ChartNotes
Add annotations and line studies such as trendlines, Fibonacci retracement levels, and support/resistance levels to your charts with ChartNotes.
Overview of ChartNotes
ChartNotes, our premier chart annotation tool, allows you to add annotations and technical line studies to any SharpChart.
Check out the ChartNotes overview video below, or read on to learn how to get the most out of ChartNotes.
Creating Annotated Charts
The first step in creating annotated charts is to create a SharpChart using the SharpCharts Workbench. Then click the Annotate link below the chart (if you're using the Classic SharpChart) or the Annotate button (if you're using the New SharpChart). Ensure your chart's settings are correct before you add annotations.
Below is a screenshot of the ChartNotes window. The collection of tools on the left side of the chart are various drawing tools (described below). The controls along the top of the chart allow you to change the properties of the currently selected annotation.
StockCharts members can save annotated charts using the Save button (the sixth button down on the left side of the ChartNotes window). Once an annotated chart has been saved, its annotations will automatically be repositioned as new data is added to the right side of the chart.
To exit the annotation tool, click the black “X” in the upper right-hand corner of the tool. If you have not previously clicked Save, a prompt will appear asking if you want to save any changes you have made before exiting.
Working with Annotations
Adding Annotations
On the left side of the ChartNotes window, there's a row of buttons. Each button represents a drawing tool. To add an annotation, select the tool you wish to use and then click and drag on your chart.
Some drawing tool buttons have a small triangle in the upper right corner. A slide-out menu will display the available tools in that category if you click the button.
Selecting Annotations
If you've placed an annotation on a chart and want to change it, click the Select tool (black arrow).
You should see "handles" (small yellow boxes) on the outside edges when you select an annotation. Options for modifying the selected annotation will also appear in the horizontal menu at the top of the chart.
When you select an annotation, you can cycle through the annotations by pressing the Tab key. To cycle backward through the annotations, press Tab + the Shift key.
Cool Tip. When working with another annotation tool, you can temporarily switch to the Selection Tool by holding down the Shift key on your keyboard. While holding down the Shift key, you can select annotations and move them around. Once you release the Shift key, ChartNotes will switch back to the annotation tool you previously used.
Duplicating Annotations
You can duplicate a selected annotation by pressing CTRL+D (CMD+D on a Mac). Alternatively, press and hold the CTRL/CMD key, click on the annotation, and drag your mouse. The new annotation will appear slightly away from the original annotation and will be automatically selected so that you can immediately move or resize it with your mouse.
Note: Some browsers will display an unrelated dialog box when pressing CMD+D. If that happens, just press “Cancel” to dismiss that box.
Creating Channels via Duplicated Trendlines
There is an additional shortcut for quickly creating channel lines on a chart. Start by drawing the upper or lower channel line using the Line tool. Next, press and hold down the CTRL/CMD key on your keyboard. Finally, click and drag on the line you just created. As you drag away from that line, a new parallel line will appear under your mouse. Simply move that line to the top or bottom of your channel and release your mouse button to create the channel.
Deleting Annotations
Once an annotation is selected, you can delete it by pressing the “Backspace” (or “Delete”) key on your keyboard.
If you want to remove all annotations from a chart, click the Trashcan icon on the left-hand side of the ChartNotes window.
The Undo icon (reverse arrow just above the trashcan icon) allows you to undo your most recent change to the annotations on the chart. You can undo several changes by clicking the Undo button multiple times. You can also press CTRL+Z (CMD+Z on a Mac) to undo an annotation. Please note there is no Redo capability. When a change is “undone,” it is gone forever.
Modifying Annotations
Once an annotation is selected, you can click and drag the yellow handles to resize the annotation. To reposition the annotation, click on the center and drag.
You can also click on the options in the horizontal menu at the top of the chart to modify the annotation's attributes. The options that you can change vary depending on the annotation selected. They include:
Color. The color of the annotation. Clicking the black arrow next to this feature will slide out a menu of color options. For easy access, your most recently used three colors are displayed on the far left of the horizontal menu.
