Unlocking the Power of Tradestation Charts

Tradestation charts are a powerful tool for traders, allowing them to visualize market trends and make informed decisions. They offer a wide range of features, including over 100 built-in indicators and the ability to create custom indicators using EasyLanguage.

With Tradestation charts, you can analyze market data from various time frames, from 1-minute bars to monthly bars. This flexibility is essential for identifying trends and patterns that may not be visible on shorter or longer time frames.

Tradestation charts also allow you to customize the appearance of your charts, including the ability to change the color scheme, add labels, and adjust the scale. This makes it easy to create charts that meet your specific needs and preferences.

By unlocking the power of Tradestation charts, you can gain a deeper understanding of the markets and make more informed trading decisions.

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TradeStation charts offer an impressive range of customization options, making it easy to tailor your charts to suit your trading style.

With over 150 indicators available, you can create or download custom indicators for nearly unlimited analysis capabilities. This means you can add specific indicators to your charts to get a better understanding of market trends.

You can also change the symbol on your chart by typing the symbol name and pressing ENTER, or by using the Symbol Lookup icon to search by name or description. This feature is super helpful when you need to quickly switch between different symbols.

The Style menu allows you to select from various bar or chart types, such as Candlestick, OHLC, or Kagi. You can also adjust the symbol settings, such as the range values and interval, to suit your needs.

To make the most of TradeStation's customization options, take a look at the following settings you can adjust:

By taking advantage of these customization options, you can create charts that are tailored to your trading needs and preferences.

TradeStation's charting tools are truly exceptional. Virtually every graphical and other elements of the TradeStation Global charts can be customized.

You can personalize your layouts to perfection and maximize your perspective on the markets. This level of customization is unparalleled in the industry.

With over 150 indicators available, you can create or download custom indicators for nearly unlimited analysis capabilities. This means you can tailor your charts to suit your specific trading needs.

The Style menu allows you to select a bar or chart type, such as Candlestick, OHLC, or Kagi. This flexibility is a game-changer for serious traders and analysts.

To apply the changes you made for future charts, simply select the Set as Default check box in each customize dialog. This will save you time and effort in the long run.

Here are some of the key chart types available:

By taking advantage of these customization options, you can create charts that are tailored to your specific needs and preferences.

You can link multiple chart windows of the same symbol together for a more comprehensive view of the market.

This feature is especially useful for swing trading stocks, where you can have daily, weekly, and monthly charts for the same symbol.

The symbol window link, denoted by "S" in the top right of each window, combines different time frame charts of the same symbol.

Clearing your cache can be a lifesaver if you're experiencing slow load times or gaps in your tick charts. This is particularly true for heavy users of Tick charts.

To clear your cache in TradeStation, start by shutting down the program. This will ensure that your cache is rebuilt from scratch.

Next, find the cache folder. Don't worry if you're not sure where it is - it's usually a straightforward process.

Once you've found the cache folder, rename the cache file instead of deleting it. This will force TradeStation to rebuild your cache.

Finally, restart TradeStation and open some of your charts. This will trigger the cache rebuild process.

Here are the steps in a concise list:

Do this outside the trading day, as the data downloading will be slow.

TradeStation charts offer a range of features that simplify chart analysis. With extensive chart linking, you can easily connect multiple charts to gain a deeper understanding of market trends.

Annotating capabilities also come in handy, allowing you to add notes and comments directly to your charts. This feature is perfect for highlighting key patterns or areas of interest.

Visualizing market moves and potential breakouts is also made easy with TradeStation charts. You can view chart patterns in real time, making it easier to stay on top of market activity.

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Multiple-time-frame analysis allows you to isolate market conditions that may directly affect your trading.

By combining multiple symbols and/or intervals on the same chart, you can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the market.

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This approach helps you identify patterns and trends that might be invisible on a single chart, giving you a clearer view of the market's dynamics.

Combining multiple time frames on a single chart can help you spot opportunities that might be missed on a single time frame.

Multiple-time-frame analysis can be particularly useful for traders who want to identify areas of support and resistance that may be affecting the market.

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Simplified Analysis makes it easier to get insights from your data.

TradeStation's extensive chart linking capabilities allow you to connect multiple charts and analyze them together.

Transparency and data-forward design simplify the analysis process.

You can combine your favorite indicators and their settings into an Analysis Group, making it easy to add them to a chart with one click.

Right-clicking on a chart gives you access to several options, including the Analysis Group settings.

