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Window

Introduction

The Window API class allows for showing windows with custom content similarly to WinForms and WPF.

Using WinForms and WPF presents several issues when creating cBots and indicators. For example, algos have to dispatch calls from the WPF/WinForms thread to the cBot/indicator thread, which is less than ideal. Relying on the built-in Window class is a quicker and easier solution.

When working with windows, you can use custom controls as their contents. For example, you can create a Grid control and place it inside a window.

Similarly to message boxes, windows are innately styled analogously to other cTrader dialogue windows. You do not need to style them manually.

Note

The Window class only works on .NET 6 or later indicators and cBots.

Pros / Cons Of Windows vs WinForms/WPF

We will briefly consider the pros and cons of using the Window class versus relying on WinForms/WPF.

Pros

  • Windows do not require full access rights.
  • Windows already have the cTrader native look.
  • Windows are easy to use.
  • There is no need to dispatch calls between threads.

Cons

  • Windows can only contain custom controls as contents.
  • Windows are not fully customisable toe the extent that WinForms/WPF controls are.

How to Create Simple Windows

First, instantiate the Window class. Afterward, assign a 'child' control and call the Window.Show() method.

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using cAlgo.API;

namespace cAlgo
{
    [Indicator(AccessRights = AccessRights.None)]
    public class WindowSample : Indicator
    {
        protected override void Initialize()
        {
            var window = new Window
            {
                Child = new TextBlock 
                {
                    Text = "Hi, This is my Window!",
                    VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Center,
                    HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center,
                    FontSize = 20,
                    FontWeight = FontWeight.UltraBold
                },
                Title = "My Window",
                WindowStartupLocation = WindowStartupLocation.CenterScreen,
                Topmost = true
            };

            window.Show();
        }

        public override void Calculate(int index)
        {
        }
    }
}

Upon launching an instance of this indicator, you should see a new window automatically opened by cTrader.

How to Create Complex Windows

This sample indicator shows the instance info inside a separate window.

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using cAlgo.API;
using cAlgo.API.Internals;
using System;

namespace cAlgo
{
    [Indicator(AccessRights = AccessRights.None)]
    public class WindowSample : Indicator
    {
        private TextBlock _spreadTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _bidTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _askTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _unrealizedGrossProfitTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _unrealizedNetProfitTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _timeTillOpenTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _timeTillCloseTextBlock;
        private TextBlock _isOpenedTextBlock;
        private TextBox _symbolNameTextBox;
        private Button _updateButton;
        private Style _style;
        private Grid _mainGrid;
        private Grid _infoGrid;
        private Window _window;
        private Symbol _symbol;

        protected override void Initialize()
        {
            _mainGrid = new Grid(2, 2)
            {
                BackgroundColor = Color.Gold,
                Opacity = 0.6,
                HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Stretch,
                VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Stretch,
            };

            _mainGrid.Rows[0].SetHeightToAuto();
            _mainGrid.Rows[1].SetHeightInStars(1);

            _style = new Style();

            _style.Set(ControlProperty.Padding, 1);
            _style.Set(ControlProperty.Margin, 2);
            _style.Set(ControlProperty.BackgroundColor, Color.Black);
            _style.Set(ControlProperty.FontSize, 12);

            _symbol = Symbol;

            _symbolNameTextBox = new TextBox
            {
                Text = _symbol.Name,
                Style = _style,
            };

            _mainGrid.AddChild(_symbolNameTextBox, 0, 0);

            _updateButton = new Button
            {
                Text = "Update",
            };

            _updateButton.Click += OnUpdateButtonClick;

            _mainGrid.AddChild(_updateButton, 0, 1);

            _infoGrid = GetSymbolDataGrid(_symbol);

            _mainGrid.AddChild(_infoGrid, 1, 0, 1, 2);

            _window = new Window
            {
                Child = _mainGrid,
                Title = "Symbol Info",
                WindowStartupLocation = WindowStartupLocation.CenterScreen,
                Topmost = true
            };

            _window.Show();

            _symbol.Tick += Symbol_Tick;

            Timer.Start(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(1));
        }

        private void OnUpdateButtonClick(ButtonClickEventArgs obj)
        {
            var symbol = Symbols.GetSymbol(_symbolNameTextBox.Text);

            if (symbol != null)
            {
                _symbol.Tick -= Symbol_Tick;

                _symbol = symbol;

                _mainGrid.RemoveChild(_infoGrid);

                _infoGrid = GetSymbolDataGrid(_symbol);

                _mainGrid.AddChild(_infoGrid, 1, 0, 1, 2);

                _symbol.Tick += Symbol_Tick;
            }
            else
            {
                _symbolNameTextBox.Text = "Invalid Symbol Name";
            }
        }

        private Grid GetSymbolDataGrid(Symbol symbol)
        {
            var grid = new Grid(24, 2)
            {
                BackgroundColor = Color.Gold,
                Opacity = 0.6,
                HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Stretch,
                VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Stretch
            };

