OPEN-SOURCE SCRIPT
Weis V5 zigzag jayy
Updated
Somehow, I deleted version 5 of the zigzag script. Same name. I have added some older notes describing how the Weis Wave works.
I have also changed the date restriction that stopped the script from working after Dec 31, 2022.
What you see here is the Weis zigzag wave plotted directly on the price chart. This script is the companion to the Weis cumulative wave volume script.
What is a Weis wave? David Weis has been recognized as a Wyckoff method analyst he has written two books one of which, Trades About to Happen, describes the evolution of the now-popular Weis wave. The method employed by Weis is to identify waves of price action and to compare the strength of the waves on characteristics of wave strength. Chief among the characteristics of strength is the cumulative volume of the wave. There are other markers that Weis uses as well for example how the actual price difference between the start of the Weis wave from start to finish. Weis also uses time, particularly when using a Renko chart
David Weis did a futures io video which is a popular source of information about his method. (Search David Weis and futures.io. I strongly suggest you also read “Trades About to Happen” by David Weis.
This will get you up and running more quickly when studying charts. However, you should choose the Traditional method to be true to David Weis technique as described in his book "Trades About to Happen" and in the Futures IO Webcast featuring David Weis
. The Weis pip zigzag wave shows how far in terms of bar close price a Weis wave has traveled through the duration of a Weis wave. The Weis zigzag wave is used in combination with the Weis cumulative volume wave. The two waves should be set to the same "wave size".
To use this script, you must set the wave size: Using the traditional Weis method simply enter the desired wave size in the box "How should wave size be calculated", in this example I am using a traditional wave size of .25. Each wave for each security and each timeframe requires its own wave size. Although not the traditional method devised by David Weis a more automatic way to set wave size would be to use Average True Range (ATR). Using ATR is not the true Weis method but it does give you similar waves and, importantly, without the hassle described above. Once the Weis wave size is set then the zigzag wave will be shown with volume. Because Weis used the closing price of a wave to define waves a line Bar highs and bar lows are not captured by the Weis Wave. The default script setting is now cumulative volume waves using an ATR of 7 and a multiplication factor of .5.
To display volume in a way that does not crowd out neighbouring volumes Weis displayed volume as a maximum of 3 digits (usually). Consider two Weis Wave volumes 176,895,570 and 2,654,763,889. To display wave volume as three digits it is necessary to take a number such as 176,895,570 and truncate it. 176,895,570 can be represented as 177 X 10 to the power of 6. The number displayed must also be relative to other numbers in the field. If the highest volume on the page is: 2,654,763,889 and with only three numbers available to display the result the value shown must be 265 (265 X 10 to the power of 7). Since 176,895,570 is an order of magnitude smaller than 2,654,763,889 therefore 175,895,570 must be shown as 18 instead of 177. In this way, the relative magnitudes of the two volumes can be understood. All numbers in the field of view must be truncated by the same order of magnitude to make the relative volumes understandable. The script attempts to calculate the order of magnitude value automatically. If you see a red number in the field of view it means the script has failed to do the calculation automatically and you should use the manual method – use the dialogue box “Calculate truncated wave value automatically or manually”. Scroll down from the automatic method and select manual. Once "manual" is selected the values displayed become the power values or multipliers for each wave.
Using the manual method you will select a “Multiplier” in the next dialogue box. Scan the field and select the largest value in the field of view (visible chart) is the multiplier of interest. If you select a lower number than the maximum value will see at least one red “up”. If you are too high you will see at least one red “down”. Scroll in the direction recommended or the values on the screen will be totally incorrect. With volume truncated to the highest order values, the eye can quickly get a feel for relative volumes. It also reduces the crowding and overlapping of values on the screen. You can opt to show the full volume to help get a sense of the magnitude of the true volumes.
How does the script determine if a Weis wave is continuing to grow or not?
