def create_pyfolio_input(factor_data,
                         period,
                         capital=None,
                         long_short=True,
                         group_neutral=False,
                         equal_weight=False,
                         quantiles=None,
                         groups=None,
                         benchmark_period='1D'):
    """
    Simulate a portfolio using the input factor and returns the portfolio
    performance data properly formatted for Pyfolio analysis.

    For more details on how this portfolio is built see:
    - performance.cumulative_returns (how the portfolio returns are computed)
    - performance.factor_weights (how assets weights are computed)

    Parameters
    ----------
    factor_data : pd.DataFrame - MultiIndex
        A MultiIndex DataFrame indexed by date (level 0) and asset (level 1),
        containing the values for a single alpha factor, forward returns for
        each period, the factor quantile/bin that factor value belongs to,
        and (optionally) the group the asset belongs to.
        - See full explanation in utils.get_clean_factor_and_forward_returns
    period : string
        'factor_data' column name corresponding to the 'period' returns to be
        used in the computation of porfolio returns
    capital : float, optional
        If set, then compute 'positions' in dollar amount instead of percentage
    long_short : bool, optional
        if True enforce a dollar neutral long-short portfolio: asset weights
        will be computed by demeaning factor values and dividing by the sum of
        their absolute value (achieving gross leverage of 1) which will cause
        the portfolio to hold both long and short positions and the total
        weights of both long and short positions will be equal.
        If False the portfolio weights will be computed dividing the factor
        values and  by the sum of their absolute value (achieving gross
        leverage of 1). Positive factor values will generate long positions and
        negative factor values will produce short positions so that a factor
        with only posive values will result in a long only portfolio.
    group_neutral : bool, optional
        If True simulates a group neutral portfolio: the portfolio weights
        will be computed so that each group will weigh the same.
        if 'long_short' is enabled the factor values demeaning will occur on
        the group level resulting in a dollar neutral, group neutral,
        long-short portfolio.
        If False group information will not be used in weights computation.
    equal_weight : bool, optional
        if True the assets will be equal-weighted. If long_short is True then
        the factor universe will be split in two equal sized groups with the
        top assets in long positions and bottom assets in short positions.
        if False the assets will be factor-weighed, see 'long_short' argument
    quantiles: sequence[int], optional
        Use only specific quantiles in the computation. By default all
        quantiles are used
    groups: sequence[string], optional
        Use only specific groups in the computation. By default all groups
        are used
    benchmark_period : string, optional
        By default benchmark returns are computed as the factor universe mean
        daily returns but 'benchmark_period' allows to choose a 'factor_data'
        column corresponding to the returns to be used in the computation of
        benchmark returns. More generally benchmark returns are computed as the
        factor universe returns traded at 'benchmark_period' frequency, equal
        weighting and long only


    Returns
    -------
     returns : pd.Series
        Daily returns of the strategy, noncumulative.
         - Time series with decimal returns.
         - Example:
            2015-07-16    -0.012143
            2015-07-17    0.045350
            2015-07-20    0.030957
            2015-07-21    0.004902

     positions : pd.DataFrame
        Time series of dollar amount (or percentage when 'capital' is not
        provided) invested in each position and cash.
         - Days where stocks are not held can be represented by 0.
         - Non-working capital is labelled 'cash'
         - Example:
            index         'AAPL'         'MSFT'          cash
            2004-01-09    13939.3800     -14012.9930     711.5585
            2004-01-12    14492.6300     -14624.8700     27.1821
            2004-01-13    -13853.2800    13653.6400      -43.6375


     benchmark : pd.Series
        Benchmark returns computed as the factor universe mean daily returns.

    """

    #
    # Build returns:
    # we don't know the frequency at which the factor returns are computed but
    # pyfolio wants daily returns. So we compute the cumulative returns of the
    # factor, then resample it at 1 day frequency and finally compute daily
    # returns
    #
    cumrets = factor_cumulative_returns(factor_data,
                                        period,
                                        long_short,
                                        group_neutral,
                                        equal_weight,
                                        quantiles,
                                        groups)
    cumrets = cumrets.resample('1D').last().fillna(method='ffill')
    returns = cumrets.pct_change().fillna(0)

    #
    # Build positions. As pyfolio asks for daily position we have to resample
    # the positions returned by 'factor_positions' at 1 day frequency and
    # recompute the weights so that the sum of daily weights is 1.0
    #
    positions = factor_positions(factor_data,
                                 period,
                                 long_short,
                                 group_neutral,
                                 equal_weight,
                                 quantiles,
                                 groups)
    positions = positions.resample('1D').sum().fillna(method='ffill')
    positions = positions.div(positions.abs().sum(axis=1), axis=0).fillna(0)
    positions['cash'] = 1. - positions.sum(axis=1)

