Logo Compose your trading system through a user friendly
graphical interface and see when to go long, short or liquidate.

Composer User Interface

Learn how to use the Graphical User Interface (GUI) in Trading Conceiver in order to design your own trading system.

Here only the Graphical User Interface is described. For explanations about the various features, see the relevant sections in the manual.

The six tabs where to specify when to start a long or a short trade, or when to liquidate it and the stop loss and take profit levels are introduced; together with their logical operators permitting to combine different algorithms. Moreover, all the graphical controls to manipulate the output of the algorithms and to define the strategy, like when to trade within the single bars or options for trailing stop loss, are presented. The window where to disambiguate ambiguous cases is shown. Finally, how to save the configuration is pointed out.

GUI

Select the Composer tab

Select the Composer tab

In the main window of Trading Conceiver, select the tab

  Composer

Sections

Here are the main sections of the Composer user interface:

Sections

The Composer Tree

The list of implemented algorithms is presented in a tree-like structure. To expand or collapse a branch, either double click on it or click on its handle.
Tree's Branches
The tree has the following main branches:
  • Technical indicators based
    Algorithms based on technical indicators. You can find the corresponding indicators in the Indicators tab.
  • Patterns
    Algorithms based on pattern recognition.
  • Candlesticks
    Algorithms based on candlestick pattern recognition.
  • Stop Loss
    Algorithms to be used as stop loss.
  • Take profit
    Algorithms to be used as take profit.
The Technical indicators based Sub-Branches
Technical indicators based sub-branches For the definition of base indicator and derived indicator, please see the Indicators section of the user manual. The Technical indicators based branch is further divided into branches. Each branch correspond to a base indicator. In each of these sub-branches, there is the list of elementary trading algorithms dependent on such base indicator and its derived indicators.
Multi-Curve Indicators
Multi-Curve Indicators To render the elementary trading algorithms more standardized, for those indicators consisting of more than one significant curve, the algorithms are further divided into sub-branches, one sub-branch for each curve. A typical example are channels and bands indicators, like the Bollinger Bands, the Keltner Channels and so on. They have a branch for the lower line and another branch for the upper line. Another example is the ADX in its ±DI forms.
Intraday Algorithms
Algorithms operating not only at Close, but also intradaily, appear in blue, to make them readily recognizable.
Select an Algorithm
By expanding the branches, at the end the leaves are found, where the actual algorithms lie. To select an algorithm, click on it. Some leaves are left empty, for readability purposes. Other leaves contain titles or dividers, again for improved readability.
Collapse the Whole Tree
Collapse the tree After a while you could find to have expanded a lot of branches and want to collapse the whole tree. In order to do that, click on the tree icon in the main tool-bar.
Resize the Tree Pane
Collapse the Indicators tree pane You can resize the tree pane, vertically or horizontally, by dragging the dividers on its sides. You can even collapse the whole pane containing the tree, vertically or horizontally, by clicking on the small arrows of the dividers; to expand it, click on the arrows again.

The Description Pane

The Description Pane When you select an algorithm, a brief description of it appears in the description pane, at the bottom.
Introduction / Definition
A brief introduction or definition comes first.
Interpretation
Here you can find how to interpret the algorithm. The interpretation can stem from the indicator per se or from the trading algorithm. If it depends on the algorithm, you will find similar interpretation for the same algorithm, independently from the indicator. On the other hand, if it depends on the indicator, it is based on literature. In this case, we stress that these are just notes about what you can find in the literature. Do not stick to it! The real interpretation is up to you.
Literature Signals
This is what literature usually says about the phase of the market implied by the indicator, like uptrend, downtrend or congestion. Do NOT rely on the signals listed here! Decisions are up to you! These are only notes / remainders of what you can find in bibliography. Any decision is legitimate, even the exact opposite of what is reported by reputable authors. Moreover, a single indicator seldom can give reliable signals; these must always be confirmed by other indicators.
Hint / Note
Here some notes might be reported.
Used Indicators
All algorithms depend on indicators. Those indicators are pointed out here, in form of links. Click the link to go to the description of the relevant indicator, in the Indicators tab.
Parameters
Most algorithms require input parameters from the user. If the meaning or range of such parameters is not readily clear from the description or from the formulae, some elucidation could be reported in this section. Usually, it is not reported for the lookback period, because it is trivial.
Boolean logic
The Boolean logic states the conditions under which an algorithm is true.