Opacity. The transparency of the annotation. The opacity slider can be found in the slide-out color menu.
Line Width. Choose between five different line width options.
Line Style. Choose between seven different line style options.
Arrowhead. Add an arrowhead to a line.
Corner Type. Round the corners of the rectangle shape.
Fill Mode. Toggle between two different approaches for filling in shapes: “Empty” or “Opaque.” “Opaque” mode fills the shape based on the “Opacity” setting (see above).
Font Size. Increase or decrease the size of the letters in a text annotation.
Font Bolding. Toggle font bolding on and off.
Pinning Annotations
Typically, annotations are automatically repositioned whenever new price bars are added to the right edge of the chart. There are some situations, however, where you might not want your annotations to be moved. An example would be a block of text meant to serve as the chart's title. You might want that text to remain in the chart's center.
To prevent an annotation from moving to the left, over time, select the annotation with the Select tool and click the “Pin” icon in the horizontal menu at the top of the chart. When that button is depressed (i.e., has a light blue background), your annotation will no longer move to the left as new data is added to the chart.
Saving Annotations
The Save button (the sixth button on the left side of the ChartNotes window) is designed to allow you to save annotations as you go.
When the icon is red, it means changes need to be saved. When the icon is black, it means everything is saved. It will turn red again if you make any additional edits. This is helpful, especially if you want to add several annotations at once so you don't lose all your work if something happens before you finish.
If you want to exit the annotation tool, click the black “X” in the upper right-hand corner of the tool. If you have not previously clicked “Save,” a prompt will appear asking if you want to save any changes you have made before exiting.
If your chart is brand new and has never been saved, once you've opted to save your changes, you can name the chart and select the ChartList (if applicable) you would like to save it to before exiting the application.
Note: You can't save annotated charts if you're not a StockCharts member.
Automatic Annotation Repositioning
Once an annotated chart has been saved into an account, its annotations are automatically repositioned as new data is added to the chart. You can use the “Pin” button - see above - to disable that behavior for an individual annotation. It is important to note that annotations are repositioned based on changes to the vertical and horizontal scale of the chart panel to which they are “attached” (i.e., the panel that contains the geometric middle of the annotation).
Types of Annotations
The annotation tools in ChartNotes are grouped into the following categories. Click on the appropriate link to learn more about each group of tools.
Line Tools
Line Tools create lines on your chart. Below is a screenshot of where you can find this menu.
These tools include Trendlines, Vertical Lines, Horizontal Lines, Support/Resistance Lines, and Parabolas.
You can watch a video or read more about each annotation in our Support Center article on ChartNotes' Line Tools.
Shape Tools
Use the Shape tool to add shapes such as rectangles, ellipses, and triangles to your charts. You can create filled or hollow shapes on your chart. Below is a screenshot of where you can find this menu.
You can watch a video or read more about each individual annotation in our Support Center article on ChartNotes' Shape Tools.
Text Annotations
The Text Annotation tools allow you to add text to your chart. Below is a screenshot of where you can find this menu.
These tools include Text Notes, Callout Boxes, Arrows, Price Boxes, Percentage Change and Elliott Wave Labels.
You can watch a video or read more about each individual annotation in our Support Center article on ChartNotes' Text Annotations.
Line Studies
The line study tools allow you to add line studies such as Fibonacci Retracements, Quadrant Lines, and Fibonacci Time Zones. Below is a screenshot of where you can find this menu.
These tools include Fibonacci Retracements, Quadrant Lines, Fibonacci Arcs, Fibonacci Time Zones, Cycle Lines, Cycle Circles, Sinewaves, Raff Regression Channels, Andrews' Pitch Forks, Fibonacci Fans, Harmonic Patterns (XABCD) and Speed Resistance Lines.
You can watch a video or read more about each individual annotation in our Support Center article on ChartNotes' Line Study Tools.
Tips and Tricks
Ready for advanced ChartNotes? Watch our ChartNotes Tips and Shortcuts video and take your ChartNotes skills to the next level.
Additional Resources
Articles
Frequently Asked Questions
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