-enabled optimizations for faster performance. They were disabled in version 388 due to some abnormal termination problems that a very small number of users infrequently experience when using IB. We are still looking into the cause of the issue, it may be something external to Sierra Chart. We did make one change that should prevent the abnormal termination. However, this is more of a workaround than a solution. We are continuing to monitor the issue from the very few users who are having it.
  • When you move either the Stop or Limit price of a Stop Limit order when in Chart Trade Mode, the opposite price will also automatically adjust to maintain the original offset. To enable this select Trade >> Global Trade Settings >> Chart Trade Settings on the menu. Enable On Modify, Use Constant Offset for Stop Limit Order Prices.

• 389 Release Date: 2009-02-07

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  • Corrected a problem with the drawing of dotted and dashed lines.

• 388 Release Date: 2009-02-06

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  • Improvements to the DOM Graph on the chart. The options for this can be found under Chart >> Chart Settings. To enable this select Trade >> Draw DOM Depth on Chart.
  • When there is a Chart Multiplier used, you can now enter orders using the Chart DOM as well and it will correctly interpret the prices you want (removing the multiplier). This is the completion of a feature introduced in 386 where the Chart Multiplier is removed with Chart Trading.
  • When a chart is scrolled back, and you are not on the very last bar in the chart, a red box is shown in the lower right of the chart. Otherwise, it is green. This is a change from the previous pre-release, where the study subgraph line labels were dimmed.
  • This version does not use optimizations. They have been temporarily disabled in an effort to discover a possible problem involving an abnormal shutdown that some users experience when using the IB service. These will be re-enabled in the next release. It should not cause any noticeable change. Chartbooks may load slightly slower, that's about all.
  • Corrected a problem from a recent release where the appearance of OHLC bars when printed had a too great of a width for the Open/Close dashes. Also improved the printed appearance of Bid Ask bars.
  • Added the float sc.GetArrayValueAtNthOccurrence(SCFloatArrayRef TrueFalseIn, SCFloatArrayRef ValueArrayIn, int Index, int NthOccurrence) function to ACSIL.
  • It is now possible for studies to draw into future chart columns that are beyond the last bar. The sc.Subgraph[][] arrays have 100 additional elements beyond sc.ArraySize. Those elements can be referenced as usual and can be read and set. They will be drawn beyond the last bar in the chart. To specify how many Data Array elements per subgraph to draw beyond the last bar, set sc.Subgraph[].ExtendedArrayElementsToGraph to the number of extended elements you want. An example can be found in the scsf_ExtendedArraySample function in studies6.cpp in the ACSIL_Source folder.
  • When replaying charts, the Bid and Ask value for simulated trading are now more accurately simulated. Bid/Ask data is now simulated by averaging the high and the low of each bar to have a more accurate estimation. Before, the high was seen as the ask and the low was seen as the bid.
  • Added support for downloading more historical data from the DTN IQ feed.
  • For the Renko Chart study, a Yes/No input to build the Renko chart from the High and Low values of the underlying bars instead instead of the closing prices has been added.

• 387 Release Date: 2009-01-28

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  • When a chart is scrolled back, and you are not on the very last bar in the chart, study subgraph line labels are dimmed. The purpose of this is to provide a visual indication that you are not at the end of the chart.
  • Corrected some minor issues with the Pivot Points - Variable Period study. And with the Pivot Points - Daily study, when referencing a daily chart, the support and resistance lines now will follow the set chart session times instead of going from 0:00 to 23:59.
  • Corrected an issue where a chart may jump back to the end when scrolled back to another position. This is an unusual condition that could occur when using custom charts such as Renko or TPO.
  • Added a command to the Trade menu named Draw DOM Depth On Chart. This will draw the DOM depth as horizontal lines on the right side of the chart. This is the first revision, and it will be improved.
  • More features to be documented soon.

• 386 Release Date: 2009-01-27

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  • Corrected a problem from 384 with ACSIL Trading functions not being able to submit orders due to a change to add a maximum position limit for Spreadsheet Trading.
  • Corrected a problem with the Spreadsheet System for Trading study where saved instances of this study would default the new input Maximum Position Allowed in Same Direction to 0 which not allow any order entries from the Spreadsheet.
  • When there is a Chart Multiplier used, this multiplier is removed when trading from the chart before orders are sent to the order system. Orders and Position displayed on the chart are also multiplied by the chart multiplier now. The Chart DOM does not yet support removal of the multiplier.

• 385 Release Date: 2009-01-26

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  • Corrected a problem with the TPO and Volume profile chart that arose in version 384.
  • Corrected an issue, from a recent prerelease, with the Custom Order Quantity cell when using the Spreadsheet System/Alert for Trading study, where the quantity would still be used when the cell is set back to 0.
  • On the Fills tab within the Trade Activity Log, the fields "Total Quantity Filled" and "Current Position Quantity" have been added for logging purposes.
  • With the Spreadsheet System/Alert for Trading study and the ACSIL trading functions, a method to Cancel All Working Orders for the symbol that the study is applied to has been added. For a ACSIL trading function, simply call sc.SCTrading_CancelAllOrders(). For the Spreadsheet System/Alert for Trading study, a new cell has been added titled "Cancel Working Orders" that will cancel all the working orders when set to 1 or TRUE.
  • Various options have been added to the Volume by Price study that enables the user to specify how they want the Volume by Price bars to be colored based on the Bid/Ask data.
  • The Spreadsheet System/Alert for Trading study has a new input Maximum Position Allowed in Same Direction that lets you specify the maximum position quantity the Spreadsheet System for Trading study will allow. This only applies when Allow Multiple Order Signals in Same Direction is set to Yes.

• 383 Release Date: 2009-01-23

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  • Corrected some issues with the Copy Chart Drawings from Chart # that could cause high CPU usage and abnormal shutdown of Sierra Chart.
  • When Graphical Displacement is set to a positive value for a study subgraph, then the subgraph that is forward shifted will be displayed in the fill space on the right of the chart, if there is a fill space displayed.

• 382 Release Date: 2009-01-21

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  • Direct support for the new Transact Data feed is now supported in this release.
  • Added the Murray Math study. Please provide feedback about this study.
  • Improvements to the Arrow Drawing tool.
  • Added new IB Setting named "Download Historical Data Always At 5 Seconds".

• 381 Release Date: 2009-01-14

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  • Corrected issues with study subgraph line labeling and study subgraph name and value display on a Region Data Line and in the Chart Values windows.

• 379 Release Date: 2009-01-11

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  • With the Spreadsheet System/Alert for Trading study and the ACSIL trading functions, the logic for Support Reversals has been changed. There were some initial changes made with Reversal logic made in 374. Additionally, in this release (379) an issue preventing order signals from being processed during a reversal condition, which arose in a recent prerelease, has been corrected. The logic has been changed so that when a reversal signal is given, what happens is that an order is given that will flatten the existing position, and create a new position which will have a quantity equal to the order quantity input or the custom order quantity specified on the Spreadsheet.
    
    Due to changes such as these, It is very important that whenever you upgrade Sierra Chart, you test any automated trading systems you might be using to make sure that they work as expected, before using them for live trading.