Today I came across an error using the MaxVal() function. The error is 'Pointer expected'.

I've read through some online C tutorials and searched the forum for the answers to these questions, but I must be missing something.

I get that a pointer references a memory address, not a var or vars. But why do some functions need pointers and not variables? Why does the MaxVal() function need a pointer? How do I pass a pointer to MaxVal()? Do I simply type '*' before the variable?

This is the code that generates the error:

var AO_peak = MaxVal(AO(median_price),d); //Max value of AO within lookback period, d

Thanks in advance

Most functions need that. Maybe you're taken aback by the word "pointer". Here is meant a series, which is a special case of a pointer.

Hi boatman. MaxVal is actually a good example of the answer to your basic question. The 2nd of it's parameters is a single value - the length of the lookback, d. The 1st parameter is the values to be searched through for the MaxVal - i.e., a pointer to that list of values, with at least d entries in the list. When you code AO(median_price), you're passing a single value, same as when you pass d.

One solution is to create a series at least d long to store your AO values, and pass that series as the 1st parameter.

HTH.

Thank you both for your responses. Very helpful and much appreciated!

I tried this code, and it worked (well, Zorro skipped to the next error in my code, so I guess at least the syntax is correct):

vars Awesome = series(AO(median_price));
var AO_peak = MaxVal(Awesome,d);


Thanks again for your help guys, much appreciated.