Comparing Charts to Scanner

Comparing instrument values on charts and in scanner

When you have one symbol, that is the same, in both the scanner and on a chart it is natural to start comparing the data values in both windows. This is when you can spot slight differences. As a rule they are caused by the difference in the symbol settings in these windows. Cross-check that the following settings are identical:

1. Data source and symbol;
2. Chart type - regular or non-standard;
3. Resolution;
4. Quote Field;
5. Sessions;
6. Build volume on;
7. Data Range* - should be specified as Bars/Days Back on the chart because there’s no From-To data range in the scanner; make sure that the pin position is identical in both cases;
8. Time Zone*.

The easiest way to guarantee that the settings are similar is to create a chart for a symbol used in the scanner! See here.

Note: It is worth mentioning that even with all of these settings being identical, the values in the scanner might not coincide with the data series on the chart. That is because the scanner uses a special realtime source for the data – the same as the one that is used for the Status line of the chart. And in case your data provider sends different status line values compared to the chart values, there is nothing that can be done to rectify this.

Note 2: The following data sources do not have status line values: ASCII Mapping, CSI, Free Quotes, Metastock.

Note 3: LMAX, OANDA, Universal DDE do not supply or return zeros for some or all of these values to status line: Open, High, Low, Prev, Volume.

Comparing indicator values on charts and in scanner

If there is a discrepancy in the chart and scanner indicator’s calculations, it may be related to one of the following:

• different symbol settings (see point 1 of this article);
• different indicator settings. In this case compare and adjust:

1. the input values;
2. the Max Bars Back setting;
3. the Update on every tick option state;
4. the Skip identical ticks option state.

Also verify that you did not use an additional data series in the indicator’s calculation on the chart, because in the Scanner you can only use Data1 for calculations. If you still observe the differences in the indicator values, cross-check the logic of the indicator.