The Tabs

There are 6 tabs:
  • Long
    Here you specify when to go long.
  • Short
    Here you specify when to go short.
  • Liquidate long
    Here you specify when to liquidate the long position.
  • Liquidate short
    Here you specify when to liquidate the short position.
  • Stop loss
    Here you specify the stop loss.
  • Take profit
    Here you specify the take profit.
The tabs for long, short and liquidate are all equal, while the ones for stop loss and take profit differ slightly.
Long, Short and Liquidate Tabs
Long, Short and Liquidate Tabs Each tab consists of the following.
Slots
Four slots, similar to those of the indicators. Here you put the elementary trading algorithms you want to consider.
Logical Operators
Here you select how to combine the elementary trading algorithms, by selecting the logical operator between them. The logical operators are:
  • AND
    All conditions must be met.
  • OR
    It is enough that just one condition is met.
  • At least 2
    At least 2 conditions must be met.
  • At least 3
    At least 3 conditions must be met.
Parentheses
Through the use of parentheses you assert the precedence order in which the logical operators are calculated. If the parentheses are unmatched, a warning is issued.
Global step
By selecting this checkbox, you consider the whole tab boolean logic to be true only when it switches from false to true.
Stop Loss and Take Profit Tabs
Long, Short and Liquidate Tabs The stop loss and take profit tabs are very similar to the one described. However, they are divided into two sections. The top section is dedicated to the stop loss (or take profit) algorithms. You can put in here only the algorithms in the Stop loss (or Take profit) branch of the tree. These are the 'real' stop loss (take profit) algorithms. The bottom section is dedicated to the 'standard' elementary trading algorithms, the ones found in the following branches of the tree:
  • Technical indicators based
  • Patterns
  • Candlesticks
This has been designed so that stop loss (take profit) algorithms can be affected by some other conditions. The section is further divided into two sub-tabs: 
  Long
  Short
The stop loss (take profit) algorithms are combined with the Long tab when a long position is under way, and with the Short tab when a short position is opened. If you don't want to distinguish between long and short trades, deselect the checkbox 
  Distinguish long / short
In this case, only one tab is enabled, both for long and short positions.
Non-Empty Tabs
Non-Empty Tabs If a tab has at least one slot filled in, a graphical dot is added near its name. This is to have a clear and immediate view of which tabs are being used, because they contain at least one algorithm. Empty tabs do not have the dot.

The Slots

The Slots Each slot consists of the following.
The Selection Buttons
When you press the selection button, the correspondent slot is filled in with the algorithm selected in the tree. This way the algorithm is effectively selected. These buttons are enabled only when the right branch (or sub-branch or leaf) in the Composer Tree is selected. For instance, if a stop loss is selected in the tree, only the top two buttons in the stop loss tab are enabled. So, first select the algorithm of your choice in the tree, then press one of the selection buttons to put it in the corresponding slot.
Algorithm Name
Algorithm Name The algorithm name is shown on top. If you hover the mouse over it, the description of the algorithm is shown as a tooltip.
Combobox
Combobox Input parameters are given default values just for convenience. Do not rely on those. Choose your own. To choose the value for an input parameter, first select it through the combobox.
Spinner
After selecting the input parameter in the combobox, you can choose its value thorough the spinner. You can input the new value manually, and then pressing the 'Enter' key. Or you can increment / decrement the value by pressing the up / down arrows, respectively. If the number is an integer, the increment is by 1. If the number is a floating-point number, the increment is by 0.1. The spinner makes sure some constraints are satisfied, like the lower and upper bounds for each parameter. Usually you can find such bounds in the Parameters section of the description. You cannot input values colliding with the constraints.
Input Parameters Values
Input Parameters Values In this text-field you can see all the input parameters. If you hover the mouse over this field, a tooltip with the names of the input parameters appears. The order is the same as in the combobox.
Reset Button
Press the Reset button to clear the slot.
Checkboxes
Checkboxes, associated to each slot, change the behavior of the algorithm. Trading algorithms have the following checkboxes:
  • NOT
    This inverts the boolean logic, transforming true in false and vice versa.
  • Step
    This changes the boolean logic to be true only when it switches from false to true.
  • Extend
    This 'extends' the close value, making it valid even for the next open and intraday.
Stop losses have the following checkbox:
  • Trailing
    If checked, the stop loss is trailing, i.e. 'follows' the price.
The take profit algorithms don't have checkboxes.
The Intraday Label
For algorithms operating not only at Close, but also intradaily, an 'i' appears, signaling that.

When to Trade Radio Buttons

When to Trade Through these radio buttons, you can decide when to trade:
  • At open, threshold and close
    Trading signals are given at open, intradaily and at close. This is the most powerful, but also the most complicated.
  • Only at close (consider only close)
    Calculations are made only at close.
  • Only at close (shift to close)
    Calculations are made intradaily, but trading signals are given only at close.
  • Only at (next) open
    Calculations are made intradaily, but trading signals are given only at open.

Liquidate Checkboxes

Liquidate checkboxes
Distinguish Long and Short Positions
When the checkbox 
  Distinguish long / short
is checked, you can use different algorithms for liquidating a long or a short position. Both the
  • Liquidate long
  • Liquidate short
tabs are enabled. If unchecked, only one liquidate tab is enabled, and it controls the liquidate behavior both for long and for short positions.
Create Liquidate Automatically
If you want to specify only when to go long and short, implying that when neither the tab Long nor the tab Short are true, it means to liquidate the position, you can select the checkbox 
  Liquidate if not long nor short
This will create, internally, a liquidate condition, which is true whenever the tabs Long and Short are both false. In this case, both the liquidate tabs are disabled.

