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MultiCharts Work Area

10,677 bytes added, 3 May

Undo revision 11313 by KateMultiCharts (talk)

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~~, ALT~~+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.

==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.

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">Note: Workspaces are not saved in the Desktops. Desktops only store references to the list of the saved Workspaces, but do not save them within the Desktop, it is still necessary to save the Workspaces to have them opened in a Desktop.</div>

=== 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.

<div style="background-color: #F8F6CD;">'''Important:''' If both '''Do not show "Save Workspace" dialog on Exit''' checkbox and '''Do not save workspaces''' options are selected in the '''[[#Workspaces Preferences|Workspace]]''' tab of the '''Preferences''' window then no changes of the workspaces will be saved on exit!</div>

=== Renaming Desktops ===

Desktops can be renamed by two different methods:

* Save a copy of the Desktop under a different name. See [[#Saving Desktops|Saving Desktops]]; or:

* Use Windows Explorer or another program to rename a Desktop file as any other Windows file.

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">Note: Desktops that are open cannot be renamed by Windows Explorer. Close the Desktop prior to renaming it.</div>

=== 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.

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">Note: A Desktop that is open cannot be deleted. Close the Desktop prior to deleting it.</div>

== Understanding Windows (Chart/Scanner) ==

Windows are saved only as a part of the Workspace that contains them.

=== Creating Windows ===

'''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 ~~six~~ seven toolbars: Main, Chart Analysis, Command Line, Control, Drawing, ~~Main,~~ Resolution and ~~Resolution~~Data Playback. Any of the toolbars can be made floating, allowing them to be positioned anywhere, or hidden if they are not needed.

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''' [[File:~~Resolution~~Resolution_10.png]] icon.

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">Note: Toolbars' last chosen positions are retained the next time that the application is started.</div>

~~ ~~

~~=== Resizing Floating Toolbars ===~~

~~A floating toolbar can be resized the same way as any other window.~~

~~<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">Note: Toolbars' last chosen sizes are retained the next time that the application is started.</div>~~

|'''Close Workspace'''||[[File:Close_Workspace.png]]||[[#Closing Workspace|Closing Workspace]]

|-

|'''New Chart Window'''||[[File:New_Chart.png]]||[[~~#Creating Charts|~~Creating Charts]]

|-

|'''New Scanner Window'''||[[File:New_Scanner.png]]||[[Understanding_Real-Time_Market_Scanner|Understanding Real-Time Scanner]]

|-

|'''Data Window'''||[[File:Show_Hide Data window.png]]||[[Chart_Window#Data Window|Data Window]]

|-

|'''Optimize Strategy'''||[[File:toolbar2_ChartAn_125.png]]||[[Performing Optimization]]

|-

|colspan="10" style="background-color:#fad67d;"|'''Resolution Toolbar'''

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''' [[File:~~052_CommandLine~~Command.png|200px]] combo box and press '''Enter'''.

To select a previously used command use the drop-down function.

==== The ~~list~~ List of ~~supported commands =~~Supported Commands ===

* <syntaxhighlight>.bsi</syntaxhighlight>Increases [[Time Scale#Setting Bar Spacing|bar spacing]].

* <syntaxhighlight>.bsd</syntaxhighlight>Decreases [[Time Scale#Setting Bar Spacing|bar spacing]].

* <syntaxhighlight>.rep</syntaxhighlight>Calls [[Using Performance Report|Strategy Performance Report]].

* <syntaxhighlight>.isy</syntaxhighlight>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 [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Parameters for .ISY and .CSY Commands|below]].* <syntaxhighlight>.csy</syntaxhighlight>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 [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Parameters for .ISY and .CSY Commands|below]].* <syntaxhighlight>.iind</syntaxhighlight>Inserts specific indicator to the active chart. Available parameters: '''name''', '''base''', '''bref''', '''fmt'''. “''','''” is the delimiter. See examples [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Parameters for .IIND and .ISIG Commands|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.* <syntaxhighlight>.isig</syntaxhighlight>Inserts specific signal to the active chart. Available parameters: '''name1''', '''name2'''. '''nameN''' (up to 99). “''','''” is the delimiter. See examples [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Parameters for .IIND and .ISIG Commands|below]].* <syntaxhighlight>.rld</syntaxhighlight>Reloads data on the active chart and on all charts with the same symbol. Available parameters: '''glob''', '''~~res~~ResSize ResName''', '''int'''. See examples [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Parameters for .RLD Command|below]].* <syntaxhighlight>.rldw</syntaxhighlight>Reloads data on all charts in the active workspace.

* <syntaxhighlight>SymName</syntaxhighlight>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.

* <syntaxhighlight>ResSize ResName</syntaxhighlight>Changes resolution of the symbol plotted as data series 1 of the active chart to a specified one. See examples [[MultiCharts Work Area#Table of Resolutions for Command Line|below]].

* <syntaxhighlight>.at_toggle</syntaxhighlight>Turns on/off auto trading on the active chart.

* <syntaxhighlight>.shs</syntaxhighlight>Switches between different styles for Hint window.

* <syntaxhighlight>.eds</syntaxhighlight>Shows the entire data series of the active chart window.

* <syntaxhighlight>.goto </syntaxhighlight>Scrolls charts to a set point. Available parameters: '''dnum''', '''bar''', '''date''', '''time'''.

==== Table of Parameters for .ISY and .CSY Commands====

{| class="wikitable"

|-

|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) [[Chart Resolution#Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts|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'''

|}

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 1''': Enter to command line: '''.isy name=@ES#, df=IQFeed, res=1 min, desc=E-MINI S&P 500 MARCH 2013, from=12/31/2012, to=5/10/2013''' in order to insert 1 minute graph of S&P mini 500 from IQFeed starting from 31th of December 2012 up to 10th of May 2013 as additional data series to the active chart window.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 2''': Enter to command line: '''.csy dnum=1, name=@ES#, df=IQFeed, res=1 min, desc=E-MINI S&P 500 MARCH 2013, from=12/31/2012, to=5/10/2013''' in order to change the data series 1 to 1 minute graph of S&P mini 500 from IQFeed starting from 31th of December 2012 up to 10th of May 2013 as additional data series to the active chart window.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">'''Note''': If '''dnum''' parameter is not specified, the selected data series will be affected. If no particular data series is selected, the data series 1 will be affected.</div>

==== Table of Parameters for .IIND and .ISIG Commands ====

{| class="wikitable"

|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'''

|}

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 1''': Enter to command line: '''.iind name=MACD, base=1, bref=100''' in order to apply MACD indicator to the data series 1 with MaxBarsBack parameter = 100 to the active chart window.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 1''': Enter to command line: '''.isig name1=Bollinger Bands LE''' in order to apply Bollinger Bands LE signal to the active chart window.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">'''Note''': If no parameters are specified, the '''Insert Indicator''' or '''Insert Signal''' window is called.</div>

==== Table of Parameters for .RLD Command ====

{| class="wikitable"

|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'''

|}

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 1''': Enter to command line: '''.rld glob''' in order to reload all data in all charts in all open workspaces in the current instance of MultiCharts.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 2''': Enter to command line: '''.rld res = 1 day''' in order to reload data on all daily-based subcharts of 1 day resolution and higher.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E5F6FF;">'''Example 3''': Enter to command line: '''.rld int = 2 weeks''' in order to reload 2 weeks of data on the active chart.</div>

<div style="background-color: #E3FBE5;">'''Note''': If a parameter is specified incorrectly, the '''.rld''' will be used for the active chart.</div>

==== Table of Resolutions for Command Line====

{| class="wikitable"

|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 ===

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MultiCharts Work Area