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Visualizing market moves in real time is a game-changer for traders. Multiple-time-frame analysis allows you to isolate market conditions that may directly affect your trading.

By combining multiple symbols and/or intervals on the same chart, you can gain a deeper understanding of the market's behavior. This can help you make more informed decisions.

Indicators, ShowMe studies, PaintBar studies, Activity Bars, and Probability Maps all enable you to analyze the market in real time. These tools help you visualize market moves, potential breakouts, and chart patterns.

TradeStation's extensive chart linking and annotating capabilities simplify chart analysis, making it easier to visualize market moves. Transparency and data-forward design also contribute to a more streamlined analysis process.

TradeStation's charting capabilities are incredibly robust, with more than 150 indicators coming standard with the platform.

You can also create or download custom indicators for nearly unlimited analysis capabilities. This means you can tailor your charts to fit your specific trading needs.

With this many indicators at your disposal, you'll be able to analyze your charts from every angle, giving you a deeper understanding of market trends and patterns.

With TradeStation, you have access to over 150 standard indicators that can be used for analysis. This is a huge advantage for traders who want to get started quickly.

You can also create or download custom indicators for nearly unlimited analysis capabilities. This means you can tailor your trading strategy to your specific needs.

TradeStation's advanced charting tools are a major draw for serious traders and analysts. They provide a professional-grade experience that's hard to find elsewhere.

The platform's flexibility is also a major benefit, allowing you to customize your charting to fit your style.

Changing indicator settings across multiple charts can be a tedious task, but there's a way to do it quickly. Simply changing the EasyLanguage code once can update the settings globally.

To make this work, it's essential to code the settings as "Variables" rather than "Inputs". This might take some time upfront, but it'll save you a lot of time in the long run.

By coding settings as variables, you can make global updates to indicator colors, lookback periods, and other settings with just one change. This can be a huge time-saver, especially if you have many charts with the same indicator.

Rationalize and standardize your processes regularly, or you might fall victim to "analysis paralysis". This can be deadly in day trading decision-making, where speed is essential.

Having too many charts can be overwhelming, so go through them regularly and delete the ones that are not essential. Do you really need that chart of the Japanese Yen versus the Swedish Krona?

Create a standard indicator Analysis Group that you can use for all charts and all time frames. It should have the minimum number of indicators with all the settings you like.

Applying this standard Group to all your charts will make you quicker at reading them and help you spot tradable patterns repeating. For me, the ultimate is having one chart with all 3 of the Better indicators, trade entries, and exits signalled – and nothing else.

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Navigation and Shortcuts is a crucial part of working with TradeStation charts. You can quickly move between charts in a workspace with Control + Page Up/Down.

To switch between live charts, press Control + Tab. This hot key allows you to easily switch between different charts in your workspace.

Using hot keys to add pointers to your charts is also incredibly useful. I use "]" to show the pointer in all windows (or charts) in a workspace, and "|" to show the pointer in just one window (or chart).

Setting Hot Keys for Panel Navigation is a breeze, and I'm excited to share the shortcuts with you. You can easily switch between workspaces using Control + Page Up/Down.

To select a specific window or chart to view live, use Control + Tab. This hot key combination will come in handy when you need to focus on a particular chart.

Changing the bar spacing is also a simple matter of using the up and down arrows.

To navigate between TradeStation charts, you can use the default hot keys. Press control + page up/down to select the workspace you want to view.

Using multiple time frame charts can be overwhelming, but setting up hot keys can help. I use "]" to show a pointer that shows where you are on all the charts open in a workspace.

To change the bar spacing, simply use the up and down arrows. This is especially useful when reviewing history and seeing what happened in each of the different time frames.

If you're like me and use hot keys to add pointers, you'll appreciate the ability to show a pointer in just one window (or chart) by using the "|" key. This helps me review the day's Emini trading and setups at the end of every day.

You can create and customize a chart in TradeStation by clicking the Chart Analysis icon on the Apps tab.

The process involves a series of steps, including changing the symbol, selecting a bar or chart type, and adjusting the range values and interval.

To change the symbol, type the symbol name and press ENTER, or click the Symbol Lookup icon to search by name or description.

You can also use the Style menu to select a bar or chart type, such as Candlestick or OHLC.

The Data > Edit Symbol menu sequence allows you to change the symbol settings for the selected chart type, including the range values and interval.

