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Time Scale

From MultiCharts

The Time Scale is located at the bottom of the chart and consists of a horizontal Line with time stamp marks identified by Labels.

The increment (step size) between the labels is optimized dynamically to aid in the visual assessment of time stamp data.

The values on the scale are specific to the resolution of the chart. The scale represents the data range, within which the chart is plotted. To determine the time value of a point on a chart, the horizontal position of the point is referenced to a value on the Time Scale. Chart's Bar Spacing, Chart Shift, and Empty Periods settings affect the span of the scale displayed.

Bar Spacing and Chart Shift can be set, and Empty Periods displayed or hidden. Time scale Line and Label styles can be selected, or Time Scale and Labels can be hidden completely.

Setting Bar Spacing

Bar Spacing can be set from the Format Window window:

  1. Open the Format Window window.
    To open the Format Window window, click the Format Window icon on the Chart Analysis toolbar.

    The Format Window window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Double-click on an empty area of the chart, or on the chart's Status Line.
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Window.
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Window.
  2. Select the X - Time Scale tab.
  3. In the Settings section, in the Bar Spacing text box, enter the bar spacing, in pixels.
To use these appearance settings for all new charts, check Use as Default check box.

The chart's bar spacing can also be changed by one of the following methods:

  • Click the Increase Bar Spacing or the Decrease Bar Spacing icon on the Control toolbar; or:
  • Use Ctrl + Plus and Ctrl + Minus hotkey combinations; the numeric pad keys as well as the regular keyboard keys can be used; or:
  • Select Format in the main menu and click Increase Bar Spacing or Decrease Bar Spacing.

Setting Chart Shift

Studies that visualize the predicted price movement require a Chart Shift on the chart.

Chart Shift is set from the Format Window window:

  1. Open the Format Window window.
    To open the Format Window window, click the Format Window icon on the Chart Analysis toolbar.

    The Format Window window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Double-click on an empty area of the chart, or on the chart's Status Line.
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Window.
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Window.
  2. Select the X - Time Scale tab.
  3. In the Settings section, in the Chart Shift text box, enter the Chart Shift in bars or percentage.
    Click the Bars/% button to switch between bars and percentage.
To use these appearance settings for all new charts, check Use as Default check box.

Display of Empty Periods

Empty Periods occur when there is no market activity or a period of no data.

Empty Periods display is turned on or off from the Format Window window:

  1. Open the Format Window window.
    To open the Format Window window, click the Format Window icon on the Chart Analysis toolbar.

    The Format Window window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Double-click on an empty area of the chart, or on the chart's Status Line.
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Window.
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Window.
  2. Select the X - Time Scale tab.
  3. In the Settings section, check Show Empty Periods check box to display the empty periods on the chart; uncheck the box to hide the empty periods.
To use these appearance settings for all new charts, check Use as Default check box.

Time Scale Line

Time Scale Line is set from the Format Window window:

  1. Open the Format Window window.
    To open the Format Window window, click the Format Window icon on the Chart Analysis toolbar.

    The Format Window window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Double-click on an empty area of the chart, or on the chart's Status Line.
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Window.
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Window.
  2. Select the X - Time Scale tab.
  3. In the Settings section, check Show Scale check box to display the scale; uncheck the box to hide the Time Scale and Labels.
  4. In the Style section, select scale line color in the Line Color drop-down palette box.
  5. In the Style section, select scale line style in the Line Style drop-down list box.
To use these appearance settings for all new charts, check Use as Default check box.

Time Scale Labels

Time Scale Labels are set from the Format Window window:

  1. Open the Format Window window.
    To open the Format Window window, click the Format Window icon on the Chart Analysis toolbar.

    The Format Window window can also be opened by one of the following methods:
      - Double-click on an empty area of the chart, or on the chart's Status Line.
      - Right-click on an empty area of the chart and then click Format Window.
      - Select Format in the main menu and click Window.
  2. Select the X - Time Scale tab.
  3. In the Style section, select label text color in the Label Color drop-down palette box.
  4. In the Font section, select label font in the Font drop-down list box.
  5. In the Size section, select label font size in the Size drop-down list box.
  6. In the Font Style section, check Bold, Italic, and/or Underline check boxes to select bold, italic, and/or underline label font style.
To use these appearance settings for all new charts, check Use as Default check box.