    # transform percentage positions to dollar positions
    if capital is not None:
        positions = positions.mul(
            cumrets.reindex(positions.index) * capital, axis=0)

    #
    #
    #
    # Build benchmark returns as the factor universe mean returns traded at
    # 'benchmark_period' frequency
    #
    fwd_ret_cols = utils.get_forward_returns_columns(factor_data.columns)
    if benchmark_period in fwd_ret_cols:
        benchmark_data = factor_data.copy()
        # make sure no negative positions
        benchmark_data['factor'] = benchmark_data['factor'].abs()
        benchmark_rets = factor_cumulative_returns(benchmark_data,
                                                   benchmark_period,
                                                   long_short=False,
                                                   group_neutral=False,
                                                   equal_weight=True)
        benchmark_rets = benchmark_rets.resample(
            '1D').last().fillna(method='ffill')
        benchmark_rets = benchmark_rets.pct_change().fillna(0)
        benchmark_rets.name = 'benchmark'
    else:
        benchmark_rets = None

    return returns, positions, benchmark_rets
Simulate a portfolio using the input factor and returns the portfolio
    performance data properly formatted for Pyfolio analysis.

    For more details on how this portfolio is built see:
    - performance.cumulative_returns (how the portfolio returns are computed)
    - performance.factor_weights (how assets weights are computed)

    Parameters
    ----------
    factor_data : pd.DataFrame - MultiIndex
        A MultiIndex DataFrame indexed by date (level 0) and asset (level 1),
        containing the values for a single alpha factor, forward returns for
        each period, the factor quantile/bin that factor value belongs to,
        and (optionally) the group the asset belongs to.
        - See full explanation in utils.get_clean_factor_and_forward_returns
    period : string
        'factor_data' column name corresponding to the 'period' returns to be
        used in the computation of porfolio returns
    capital : float, optional
        If set, then compute 'positions' in dollar amount instead of percentage
    long_short : bool, optional
        if True enforce a dollar neutral long-short portfolio: asset weights
        will be computed by demeaning factor values and dividing by the sum of
        their absolute value (achieving gross leverage of 1) which will cause
        the portfolio to hold both long and short positions and the total
        weights of both long and short positions will be equal.
        If False the portfolio weights will be computed dividing the factor
        values and  by the sum of their absolute value (achieving gross
        leverage of 1). Positive factor values will generate long positions and
        negative factor values will produce short positions so that a factor
        with only posive values will result in a long only portfolio.
    group_neutral : bool, optional
        If True simulates a group neutral portfolio: the portfolio weights
        will be computed so that each group will weigh the same.
        if 'long_short' is enabled the factor values demeaning will occur on
        the group level resulting in a dollar neutral, group neutral,
        long-short portfolio.
        If False group information will not be used in weights computation.
    equal_weight : bool, optional
        if True the assets will be equal-weighted. If long_short is True then
        the factor universe will be split in two equal sized groups with the
        top assets in long positions and bottom assets in short positions.
        if False the assets will be factor-weighed, see 'long_short' argument
    quantiles: sequence[int], optional
        Use only specific quantiles in the computation. By default all
        quantiles are used
    groups: sequence[string], optional
        Use only specific groups in the computation. By default all groups
        are used
    benchmark_period : string, optional
        By default benchmark returns are computed as the factor universe mean
        daily returns but 'benchmark_period' allows to choose a 'factor_data'
        column corresponding to the returns to be used in the computation of
        benchmark returns. More generally benchmark returns are computed as the
        factor universe returns traded at 'benchmark_period' frequency, equal
        weighting and long only


    Returns
    -------
     returns : pd.Series
        Daily returns of the strategy, noncumulative.
         - Time series with decimal returns.
         - Example:
            2015-07-16    -0.012143
            2015-07-17    0.045350
            2015-07-20    0.030957
            2015-07-21    0.004902

     positions : pd.DataFrame
        Time series of dollar amount (or percentage when 'capital' is not
        provided) invested in each position and cash.
         - Days where stocks are not held can be represented by 0.
         - Non-working capital is labelled 'cash'
         - Example:
            index         'AAPL'         'MSFT'          cash
            2004-01-09    13939.3800     -14012.9930     711.5585
            2004-01-12    14492.6300     -14624.8700     27.1821
            2004-01-13    -13853.2800    13653.6400      -43.6375


     benchmark : pd.Series
        Benchmark returns computed as the factor universe mean daily returns.