Performing Optimization
Once a strategy has been applied to a chart, strategy optimization can be performed.
Opening Optimization Settings Window
To open Optimization Settings window, click Optimize Strategy icon on the Chart Analysis Toolbar.
Optimization Settings window can also be opened from Format Objects window:
- Open the Format Objects window.To open the Format Objects window, right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Signals.
The Format Objects window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
- Select Format in the main menu and click Signal.
- Double-click any one of the signal's labels on the chart.
- Position the mouse pointer over any one of the signal's labels on the chart; once the Pointer changes into a Hand , right-click the label and then click Format Signals. - Select the Signals tab.
- Click the Optimize button.
In Optimization Settings window, Optimization type can be selected.
Running Exhaustive Search
To perform Exhaustive Search optimization:
- In the Choose the Optimization Type dialog box that appears after opening the Optimization Settings window, select Regular Optimization and click Next.
- In the Set Optimizable Inputs section check/uncheck the check box to the left of the signal name and input name to enable/disable optimization for this input or check the check box to the left of the Signal Name column heading to enable optimization for all inputs (at least one input should be selected to perform optimization).
- The Current Value column shows input values that are currently selected for the signals applied on the chart.
- In the Start Value column, enter the desired starting values for each of the inputs.
- In the End Value column, enter the desired ending values for each of the inputs.
- In the Step column, enter the desired step size, for each of the inputs.
- The Step Count column shows current number of steps for an input.
- Select Exhaustive radio button in the Set Optimization Method section.
- Select the target function to be optimized in Optimize by section:
In the Maximal/Minimal list, set the respective values to be selected at the end of optimization.
From the next list one can select the function itself.
If Custom Criteria is selected, Edit button is available. Press it to write the script for the custom criteria. Read more about Standard and Custom Criteria.
In order to apply the desired function from code select Custom Fitness Value. The custom value shall be specified by SetCustomFitnessValue keyword in the script. - Select the Use Limitation checkbox to limit the output to a defined number of the best results; unselect the checkbox to list all the results in the optimization report.
- When Use Limitation checkbox is checked Optimization dialog window shows current best results for selected сriteria during optimization.
- Click Optimize N combinations to run the optimization and generate the Optimization Report.
Running Genetic Algorithm Search
For detailed information on Genetic Algorithm properties, see Understanding Genetic Algorithm Optimization
To perform Genetic Algorithm optimization:
- In the Choose the Optimization Type dialog box that appears after opening the Optimization Settings window, select Regular Optimization and click Next.
- In the Set Optimizable Inputs section check/uncheck the check box to the left of the signal name and input name to enable/disable optimization for this input or check the check box to the left of the Signal Name column heading to enable optimization for all inputs (at least one input should be selected to perform optimization).
- The Current Value column shows input values that are currently selected for the signals applied on the chart.
- In the Start Value column, enter the desired starting values for each of the inputs.
- In the End Value column, enter the desired ending values for each of the inputs.
- In the Step column, enter the desired step size, for each of the inputs.
- The Step Count column shows current number of steps for an input.
- Select Genetic radio button in the Set Optimization Method section.
- Selecting the target function to be optimized in the Optimize by: section:
In the Maximal/Minimal list, set the respective individuals, which will take part in further selection and crossover, for the selected parameter.
From the next list one can select the function itself.
If Custom Criteria is selected, Edit button is available. Press it to write the script for the custom criteria.Read more about Standard and Custom Criteria.
In order to apply the desired function from code select Custom Fitness Value. The custom value shall be specified by SetCustomFitnessValue keyword in the script. - Set Basic Genetic Algorithm Parameters.
- An optimum population size value is automatically placed next to the Set Population Size box; if a different value is desired, check Set Population Size box and select the value.
- In the Crossover Probability field, select the desired crossover probability; value range is 0-1, with a default of 0.95.
- In the Mutation Probability field, select the desired mutation probability; value range is 0-1, with a default of 0.05.
- In the Convergence Type section, select Number of Generations or Proximal Convergence.
