Pine Script Converter: Complete Guide to Converting Pine Script Code

Converting Pine Script code between different versions or to other programming languages like Python can be challenging but necessary for traders and developers. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of Pine Script conversion, from the built-in TradingView tools to third-party solutions and manual conversion techniques.

What is Pine Script and Why Convert?

Pine Script is a domain-specific programming language created by TradingView for developing custom technical indicators and trading strategies. As Pine Script evolves through new versions (currently up to v6), older scripts often need conversion to access new features and maintain compatibility with the platform.

Common reasons for conversion include:

• Upgrading scripts to use new features in newer Pine versions
• Moving strategies from Pine Script to Python for integration with other trading systems
• Converting indicators to strategies for backtesting

Converting Between Pine Script Versions

Using TradingView’s Built-in Converter

TradingView provides an automatic conversion utility for upgrading scripts from v4 to v5:

1. Open your script with //@version=4 in the Pine Editor
2. Click on the “More” menu (three dots icon) at the top-right
3. Select “Convert to v5” from the dropdown menu

This tool handles many syntax changes automatically, though some scripts may require additional manual adjustments.

Common Conversion Requirements

When converting between Pine Script versions, you’ll typically need to address:

1. Changing the version declaration (e.g., from //@version=2 to //@version=5)
2. Updating function namespaces (e.g., highest() becomes ta.highest() in v5)
3. Replacing study() with indicator() in v5+
4. Restructuring inputs to use specialized input functions (e.g., input.bool(), input.int())
5. Updating boolean handling (boolean values are strictly true or false in v6)

Converting Indicators to Strategies

A common conversion need is transforming an indicator into a strategy for backtesting. Here’s the basic process:

1. Load the indicator on your TradingView chart
2. Access the source code by clicking the curly brackets next to the indicator title
3. Copy the script and load it into your Pine Editor
4. Replace the indicator() call with strategy()
5. Define your entry/exit conditions based on the indicator’s signals
6. Add appropriate strategy.entry, strategy.exit, and strategy.close calls

Converting Pine Script to Python

Converting Pine Script to Python opens up possibilities for integration with other systems and advanced backtesting frameworks.

Available Tools and Libraries

Several tools can help with Pine Script to Python conversion:

1. PyneScript - A Python package that can parse Pine Script code into AST (Abstract Syntax Tree) and unparse it back
2. Custom converters - Some developers have created specific function converters for Pine Script features

Manual Conversion Tips

When manually converting Pine Script functions to Python:

1. For indicator calculations, use libraries like pandas_ta or ta-lib for technical analysis
2. Convert Pine’s nz() function by implementing similar null-handling logic in Python
3. Use Python’s rolling windows to replicate Pine Script’s lookback functionality

Example of converting the Pine Script dev() function to Python:

df["SMA"] = ta.sma(df["Close"], 10)
df["dev_abs"] = (df["Close"] - df["SMA"]).abs()
df["dev_cumsum"] = df["dev_abs"].rolling(window=10).sum()
df["DEV_SMA"] = df["dev_cumsum"] / 10

Third-Party Conversion Tools

Pineify

Pineify is a tool designed to help traders create and manage trading indicators without requiring programming skills:

Website: Pineify

Click here to view all the features of Pineify.

• Allows creation of indicators and strategies without coding
• Supports unlimited indicators on a single chart
• Includes a condition editor to combine multiple technical indicators
• Can generate Pine Script v6 code automatically

Common Conversion Challenges

Syntax and Function Differences

1. Function Namespaces: Many built-in functions in newer versions are part of specific namespaces (e.g., ta.crossover() instead of crossover())
2. Boolean Handling: In v6, boolean values are strictly binary (true or false) and cannot be na
3. Dynamic Requests: Handling of dynamic requests differs between versions

Debugging Conversion Issues

If your converted script encounters errors:

• Check that all function calls use the correct namespace
• Verify all input functions are updated to their new forms
• Ensure plot style arguments use named constants rather than integers

Conclusion

Converting Pine Script code between versions or to Python is an essential skill for traders and developers who want to maintain and enhance their trading tools. Whether using built-in converters, third-party tools, or manual conversion techniques, understanding the key differences between Pine Script versions and languages will ensure a smoother conversion process.

As Pine Script continues to evolve, keeping scripts updated will remain important for accessing new features and maintaining compatibility with the TradingView platform.