table.cell Function in Pine Script

One of potent features of pinescript is the table.cell function. This article will walk you through an in-depth exploration of this function, its syntax, usage, and unique examples for an enhanced understanding.

What is table.cell Function in Pine Script?

The table.cell function is used to define a cell in a table and set its properties. This function doesn’t create the table itself but defines the table’s cells. The table must be created first using table.new.

table.cell Function Syntax

The syntax for the table.cell function is as follows:

table.cell(table_id, column, row, text, width, height, text_color, text_halign, text_valign, text_size, bgcolor, tooltip, text_font_family)

Here, the arguments of this function are explained below:

• table_id: A table object.
• column: The index of the cell’s column, starting from 0.
• row: The index of the cell’s row, starting from 0.
• text: The text to be displayed inside the cell. The default is an empty string.
• text_font_family: The font family of the text. The default value is font.family_default.
• width: The width of the cell as a percentage of the indicator’s visual space.
• height: The height of the cell as a percentage of the indicator’s visual space.
• text_color: The color of the text. The default is color.black.
• text_halign: The horizontal alignment of the cell’s text.
• text_valign: The vertical alignment of the cell’s text.
• text_size: The size of the text. The default value is size.normal.
• bgcolor: The background color of the cell. The default is no color.
• tooltip: The tooltip to be displayed inside the cell.

Key Use Case Example

Now, let’s dive into a use case to better understand the application of the table.cell function.

//@version=5
indicator("Table.cell Example", overlay=true)
table_id = table.new(position.top_right, 3, 2 , border_color = color.white , border_width =  2 , frame_width =  2 ,frame_color = color.white)
price = close
priceChange = price - ta.valuewhen(price[1] != price, price[1], 0)
table.cell(table_id, 0, 0, "Current Price: " + str.tostring(price), text_color=color.white, text_halign=text.align_left)
table.cell(table_id, 1, 0, "Price Change: " + str.tostring(priceChange), text_color=color.white, text_halign=text.align_center)
table.cell(table_id, 2, 0, "Volatility: " + str.tostring(ta.stdev(priceChange, 14)), text_color=color.white, text_halign=text.align_right)

Here’s a line-by-line explanation:

• //@version=5: This line specifies that the script uses version 5 of Pine Script.
• indicator("Table.cell Example", overlay=true): This line creates a new indicator titled “Table.cell Example”. The overlay=true argument means that this indicator will be drawn directly on the price chart.
• table_id = table.new(position.top_right, 3, 2 , border_color = color.white , border_width = 2 , frame_width = 2 ,frame_color = color.white): This line creates a new table with 3 columns and 2 rows. The table is positioned at the top right corner of the chart. The border color and frame color of the table are set to white, and the width of the border and the frame are set to 2.
• price = close: This line assigns the current close price of the bar to the variable price.
• priceChange = price - ta.valuewhen(price[1] != price, price[1], 0): This line calculates the change in price. It subtracts the last price (where the price was different from the current price) from the current price.
• The next three lines use the table.cell() function to create three cells in the table, each displaying different data:
  • "Current Price: " + str.tostring(price): Displays the current price.
  • "Price Change: " + str.tostring(priceChange): Displays the price change.
  • "Volatility: " + str.tostring(ta.stdev(priceChange, 14)): Displays the volatility (standard deviation) of the price change over the last 14 bars.

Key Takeaway

The table.cell function is a powerful tool in Pine Script allowing users to customize tables within their scripts. It’s important to remember that the function doesn’t create the table, but rather, it defines the cells within an already created table. The function provides an array of parameters to tailor each cell to the user’s needs. However, it’s crucial to use the function correctly to avoid overwriting previously defined cell properties.

Conclusion

The table.cell function offers a versatile approach to data representation in Pine Script. Whether you want to depict the latest market trends, compare different financial instruments, or simply display various calculations – table.cell has got you covered. Understanding its syntax and usage will inevitably level up your Pine Script coding skills. Remember, practice makes perfect – so, don’t hesitate to experiment with table.cell to gain deeper insights and a more nuanced understanding of the markets. Happy coding!