how to expose hidden arrow objects from custom indicator in chart's objects list

[Jackery]

I have an indicator that draws arrows on the chart as seen in the image below:

I tried searching for the arrow objects in ' Object List'  but there were no objects there. I also checked ' Object List>List All'  menu. I guess the way that the indicator is written has hid them from the chart. How can I expose these objects from the indicator to the chart?

Here are some relevant bits of my indicator:

//--- indicator settings
#property indicator_chart_window
#property indicator_buffers 6
#property indicator_plots 6

#property indicator_type1 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width1 5
#property indicator_color1 0xFFAA00
#property indicator_label1 "Buy"

#property indicator_type2 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width2 5
#property indicator_color2 0x0000FF
#property indicator_label2 "Sell"

#property indicator_type3 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width3 5
#property indicator_color3 0xFFAA00
#property indicator_label3 "Buy"

#property indicator_type4 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width4 5
#property indicator_color4 0x0000FF
#property indicator_label4 "Sell"

#property indicator_type5 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width5 5
#property indicator_color5 0x00FFFB
#property indicator_label5 "CLOSE BUY"

#property indicator_type6 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width6 5
#property indicator_color6 0x00FFFB
#property indicator_label6 "CLOSE SELL"

//--- indicator buffers
double Buffer1[];
double Buffer2[];
double Buffer3[];
double Buffer4[];
double Buffer5[];
double Buffer6[];

datetime time_alert; //used when sending alert
input bool Audible_Alerts = true;
double myPoint; //initialized in OnInit
int MA_handle;
double MA[];
int MA_handle2;
double MA2[];
int MACD_handle;
double MACD_Signal[];
int MA_handle3;
double MA3[];
double Close[];
int MA_handle4;
double MA4[];
int MA_handle5;
double MA5[];
int MA_handle6;
double MA6[];
double Open[];

.
.
.

int OnInit()
  {   
   SetIndexBuffer(0, Buffer1);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(0, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(0, PLOT_ARROW, 241);
   SetIndexBuffer(1, Buffer2);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(1, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(1, PLOT_ARROW, 242);
   SetIndexBuffer(2, Buffer3);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(2, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(2, PLOT_ARROW, 241);
   SetIndexBuffer(3, Buffer4);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(3, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(3, PLOT_ARROW, 242);
   SetIndexBuffer(4, Buffer5);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(4, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(4, PLOT_ARROW, 251);
   SetIndexBuffer(5, Buffer6);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(5, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(5, PLOT_ARROW, 251);
   //initialize myPoint
   myPoint = Point();
   if(Digits() == 5 || Digits() == 3)
     {
      myPoint *= 10;
     }
   MA_handle = iMA(NULL, PERIOD_CURRENT, 1, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   if(MA_handle < 0)
     {
      Print("The creation of iMA has failed: MA_handle=", INVALID_HANDLE);
      Print("Runtime error = ", GetLastError());
      return(INIT_FAILED);
     }

.
.
.

[Vladimir Karputov]

The drawing style 'DRAW_ARROW' does not create graphic objects. Therefore, you cannot find these objects in the object list.

[Jackery]

Vladimir Karputov:
The drawing style 'DRAW_ARROW' does not create graphic objects. Therefore, you cannot find these objects in the object list.

What should I use in place of 'DRAW_ARROW'?

[Vladimir Karputov]

Jackery :

What should I use in place of 'DRAW_ARROW'?

It is not at all clear why you want to see objects in the general list?

Just keep using the 'DRAW_ARROW' style - this is the most correct approach.

[Jackery]

Vladimir Karputov:

It is not at all clear why you want to see objects in the general list?

Just keep using the 'DRAW_ARROW' style - this is the most correct approach.

I want to write an EA that opens a trade when an arrow is drawn on the index 1 candlestick. The idea is once it's drawn on the chart I should be able to access the object in my EA code. There might be a way to access them directly from the indicator without doing that, but I'm not sure how that could be done.

