TradeStation Help

Format Symbol - Settings

The Settings tab allows you to format the symbol settings for a chart. Symbol settings include selecting the desired interval or chart type, customizing the interval and range settings, and selecting the appropriate time zone. Once you have made the changes to your settings, the changes can be set as a default for future charts. You can format the symbol when you initially create the chart or after you've created it. If you create the chart without using the Settings tab, the chart will be created using the predefined default settings.

To access the Format Symbol dialog automatically after a chart has been created, use the View > Chart Analysis Preferences Menu bar sequence. On the General tab, select the Prompt for format when creating new Chart Analysis window check box and click OK.

Access using the menu bar Format > Symbol menu sequence and select the Settings tab.

Symbol - Matches the active symbol displayed in the analysis window and in the order bar. The drop-down list displays the most recent symbols used in the active chart. To change the symbol, select the desired symbol from the drop-down list.
Lookup - Launches the About Symbol Lookup.

Select Interval (activity and time types)

Contains the interval types for tick bars, volume bars, second bars, minute bars, daily bars, weekly bars, and monthly bars. The options available are dependent upon the data interval that you choose, therefore the interval settings and range will change based on the interval selected. For more information on the different types of charts, see Chart Types.

Tick - Specifies the number of trades or transactions that make up every bar. Type the desired number of ticks in the Tick Bar box.
Volume - Specifies the number of shares or contracts that are traded with every bar. Type the desired number of shares/contracts in the Share Bar box.
Second - Specifies the bar time interval in seconds. Type the desired number of seconds in the Second Bar box.
Minute - Specifies the bar time interval in minutes. Type the desired number of minutes in the Minute Bar box.

VIDEO - What are seconds-based intervals and how are they used in TradeStation?
Learn about using seconds-based intervals to find new perspectives on the market and make every second count.

For Daily, Weekly, and Monthly interval types, only regular sessions can be used. Interval settings are disabled allowing you the flexibility of customizing the desired Range settings for the selected symbol. See Scaling tab for information on the subgraph setting.

Daily - Displays the trading activity for each day which is based on the asset type selected.
Weekly - Displays the trading activity for each week which is based on the asset type selected.
Monthly - Displays the trading activity for each month which is based on the asset type selected.

Interval Settings (activity and time types)

Contains the interval settings for tick bars, volume bars, second bars, minute bars, daily bars, weekly bars, and monthly Bars.

For volume, use - Specifies the type of value to use for volume calculations.
- Trade Vol - Specifies the number of shares/contracts that change hands during the trading session.
- Tick Count - Specifies the number of trades that occur during the trading session.
For bar building, use - Specifies how the bars are plotted on the chart.
- Session Hours - Displays the trading hours for the current day.
- Natural Hours - Displays an imitation session start time of midnight (0:00) to create a predictable interval alignment regardless of a symbols actual session start time. Natural hours are used when plotting multiple symbol types (bonds, stocks, etc.) on a multi-data chart, as each symbol's session start hours may differ. For more information, see Natural Hours.

Select Interval (price types)

Contains the interval types for Kagi, Kase Bar, Line Break, Momentum Bar, Point & Figure, Range Bar, and Renko charts.

Interval Settings (price types)

Contains the interval settings for Kagi, Kase Bar, Line Break, Momentum Bar, Point & Figure, Range Bar, and Renko charts.

Reversal (Kagi) - Enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in the Reversal Amount ($) box. Enter the value that will correspond with the selected interval in the Using box. For more information, see Kagi Chart.
Target Range (Kase) - Enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in the Range Target ($) box. Enter the value that will correspond with the selected interval in the Using box. For more information, see Kase Bar Chart.
Line Break (Line Break) - Enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in Line Breaks box. Enter the value that will correspond with the selected interval in the Using box. For more information, see Line Break Chart.
Range (Momentum & Range) - Enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in the Range Amount ($) box. Enter the value that will correspond with the selected interval in the Using box. For more information, see Momentum Bar Chart and Range Bar Chart.
Box Size/Reversal (Point & Figure) - Enter the box size in the box size box. Make sure that the box size does not exceed the price scale precision or rounding errors may occur. Enter the reversal amount in the reversal box and select the data interval to use for the chart from the using drop-down list. For more information, see Point & Figure Chart.
Brick Size /Brick Offset (Renko) - Select the Classic, Mean, or Custom Renko chart. Enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in the Brick Size box. For a Custom Renko chart, enter the amount that will return the integer value it will represent in the Brick Offset box. For more information, see Renko Chart.

Range

Contains a span of time in which you are able to set a criteria to be used for charting. Range is used for interval and chart types. Depending on the interval and chart type selected, range options differ.

If you are working in a multi-data chart, the Format Symbols window provides a listing of symbols you plotted in Data1, Data2, etc., format. Select the desired symbol to edit, and click Format to launch the Format Symbol [symbol] window. For more information, see Specifying the Date Range.

Last Date - Allows you to base the chart range using an ending date. With this method, you don't have to calculate the number of bars or days back that you want to plot.
Time Span -Specifies a time span measured in days, weeks, months and years (depending on the selected data interval) to plot back from a specific date. Time span measured in days will not include non-trading days. Type the number in the Number box and select the desired prior duration from the drop-down list. Days back can not be used for Tick and Volume interval types.
Bars Back - Specifies the number of bars to plot back from a specific date.
First Date - Allows you to base the chart range using a beginning date. With this method, you don't have to calculate the number of bars or days back that you want to plot.
Apply time-based Range settings to all data series - Check this setting to apply the selected range settings to a multi-data chart. This feature allows you to change the range setting simultaneously for all charts plotted in the active Chart Analysis window.

Display

Contains the Local and Exchange time zones that can be selected.

Time Zone - Specifies a region of time used to plot the chart.

Local - Pertains to the region in which you reside.
Exchange - Pertains to the New York Stock Exchange time zone.

Set as Default - Check this setting to save any changes that you made as your default.

Click OK to apply changes or Cancel to exit without changes.

Format Symbol - Settings

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