Make congruent in tab Checkbox

Liquidate checkboxes If a trading algorithm operates only at close, it means that at open and at threshold it is undefined. When combining it, within the same tab, with an algorithm that is defined even at open and threshold, this checkbox selects how to make them congruent:
  • Checked
    Only close is considered.
  • Unchecked
    The algorithm operating even at open and threshold is modified, so that all signals are 'shifted' from open and threshold to close.

Trailing stop loss follows Radio Buttons

Trailing stop loss follows radio buttons Trailing stop loss algorithms follow the price. Here you can select exactly what price:

  • Close
    This is the standard in literature.

  • HL average
    The average between high and low: 
    
                high + low
  HL average = ────────────
                    2

  • Typical price
    The average between high, low and close: 
    
                   high + low + close
  Typical Price = ────────────────────
                           3

  • OHLC average
    The average between open, high, low and close: 
    
                  open + high + low + close
  OHLC Average = ───────────────────────────
                              4

  • High for Long / Low for Short
    That is high price for long positions and low price for short positions.

  • Low for Long / High for Short
    That is low price for long positions and high price for short positions.

Strip first trade Checkbox

Strip first trade checkbox It can happen that boundary conditions to be different on the very first trade, resulting in unexpected behavior for the very first trade. If you identify such an eventuality, by selecting this checkbox the first trade is deleted.

Colors

Colors Here you can customize colors used in the Composer user interface. The ones used for logical operators:
  • AND
  • OR
  • At least 2
  • At least 3
and for the parentheses:
  • Inner parentheses
  • Outer parentheses
The button 
  Reset to default
resets the colors to their default value.

Disambiguate

Disambiguate button Selecting the menu 
  Tools → Disambiguate
or clicking the homonymous icon in the main tool bar, a new window opens.

Disambiguate
Here you can decide what to do in ambiguous cases. Ambiguous cases arise because the logic in the various composer tabs (long, short, liquidate...) is not mutually exclusive. Meaning that two or more tabs can be true simultaneously. As an example you might be holding a long position and have: 
  Current position : long
  Long tab : true
  Stop loss tab : true
They are two contradictory signals. The stop loss is telling you to liquidate the long position, but the long signal is telling you to go long. So you could either liquidate or hold the long position. Both alternatives are legitimate. In the ambiguous window you can select the action to take in such cases. Press the radio button corresponding to your choice. An X in the table means 'don't care'.
Dual

Dual
Dual cases are those that can be inferred. For instance, in the example above, the dual case would be 
  Current position : short
  Short tab : true
  Stop loss tab : true
They are symmetrical cases and the ambiguity in both cases is the same. Either you liquidate or hold the position. Once you make a decision of what to do, that decision is the same for both events. For this reason, the window contemplates only the strictest number of cases. If you want to see their dual, press the button 
  Dual

Save and Load the Configuration

Save
Save the Configuration You can save the configuration both for the Indicators and Composer panels, together.
What Is Saved
All the graphical controls are saved, the slots (the selected algorithms, their input parameters, the horizontal levels for the indicators), logical operators, parentheses, and all other radio buttons, checkboxes... in the Indicators and Composer panes.

The only exceptions are the colors for the Composer and the import file for the Indicators. The latter is motivated by the fact that the imported waveform is supposed to be used only temporarily, and that it will be probably deleted shortly afterwards. So it is likely to not exist any more in the future, when loading the configuration again, and that would cause a warning.
How to Save
Either select the menu item 
  File → Save configuration
or click the homonymous icon in the main tool bar. In the pop-up window, choose an appropriate directory and file name.
Extension
The file extension is the part of the name of the file coming after the last dot ('.'). When saving the file, an extension to the file is added automatically. By default, the file extension is 
  .composer
but you can customize it in 
  Tools → Options → Extensions
Only files with such an extension are shown. To see all the files, regardless of the extension, in the pop-up window select: 
  Files of Type: All Files
To confirm saving, press the Save button in the pop-up window.
Load
Load the Configuration To load a saved configuration, valid for both the Indicators and the Composer panels, together, either select the menu 
  File → Load configuration
or click the homonymous icon in the main tool bar.
Extension
Again, in the pop-up window, only files with the appropriate extension are shown; see the previous paragraph for details. Select one of the files you saved before and confirm loading by pressing the Open button.

Reset the Tabs

Reset the Tabs
Reset Current Tab
To reset only the current tab (Long, Short, Liquidate long, Liquidate short, Stop loss, Take profit) select the menu 
  Tools → Reset current tab
or click the homonymous icon in the main tool bar.
Reset Tabs
To reset all the tabs in the Composer (Long, Short, Liquidate long, Liquidate short, Stop loss, Take profit) select the menu 
  Tools → Reset tabs
or click the homonymous icon in the main tool bar.
Reset All Tabs
To reset all the tabs both in the Composer pane (Long, Short, Liquidate long, Liquidate short, Stop loss, Take profit) and in the Indicators pane (Chart, Table) select the menu 
  Tools → Reset all tabs
or click the homonymous icon in the main tool bar.