I am playing with ThinkScript code on ThinkOrSwim platform. Specifically running this tool on MacOSX. I am wondering if there is a way to debug ThinkScript like you attach a debugger and step through the script line by line.
As noted by @Gary, thinkScript has no debugger tool. You can use chart bubbles, as Gary suggested, and chart labels.
Chart bubbles appear at a specified bar when a condition is met. Chart labels appear at the upper left of the chart when a condition is met.
Syntax
Notes:
AddChartBubble("time condition", # condition defining bar where bubble should appear
"price location", # which price should bubble point at (eg, high, low)
text, # text to display in bubble
color, # bubble color
up # display bubble above price (yes) or below it (no)
);
AddLabel(visible, # condition defining whether the label should appear; yes means always
text, # text to display in label
color # label color
);
As a side note, #hint: ....
displays a "helper" message for the code when you click the question mark in the selection list. Also, \n
in the hint text places a "newline" character at that point.
Example code:
#hint: Counts a value using an if statement, recursive variable type statement, and a CompoundValue statement.\nDemonstrates using chart bubbles and labels for debugging.
def TrueRange;
if BarNumber() == 1 {
TrueRange = ATR(14)[1];
} else {
TrueRange = TrueRange[1];
}
def tr_rec = if BarNumber() == 1 then tr_rec[1] + 1 else tr_rec[1];
def tr_cmpd = CompoundValue(1, if BarNumber() == 1 then ATR(14)[1] else tr_cmpd[1], Double.NaN);
# plot Data = close; # not req'd if doing only labels and/or bubbles
def numBars = HighestAll(BarNumber());
def halfwayBar = numBars / 2;
# bubble to test a value
AddChartBubble("time condition"=BarNumber() == halfwayBar,
"price location"=high,
text="Bar Number " + BarNumber() + "\n is the halfwayBar (" + halfwayBar + ")",
color=Color.YELLOW,
up=no);
# labels to test values
AddLabel(yes, "# Bars on Chart: " + numBars, Color.YELLOW);
AddLabel(yes, "TrueRange @ bar 1: " + GetValue(TrueRange, numBars - 1), Color.ORANGE);
AddLabel(yes, "TrueRange @ bar " + numBars + ": " + TrueRange, Color.ORANGE);
AddLabel(yes, "tr_rec @ bar 1: " + GetValue(tr_rec, numBars - 1), Color.LIGHT_ORANGE);
AddLabel(yes, "tr_rec @ bar " + numBars + ": " + tr_rec, Color.LIGHT_ORANGE);
AddLabel(yes, "tr_cmpd @ bar 1: " + GetValue(tr_cmpd, numBars - 1), Color.LIGHT_GREEN);
AddLabel(yes, "tr_cmpd @ bar " + numBars + ": " + tr_cmpd, Color.LIGHT_GREEN);