Difference between revisions of "Creating Charts"

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A Chart is created for a financial instrument, designated by a '''Symbol''', such as "GOOG".
 
A Chart is created for a financial instrument, designated by a '''Symbol''', such as "GOOG".
  
A new chart can be created by entering the symbol parameters into the Command Line toolbar, or by using the '''Format Instruments''' window.  
+
One new chart can be created by entering the symbol parameters into the Command Line toolbar, or by using the '''Format Instruments''' window.  
  
 
If the symbol name is known, the simplest way to create a new chart is to enter the symbol name and all known symbol parameters into the command line. Any omitted symbol parameters will automatically be selected, and the symbol plotted.
 
If the symbol name is known, the simplest way to create a new chart is to enter the symbol name and all known symbol parameters into the command line. Any omitted symbol parameters will automatically be selected, and the symbol plotted.

Revision as of 11:23, 19 March 2014

A Chart is created for a financial instrument, designated by a Symbol, such as "GOOG".

One new chart can be created by entering the symbol parameters into the Command Line toolbar, or by using the Format Instruments window.

If the symbol name is known, the simplest way to create a new chart is to enter the symbol name and all known symbol parameters into the command line. Any omitted symbol parameters will automatically be selected, and the symbol plotted.


Creating Charts Using the Command Line Toolbar

A new chart can be created by entering the symbol parameters into the Command Line toolbar:

052 CommandLine.png


By default, the Command Line toolbar is displayed docked to the top of the application window. If the toolbar is not displayed, it may have been hidden. To learn how to redisplay the toolbar, see Floating or Docking Toolbars

To learn more about toolbars, see Understanding Toolbars

Symbol parameters consist of the Symbol Name, Data Source, Category, and Exchange parameters. Depending on the data source and the symbol category, one or more parameters are required on order to precisely identify the symbol to be plotted.


Automatic Selection of Omitted Symbol Parameters

MultiCharts simplifies the process of symbol selection by automatically selecting, whenever possible, any omitted symbol parameters, by analyzing the Symbol Name.

Note:
When symbol parameters are entered into the command line the first time that MultiCharts is used, the Data Source must be specified.
Automatic selection of omitted symbol parameters is based on both the Symbol Name and on the Data Source.
Once specified a single time, the Data Source will be selected automatically if DataSource parameter is not specified.

Entering a symbol name alone is often sufficient to create a chart for a stock. For example, a plot for Google, Inc. can be created by simply typing goog into the command line toolbar; all the other parameters will be selected automatically. However, for some symbol categories and data sources, additional parameters may be required in order to precisely identify the symbol to be plotted.

If the exact symbol name is not known, but only the symbol description or the symbol root, or if plotting the symbol through the command line does not work, QuoteManager can be used to search for and identify the correct symbol.

Note: When symbol parameters are entered into the command line the first time that that MultiCharts is used, the Data Source must be specified.


Entering Symbol Parameters into a Command Line

Symbol parameters are entered in the following format:

DataSource: SymbolName; Exchange; Category

Note:
Data Source and Symbol Name are separated by a colon (:), while Symbol Name, Exchange Name, and Category are separated by a semicolon (;).
  • If DataSource parameter is not specified, SymbolName parameter does not have to be preceded by a colon.
  • In neither Exchange nor Category parameters are specified, SymbolName does not have to be followed by a semicolon.
  • If Category parameter is not specified, Exchange parameter does not have to be followed by a semicolon.
  • If Exchange parameter is not specified, and Category parameter immediately follows the SymbolName parameter, two semicolons must separate SymbolName and Category parameters (SymbolName;; Category).

DataSource - an optional parameter; specifies the data source

  • DataSource - is specified by the DataSource abbreviation:
Data Source Name Abbreviation
ASCII Mapping ASC
AvaTrade AVA
Barchart.com BC
Bloomberg BL
CQG CQG
CSI CSI
Dukascopy DUK
eSignal ES
Free Quotes F
GlobalServer GS
IQFeed IQ
Interactive Brokers IB
IQBank QuickTrade IWB
LMAX LM
MB Trading MB
MCFX FX
Metastock MS
MIG Bank MIG
Open E Cry OEC
Patsystems PS
Rithmic 01 RT
TradeStation TS
Trading Technologies TT
Universal DDE DDE
WeBank WB
Zen-Fire ZF


Note: DataSource parameter is not case-sensitive


A list of available data sources and corresponding abbreviations can also be found in the Data Sources window in QuoteManager. To open the Data Sources window in QuoteManager, click the Data Sources QM DataSources.png icon, or select Tools in the main menu and click Data Sources.

  • If DataSource is not specified, the most recently used Data Source will be used.
  • If DataSource is not specified and cannot be selected automatically, a Format Instruments window will open.

