Global Step

Here the Global step functionality is described.

The Global step highlights where the tab combination transitions from false to true. Here we exemplify when it may be beneficial.

Step

The Global step checkbox has exactly the same meaning of the already described Step checkbox for the elementary trading algorithms, but is applied to the whole tab, instead of a specific algorithm. It highlights where the algorithm resulting from the combination of the tab transitions from false to true. By selecting this checkbox, the algorithm resulting from the combination of the tab is true only where the original algorithm toggles from false to true. This can be useful, for example, to make sure to enter a trade as soon as possible, without waiting for a too late moment in time. Indeed, this tab is going to be composed with the other tabs. If this tab says to enter a long position, the actual trade will depend also on the other tabs, not only this one. So the long position might be entered later on, not right away. So you might find appropriate to enter a long position not whenever the tab is true, i.e. when it says to go long, but only at the very first bar when it says so, because later it could be too late.

Example

Let's make a very simple example where we have a couple of elementary trading algorithms combined together in the same tab. In the picture, you can see the resulting tab combination, with and without the step, i.e. selecting or not the checkbox. With the step active, the transition from false to true of the algorithm is detected. Notice how the surge is short in time. Acting at the very beginning of the uptrend might be fine, but acting later is definitely too late. Without the step, the long signal is true throughout the uptrend and even during part of the ensuing downtrend, but entering a long position throughout this phase might be risky. With the step, the signal to go long is active only at the very beginning of the uptrend, which is the best moment in time to go long. So in this example, acting only when the step is true might be the right choice.