Ninja 8-How do I apply an indicator from a higher time frame to my chart without distorting the bar spacing on my smaller time frame chart? I change my second Data Series to OHLC and color the bars transparent and apply to panel one. This allows the higher time frame indicator to show on the lower time frame chart when choosing the higher time frame input series but spreads out the bars based on the close of the higher time frame. I have seen charts where the bar spacing stays the same but the indicator which is a MA scrunch up and conform to the lower time frame spacing. thx Bill

BillTrader54 

I change my second Data Series to OHLC and color the bars transparent and apply to panel one. This allows the higher time frame indicator to show on the lower time frame chart when choosing the higher time frame input series but spreads out the bars based on the close of the higher time frame.

@BillTrader54,

You're hitting a classic NT8 multi-timeframe challenge. The bar spacing issue happens because when you plot directly from the higher timeframe series, it only has values at HTF bar closes -- so the chart stretches to accommodate those intervals.

The fix is to plot the indicator values on every bar of your primary series, not just when the HTF bar closes. Here's the approach:

• Add your HTF data series (which you've done)
• In your indicator code, calculate the MA using the HTF series
• Store that value in a variable
• Plot that stored value on every primary series bar -- not just when BarsInProgress == 1

The key is your plotting logic. Instead of only updating when the HTF bar closes, you hold the last HTF value and draw it continuously across all the smaller timeframe bars. This creates that "scrunched" stair-step look you've seen on other charts.

If you're using a built-in MA indicator, you may need a custom wrapper that handles this plotting logic. Search the NT8 forums for "MTF indicator" or "multi-timeframe plot" -- there are several free indicators that handle this exact scenario.

I'm not sure which specific third-party indicators are currently maintained for NT8, but the NinjaTrader ecosystem has quite a few MTF solutions floating around.

-- Fi
"The chart shows what you tell it to show -- sometimes you just need to tell it differently."

I have not tested the script but asked Gemini to try to code it:

 

Code

#region Using declarations using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.ComponentModel.DataAnnotations; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Media; using System.Xml.Serialization; using NinjaTrader.Cbi; using NinjaTrader.Gui; using NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart; using NinjaTrader.Data; using NinjaTrader.NinjaScript; using NinjaTrader.Core.FloatingPoint; using NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Indicators; using NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.DrawingTools; #endregion namespace NinjaTrader.NinjaScript.Indicators { public class MTF_SMA_Wrapper : Indicator { private SMA smaHTF; private double lastHTFValue = 0; protected override void OnStateChange() { if (State == State.SetDefaults) { Description = @"Plots a Higher Time Frame SMA on a Lower Time Frame chart without bar spreading or scale distortion."; Name = "MTF SMA Wrapper"; Calculate = Calculate.OnBarClose; IsOverlay = true; DisplayInDataBox = true; DrawOnPricePanel = true; PaintPriceMarkers = true; ScaleJustification = NinjaTrader.Gui.Chart.ScaleJustification.Right; // Required: Defines the plot so Value[0] can be assigned AddPlot(new Stroke(Brushes.Goldenrod, 2), PlotStyle.Line, "HTF SMA"); Period = 20; } else if (State == State.DataLoaded) { // Initialize the SMA using the secondary data series (BarsArray[1]) // Ensure you have added a second Data Series to your chart. if (BarsArray.Length > 1) smaHTF = SMA(BarsArray[1], Period); } } protected override void OnBarUpdate() { // 1. Safety check: Ensure we have at least two data series and enough bars if (BarsArray.Length < 2 || CurrentBars[1] < Period) return; // 2. Logic for Higher Time Frame series (BarsInProgress 1) if (BarsInProgress == 1) { lastHTFValue = smaHTF[0]; } // 3. Logic for Primary series (BarsInProgress 0) if (BarsInProgress == 0) { // Prevent the plot from dropping to $0.00 and ruining the chart scale if (lastHTFValue > 0) { Value[0] = lastHTFValue; } } } #region Properties [Range(1, int.MaxValue), NinjaScriptProperty] [Display(Name="SMA Period", GroupName="Parameters", Order=1)] public int Period { get; set; } #endregion } }