MultiCharts Work Area: Difference between revisions
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|colspan="10" style="background-color:#fad67d;"|'''Main Toolbar''' | |colspan="10" style="background-color:#fad67d;"|'''Main Toolbar''' | ||
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|'''New Workspace'''||[[File: | |'''New Workspace'''||[[File:New Workspace(test2).png]]||[[#Creating Workspaces|Creating Workspaces]] | ||
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|'''Save Workspace'''||[[File: | |'''Save Workspace'''||[[File:Save Workspace (125).png]]||[[#Saving Workspaces|Saving Workspace]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Open Workspace'''||[[File: | |'''Open Workspace'''||[[File:Open Workspace (125).png]]||[[#Opening Workspace|Opening Workspace]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''Close Workspace'''||[[File: | |'''Close Workspace'''||[[File:Close Workspace (125).png]]||[[#Closing Workspace|Closing Workspace]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''New Chart Window'''||[[File: | |'''New Chart Window'''||[[File:Create New Chart Window (125).png]]||[[Creating Charts]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''New Scanner Window'''||[[File: | |'''New Scanner Window'''||[[File:New Scanner Window (125).png]]||[[Understanding_Real-Time_Market_Scanner|Understanding Real-Time Scanner]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''New QuoteManager'''||[[File: | |'''New QuoteManager'''||[[File:New QuoteManager Window (125).png]]||[[:Category:QuoteManager|Understanding QuoteManager]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|'''New PowerLanguage Editor'''||[[File: | |'''New PowerLanguage Editor'''||[[File:New PowerLanguage Editor Window (125).png]]||[[Editor_Overview|Understanding PowerLanguage Editor]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
|colspan="10" style="background-color:#fad67d;"|'''Control Toolbar''' | |colspan="10" style="background-color:#fad67d;"|'''Control Toolbar''' |
Revision as of 14:21, 6 May 2024
The application window consists of Toolbars, Workspaces, and Windows (Chart or/and Scanner).
For detailed information about Windows, click here.
Understanding Workspaces
Workspaces help manage the working process. Several Workspaces can be open at the same time. It is possible to create, save, open, close, rename, and delete Workspaces, as well as to switch between Workspaces that are open in the application window. Each Workspace can contain multiple windows.
Names of all open Workspaces are shown in the tabs at the bottom of application window. The tab of the currently selected (active) Workspace is highlighted. To switch to another open Workspace click the tab of the Workspace you wish to switch to.
To achieve peak performance limit the number of simultaneously open workspaces to the ones you actually need.
Creating Workspaces
To create a new Workspace, click the New Workspace icon on the Main toolbar.
Workspaces can also be created by using the Ctrl + N hot key, or by selecting File in the main menu, then pointing to New and clicking New Workspace.
Saving Workspaces
A Workspace, complete with Chart/Scanner Windows and all settings, is saved as a file with .wsp extension.
To save a Workspace, click the Save Workspace icon on the Main toolbar.
Workspaces can also be saved by using the Ctrl + S hot key, or by selecting File in the main menu and clicking Save Workspace.
If the Workspace has not yet been named, the Save As dialog box will appear, allowing to choose a file name for the workspace.
In order to save an already named Workspace under a new name, select File in the main menu and click Save Workspace As.
To save Workspaces automatically on application exit, see Workspaces Preferences.
Opening Workspaces
Saved Workspaces can be opened by using Windows Explorer/File manager as well as from the application.
To open a Workspace from the application, click the Open Workspace icon on the Main toolbar; in the Open dialog box that appears, navigate to and select the Workspace file (.wsp extension) and click the Open button.
Workspaces can also be opened by using the Ctrl + O hot key, or by selecting File in the main menu and clicking Open Workspace.
Recently used Workspaces can be opened by clicking the down-arrow to the right of the Open Workspace icon on the Main toolbar and then clicking a Workspace name, or by selecting File in the main menu, then pointing to Recent Workspaces and
clicking a Workspace name.
To open Workspaces automatically on application startup, see Workspaces Preferences.
Closing Workspaces
To close a Workspace, click the Close Workspace icon on the Main toolbar.
Workspaces can also be closed by using the F4 key, or by selecting File in the main menu and clicking Close Workspace.
If any changes have been made to a Workspace since it was last saved, and: Do not show "Save Workspace" dialog on Exit checkbox in Workspace Preferences is not selected, the Save Workspace dialog box will appear:
- click Yes to save the changes and close the Workspace;
- click No to discard the changes and close the Workspace;
- click Cancel to cancel the operation and keep the Workspace open.
To disable the dialog box and close workspaces without confirmation, see Workspaces Preferences.
If both the Do not show "Save Workspace" dialog on Exit checkbox and Do not save workspaces option are selected in the Workspace tab of the Preferences window then no changes to the workspace will be saved on exit!