SymbolName - a required parameter; specifies the symbol name

  • SymbolName parameter is not case-sensitive.
  • The maximum symbol name length is 31 characters; longer symbol names will be truncated to 31 characters.
  • Symbol name can contain any number of spaces and characters, separated by spaces.
  • Spaces at the beginning and at the end of a symbol name are discarded.

Exchange - an optional parameter; specifies the exchange abbreviation

  • Exchange is specified by the exchange abbreviation; the list of available exchanges and corresponding abbreviations can be found in the Exchanges & ECNs window in QuoteManager. To open the Exchanges & ECNs window in QuoteManager, click the Exchanges & ECNs QM exchangesecns.png icon, or select Tools in the main menu and click Exchanges & ECNs.
  • If the specified exchange abbreviation is not in the Exchanges & ECNs list, a Format Instruments window will open.
  • If Exchange parameter is not specified, a default exchange will be selected based on the data source and category (category selection takes place prior to default exchange selection).

Category - an optional parameter; specifies the symbol category

  • Category is specified by the category name abbreviation:
Category Abbreviation
Stock Stk
Index Idx
Future Fut
Stock Option Opt
Forex Fx
Bond B
Cash C
Spread Spd


Note: category parameter is not case-sensitive.
  • If the specified Category is not a valid category abbreviation, a Format Instruments window will open.
  • If Category is not specified, the symbol name will be analyzed in order to select the symbol category automatically.


Automatic Symbol Category Selection

Symbol category is automatically selected by evaluating the symbol name according to the following rules, in the order that they are listed; once a symbol name satisfies any one rule, a category is assigned and MultiCharts proceeds to exchange selection.

Symbol category is Future if any of the following are true:

  • Symbol name ends with a number
  • Symbol name ends with a #F, preceded by a space
  • Symbol name begins with an @
  • Symbol name begins with a c# (except TradeStation(R) symbols)

Symbol category is Index if any of the following are true:

  • Symbol name begins with a $
  • Symbol name ends with a .X

Symbol category is Forex if any of the following are true:

Note: For InteractiveBroker data source, symbol category will be Cash
  • Symbol name ends with a -FX
  • Symbol name contains any two different sets of the following combinations of letters:
    EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, HKD, KRW, SEK, MXN, NOK, PLZ, CZK, ILS, HUF, MXP, NZD, PLN, RUR, BRE, USS, SKK, TWD, SIT, SGD, RUB, SON, MTL, LVL, LTL, SEK, HRK, EEK, DKK, CYP

if the Category cannot be selected automatically, category Stock will be selected; category selection takes place prior to default exchange selection.


Sample Entries and Corresponding Parameters


Command Line Entry Data Source* Symbol Exchange Category
ES:O #F eSignal O #F UNDEF Futures
ES:ES H8 ES H8 UNDEF Futures
ES:$INDU $INDU UNDEF Indexes
ES:EURGBP A0-FX EURGBP A0-FX UNDEF Forex
IQ:@ES# IQfeed @ES# UNDEF Futures
IQ:NUH8 NUH8 UNDEF Futures
IQ:ADR.X ADR.X UNDEF Indexes
IB:ESH8 IB ESH8 GLOBEX Futures
IB:MSFT MSFT SMART Stock
IB:EUR.USD EUR.USD IDEALPRO Cash
OEC:6AH8 OEC 6AH8 UNDEF Futures
TS:ESH08 TS ESH08 CME Futures
TS:AUDCAD AUDCAD FOREX Forex
TS:$TSTOP $TSTOP NASDAQ Indexes
TS:@ES @ES CME Futures

* The Data Source is specified in the table's Command Line entries for illustration purposes only; once specified a single time, the Data Source will be selected automatically even if DataSource parameter is not specified.

Creating Chart Using Format Instruments Window

To create a new chart:

  1. Open the Format Instruments window.

    To open the Format Instruments window, click the Format Instruments Format Instrument.png icon on the main toolbar;
    if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button.

    The Format Instruments window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over the symbol's data series; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png;
      - Position the mouse pointer over the symbol's data series; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png right-click and then click Format Symbol Name;
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Instruments; if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button;
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Instrument; if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button.

  2. Select the Instrument tab.
  3. Select a data feed from the Data Source drop-down list box.
  4. Select a symbol from the list of available symbols in All Symbols tab, or use the category tabs to list only a particular category of symbols; the list can be sorted by any column, in ascending or descending order, by clicking on the column header.
    If you can't find a symbol, see Adding Symbols to Symbol List
  5. Double-click the symbol, or click OK, to create a chart with the default settings.


Merging Data Sources into a Single Chart

In some instances real-time data and historical data must be obtained from two separate data sources. A real-time data source and a historical data source can be merged into a single chart.

To create a new chart:

  1. Make sure that Merging is enabled in Preferences window.
  2. Open the Format Instruments window.

    To open the Format Instruments window, click the Format Instruments Format Instrument.png icon on the main toolbar;
    if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button.