[Vladimir Karputov]

Jackery :

I want to write an EA that opens a trade when an arrow is drawn on the index 1 candlestick. The idea is once it's drawn on the chart I can easily access the object in my EA code. There might be a way to access them directly from the indicator without doing that, but I'm not sure how that could be done.

You just need in an advisor: create an indicator handle (once in OnInit ()) and then receive data from the indicator buffer.

Everything is very simple. Read help: iCustom . See examples: An example of working with the ZigZag indicator.

[Jackery]

Vladimir Karputov:

You just need in an advisor: create an indicator handle (once in OnInit ()) and then receive data from the indicator buffer.

Everything is very simple. Read help: iCustom . See examples: An example of working with the ZigZag indicator.

To be honest, I am don't fully understand how to implement the example to get the arrow object. I think I've been able to figure out how to get the  moving averages but not the arrow object. Below is the code iCustom EA I've written: 

double      MA[];             
int         MA_handle;   



//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {

  
  MA_handle=iCustom(NULL,PERIOD_M1,"R_IND");

   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
  {

   CopyBuffer(MA_handle,0,0,3,MA);

   ArraySetAsSeries(MA,true);  
   

Print( "h MA[1]: "+MA[1]);


   }

[Vladimir Karputov]

First, create and design your indicator correctly - at least the indicator should have a NAME and EXTENSION. Publishing a PIECE of code without a HAT, without a NAME and without an EXTENSION is bad form in programming.

An example of creating an indicator: 

Example of creating an indicator based on iATR

[Jackery]

Vladimir Karputov:

First, create and design your indicator correctly - at least the indicator should have a NAME and EXTENSION. Publishing a PIECE of code without a HAT, without a NAME and without an EXTENSION is bad form in programming.

An example of creating an indicator: 

Example of creating an indicator based on iATR

Here is the complete working indicator:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                             MyScalpIndicator.mq5 |
//|                        Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp. |
//|                                             https://www.mql5.com |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright 2019, MetaQuotes Software Corp."
#property link      "https://www.mql5.com"
#property version   "1.00"
#property description ""

//--- indicator settings
#property indicator_chart_window
#property indicator_buffers 2
#property indicator_plots 2

#property indicator_type1 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width1 5
#property indicator_color1 0xFFAA00
#property indicator_label1 "Buy"

#property indicator_type2 DRAW_ARROW
#property indicator_width2 5
#property indicator_color2 0x0000FF
#property indicator_label2 "Sell"

//--- indicator buffers
double Buffer1[];
double Buffer2[];

datetime time_alert; //used when sending alert
input bool Audible_Alerts = true;
double myPoint; //initialized in OnInit
int MA_handle;
double MA[];
int MA_handle2;
double MA2[];
double Open[];

void myAlert(string type, string message)
  {
   if(type == "print")
      Print(message);
   else if(type == "error")
     {
      Print(type+" | SPON SCALP BOSS @ "+Symbol()+","+IntegerToString(Period())+" | "+message);
     }
   else if(type == "order")
     {
     }
   else if(type == "modify")
     {
     }
   else if(type == "indicator")
     {
      if(Audible_Alerts) Alert(type+" | SPON SCALP BOSS @ "+Symbol()+","+IntegerToString(Period())+" | "+message);
     }
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator initialization function                         |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {   
   SetIndexBuffer(0, Buffer1);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(0, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(0, PLOT_ARROW, 241);
   SetIndexBuffer(1, Buffer2);
   PlotIndexSetDouble(1, PLOT_EMPTY_VALUE, EMPTY_VALUE);
   PlotIndexSetInteger(1, PLOT_ARROW, 242);
   //initialize myPoint
   myPoint = Point();
   if(Digits() == 5 || Digits() == 3)
     {
      myPoint *= 10;
     }
   MA_handle = iMA(NULL, 0, 3, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   if(MA_handle < 0)
     {
      Print("The creation of iMA has failed: MA_handle=", INVALID_HANDLE);
      Print("Runtime error = ", GetLastError());
      return(INIT_FAILED);
     }
   
