Need help - simple question by Harvey Vo

Harvey Vo INVESTOR

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Hi all,
I am relatively new to Python and trying to play around to understand how to build an algorithm.

I have a really simple question, but dont understand why I cannot figure this out.

This part:

if self.macd > 0:
self.Debug(str("macd is over 0"))

is causing me alot of headache. Why is this not working when I have a variable > 0 in the if formula? I have tried to change it from self.macd to other variables without success. but replacing the variable with a number, like numer 1 would work.

Would anyone know why and help me out with this?

Appreciate the help!

class BasicTemplateAlgorithm(QCAlgorithm):



    def Initialize(self):



        self.SetStartDate(2017,01,01)  #Set Start Date

        self.SetEndDate(2017,10,10)    #Set End Date

        self.SetCash(10000)           #Set Strategy Cash





        self.AddEquity("TSLA", Resolution.Daily)

        

        self.smaFast = self.SMA("TSLA", 10, Resolution.Daily);

        self.smaSlow = self.SMA("TSLA", 20, Resolution.Daily);

        self.macd = self.MACD("TSLA", 12, 26, 9);





    def OnData(self, data):



        #self.Debug(str(self.macd))

        

        if self.smaFast > self.smaSlow:

            self.SetHoldings("TSLA", 1)

        elif self.smaFast < self.smaSlow:

            self.SetHoldings("TSLA", 0)

            

        if self.macd > 0:

            self.Debug(str("macd is over 0"))

Update Backtest

Harvey Vo

Accepted Answer

Update Backtest

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Alexandre Catarino

Lean/QuantConnect indicators are not numbers, so you cannot compare an indicator object against a number.
Please use .Current.Value:

if self.macd.Current.Value > 0:

    self.Debug(str("macd is over 0"))

Harvey Vo

59 ,

Many thanks Alexandre! I was not aware of this.

Would you be able to explain how I can compare self.smaFast against self.smaSlow if they are not numbers?

Appreciate the help! It least I understand where the problem was :)

Derek Tishler

16.1k ,

To get a number from an Indicator object, you want to use ".Current.Value" as Alex mentioned.

So the Indicator is a Class with all kinds of naughty bits inside; you just want to get the current value of that indicator for use.

if self.sma_fast.Current.Value > self.sma_slow.Current.Value:
#do stuff

Harvey Vo

59 ,

Many thanks for the help. Appreciate it! :)

Harvey Vo INVESTOR

Update Backtest

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