Renaming Workspaces
Workspaces can be renamed by two different methods:
- Save a copy of the Workspace under a different name. See Saving Workspaces; or:
- Use Windows Explorer or another program to rename a Workspace file as any other Windows file.
Deleting Workspaces
Use Windows Explorer or another program to delete the Workspace file as you would any other Windows file. Deleting a Workspace does not delete the data or the studies.
Workspaces Preferences
Workspaces preferences settings determine which workspaces, if any, will be opened on application startup, whether changes to workspaces will be saved on application exit, and if a confirmation prompt will appear when Chart/Scanner Windows are closed.
To set workspace preferences:
- Open the Preferences window by selecting File in the main menu and then clicking Preferences; the window can also be opened by using ALT + F + F keyboard shortcut sequence.
- Select the Workspaces tab.
- To open Workspaces on startup, select the Open Workspaces on Start checkbox; clear the checkbox to not open any Workspaces on startup.
- To show the Workspaces dialog box on startup, select the Show the dialog checkbox; clear the checkbox to not display the dialog box.
- Select the Workspaces to be opened on startup.
- To show Save Workspace dialog box on exit, clear the Do not show "Save Workspace" dialog on Exit checkbox; select the checkbox to not display the dialog box.
- Select Save workspaces or Do not save workspaces to save or not to save the workspaces on exit, respectively.
- To prompt for a confirmation when a Chart/Scanner Window is closed (deleted), clear the Do not prompt for confirmation when I want to close a window checkbox; check the checkbox to prompt for a confirmation when a window is closed.
Understanding Desktops
A Desktop is a set of workspaces in one MultiCharts window. If you have a multi-monitor setup, you can save MultiCharts window layout on every monitor as a desktop and then when you launch MultiCharts next time just open a bunch of desktop files (you can open multiple files at once by selecting them all and pressing Enter) to get your setup back.
It is possible to create, save, open, close, rename, and delete Desktops. Each Desktop can contain multiple Workspaces.
Names of the open Desktops are shown at the top of MultiCharts windows.
To achieve peak performance limit the number of simultaneously open Desktops to the ones you actually need.
Creating Desktops
To create a new Desktop, it is necessary to open a new MultiCharts instance by clicking MultiCharts icon on your Windows Desktop. So, when you open a new MultiCharts instance, a new Desktop is created automatically.
Saving Desktops
A Desktop with all the settings is saved as a file with .mcd extension.
To save a Desktop, click File in the main menu and select Save Desktop. If the Desktop has not yet been named, the Save As dialog box will appear, allowing to choose a file name for the Desktop. In order to save an already named Desktop under a new name, select File in the main menu and click Save Desktop As.
It is necessary to save the changes of the Desktops manually, as they are not saved automatically.
If any changes have been made to a Workspace of the Desktop since it was last saved, the Save Workspace dialog box will appear:
- click Yes to save the changes and close the Workspace;
- click No to discard the changes and close the Workspace;
- click Cancel to cancel the operation and keep the Workspace open.
Opening Desktops
Saved Desktops can be opened by using Windows Explorer/File manager as well as from the application.
To open a Desktop from the application, click File in the main menu and select Open Desktop; in the Open dialog box that appears, navigate to and select the Desktop file (.mcd extension) and click Open button. The selected Desktop will be opened in the new MultiCharts instance.
Closing Desktops
To close a Desktop, click File in the main menu and select Close Desktop. It is necessary to save the changes of the Desktops manually before closing of the Desktop.
If any changes have been made to a Workspace of the Desktop since it was last saved, the Save Workspace dialog box will appear:
- click Yes to save the changes and close the Workspace;
- click No to discard the changes and close the Workspace;
- click Cancel to cancel the operation and keep the Workspace open.
If both Do not show "Save Workspace" dialog on Exit checkbox and Do not save workspaces options are selected in the Workspace tab of the Preferences window then no changes of the workspaces will be saved on exit!
Renaming Desktops
Desktops can be renamed by two different methods:
- Save a copy of the Desktop under a different name. See Saving Desktops; or:
- Use Windows Explorer or another program to rename a Desktop file as any other Windows file.
Deleting Desktops
Use Windows Explorer or another program to delete a Desktop file as you would any other Windows file. Deleting a Desktop does not delete the data or the studies.
Understanding Windows (Chart/Scanner)
Chart Windows contain charts, studies, and drawings. The number of windows that can be added to Workspaces is limited only by your computer's hardware configuration.
In Workspaces with multiple windows only one window at a time is active. The active window is the window to which any changes will be applied, and is distinguished by the color of its title bar. Any one of the windows in a Workspace can be selected as the active at any time.
