Hello,

Being new to the use of MDK, I would like to better understand *how* the MDK uses code to create a DLL that will be used by the Metastock application.   I have seen the examples in the MDK User's Manual, which I am sure will be very helpful as I progress.  I have also looked/searched in vain for simple MDK examples in this forum.

At this point, to free myself from a mental block, it would be very beneficial to me if I did not have to start off with a multi-paged, moving-average MDK C++ painting of a Rembrandt.   I simply want to learn how to put a dab of paint on the canvas.

For example, it would be very helpful to see an example that takes the charted security's data and returns the CLOSE to the MS chart.  

Could someone *please* post a *complete* C/C++ example of MDK code that can be use to create such a DLL file.   


Thanks for your help!  

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Joe

Joe,

Have a look in the MDK directory for the MSX samples: C:\Program Files\Equis\MDK\MSX\C\CSampleDLL.dll

It contains three simple functions and is an adequate place to start.


Hope this helps.

wabbit

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"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim."
Edsgar W. Dijkstra

 

MS: 6.52 EOD, 7.x EOD, 8.0 PRO, 9.2 PRO w/QC, 10 PRO w/QC & MDK
For custom MetaStock programming : http://www.wabbit.com.au
My SkyPE status :
My SkyPE account : wabbit.com.au

Thanks Wabbit!   

CSampleDLL.cpp seems to compile ok, but I have a (non-MDK) Microsoft linker glitch, which should be eventually resolvable, once I can figure out who has the correct answer in the Microsoft Forums.    http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/vclanguage/thread/14e85604-6929-4707-a22e-8cdf596926a6

Hopefully it also does not involve C++ name-mangling, but tmainCRTStartup has three "_" characters in front of it, while CSampleDLL.cpp has name-mangling disabled.

MSVCRTD.lib(crtexe.obj) : error LNK2019: unresolved external symbol _main referenced in function ___tmainCRTStartup

Will keep you posted.    Kudos.

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Joe

Have you included the .def file in the project?


wabbit

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"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim."
Edsgar W. Dijkstra

 

MS: 6.52 EOD, 7.x EOD, 8.0 PRO, 9.2 PRO w/QC, 10 PRO w/QC & MDK
For custom MetaStock programming : http://www.wabbit.com.au
My SkyPE status :
My SkyPE account : wabbit.com.au

I was doing some "stuff" and wondered how "simple" a dll could get.  I came up with this to return the CLOSE price, which I think is about as simple as things could get:

Code:

#include <windows.h> #include "MSXStruc.h" #define DLL_EXPORT extern "C" __declspec(dllexport) DLL_EXPORT BOOL __stdcall MSXInfo (MSXDLLDef *a_psDLLDef) {     strncpy (a_psDLLDef->szCopyright, "http:\\\\www.wabbit.com.au", sizeof(a_psDLLDef->szCopyright)-1);     a_psDLLDef->iNFuncs = 1;     a_psDLLDef->iVersion = MSX_VERSION;     return MSX_SUCCESS; } DLL_EXPORT BOOL __stdcall MSXNthFunction (int a_iNthFunc, MSXFuncDef *a_psFuncDef) {     strncpy (a_psFuncDef->szFunctionName, "rClose", sizeof(a_psFuncDef->szFunctionName)-1);     strncpy (a_psFuncDef->szFunctionDescription, "Returns the CLOSE price.", sizeof(a_psFuncDef->szFunctionDescription)-1);     a_psFuncDef->iNArguments = 0;     return MSX_SUCCESS; } DLL_EXPORT BOOL __stdcall rClose (const MSXDataRec *a_psDataRec, const MSXDataInfoRecArgsArray *a_psDataInfoArgs, const MSXNumericArgsArray *a_psNumericArgs, const MSXStringArgsArray *a_psStringArgs, const MSXCustomArgsArray *a_psCustomArgs, MSXResultRec *a_psResultRec) {         for (int i=a_psDataRec->sClose.iFirstValid; i<=a_psDataRec->sClose.iLastValid; i++)         a_psResultRec->psResultArray->pfValue[ i ] = a_psDataRec->sClose.pfValue[ i ];         a_psResultRec->psResultArray->iFirstValid = a_psDataRec->sClose.iFirstValid;     a_psResultRec->psResultArray->iLastValid = a_psDataRec->sClose.iLastValid;     return MSX_SUCCESS; }

Compiles without a .def under VC++2008, but not under VC6 ??  (I must have a compiler switch set wrong?)

This example is of VERY limited use and is NOT a good example to use as a basis for learning to create MSX libraries or as a template for your own libraries.



Hope this helps.

wabbit

---

"The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim."
Edsgar W. Dijkstra

 

MS: 6.52 EOD, 7.x EOD, 8.0 PRO, 9.2 PRO w/QC, 10 PRO w/QC & MDK
For custom MetaStock programming : http://www.wabbit.com.au
My SkyPE status :
My SkyPE account : wabbit.com.au

This is great!  Thank you Wabbit!

I think this is an excellent illustration, because it shows how one programs a minimal MDK DLL interface to Metastock.   It is very useful for educating new users of MDK, because the calculation details do not distract from the understanding the essential programming mechanism.  It is the best way to teach, and the best way to learn. 

Last night I was able to get the LNK2019 error resolved.  It was caused by the way the C++ project was developed.  Once I started all over again and built it correctly, the problem went away.   There is an excellent reference for this as well:  
http://bobobobo.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/error-lnk2019-error1error-lnk2019-unresolved-external-symbol-_main-referenced-in-function-___tmaincrtstartupmsvcrtdlib/

No, I haven't finished the .NET file.  It is next.

Thanks again!

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Joe