Using New Analysis window

Introduction

New Analysis window introduced in version 5.50 (first time actually in 5.41.0 BETA) brings the following improvements over old Automatic Analysis:

• multi-threaded operation = speed - new Analysis window uses all available CPUs/cores to execute formulas in many threads in parallel providing significant speed ups. For example on 4 core Intel i7 that can run upto 8 threads, it can run upto 8 times faster than old Analysis window. Exact speed up depends on complexity of the formula (the more complex it is, the more speedup is possible), amount of data processed (RAM access may be not as fast as CPU thus limiting possible speed gains).
  
• non-blocking operation - you can now view, scroll and sort results of analysis while they are still generated, also as user interface thread is not used for processing for most part, charts and other GUI-driven program parts are way more responsive than with old automatic analysis
  
• multiple instances - you can run more than one instance of New Analysis at a time, so you can run many scans/backtest/explorations/optimizations in parallel without waiting for one to complete
  
• slicker user interface - New Analysis window can act as tabbed document, can be floated, buttons can be re-arranged for better workflow. There is way more space for the result list, extra information about execution is provided on the new "Info" tab. Also walk-forward results are now displayed within New Analysis window for less clutter.

User interface

You can open New Analysis window in a number of ways:

1. click on the New Tab (+) button and selecting New Analysis
   
   
   
   or
   
2. File -> New -> New Analysis menu
   
   or
   
3. Analysis-> New Analysis menu
   
   or
   
4. right click on the formula in the Charts window and selecting Analysis
   
   
   
   
   or
   
5. from the Formula Editor, pressing Send to Analysis button
   
   

Basically the user interface for New Analysis window is functionally similar to old automatic analysis and looks as follows:

Basic operations

Selecting the symbol to apply analysis to.

Click on the drop down arrow in the Apply to combo to select operation mode: All symbols / Current symbol / Filter

Defining Filter

If Apply To is set to Filter, Analysis window will be run on the symbols that match filtering criteria that are definable in the Filter Settings window. To open Filter Settings window press Filter button

Defining date/time Range

Click on the drop down arrow in the Range combo to select range selection mode: All symbols / N recent bar(s) / N recent day(s) / From-To dates

The 'N' can represent any number. For example to define range of 15 recent days, select 1 recent day(s) first and then type in 15 and press ENTER. You will see the text automatically update to 15 recent day(s). Remember you don't need to type whole thing, just a number is perfectly enough.

Viewing reports / Running Report Explorer

To view the report from last backtest, click on the Report button. To run the Report Explorer use a Report button drop down menu as shown below

Changing settings / options

To change backtester settings click on the Settings button. To turn on/off additional options like:

• Sync chart on select
• Wait for backfill
• Auto repeat Scan/Explore
• Auto repeat interval

click on the drop down arrow on the Settings button to display the menu as shown below

Auto-repeat interval can be entered in the Interval field. Note that plain numbers (like 5) represent minutes. To get seconds you need to enter 5sec or 5s and press ENTER

Running Walk forward Test

Click on the arrow on the Optimize button to display the menu as shown below and select Walk-Forward

The results of Walk forward test will be displayed in Walk Forward tab (see bottom of Analysis window).

Displaying 3D optimization chart

To display 3D optimization chart, first run the Optimize that has exactly two optimization parameters and then click on the arrow on the Optimize button to display the menu as shown above and select 3D Optimization Chart.

Displaying Equity charts

Equity charts (portfolio and individual) can be added to chart windows using Portfolio Equity / Individual Equity options as shown above.

Exporting and importing result list

To export data to CSV file or HTML file use File -> Export HTML/CSV menu (from the main window). To import previously exported HTML file use File->Import HTML... as shown in the picture below. Note that these menu items appear only if you have New Analysis window active.

Running a sequence of actions

In addition to comprehensive batch capabilities AmiBroker 6.40 brings ability to run sequences of actions within Analysis window alone.

This new feature is not intended to replace batches but to augment available choices and allow "quick hacking" so you can run sequences directly in Analysis window without resorting to using full-fledged batches.

There is a new #pragma sequence(list of actions) statement that will define sequence of actions to be performed and a toolbar button "Run Sequence" to allow you to run sequence of actions via single click.

This allows you to say create composites and later run exploration that uses those composites all via single click on "Run Sequence" button

The code that uses #pragma sequence looks like this:

// the statement below defines sequence of actions
#pragma sequence(scan,explore)

if( Status("action") == actionScan )
{
   AddToComposite( .. );
   StaticVarAdd(...);
   _exit(); // quick exit in scan mode
}

Filter = ...
AddColumn( ... ); // exploration code that can use composites / static vars created in scan step