The script evaluates the closing price of each new bar relative to the "Weis wave size". Suppose the current bar closes at a new low close, within the current down wave, at $30.00. If the Weis wave size is $0.10 then the algorithm will remember the $30.00 close and compare it to the close of the next bar. If the bar close price does not close equal to or lower than $30.00 or close equal to or higher than $30.10 then the wave is still a down wave with a current low of $30.00. This is true even if the bar low is less than $30.00 or the bar high is greater than 30.10 – only the bar’s closing price matters. If a bar's closing price climbs back up to a close of $30.11 then because the closing price has moved more than $0.10 (the Weis wave size) then that is a wave reversal with a new up-trending wave. In the above example if there was currently a downward trending wave and the bar closes were as follows $30.00, $30.09, $30.01, $30.05, $30.10 The wave direction would continue to stay downward trending until the close of $30.10 was achieved. As such $30.00 would be the low and the following closes $30.09, $30.01, $30.05 would be allocated to the new upward-trending wave. If however There was a series of bar closes like this $30.00, $30.09, $30.01, $30.05, $29.99 since none of the closes was equal to above the 10-cent reversal target of $30.10 but instead, a new Weis wave low was achieved ($29.99). As such the closes of $30.09, $30.01, $30.05 would all be attributed to the continued down-trending wave with a current low of $29.99, even though the closing price for the interim bars was above $30.00. Now that the Weis Wave low is now 429.99 then, in order to reverse this continued downtrend price will need to close at or above $30.09 on subsequent bar closes assuming now new low bar close is achieved. With large wave sizes, wave direction can be in limbo for many bars before a close either renews wave direction or reverses it and confirms wave direction as either a reversal or a continuation. On the zig-zag, a wave line and its volume will not be "printed" until a wave reversal is confirmed.
The wave attribution is similar when using other methods to define wave size. If ATR is used for wave size instead of a traditional wave constant size such as $0.10 or $2 or 2000 pips or ... then the wave size is calculated based on current ATR instead of the Weis wave constant (Traditional selected value).
I have the option to display pseudo-Ord volume. In truth, Ord used more traditional zig-zag pivots of bar highs and lows. Waves using closes as pivots can have some significant differences. This difference can be lessened by using smaller time frames and larger wave sizes.
There are other options such to display the delta price or pip size of a Weis Wave, the number of bars in a wave, and a few other options.
I have also changed the date restriction that stopped the script from working after Dec 31, 2022.
What you see here is the Weis zigzag wave plotted directly on the price chart. This script is the companion to the Weis cumulative wave volume script.
What is a Weis wave? David Weis has been recognized as a Wyckoff method analyst he has written two books one of which, Trades About to Happen, describes the evolution of the now-popular Weis wave. The method employed by Weis is to identify waves of price action and to compare the strength of the waves on characteristics of wave strength. Chief among the characteristics of strength is the cumulative volume of the wave. There are other markers that Weis uses as well for example how the actual price difference between the start of the Weis wave from start to finish. Weis also uses time, particularly when using a Renko chart
David Weis did a futures io video which is a popular source of information about his method. (Search David Weis and futures.io. I strongly suggest you also read “Trades About to Happen” by David Weis.
This will get you up and running more quickly when studying charts. However, you should choose the Traditional method to be true to David Weis technique as described in his book "Trades About to Happen" and in the Futures IO Webcast featuring David Weis
To use this script, you must set the wave size: Using the traditional Weis method simply enter the desired wave size in the box "How should wave size be calculated", in this example I am using a traditional wave size of .25. Each wave for each security and each timeframe requires its own wave size. Although not the traditional method devised by David Weis a more automatic way to set wave size would be to use Average True Range (ATR). Using ATR is not the true Weis method but it does give you similar waves and, importantly, without the hassle described above. Once the Weis wave size is set then the zigzag wave will be shown with volume. Because Weis used the closing price of a wave to define waves a line Bar highs and bar lows are not captured by the Weis Wave. The default script setting is now cumulative volume waves using an ATR of 7 and a multiplication factor of .5.
