Classic SharpCharts Workbench

The SharpCharts Workbench contains all the features you need to create, view, share, modify, and save SharpCharts. The Classic Workbench is the legacy version of our SharpChart tool.

Accessing the Classic Workbench

We do encourage everyone to learn to use the new version of the workbench. You do, however, have the option to change the "Default" charting tool back to the classic version while you are getting used to the new tool. This means any new chart you create or link you select will direct to the Classic version of the SharpChart tool. This setting is located on the "Your Dashboard" page above the Member Tools area next to your name. Here is where you can find that:

If you are on the new workbench, you can access the Classic Workbench from the "More" button:

There is also a link to the Classic Workbench located in the Member Tools box on the Your Dashboard page.

Editing SharpCharts from the Classic Workbench

In general, you edit a chart on the Classic Workbench by changing one or more of the settings boxes on the page, then clicking one of the Update buttons to apply the new settings to your chart. There is an Update button right above the chart (indicated with a green arrow in the screenshot below), but there are additional Update buttons next to other chart settings below the chart. Note that all of the “Update” buttons do the same thing regardless of their position on the page.

The Classic SharpCharts workbench has several settings you can change to customize your chart settings. Two commonly-used settings (Symbol and Period) are located above the chart (shown in a green box in the screenshot above).

In the upper left corner of the workbench is the main ticker symbol box. The symbol in that box is always plotted in the main price plot area of the chart. The quote at the top of the chart always corresponds to that main ticker symbol. If you haven't clicked anywhere else on the page, type in a new ticker symbol and press Enter. This will display a chart of the symbol you typed.

Next to the main symbol box is the Period dropdown menu. This lets you select the time duration (i.e. the period) for each bar/candlestick on the chart. Free users can choose between “Daily” and “Weekly” bars; members have access to many more choices, including 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, 30-, 60- and 120-minute bars, as well as monthly or even yearly bars. For more specifics, please see our Support Center section on Data Bar Periods.

Chart Attributes

Chart Attributes are settings that affect the chart as a whole. These particular settings are contained in the Chart Attributes area, located below the chart. Here's what that area looks like:

Chart attributes allow you to change your chart settings.

Adding Overlays/Indicators

To add an overlay to a SharpChart, use the next available line in the Overlays section of the workbench (located just below the Chart Attributes section).

To add an indicator to a SharpChart, use the next available line in the Indicators section of the workbench (located just below the Overlays section).

Each line in the Overlays/Indicators section has a primary dropdown menu (for overlay/indicators selection), a Parameters box and the optional advanced settings boxes. Free users only have access to 3 overlays and 3 overlays per chart and cannot use the advanced settings. Members can add up to 25 different overlays and 25 different indicators to their charts. As soon as the last available overlay/indicator line is used, a new line will appear beneath it, allowing you to add more.

For more details about the available parameters for each overlay and indicator, please see the SharpCharts Parameter Reference.

Note: if you cannot see the advanced options (reorder arrows and style/color/opacity dropdowns) for overlays or indicators, click the green Advanced Options button next to the overlay/indicator settings to bring them up.

Saving Charts in the Classic Workbench

To save a chart you have created, click the Save As link (above the chart, underneath the ChartList dropdown).

A popup will appear where you can enter the chart's title or use the default one that's provided. Extra and Pro members can select which ChartList they want the chart to be saved to (Basic members have only one ChartList). Once you've chosen the name and ChartList, click the Add New button to save the chart.

If you have opened a saved chart in the Classic Workbench and made changes to the chart, you can save the chart again with the changes. To do that, click the Save link above the chart, underneath the ChartList dropdown.

Accessing ChartStyles and StyleButtons on the Classic Workbench

There are two main areas on the SharpCharts Workbench where you can manage your ChartStyles and StyleButtons.

The ChartStyles area is below the chart in the Classic Workbench. You can use the dropdown menu to select a ChartStyle to apply to the current chart. The links to the right allow you to make changes to your ChartStyles and StyleButtons.

To the left of the chart, you will see the StyleButton Area a small arrow icon pointing to the right, a plus sign icon, and possibly some small gray rectangles. These small grey rectangles are your StyleButtons, and the arrow and plus sign allow you to manage your StyleButtons and ChartStyles.

StyleButtons are found to the left of the chart. ChartStyles and StyleButtons are related. Most style settings can be changed from either area. We will now discuss using both areas to manage your style settings.

Annotating Charts in the Classic Workbench

The first step in creating an annotated chart in the Classic Workbench is to create the SharpChart. Ensure your chart's settings are correct before you add annotations, as changing settings after you annotate may cause the annotations you have placed to shift unintentionally. Then click the Annotate link below the chart.