- If Number of Generations is selected:
In the Number of Individuals in Population for Crossover field, enter the desired number of individuals in population for crossover.
In the Maximum Number of Generations field, enter the desired maximum number of generations.The above fields are grayed out if “Set Population Size” box is not checked in Basic Genetic Algorithm Parameters. - If Proximal Convergence is selected:
In the Number of Individuals in Population for Crossover field, enter the desired number of individuals in population for crossover.
In the Maximum Number of Generations field, enter the desired maximum number of generations.
In the Minimal Number of Generations field, enter the desired minimal number of generations.The above fields are grayed out if “Set Population Size” box is not checked in Basic Genetic Algorithm Parameters. - If Proximal Convergence was selected, enter the desired convergence rate into the respective field. A value, approaching 1 is usually selected for the convergence rate; the default value is 0.99.
- In the Genetic Algorithm Subtype section, select Basic or Incremental algorithm subtype.
- If Basic algorithm subtype was selected, select Yes or No for Use Elitism option.
- If Incremental algorithm subtype was selected, select the Replacement Scheme between Worst, Parent and Random.
- Click Optimize N combinations to run the optimization and generate the Optimization Report.
- Optimization dialogue window shows Average fitness value for current population during optimization.
Custom Criteria
There are two types of criteria: standard and custom.
Standard Criteria lets the user select a criterion from a pre-defined list. For example, if the user selects Net Profit, the optimization will find the parameters that generate the highest Net Profit.
Custom Criteria lets the user create his own criteria. Instead of choosing from a pre-defined list like in Standard Criteria, the user can script his own criteria.
E.g., suppose the user wants to find the parameters that maximize the Net Profit / Max Drawdown ratio. This ratio isn't pre-defined under Standard Criteria, so it won't be in the drop-down list. However, this ratio can be created using Custom Criteria.
It is also possible to add additional criteria such as number of trades and winning percentage.
E.g., it is possible to specify: the result have more than 300 trades and a winning percentage that's greater than 50%.
Code Example
The code below creates the Net Profit / Max Drawdown ratio:
if (StrategyPerformance.MaxStrategyDrawDown != 0)
{
return StrategyPerformance.NetProfit / (-
StrategyPerformance.MaxStrategyDrawDown);
}
Besides NetProfit and MaxStrategyDrawdown, there are many other properties that can be referenced. The table below shows the available properties.
For example, to reference the number of trades, simply use StrategyPerformance.TotalTrades.
To reference winning percentage, simply use StrategyPerformance.PercentProfitable.
Name of property in the object StrategyPerformance | Description | Available in MultiCharts | Available in Portfolio Optimization |
---|---|---|---|
NetProfit | Net Profit | Yes | Yes |
GrossProfit | Gross Profit | Yes | Yes |
GrossLoss | Gross Loss | Yes | Yes |
TotalTrades | Total Trades | Yes | Yes |
PercentProfitable | % Profitable | Yes | Yes |
WinningTrades | Winning Trades | Yes | Yes |
LosingTrades | Losing Trades | Yes | Yes |
AvgTrade | Avg Trade | Yes | No |
AvgWinningTrade | Avg Winning Trade | Yes | No |
AvgLosingTrade | Avg Losing Trade | Yes | No |
WinLossRatio | Win/Loss Ratio | Yes | No |
MaxConsecWinners | Max Consecutive Winners | Yes | No |
MaxConsecLosers | Max Consecutive Losers | Yes | No |
AvgBarsInWinningTrades | Avg Bars in Winner | Yes | No |
AvgBarsInLosingTrades | Avg Bars in Loser | Yes | No |
MaxStrategyDrawDown | Max Intraday Drawdown | Yes | Yes |
ProfitFactor | Profit Factor | Yes | No |
ReturnOnAccount | Return on Account | Yes | No |
CustomFithessValue | Last SetCustomFitnessValue() calculation result.
Will return 0 if SetCustomFitnessValue() was not calculated. |
Yes | Yes |
Pausing Optimization
To pause optimization, click Pause in the Optimization Progress window. To resume optimization click Resume.