Use the Timeframe menu to change the bar interval for the specified bar or chart type, or type the interval keyword and press ENTER.

You can also customize the chart analysis window by selecting the Set as Default check box in each customize dialog.

Here are the steps to create and customize a chart in TradeStation:

You can easily monitor the status of your orders and positions on a chart with account order and position markers. These markers show the target price for open limit or stop orders, as well as the price where an order was filled and the type of order along with its size in shares/contracts.

Order markers are a convenient way to track your open orders, and position markers provide a clear picture of your filled orders.

To get more information on account orders and positions, you can check out the Account Orders & Positions section of the documentation.

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Using continuous futures contracts can save you a lot of time and hassle when trading. You can plot the contract and have the rollover happen automatically, which is a big improvement over having to change it manually.

Continuous contract symbols roll on the 2nd day before expiry, which is when volume shifts to the new front-month contract. This is a more accurate representation of market activity.

For example, if you're trading Euro futures, you can use the optimized continuous contract symbol @EC=102XC for tick charts and @EC.D=102XC for minute charts. This avoids TradeStation's default 3rd-day roll, which can include data from the prior, less liquid contract.

Using continuous futures contracts can give you a more accurate view of market trends and activity. It's a simple change that can make a big difference in your trading strategy.

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You can place orders by clicking directly on the chart, and it's actually quite straightforward. This method allows you to quickly enter orders without having to navigate to the Matrix window.

To start, you can use Ctrl + Left Click to mimic the behavior of clicking on the bid side in the Matrix window. This is equivalent to a Sell Limit @ selected price if you click above the Bid, or a Sell Stop Market @ selected price if you click below the Bid.

You can also use Alt + Left Click to mimic the behavior of clicking on the ask side in the Matrix window. This is equivalent to a Buy Stop Market @ selected price if you click above the Ask, or a Buy Limit @ selected price if you click below the Ask.

The chart also allows you to move open orders to new price levels by dragging their corresponding order lines. This is a convenient way to cancel or replace the price of an existing order.

If you want to edit an order's quantity and/or price, simply right-click on the order line. You can also delete an order by selecting the order line and pressing the DELETE key.

Here's a summary of the key and mouse click combinations that may be used to place orders by clicking directly on the chart:

TradeStation charts are top-notch, with a user-friendly interface that's been refined over three decades based on customer feedback.

The charting software is best used on a desktop computer, as it requires processing power to run smoothly.

A wide range of common indicators and studies are included in the standard installation, making it easy to analyze charts. However, with so many options available, it can take some time to get familiar with where everything lives.

The software allows you to save your chart settings, so you can quickly reload your preferred setup when you log back in. This is especially useful if you have multiple screens set up.

Using 1440-minute intra-day charts over daily charts can be a game-changer for traders.

This hack allows you to get volume data quicker, as end-of-day volume data is delayed and released after the close.

The exchanges don't release end-of-day volume data until well after the close, but using a 1440-minute intra-day chart gives you the running total volume traded and daily volume before the exchange releases it.

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Sometimes, the exchange adjusts the figure, but it's usually pretty close.

TradeStation splits the day's volume into "Up Volume" and "Down Volume" on a 1440-minute chart.

"Up Volume" is volume traded at the Ask price and can be considered aggressive buying, while "Down Volume" is volume traded at the Bid price and can be regarded as aggressive selling.

This "real" buying and selling volume data is really useful for keeping track of the strength of a trend.

Breakouts into trends typically start with a large volume of aggressive volume, and trends peter out when the buying volume decreases, even as higher prices are printed.

To adjust the text size in TradeStation, you can follow these simple steps.

Select Drawing > Text to begin.

Write some text on your chart to test the new size.

Right-click the text and Format the font, size, and color to make your changes.

Tick the "Set as default" box to apply the new size to all future charts.

The new text format will be automatically applied to any new chart you create.

TradeStation's charting software is top-notch, with a user-friendly interface that's been refined over three decades based on customer feedback. It's best suited for desktop computers, as it requires processing power to run smoothly.

The charting software is highly customizable, with hundreds of indicators and studies available for download and installation. You can easily save your chart settings and reload them whenever you need to.

Indicators, Paint Bars, and Show Me studies can be added to your charts to provide additional graphical information. You can also use EasyLanguage to create custom analysis plugins.

TradeStation's charting software includes several features to help you analyze the market, such as:

You can also save your chart settings, including indicator groups, workspaces, and desktops, to quickly reload them whenever you need to.

