MultiCharts Work Area

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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 New Workspace.png 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.

Note: If there are no open Workspaces when a new Chart Window is created, a new Workspace for that window will be created automatically.


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 Save Workspace.png 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 Open Workspace.png 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 Open Workspace.png 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 Close Workspace.png 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.


Important:
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.


Note: Workspaces that are open cannot be renamed by Windows Explorer. Close the Workspace prior to renaming it.


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.

Note: A Workspace that is open cannot be deleted. Close the Workspace prior to deleting it.


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:

  1. 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.
  2. Select the Workspaces tab.
  3. To open Workspaces on startup, select the Open Workspaces on Start checkbox; clear the checkbox to not open any Workspaces on startup.
  4. To show the Workspaces dialog box on startup, select the Show the dialog checkbox; clear the checkbox to not display the dialog box.
  5. Select the Workspaces to be opened on startup.
  6. 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.
  7. Select Save workspaces or Do not save workspaces to save or not to save the workspaces on exit, respectively.
  8. 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 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 Detach.gif button on the title bar of the window;

or:

  • Select Window in the main menu and click Detach Window.
Note: Detached windows' last chosen positions are retained the next time that the application is started

A Window can be attached back to the Workspace by one of the following methods:

  • Click the Attach Window Attach.gif 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 Stick.gif button on the title bar of the window; the button will change to UnStick.gif.

To cancel the feature click the Unstick UnStick.gif button again; the button will change to Stick.gif.


Note: Detached window's last chosen Always on Top status is retained the next time that the application is started.


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.


Note: Windows' last chosen positions are retained the next time that the application is started.


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 six toolbars: Chart Analysis, Command Line, Control, Drawing, Main, and Resolution. 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 Resolution.png 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.


Note: Toolbars' last chosen positions are retained the next time that the application is started.


Resizing Floating Toolbars

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

Note: Toolbars' last chosen sizes are retained the next time that the application is started.


