wildcard search using ObjectFind

New comment
 

I am trying to find an object based on a wildcard search using ObjectFind only on the current bar.  I know that if I know the exact name of the object I can use:

ObjectFind("label"+Time[0]);

However, what if I wanted to find label2 or label3 or whatever number is at the end?

ObjectFind("label*"+Time[0]);  does not work. 

 So my next idea was to try and loop through every object and search using StringFind:

int total=ObjectsTotal();
string obj_name;
for(int ix=-1;ix<total;ix++)
  {

        obj_name=ObjectName(ix);

       if (StringFind(obj_name,"label",0))

        {

        string foundstr = ObjectName(ix);
        break;

        }

  }

But I don't really know how to make this one work since StringFind doesn't seem to use wildcards either.  Does anyone have any suggestions? Any help is appreciated.

 
  1. Don't paste code
    Play video    		Please edit your post.
    For large amounts of code, attach it.
  2. Perhaps you should read the manual. StringFind - String Functions - MQL4 Reference returns the position of the string, so if(StringFind(obj_name,"label")==0) is true if the obj_name starts with "label".

 
WHRoeder:

  1. Play video    		Please edit your post.
    For large amounts of code, attach it.
  2. Perhaps you should read the manual. StringFind - String Functions - MQL4 Reference returns the position of the string, so if(StringFind(obj_name,"label")==0) is true if the obj_name starts with "label".

Yes I have been doing that all morning.  Here's where I am now (edited to make more readable):

  int total=ObjectsTotal();
  string obj_name;
  int finder;

     for(int ix=-1;ix<total;ix++)                                   //loop through all objects
        {
             obj_name=ObjectName(ix);                               //store current object name in obj_name
                   if (StringFind(obj_name,"label")>=0)             //is string "label" found inside obj_name?  if so, proceed.
                       {
                       string foundstr = ObjectName(ix);            //foundstr gets value of current Objectname(ix)
                       finder = ObjectFind((foundstr) + Time[0]);   //HERE'S WHERE I HAVE ISSUE.  IF I REMOVE Time[0], then my string test is "found."  If I keep Time[0] in, then string test is always "not found yet", no matter if there is a label on current bar. 
                               if (finder>-1)                       //I have also tried to change from Time[0] to Time[1], but same results.
                                  {
                                  string test = "found";
                                  break;
                                  }
                               else
                                  {
                                  test="not found yet";
                                  }
                       }
        }

Posted my question in the comments next to code.  Am I missing something trivial? Any advice from someone more experienced?  Thank you.

 
  1. Assuming the creating code uses "label"+Time[i], then foundstr is "labelnnnnnnnn" or "label2016.04.26 19:00:00" (depending on #property strict)
    finder = ObjectFind((foundstr) + Time[0]);

    This is now looking for labelnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn" or "label2016.04.26 19:00:002016.04.26 19:00:00" which will never be found.

  2. IF I REMOVE Time[0], then my string test is "found."
    Of course foundstr exists; you already found it. Why are you finding again?
 
Is there any way for me to reference the most recent foundstr based on the Time property of the object?  I am not sure how to implement this. 
  
  string prefix="label";
  int length=StringLen(prefix);
  string obj_name, time_string;
  datetime latest_time=0, this_time;
  string latest_object_name="";
  
  for(int x=ObjectsTotal()-1;x>=0;x--)
     {
     obj_name=ObjectName(x);
     if (StringFind(obj_name,prefix)==0)
     time_string=StringSubstr(obj_name,length);
     this_time=StrToTime(time_string);
     if(this_time>latest_time)
       {
       latest_time=this_time;
       latest_object_name=obj_name;
       }
     }
  if(latest_object_name=="")
     Print("Object with prefix ",prefix," not found");
  else
     Print("Latest Object with prefix ",prefix," is ",latest_object_name);
  

This may help you, remember that if you have a space between the prefix and the time, the space must be included.

  string prefix="label";
  //Or
  string prefix="label ";
 
GumRai:

This may help you, remember that if you have a space between the prefix and the time, the space must be included.


Thank you for this.  It gets me going in the right direction I need.
 

I am almost there.  I've found how to extract the time from the object.  Now I just don't know how to compare object time to current time to see which is most recent. 


  string prefix="label";
  int length=StringLen(prefix);
  string obj_name, time_string, obj_name2;
  datetime latest_time=0, this_time;
  string latest_object_name="";
  long obj_time2;
  
  for(int x=ObjectsTotal()-1;x>=0;x--)
     {
     obj_name=ObjectName(x);
     obj_name2=ObjectName(x+1);
     if (StringFind(obj_name,prefix)>=0)
    long obj_time=ObjectGetInteger(0,obj_name,OBJPROP_TIME);
    obj_time2=ObjectGetInteger(0,obj_name2,OBJPROP_TIME);

     if(obj_time2>obj_time)
       {
     //  latest_time=this_time;
       latest_object_name=obj_name;
       }
     
       else
       {
       latest_object_name=obj_name2;

       }
     }
  if(latest_object_name=="")
     string test = "Object with prefix " + prefix + " not found";
  else
     test = (latest_object_name + " time: " + TimeToStr(obj_time) );
 

https://docs.mql4.com/dateandtime/timecurrent

datetime  TimeCurrent();

New comment