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Name",
                Style = _style
            }, 1, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Name,
                Style = _style
            }, 1, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "ID",
                Style = _style
            }, 2, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Id.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 2, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Digits",
                Style = _style
            }, 3, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Digits.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 3, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Description",
                Style = _style
            }, 4, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Description,
                Style = _style
            }, 4, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Lot Size",
                Style = _style
            }, 5, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.LotSize.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 5, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Pip Size",
                Style = _style
            }, 6, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.PipSize.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 6, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Pip Value",
                Style = _style
            }, 7, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.PipValue.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 7, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Tick Size",
                Style = _style
            }, 8, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.TickSize.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 8, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Tick Value",
                Style = _style
            }, 9, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.TickValue.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 9, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Volume In Units Max",
                Style = _style
            }, 10, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.VolumeInUnitsMax.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 10, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Volume In Units Min",
                Style = _style
            }, 11, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.VolumeInUnitsMin.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 11, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Volume In Units Step",
                Style = _style
            }, 12, 0);
            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.VolumeInUnitsStep.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 12, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Ask",
                Style = _style
            }, 13, 0);

            _askTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Ask.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_askTextBlock, 13, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Bid",
                Style = _style
            }, 14, 0);

            _bidTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Bid.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_bidTextBlock, 14, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Spread",
                Style = _style
            }, 15, 0);

            _spreadTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.Spread.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_spreadTextBlock, 15, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Unrealized Gross Profit",
                Style = _style
            }, 16, 0);

            _unrealizedGrossProfitTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.UnrealizedGrossProfit.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_unrealizedGrossProfitTextBlock, 16, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Unrealized Net Profit",
                Style = _style
            }, 17, 0);

            _unrealizedNetProfitTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.UnrealizedNetProfit.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_unrealizedNetProfitTextBlock, 17, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Time Till Open",
                Style = _style
            }, 18, 0);

            _timeTillOpenTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.MarketHours.TimeTillOpen().ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_timeTillOpenTextBlock, 18, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Time Till Close",
                Style = _style
            }, 19, 0);

            _timeTillCloseTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.MarketHours.TimeTillClose().ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_timeTillCloseTextBlock, 19, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Is Opened",
                Style = _style
            }, 20, 0);

            _isOpenedTextBlock = new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.MarketHours.IsOpened().ToString(),
                Style = _style
            };

            grid.AddChild(_isOpenedTextBlock, 20, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Trading Sessions #",
                Style = _style
            }, 21, 0);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = symbol.MarketHours.Sessions.Count.ToString(),
                Style = _style
            }, 21, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Trading Session Week Days",
                Style = _style
            }, 22, 0);

            var weekDays = string.Empty;

            for (var iSession = 0; iSession < symbol.MarketHours.Sessions.Count; iSession++)
            {
                var currentSessionWeekDays = string.Format("{0}({1})-{2}({3})", symbol.MarketHours.Sessions[iSession].StartDay, symbol.MarketHours.Sessions[iSession].StartTime, symbol.MarketHours.Sessions[iSession].EndDay, symbol.MarketHours.Sessions[iSession].EndTime);

                weekDays = iSession == 0 ? currentSessionWeekDays : string.Format("{0}, {1}", weekDays, currentSessionWeekDays);
            }

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = weekDays,
                Style = _style
            }, 22, 1);

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = "Leverage Tier",
                Style = _style
            }, 23, 0);

            var leverageTiers = string.Empty;

            for (var iLeveragTier = 0; iLeveragTier < symbol.DynamicLeverage.Count; iLeveragTier++)
            {
                var currentLeverageTiers = string.Format("Volume up to {0} is {1}", symbol.DynamicLeverage[iLeveragTier].Volume, symbol.DynamicLeverage[iLeveragTier].Leverage);

                leverageTiers = iLeveragTier == 0 ? currentLeverageTiers : string.Format("{0}, {1}", leverageTiers, currentLeverageTiers);
            }

            grid.AddChild(new TextBlock
            {
                Text = leverageTiers,
                Style = _style
            }, 23, 1);

            return grid;
        }

        private void Symbol_Tick(SymbolTickEventArgs obj)
        {
            _askTextBlock.Text = obj.Symbol.Ask.ToString();
            _bidTextBlock.Text = obj.Symbol.Bid.ToString();
            _spreadTextBlock.Text = obj.Symbol.Spread.ToString();
            _unrealizedGrossProfitTextBlock.Text = obj.Symbol.UnrealizedGrossProfit.ToString();
            _unrealizedNetProfitTextBlock.Text = obj.Symbol.UnrealizedNetProfit.ToString();
        }

        protected override void OnTimer()
        {
            _timeTillOpenTextBlock.Text = _symbol.MarketHours.TimeTillOpen().ToString();
            _timeTillCloseTextBlock.Text = _symbol.MarketHours.TimeTillClose().ToString();
            _isOpenedTextBlock.Text = _symbol.MarketHours.IsOpened().ToString();
        }

        public override void Calculate(int index)
        {
        }
    }
}