Toolbar Icons Reference

Main Toolbar
New Workspace New Workspace.png Creating Workspaces
Save Workspace 02_Open_Workspace.png Saving Workspace
Open Workspace 03_Save_Workspace.png Opening Workspace
Close Workspace 04_Close_Workspace.png Closing Workspace
New Chart Window 05_Create_New_Chart_Window.png Creating Charts
New Scanner Window 59_Scanner.png Understanding Real-Time Scanner
New QuoteManager 56_QuoteManager.png Understanding QuoteManager
New PowerLanguage Editor 58_PLEditor.png Understanding PowerLanguage Editor
Decrease Bar Spacing 21_Decrease_Bar_Spacing.png Changing Bar Spacing
Increase Bar Spacing 22_Increase_Bar_Spacing.png Changing Bar Spacing
Compress Price Scale 23_Compress.png Changing Price Scale Compression
Expand Price Scale 24_Expand.png Changing Price Scale Compression
Move Up 25_Up.png Moving a Data Series Vertically
Move Down 26_Down.png Moving a Data Series Vertically
Scroll Left 27_Left.png Scrolling Horizontally through a Chart
Scroll Right 28_Right.png Scrolling Horizontally through a Chart
Increase Weight 29_Thick.png Changing Bar Weight
Decrease Weight 30_Thin.png Changing Bar Weight
Zoom In 31_Zoom_In.png Zooming In
Zoom Out 32_Zoom_Out.png Zooming Out
Reset Scales 33_Reset_Scales.png Resetting Both Scales
Reset Time Scale 35_Reset_Time_Scale.png Resetting Time Scale (Bar Spacing)
Reset Price Scale 34_Reset_Price_Scale.png Resetting Price Scale
Hide Object 54_Hide.png Hiding Indicators
Chart Analysis Toolbar
Insert Symbol 051_Insert_Symbol.png Inserting Additional Symbols into a Chart Window
Insert Study 06_Insert_Indicators.png Inserting Studies
Show / Hide Drawing Tools 07_Drawing_Tools.png Inserting Drawing Tools
Format Instruments 09_Format_Symbol.png Changing Symbols
Format Window 10_Format_Window.png Chart Appearance
Bar Chart 11_Bar_Chart.png Setting OHLC Chart Style
Hollow Candlestick Chart 12_CandleStick_Chart.png Selecting Hollow Candlestick Chart Style
Line on Close Chart 13_Line_Chart.png Selecting Line on Close Chart Style
Arrow Pointer 15_Arrow_Cursor.png Pointer
Cross Pointer 16_Crosshair_Cursor.png Cross Pointer
Show/Hide Chart Hint 18_Show_Hint.png Understanding Hint Modes
Show/Hide Cross 17_Show_Cross.png Cross Mode
Tracking Time and Price 19_Tracking_Time_and_Price.png Cross Mode
Data Window 60_DataWindow.png Data Window
Resolution Toolbar
Tick Bar 02_Tick.png Setting Resolution of Tick-Based Charts
Volume Bar 03_VolumeBar.png Setting Resolution of Volume-Based Charts
Range Bar 04_RangeBar.png Setting Resolution of Range-Based Charts
Second Bar 05_Second.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Minute Bar 06_Minute.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Hourly Bar 08_1-Hour.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Daily Bar 09_1-Day.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Weekly Bar 10_1-Week.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Monthly Bar 101_1-Month.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Quarterly Bar 11_1-Quarter.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Yearly Bar 12_1-Year.png Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Drawing Toolbar
Trend Line 36_Trend_Line.png Inserting Trend Line
Horizontal Line 37_Horizontal_Line.png Inserting Horizontal Line
Time Line 38_Time_Line.png Inserting Time Line
Regression Channel 39_Regression_Channel.png Inserting Regression Channel
Equidistant Channel 40_Equidistant_Channel.png Inserting Equidistant Channel
Andrews' Pitchfork 41_Andrews_Pitchfork.png Inserting Andrews' Pitchfork
Fibonacci Retracement Price Lines  42_Fibonacci_Retracement_Price_Lines.png Inserting Fibonacci Retracement Price Lines
Fibonacci Speed/Resistance Fan 43_Fibonacci_Speed_Resistance_Fan.png Inserting Fibonacci Speed/Resistance Fan
Fibonacci Speed/Resistance Arcs 44_Fibonacci_Speed_Resistance_Arcs.png Inserting Fibonacci Speed/Resistance Arcs
Fibonacci Time Zones 45_Fibonacci_Time_Zones.png Inserting Fibonacci Time Zones
Fibonacci Trend-Based Time Lines 46_Fibonacci_Trend-based_Time_Lines.png Inserting Fibonacci Trend-Based Time Lines
Gann Fan 47_Gann_Fan.png Inserting Gann Fan
Gann Square 48_Gann_Square.png Inserting Gann Square
Retracement Calculator 49_Retracement_Calculator.png Inserting Retracement Calculator
Text 50_Text.png Inserting Text
Rectangle 51_Rectangle.png Inserting Rectangle
Ellipse 52_Ellipse.png Inserting Ellipse
Arc 53_Arc.png Inserting Arc
Arrow Down 531_ArrowDown.png Inserting Arrow Down
Arrow Up 532_ArrowUp.png Inserting Arrow Up
Command Line Toolbar
Resolution 01_Resolution.png Click the Resolution icon to hide or redisplay the Resolution Toolbar.
Setting Resolution of Time-Based Charts
Command Line Understanding Command Line


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 052_CommandLine.png combo box and press Enter.

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


Examples:

Type in: "5 minutes" to change the chart resolution to 5 minutes.

Type in: "AMD" to change the symbol to AMD.


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,

  1. Select View from the main menu, then select Toolbars and Customize. The Customize window will appear.
  2. 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.
  3. In the Commands pane, select which buttons will appear on the toolbar.
  4. Select the Close button.