Trader Pivot Lines

[gregc]

The trader pivot line indicator places the S3 line in the wrong place.

The formula must be wrong.

Can anyone direct me to another that is correct?

Thanks

[bltdavid]

What do you mean by ‘correct’?
(There are a variety of different pivot levels, all using slightly different formulas.)

Sometimes I see the the Pivots indicator drawing levels at the wrong locations, too.

The first thing to try is reload all Historical data and check again.

Try either:
Right click and select ‘Reload All Historical Data’
CC–>Tools–>Historical Data–>Download

Otherwise, if you’re saying the formula is wrong and the calculations are not producing the levels you expect, you can always look at the code in the file Custom/bin/Indicators/@Pivots.cs,

pp = (currentHigh + currentLow + currentClose) / 3;
s1 = 2 * pp - currentHigh;
r1 = 2 * pp - currentLow;
s2 = pp - (currentHigh - currentLow);
r2 = pp + (currentHigh - currentLow);
s3 = pp - 2 * (currentHigh - currentLow);
r3 = pp + 2 * (currentHigh - currentLow);

If you want to use a different formula, copy @Pivots.cs to a new file and change the code as desired.

NT8 also has the CamarillaPivots and FibonacciPivots indicators.

[gregc]

The formula is what you posted, but the S3 line is in the wrong place.

[gregc]

It should be here

[Mark]

You chart shows pp=633.88 and s2=629.09. If you subtract them you get 4.79, which is the difference between the high and low. 638.88 - 2 * 4.79 = 624.3. Seems like the right place to me according to the formulas bltdavid posted. There are many different, and valid, ways to calculate S3/R3. Your other chart must be using a different one. Neither is wrong, they are just different.

For example, another common way to calculate S3 is:

S3 = Low - 2 * (High - PP)

It would be very easy to copy @Pivots.cs (as suggested by bltdavid) and change the formula to your preferred one.

[Mark]

Here’s what grok had to say on the difference:

Standard Pivot Point Basics

Pivot points are typically calculated using the prior period’s High (H), Low (L), and Close (C):

• PP = (H + L + C) / 3

From there, support and resistance levels are derived. The first two support levels (S1 and S2) are usually consistent across variations:

• S1 = 2 × PP - H
• S2 = PP - (H - L)

But for S3 (and similarly R3), there are two prevalent formulas in the “classic” or “floor trader” pivot point systems:

1. S3 = L - 2 × (H - PP) This is often presented as an extension that anchors the level more closely to the prior low, emphasizing extreme support. It’s equivalent to 2 × PP - (2 × H - L) in some algebraic forms. This version tends to produce a higher (less extreme) S3 value compared to the alternative. For example, with H=10, L=6, C=8 (PP=8), this gives S3=2.
2. S3 = PP - 2 × (H - L) This treats S3 as a further subtraction of the prior range (H - L) from S2, making it PP minus twice the range. It often results in a lower (more extreme) S3, which some traders prefer for identifying deeper pullbacks. In the same example, this gives S3=0.

Why Both Are “Correct” and Common

• Variations in Usage: Both appear in educational resources, trading platforms, and strategies under the umbrella of “standard” pivot points. The first formula is frequently cited in general technical analysis guides and some custom indicators. The second is more common in floor trading contexts or when extending levels by repeatedly adding/subtracting the daily range. Neither is universally “better”—it depends on the market (e.g., forex vs. futures), timeframe, and backtesting results.
• In NinjaTrader Specifically: Your forum discussion is spot on for highlighting this. NinjaTrader’s built-in Pivots indicator uses the second formula: S3 = PP - 2 × (H - L). However, users often share custom scripts or indicators with the first formula (e.g., in forum threads where people adapt it for personal strategies). This mismatch can spark debates, but both are supported in the ecosystem—NinjaTrader even allows custom HLC inputs or alternative types like Camarilla or Woodie pivots, which have their own S3 derivations.
• Other Variations: Beyond classics, types like Fibonacci, Woodie, or Camarilla use entirely different multipliers (e.g., Fibonacci applies ratios like 1.0 for extended levels, while Camarilla uses factors like 1.1/4 for S3). If your forum is debating “correctness,” it might help to clarify if they’re sticking to classic pivots or mixing in these.

[gregc]

I don’t want custom, just the same in other platforms. This is tradingview, which the same as TC2000. Ninja, ideally would follow a standard. Only S3 is off

I’ll have to have a programmer correct it. Thanks for the input.

[Mark]

You can hire me if you want. I’ll do it for $200.

[eDanny]

Lol, heck, I’ll do it for $199!

[gregc]

GROK gave the two lines that need to be changed in the Ninja pivot script and said how to save as, and copy the script to a new name. Then remove the two lines, and paste the new.

It’s an example of why AI is crashing the software sector (IGV - XSW) with no bottom is site. I’m surprised there wasn’t a bid to do it for $20.

Like many things, knowing how is significant.

[Maverick]

@gregc

I’m surprised there wasn’t a bid to do it for $20.

In trading you’ve got to solve a lot of problems yourself. Those numbers you got to code your indicator…they were being sarcastic. (Who on this forum would waste their life for $20?)

If you don’t solve your problems yourself, and build understanding of the market yourself, there’s a whole industry that will sell you “solutions”. And most participants buy it endlessly, in search of the proverbial “solution / holy grail”.

You instinctively and independently used a freely available tool to solve your own problem.

Understand that the auction is everywhere. And we’re all participants, some are informed and some are not.

Tha “market” permeates everything.

Good luck on your trading journey.