What is the equivalent of console.log in pine-script?

Question

How does one console.log variables, or the results of functions in pine-script? I\'d like to convert a pine-script script into j

Answer 1

This answer is now outdated. Please consult other more recent answers.

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There is no way to print text or variables in pine-script to any form of "console". But you can use plot to print, very short text above or below each tick. The text, however, is static and you cannot use variables to change it.

You can also use various tricks to show values in the very limited indicator fields (on top-left) of the chart window. Or move lines and plots out of visible are of chart, but still see the axis highlights.

Please check their Wiki and consult the 1000's of other user's scripts to find out the details on how to do it.

Answer 2

With pine v.4 there's new way to print text. You can use labels for that:

//@version=4
study("Print text values", overlay=true)
x = bar_index
y = close
txt = tostring(close)
label.new(x, y, txt) // print value of close

Answer 3

There is actually something similar to a console for Pine developers; it's the Data Window. We use it constantly to debug. The idea is to use plotchar() in this way:

plotchar(bar_index, "Bar Index", "", location = location.top)

This will not disrupt the indicator's scale and won't print anything in it, but it will show a value in the Data Window, as is explained in the second question of the PineCoders FAQ's section on debugging. As you move your mouse over chart bars, the corresponding value of the variable/expression will show in the Data Window. The FAQ explains other useful techniques that can be used to debug on the chart, as that is sometimes more efficient.

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We use an AutoHotkey macro that creates the required plotchar() statement from a variable or expression previously copied to the clipboard. This is the AHK macro:

^+C:: SendInput plotchar(^v, "^v", "", location.top){Return}

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The Data Window is also a great option as a display panel for scripts requiring the display of many values, such as our Backtesting & Trading Engine, which makes extensive use of it:

Answer 4

If you just want to print a single value (not at every bar), you can do:

if (barstate.islast)
    label.new(bar_index, 0, "Your value here, ex: " + syminfo.tickerid)