eSignal

Central

eSignal -- Bar Replay

Among the multiple features offered by eSignal, we have Bar Replay. Bar Replay lets you test your formulas and strategies with a full day’s worth of data without having to wait for things to play out in real time.

The purpose of this tool is to give you a way to move to a previous point in time and have the chart react as if that point is current. As mentioned above, it lets you test your formulas and strategies with a full day’s worth of data. You can make adjustments to a custom formula or change the set of indicators you're using and, then, just go back and replay the data again. Then, you can watch how the indicators react and see if expected trends play out as the chart steps forward. This helps you fine-tune everything to be ready for the next day of trading.

To get to the Bar Replay Tool, right click on an advanced chart, select tools and select “Enter Bar Replay Mode”. You can also click on the tools option in the main menu, select Bar Replay, and, then, Enter Bar Replay Mode. Once Bar Replay is set, the toolbar (shown subsequently) will display in the chart.

In the following picture, the ellipse in the chart on the left is showing the bar from where the tool will start the replay. On the other hand, the chart on the right, already replaying, shows the ellipse surrounding the same bar that has started replaying the bars. The arrow  located at the bottom of the chart indicates that there are more bars to replay.

This is the main toolbar and is used to manipulate the bar replay mode.

What does each button on the Bar Replay toolbar do?

This toolbar option allows you to set the time that each bar will be added to the data set. You can use the dropdown button or select a preset number of seconds. Another option is to type your own time increment into the text box. Any number below 1 second will be shown in fractions of a second.

	This is the Jump To A Bar button. By selecting this toolbar button, you will be able to click on any historical bar in the data set and the replay will start form that point.
	This is the Go Back button. By selecting this toolbar button, the chart will subtract one bar of data from the data set. (back one bar).
	This is the Play button. By selecting this toolbar button, the replay of the data set will start with the time increment that is displayed in the replay text box.
	This is the Go Forward button. By selecting this toolbar button, the chart will add one bar of data from the data set (forward one bar).
	This is the Pause button. This button will only display when the Play button is pressed. Selecting this toolbar button will restart the replay of the chart.
	This is the Go To Real Time Chart button. By selecting this button, the chart will jump to the current bar and function like a normal chart. You will still be in Replay mode, where you can subtract bars or jump to bars. Real-time data will be displayed on the chart.
	This is the Exit Replay Mode button. By selecting this button, the replay mode will stop. The chart will move to the current bar and real-time data will start to display. The Replay Mode Toolbar will be removed.

Using the Bar Replay Feature

Click on the curved green arrow called "Jump to a bar" and select a point in time you would like the chart to react as if that point is current. The chart will now move as it did when the market was open. You can then set a replay period from 1/2 second to 20 seconds and, then, click the Play button to watch the chart add bars at the rate selected. You can also step one bar at a time forward or backward by using the Replay Toolbar.

Stopping the Bar Replay Feature

There are a few ways you can stop the Bar Replay. One option is to click on the pause button. This will automatically stop the data. You can then click the play button again to continue. Another option is to click on the "Go to a real time chart" button (right-facing arrow with line in front of it). This will take you back to the real time chart. The last option you have is to simply click on the red X button. This stops the replay function and also closes out the toolbar.

Using Formulas or Studies with the Bar Replay Tool

You can, at any time, add or remove a study or formula when you are in replay mode. This is true even when you click the Play button. All studies and formulas will calculate when a bar is either subtracted, added, or if you use the Jump to a Bar tool. This is true even when you click the Play button.

Using Drawing Tools in Bar Replay Mode

Drawing tools will react normally in Replay Mode. If you subtract a bar from the data set that a drawing tool was drawn on, the line will stay on the chart where it was originally drawn from. Lines are not removed from the chart once they are placed on the chart, unless you choose to remove them.

Manually Scrolling through Bars in Bar Replay Mode
If you start the play mode using the Play toolbar button you can still use the Go Forward and Go Back button to add / subtract bars from the data set. This will not stop the automatic play of the data set.

Getting Current Data in Bar Replay Mode
At the bottom right corner of the chart window will be a Go To Real Time Chart button. You can click on this to change the chart back to real-time mode without exiting Replay mode. Real-time data will be displayed on the chart.

Decimal Display for Futures in Bar Replay Mode
eSignal software filters out futures decimals from the raw exchange feed. If you use Tick Replay, you are downloading the raw exchange data. When you play it back, the futures data is unfiltered by the eSignal software, therefore contains decimals.