Windows can be moved within a workspace or detached and positioned anywhere on your computer’s desktop, arranged in any order, resized, maximized, minimized, and closed. Closing a window deletes it from the Workspace.
Windows are saved only as a part of the Workspace that contains them.
Creating Windows
A Chart Window is always created at the same time as the chart/grid that is placed in it. It is not possible to create an empty window, without a chart/grid. A Chart/Scanner Window is always created in the currently selected Workspace.
Read more about Creating Charts
Read more about Workspaces.
Selecting a Window as Active
Before making changes to a Window you should make sure that it is active. Only one window at a time can be active.
A Window can be selected as active by one of the following methods:
- Click anywhere on the window to make it active; or:
- Select Window in the main menu and click the name of the window.
Color change of the window's title bar will indicate that the window has become active.
Detaching and Attaching Windows
By default, Windows are displayed within a Workspace. Windows can be detached from a Workspace and positioned anywhere on your computer's desktop; on a multiple-monitor system, one or more Windows can be displayed on each monitor.
A Window can be detached by one of the following methods:
- Click the Detach Window
button on the title bar of the window;
or:
- Select Window in the main menu and click Detach Window.
A Window can be attached back to the Workspace by one of the following methods:
- Click the Attach Window
button on the title bar of the window;
or:
- Select Window in the main menu and click Attach Window.
Detached Windows "Always on Top" Feature
To keep a detached Window displayed always on top of other windows click
the Stick button
on the title bar of the window; the button will change
to
.
To cancel the feature click
the Unstick button
again; the button will change to
.
Arranging Windows
It is possible to arrange windows in any order. A Window can be positioned anywhere by placing the mouse pointer over the window's title bar, holding the left mouse button, and dragging the window to the desired position.
Windows within a workspace can also be arranged automatically:
- To arrange all open windows for convenient viewing select Window in the main menu and click Arrange All any minimized windows will be placed at the bottom of the Workspace, below any open windows.
- To arrange all windows horizontally or vertically select Window in the main menu and click Arrange Horizontally or Arrange Vertically, respectively.
- To arrange all open windows in a cascade select Window in the main menu and click Cascade; any minimized windows will be placed at the bottom of the Workspace, below any open windows.
Deleting Windows
A window can be deleted from a Workspace. To close a Window means to delete it. It is possible to delete all of the windows from a Workspace, leaving the Workspace empty.
To delete a Window from a Workspace click the Close button on the title bar of the window; in the dialog box that appears, click Yes to delete the window, or click Cancel to cancel the operation and keep the window open.
To disable the dialog box and delete windows without confirmation, see Workspaces Preferences.
Switching between Windows
Within a Workspace you can switch between the open windows by using the Ctrl + F6 hotkey combination, or by clicking anywhere on the window you wish to switch to.
Copying Windows
The active Chart/Scanner Window can be copied, complete with all settings, data series, and studies, and pasted to any open Workspace.
To copy an active window use one of the following methods:
- Select File in the main menu and click Copy Window; or:
- Use CTRL+SHIFT+C hot key combination.
To paste the copied Window:
- Select File in the main menu and click Paste Window, or:
- Use Ctrl + Shift + V hot key combination.
Understanding Toolbars
Toolbars provide convenient access to commonly used functions. These functions can also be accessed by using the menus, but the toolbars let you do it with just one click.
There are seven toolbars: Main, Chart Analysis, Command Line, Control, Drawing, Resolution and Data Playback. Any of the toolbars can be made floating, allowing them to be positioned anywhere, or hidden if they are not needed.
Hiding and Redisplaying Toolbars
All toolbars are displayed by default.
To hide a toolbar select View in the main menu, then click Toolbars and uncheck the toolbar that is to be hidden.
A floating toolbar can also be hidden by clicking the Close button on the toolbar's title bar.
To redisplay a toolbar select View in the main menu, then click Toolbars and check the toolbar that is to be displayed.
The Resolution toolbar can also be hidden or redisplayed by clicking the Resolution icon.
Floating or Docking Toolbars
By default, toolbars are displayed docked to the top of the application window. Any of the toolbars can be made floating or docked. A floating toolbar has its own title bar and can be positioned anywhere on your computer’s desktop.
Toolbars can be made floating by using one of the following methods:
- Double-click the move handle of a docked toolbar; or:
- Position the mouse pointer over the toolbar's move handle; hold the left mouse button and drag the toolbar to the desired position.
Toolbars can be docked by one of the following methods:
- Double-click the toolbar's title bar. The toolbar will dock along the top border of the application window; or:
- Position the mouse pointer over the title bar of a floating toolbar; hold the left mouse button and drag the toolbar to any of the four borders of the application window. Once the mouse pointer comes close to a border of the window, an outline will indicate where the toolbar will be docked. Releasing the mouse button will dock the toolbar.