    The Format Instruments window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Position the mouse pointer over the symbol's data series; double-click once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png;
      - Position the mouse pointer over the symbol's data series; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png right-click and then click Format Symbol Name;
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Instruments; if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button;
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Instrument; if the Format Objects window appears, select the symbol and click the Format button.

  3. Select the Instrument tab.
  4. Check Merge Data Sources into a Single Chart check box.
  5. From the For drop-down list box, select History.
  6. Select a data feed for the historical data from the Data Source drop-down list box.
  7. Select a symbol from the list of available symbols in All Symbols tab, or use the category tabs to list only a particular category of symbols; the list can be sorted by any column, in ascending or descending order, by clicking on the column header.
    If you can't find a symbol, see Adding Symbols to Symbol List
  8. From the For drop-down list box, select RealTime.
  9. Select a data feed for the real-time data from the Data Source drop-down list box.
  10. Select a symbol from the list of available symbols in All Symbols tab, or use the category tabs to list only a particular category of symbols; the list can be sorted by any column, in ascending or descending order, by clicking on the column header.
    If you can't find a symbol, see Adding Symbols to Symbol List
  11. Double-click the symbol, or click OK, to create a chart with default settings.



To learn more about changing the symbol settings read the following:


Changing Symbols
Chart Resolution
Quote Field
Sessions
Data Range
Time Zone
Data Numbers
Using SubCharts
Chart Style
Chart Scaling


Understanding Multi-Symbol Charts

It is possible to add several symbols' data series to the same Chart Window. Each data series in a multi-symbol chart has a unique Data Number. The Data Number is assigned according to the order in which the data series was added to the Chart Window.

Important: Any data series can be deleted from the Chart Window, except for the data series that was added first (Data #1).


Inserting Additional Symbols into a Chart Window

To insert an additional symbols’ data series into a Chart Window, click the Insert Instrument New Chart.png icon on the main toolbar.

Additional data series can also be inserted by one of the following methods:

  1. Use the F5 key; or:
  2. Select Insert in the main menu and click Symbol; or:
  3. Right-click on the chart area and then click Insert Instrument; or:
  4. If the Chart Window already contains more then one data series, right-click on the chart area, then click Format Instruments, and click the Add button.


Deleting Symbols from a Multi-Symbol Chart

Any of the symbols (data series) can be deleted from a multi-symbol Chart Window, except for the first symbol that was added (the symbol with the Data # = 1).

To delete a symbol (data series), right-click on the chart area and then click Format Instruments; in the Format Objects window that appears, select the data series that is to be deleted and click the Remove button.

Data series can also be deleted by one of the following methods:

  • Position the mouse pointer over the data series that is to be deleted; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, right-click and then click Remove Series; or:
  • Position the mouse pointer over the data series that is to be deleted; once the Pointer Pointer.png changes into a Hand Hand.png, click on the data series and then press the Delete key on the keyboard.


Selecting the Active Symbol (Data Series) in a Multi-Symbol Chart

In a multi-symbol Chart Window only one of the data series at a time is active. The active data series is the data series to which any changes will be applied. Any one of the data series in a multi-symbol chart can be selected as active at any time.

Before making changes to a particular symbol's chart within a multi-symbol Chart Window you should first make sure that it is the active symbol (data series).

The first symbol (data series) added to a multi-symbol Chart Window is the active symbol by default.

To select a symbol (data series) as active simply click on the data series.


Understanding Data Server Mode

Data server mode selection provides flexibility for working with data feeds. This feature makes it possible to overcome limitations of some of the data feeds. If a data feed is available only on weekdays, the locally stored data can be used on weekends. If a data feed makes gap filling impractical by forcing a lengthy download of 24 hours of data for any intraday query, the gap filling feature can be disabled.

Two Data server modes are available:

Online – The locally stored data is used to for a historical chart. A check for gaps is not performed. Once the historical chart is completed, the real-time data will be received from a real-time data feed. Check Download missing historical data check box to perform a check for gaps and to fill any gaps found by connecting to a historical data feed.

Offline – Only the locally stored data is used. No connections to data feeds are made.

Setting Data Server Mode

To change the Data server mode close all the Workspaces containing windows, or close all the windows in open Workspaces. Once a new Data server mode has been set, all Chart Windows will function according to the new mode, even if they were originally created under another Data server mode.

Note: The Data server mode can not be changed while there are any open Chart Windows in any of the open Workspaces.

To set the Data server mode:

  1. In the main menu select File and click Preferences.
  2. Select the Data Server Mode tab.
  3. Choose the data mode.
  4. Check Show this dialog box on startup check box to display the Data Server Mode dialog box on startup, or uncheck the box to simply use the last selected Data mode.