To display volume in a way that does not crowd out neighbouring volumes Weis displayed volume as a maximum of 3 digits (usually). Consider two Weis Wave volumes 176,895,570 and 2,654,763,889. To display wave volume as three digits it is necessary to take a number such as 176,895,570 and truncate it. 176,895,570 can be represented as 177 X 10 to the power of 6. The number displayed must also be relative to other numbers in the field. If the highest volume on the page is: 2,654,763,889 and with only three numbers available to display the result the value shown must be 265 (265 X 10 to the power of 7). Since 176,895,570 is an order of magnitude smaller than 2,654,763,889 therefore 175,895,570 must be shown as 18 instead of 177. In this way, the relative magnitudes of the two volumes can be understood. All numbers in the field of view must be truncated by the same order of magnitude to make the relative volumes understandable. The script attempts to calculate the order of magnitude value automatically. If you see a red number in the field of view it means the script has failed to do the calculation automatically and you should use the manual method – use the dialogue box “Calculate truncated wave value automatically or manually”. Scroll down from the automatic method and select manual. Once "manual" is selected the values displayed become the power values or multipliers for each wave.
Using the manual method you will select a “Multiplier” in the next dialogue box. Scan the field and select the largest value in the field of view (visible chart) is the multiplier of interest. If you select a lower number than the maximum value will see at least one red “up”. If you are too high you will see at least one red “down”. Scroll in the direction recommended or the values on the screen will be totally incorrect. With volume truncated to the highest order values, the eye can quickly get a feel for relative volumes. It also reduces the crowding and overlapping of values on the screen. You can opt to show the full volume to help get a sense of the magnitude of the true volumes.
How does the script determine if a Weis wave is continuing to grow or not?
The script evaluates the closing price of each new bar relative to the "Weis wave size". Suppose the current bar closes at a new low close, within the current down wave, at $30.00. If the Weis wave size is $0.10 then the algorithm will remember the $30.00 close and compare it to the close of the next bar. If the bar close price does not close equal to or lower than $30.00 or close equal to or higher than $30.10 then the wave is still a down wave with a current low of $30.00. This is true even if the bar low is less than $30.00 or the bar high is greater than 30.10 – only the bar’s closing price matters. If a bar's closing price climbs back up to a close of $30.11 then because the closing price has moved more than $0.10 (the Weis wave size) then that is a wave reversal with a new up-trending wave. In the above example if there was currently a downward trending wave and the bar closes were as follows $30.00, $30.09, $30.01, $30.05, $30.10 The wave direction would continue to stay downward trending until the close of $30.10 was achieved. As such $30.00 would be the low and the following closes $30.09, $30.01, $30.05 would be allocated to the new upward-trending wave. If however There was a series of bar closes like this $30.00, $30.09, $30.01, $30.05, $29.99 since none of the closes was equal to above the 10-cent reversal target of $30.10 but instead, a new Weis wave low was achieved ($29.99). As such the closes of $30.09, $30.01, $30.05 would all be attributed to the continued down-trending wave with a current low of $29.99, even though the closing price for the interim bars was above $30.00. Now that the Weis Wave low is now 429.99 then, in order to reverse this continued downtrend price will need to close at or above $30.09 on subsequent bar closes assuming now new low bar close is achieved. With large wave sizes, wave direction can be in limbo for many bars before a close either renews wave direction or reverses it and confirms wave direction as either a reversal or a continuation. On the zig-zag, a wave line and its volume will not be "printed" until a wave reversal is confirmed.
The wave attribution is similar when using other methods to define wave size. If ATR is used for wave size instead of a traditional wave constant size such as $0.10 or $2 or 2000 pips or ... then the wave size is calculated based on current ATR instead of the Weis wave constant (Traditional selected value).
I have the option to display pseudo-Ord volume. In truth, Ord used more traditional zig-zag pivots of bar highs and lows. Waves using closes as pivots can have some significant differences. This difference can be lessened by using smaller time frames and larger wave sizes.
There are other options such to display the delta price or pip size of a Weis Wave, the number of bars in a wave, and a few other options.
Release Notes
I realize this 8-year-old plus script could do with some tidying after surviving being updated through the progressive versions of Pinescript and after various tweaks and fixes over that time. Although I have felt no great need to do the tidying and add one or two new features (vol on the current wave), I decided to heed the warnings generated when V5 is compiled regarding the misuse of integers that are implied as boolean parameters within conditional statements.Open-source script
In true TradingView spirit, the author of this script has published it open-source, so traders can understand and verify it. Cheers to the author! You may use it for free, but reuse of this code in publication is governed by House rules. You can favorite it to use it on a chart.
Want to use this script on a chart?
Jayy
Disclaimer
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