Toolbar Icons Reference
Understanding Command Line
Command Line
Command Line toolbar allows the active window's chart resolution or symbol to be changed simply by entering a text command.
Type the appropriate command in the Command Line combo box and press Enter.
To select a previously used command use the drop-down function.
Type in: "5 minutes" to change the chart resolution to 5 minutes.
Type in: "AMD" to change the symbol to AMD.
The List of Supported Commands
- Increases bar spacing.
.bsi
- Decreases bar spacing.
.bsd
- Calls Strategy Performance Report.
.rep
- Inserts additional symbol into existing chart or creates a new chart. Available parameters: name, df, res, desc, from, to, bfm. “,” is the delimiter. See examples below.
.isy
- Changes symbol (specific data series) plotted on chart to another specific symbol (if there is no chart, this command creates an empty chart window with no data series plotted). Available parameters: dnum, name, df, res, desc, from, to, mute, bfm. “,” is the delimiter. See examples below.
.csy
- Inserts specific indicator to the active chart. Available parameters: name, base, bref, fmt. “,” is the delimiter. See examples below. In MultiCharts 9.1 Beta 1 the new Subchart parameter will be introduced. It defines subchart number where the indicator will be plotted. By default, when subchart=-1 is used, a new subchart will be added at the bottom of the chart window.
.iind
- Inserts specific signal to the active chart. Available parameters: name1, name2. nameN (up to 99). “,” is the delimiter. See examples below.
.isig
- Reloads data on the active chart and on all charts with the same symbol. Available parameters: glob, ResSize ResName, int. See examples below.
.rld
- Reloads data on all charts in the active workspace.
.rldw
- Changes the symbol to a specified one on the active chart. If there is no selected symbol , the symbol that is plotted on data series 1 is changed.
SymName
- Changes resolution of the symbol plotted as data series 1 of the active chart to a specified one. See examples below.
ResSize ResName
- Turns on/off auto trading on the active chart.
.at_toggle
- Switches between different styles for Hint window.
.shs
- Shows the entire data series of the active chart window.
.eds
- Scrolls charts to a set point.
.goto
Available parameters: dnum, bar, date, time.
Table of Parameters for .ISY and .CSY Commands
Description |
Parameter |
Number of data series |
dnum |
Symbol name |
name |
Data provider |
df |
Resolution of the chart |
res |
Symbol description |
desc |
Starting point of data interval |
from |
Ending point of data interval |
to |
Do not show the Format Instrument dialogue window if there is an error in the request |
mute |
Build daily based charts (days, weeks, months, quarters, years) using minute data instead of daily data. bfm=0 - use daily data, bfm=1 - use minute data. If bfm is not used at all, daily data is used. |
bfm |
Table of Parameters for .IIND and .ISIG Commands
Description |
Parameter |
Name of an indicator |
name |
Name of a signal |
nameN |
Number of data series to base an indicator on |
base |
Maximum number of bars a study will reference, or maximum bars back |
bref |
Show Format Indicator window |
fmt |
Table of Parameters for .RLD Command
Description |
Parameter |
Reloads all charts with all data series in all workspaces |
glob |
Reloads data series on the current chart with the specified resolution |
res = ResSize ResName |
Reloads a specified number of days/weeks/months back |
int = ResSize ResName |
Table of Resolutions for Command Line
Resolution name |
Value 1 |
Value 2 |
Value 3 |
Value 4 |
Tick |
tick |
ticks |
t |
ts |
Contract |
volume |
volumes |
contract |
contracts |
Point |
point |
points |
pt |
pts |
Point Original |
point(original) |
orpt |
orpts | |
Change |
change |
changes |
chg |
chgs |
Second |
second |
seconds |
sec |
secs |
Minute |
minute |
minutes |
min |
mins |
Hour |
hour |
hours |
hr |
hrs |
Day |
day |
days |
d |
ds |
Week |
week |
weeks |
wk |
wks |
Month |
month |
months |
mth |
mths |
Quarter |
quarter |
quarters |
qrt |
qrts |
Year |
year |
years |
yr |
yrs |
Customizing Toolbars
With Custom Toolbars, the user can not only choose which toolbar to display, but also which buttons appear on the toolbar. Adding more toolbars and buttons makes it easier to access certain functions. Consolidating the most frequently used buttons onto one toolbar saves space and permits a larger display area in the workspace.
To customize the toolbars,
- Select View from the main menu, then select Toolbars and Customize. The Customize window will appear.
- In the Toolbars pane, select the type of toolbar to customize. Check the selected toolbar’s check box to display the toolbar. Uncheck the selected toolbar to remove the toolbar.
- In the Commands pane, select which buttons will appear on the toolbar.
- Select the Close button.