The price axis, also known as the y-axis, is a crucial part of any chart window. It displays the range of prices for the symbol being charted.

You can think of it as a ruler that helps you measure the price movements of the symbol over time. The price axis is essential for making sense of the price chart.

The price axis is usually displayed on the left side of the chart window, and it's where you'll see the minimum and maximum prices for the symbol being charted. You can also see any plotted values in a subgraph.

The time axis is a crucial element in charting and display, and it's essential to understand how it works. The time axis, also known as the x-axis, shows the time scale of the bars displayed in the chart window.

In a chart, the time axis is typically displayed horizontally, and it's used to measure the passage of time. This means that each point on the axis represents a specific moment in time.

The time axis is usually labeled with dates or timestamps to give you a clear idea of what time period each bar represents. This label can be customized to suit your needs, making it easier to read and understand the chart.

Understanding the time axis is vital when creating charts, as it helps you visualize data over time and make informed decisions. By taking the time to set up your time axis correctly, you can ensure that your charts are accurate and easy to read.

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Drawing tools are used to visually highlight information on a chart, helping you analyze price movement. Some drawing tools, like trendlines, connect multiple price points to show direction or amount of movement.

Trendlines can be a powerful tool for identifying trends and making predictions, but they're not the only drawing tool available. Boxes and text objects can also be used to draw attention to specific areas of a chart.

Drawing objects applied to a chart can be moved and formatted as needed, and they'll stay aligned with new price bar data when the symbol's interval is changed.

TradeStation offers a wide range of chart types to help you visualize the market in different ways.

From traditional to exotic, you can choose from over 10 different chart types, including candlesticks and Renko bars. This allows you to view the market from nearly every conceivable angle.

With so many options, you can experiment to find the chart type that works best for your trading strategy.

Strategies are a set of rules that can be based on price movement, volatility, and interest rate changes, and other market conditions for a charted symbol.

You can develop and back-test your trading ideas using strategies, which can then be automated to generate buy/sell signals and orders when appropriate.

Strategies allow you to apply a set of rules to a chart, displaying onscreen cues such as arrows, flags, numbers, and order names to show when your strategy rules would have historically placed trades.

By applying a strategy to a chart, you can modify the general, back-testing, automation, and optimization settings to fine-tune your approach.

Drawing tools are a powerful way to visually highlight information on a chart. They can help you connect the dots and get a better understanding of market trends.

Trendlines are a type of drawing tool that let you connect multiple price points to analyze the direction or amount of price movement. This can be super helpful in identifying patterns and making informed decisions.

Some drawing tools, like boxes or text objects, are used to call attention to an area of a chart, but they don't have any specific market interpretation. They're more about drawing attention to something, rather than analyzing it.

Drawing objects applied to a chart can be moved and formatted, and they'll stay aligned with new price bar data when the symbol's interval is changed. This means you can adjust your charts on the fly and still see the big picture.

Managing your Tradestation charts effectively is crucial for making informed trading decisions.

You can create multiple accounts with Tradestation, each with its own unique settings and configurations.

Having multiple accounts allows you to separate personal and business trades, or to test different trading strategies in a simulated environment.

Tradestation charts can be customized to display various types of information, such as technical indicators and price data.

You can also use Tradestation's "chart groups" feature to organize your charts into categories and make it easier to switch between them.

Tradestation offers a range of pre-built chart templates to help you get started quickly.

Creating and customizing a chart in TradeStation is a breeze. You can click the Chart Analysis icon on the Apps tab to get started.

To change the symbol on the chart, simply type the symbol name in the toolbar's command line and press ENTER. If you don't know the symbol name, you can click the Symbol Lookup icon to search for it.

You can select from over 150 standard indicators with the TradeStation platform, and even create or download custom indicators for unlimited analysis capabilities.

The Style menu lets you choose from various bar and chart types, such as Candlestick, OHLC, and Kagi.

To change the symbol settings, go to Data > Edit Symbol > Settings tab. Here, you can adjust the range values to decide how much historical data you want to display on the chart.

The Timeframe menu allows you to change the bar interval for the specified bar or chart type. You can also type the interval keyword, such as 5 min or daily, and press ENTER.

To apply changes made to a chart, select the Set as Default check box in each customize dialog. This will save your settings for future charts.

By following these simple steps, you can create and customize a chart that suits your trading needs.