   MA_handle2 = iMA(NULL, 0, 10, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   if(MA_handle2 < 0)
     {
      Print("The creation of iMA has failed: MA_handle2=", INVALID_HANDLE);
      Print("Runtime error = ", GetLastError());
      return(INIT_FAILED);
     }
   
   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator iteration function                              |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnCalculate(const int rates_total,
                const int prev_calculated,
                const datetime& time[],
                const double& open[],
                const double& high[],
                const double& low[],
                const double& close[],
                const long& tick_volume[],
                const long& volume[],
                const int& spread[])
  {
   int limit = rates_total - prev_calculated;
   //--- counting from 0 to rates_total
   ArraySetAsSeries(Buffer1, true);
   ArraySetAsSeries(Buffer2, true);
   //--- initial zero
   if(prev_calculated < 1)
     {
      ArrayInitialize(Buffer1, 0);
      ArrayInitialize(Buffer2, 0);
     }
   else
      limit++;
   datetime TimeShift[];
   datetime Time[];
   
   if(BarsCalculated(MA_handle) <= 0) 
      return(0);
   if(CopyBuffer(MA_handle, 0, 0, rates_total, MA) <= 0) return(rates_total);
   ArraySetAsSeries(MA, true);
   if(CopyTime(Symbol(), PERIOD_CURRENT, 0, rates_total, TimeShift) <= 0) return(rates_total);
   ArraySetAsSeries(TimeShift, true);
   if(BarsCalculated(MA_handle2) <= 0) 
      return(0);
   if(CopyBuffer(MA_handle2, 0, 0, rates_total, MA2) <= 0) return(rates_total);
   ArraySetAsSeries(MA2, true);
   if(CopyOpen(Symbol(), 0, 0, rates_total, Open) <= 0) return(rates_total);
   ArraySetAsSeries(Open, true);
   if(CopyTime(Symbol(), Period(), 0, rates_total, Time) <= 0) return(rates_total);
   ArraySetAsSeries(Time, true);
   //--- main loop
   for(int i = limit-1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
      if (i >= MathMin(5000-1, rates_total-1-50)) continue; //omit some old rates to prevent "Array out of range" or slow calculation   
      
      int barshift_M5 = iBarShift(Symbol(), 0, TimeShift[i]);
      if(barshift_M5 < 0) continue;
      
      //Indicator Buffer 1
      if(MA[barshift_M5] > MA2[barshift_M5]
      && MA[barshift_M5+1] < MA2[barshift_M5+1] //Moving Average crosses above Moving Average
      )
        {
         Buffer1[i] = Open[barshift_M5]; //Set indicator value at Candlestick Open
         if(i == 1 && Time[1] != time_alert) myAlert("indicator", "Buy"); //Alert on next bar open
         time_alert = Time[1];
        }
      else
        {
         Buffer1[i] = EMPTY_VALUE;
        }
      //Indicator Buffer 2
      if(MA[barshift_M5] < MA2[barshift_M5]
      && MA[barshift_M5+1] > MA2[barshift_M5+1] //Moving Average crosses below Moving Average
      )
        {
         Buffer2[i] = Open[barshift_M5]; //Set indicator value at Candlestick Open
         if(i == 1 && Time[1] != time_alert) myAlert("indicator", "Sell"); //Alert on next bar open
         time_alert = Time[1];
        }
      else
        {
         Buffer2[i] = EMPTY_VALUE;
        }
     }
   return(rates_total);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

[Vladimir Karputov]

No need to use

(CopyOpen(Symbol(),0,0,rates_total,Open)

and

(CopyTime(Symbol(),Period(),0,rates_total,Time)

since the indicator ALREADY has an array

int OnCalculate(const int rates_total,
                const int prev_calculated,
                const datetime& time[],
                const double& open[],
                const double& high[],
                const double& low[],
                const double& close[],
                const long& tick_volume[],
                const long& volume[],
                const int& spread[])
  {

[Jackery]

Vladimir Karputov:

No need to use

and

since the indicator ALREADY has an array

Okay. Please how do I access the arrow objects in an EA?