StockChartsACP Line Tools
Last updated
Last updated
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StockChartsACP provides you with many line-drawing tools. The Line Tools available in StockChartsACP are listed and described below in more detail. These tools can be found by clicking the Annotations (pencil and ruler) icon in the Chart Design menu and then looking for the Line Tools section.
To create trendlines on a chart, select Trendline, then click on the starting point and drag the cursor to draw the trendline. The trendline will use the selected color/line style/arrowhead settings.
To modify the trendline, select the trendline and click and drag the circles (“handles”) on either end to change the line's angle or length. To shift the line's position without changing the angle, click on the center of the line and drag.
Use the Trendline panel to change the line's color, thickness, style, and/or arrowhead settings. You can also lock the trendline in a perfectly horizontal or vertical position by checking the “Lock Horizontally” or “Lock Vertically” checkbox, then clicking on the handle you want to move.
To adjust an existing trendline to be perfectly horizontal or vertical, hold down the CTRL key (CMD on a Mac) while clicking and dragging on one of the handles. That handle will move so that it is perfectly aligned either horizontally or vertically (whichever is closer) with the other handle. Note that this does not lock the line into position like the Lock Horizontally/Vertically checkboxes do.
To toggle an arrowhead on and off, hold down the Shift key while clicking on the trendline.
An Extended Trendline is just a trendline that extends out indefinitely into the future, beyond the segment of the trendline that was originally drawn and at the same angle as that original segment.
After selecting the Extended Trendline tool, clicking and dragging on the chart will create a new extended trendline. Once an extended trend line has been created, it can be selected and modified. To change the line's angle or length, click and drag the circles (“handles”) that are at the beginning and end of the original drawn trendline segment. To reposition the line without changing the angle, click on the line (away from the handles) and drag.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the line's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style. You can also lock the extended trendline in a perfectly horizontal or vertical position by checking the “Lock Horizontally” or “Lock Vertically” checkbox, then clicking on the handle you want to move.
To adjust an existing extended trendline to be perfectly horizontal or vertical, hold down the CTRL key (CMD on a Mac) while clicking and dragging on one of the handles. That handle will move so that it is perfectly aligned either horizontally or vertically (whichever is closer) with the other handle. Note that this does not lock the line into position like the Lock Horizontally/Vertically checkboxes do.
An Infinite Trendline is just a trendline that extends out indefinitely into both the past and the future, beyond the segment of the trendline that was originally drawn and at the same angle as that original segment.
After selecting the Infinite Trendline tool, clicking and dragging on the chart will create a new infinite trendline. Once an infinite trend line has been created, it can be selected and modified. To change the line's angle or length, click and drag the circles (“handles”) that are at the beginning and end of the original drawn trendline segment. To reposition the line without changing the angle, click on the line (away from the handles) and drag.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the line's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style. You can also lock the infinite trendline in a perfectly horizontal or vertical position by checking the “Lock Horizontally” or “Lock Vertically” checkbox, then clicking on the handle you want to move.
To adjust an existing infinite trendline to be perfectly horizontal or vertical, hold down the CTRL key (CMD on a Mac) while clicking and dragging on one of the handles. That handle will move so that it is perfectly aligned either horizontally or vertically (whichever is closer) with the other handle. Note that this does not lock the line into position like the Lock Horizontally/Vertically checkboxes do.
After selecting the Channel tool, click once at the start of the main trendline, once at the end, and then a third time at the level where the channel line should be drawn. Once the channel has been drawn, it can be selected and modified. To change the channel's angle or length, click on the appropriate circle handle to adjust the start or end of the main trendline, or the distance of the channel line from the main trendline. To reposition the entire channel without changing its shape, click in the center of the channel (away from the handles) and drag it to the new position.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the channel's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style. Change the fill mode by clicking the checkbox next to the Fill color, then selecting the desired fill color and opacity. You can also lock the channel into a perfectly horizontal position by checking the “Lock Horizontally” checkbox, then clicking on the handle you want to move.
To adjust an existing channel annotation to be perfectly horizontal, hold down the CTRL key (CMD on a Mac) while clicking and dragging on one of the handles. That handle will move so that it is perfectly aligned horizontally with the other handle. Note that this does not lock the channel into position like the Lock Horizontally checkbox does.
To quickly toggle fill mode for the channel, click CTRL+F (CMD+F on a Mac) while the channel is selected.
Horizontal Lines can be used to identify support/resistance areas and trading ranges. Vertical Lines can be used to identify the start/end of significant events or technical signals.
After selecting the Horizontal or Vertical Line tool, click on the chart to create a new horizontal or vertical line using the color/line style settings. Once the line has been created, you can click and drag the line to reposition it on the chart.
Use the Annotation panel to change the line's color, thickness, and style. For the horizontal lines, you can check the Display All Values checkbox. This will display the price level of the line. For the vertical lines, you can check the Span All Chart Panels or Display All Values checkboxes. If you check Span All Chart Panels, you can see what an indicator suggests at a specific price level. If you check Display All Values, you'll see the date of the bar where the line is placed, even when the annotation is not selected.
To toggle the display of the price/date values, hold down the SHIFT key and then click on the annotation.
After selecting the Parabola tool, create the curved line of the parabola by clicking on the chart in three locations, those being the start, the apex, and the end of the parabola. Once the parabola has been created, the curve can be adjusted by clicking on any of the three circles (“handles”) to adjust the shape of the parabola. To reposition the parabola on the chart without changing its shape, click and drag on any part of the parabola other than the handles.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the parabola's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style.
The Percent Change tool allows you to measure the vertical percentage difference between prices on two different parts of the chart.
After selecting the Percent Change tool, just click and drag from one point to the other. A vertical percentage measurement will appear on the chart and change as you drag. Once the annotation has been added, it can be selected and modified. To change the location of the top or bottom of the percent change “ruler”, click and drag the circle handle at the top or bottom of the annotation. To reposition the annotation without changing the percent change measurement, click and drag on the lines of the annotation (away from the handles).
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the annotation's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style. Checking the “Display All Values” checkbox will display the starting and ending prices, in addition to the percent change value that is always visible.
To toggle the display of the starting/ending price values, hold down the SHIFT key and then click on the annotation.
An Auto Support/Resistance line automatically changes color depending on the location of the price bars. If the price bars are above the line, that part of the line is colored green (support). If the price bars are below the line, that part of the line is colored red (resistance).
After selecting the Auto Support/Resistance Line tool, clicking on the chart will create a new red/green line using the current opacity/line style settings. Once the line has been created, click and drag the line to reposition it on the chart.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the line's opacity, line thickness, and line style. Checking the “Display All Values” checkbox will display the price level where the line is placed, even when the annotation is not selected.
To toggle the display of the price value, hold down the SHIFT key and then click on the annotation.
The Auto Average tool allows you to calculate the average closing price (or indicator value if used on an indicator panel) for the data points encompassed by the annotation. The Average line will automatically be drawn at the level of the average price.
After selecting the Average tool, click at the start of the timeframe you wish to measure, and drag to the end of the timeframe you want to measure. Once the annotation has been created, it can be selected and modified. To change the timeframe, click and drag on the circle handle at the beginning or end of the timeframe. To reposition the annotation without changing the length of the timeframe, click on the line (away from the handles) and drag to the new position.
Use the Edit Annotation panel to change the annotation's color, opacity, line thickness, and line style. Checking the “Display All Values” checkbox will display the number of bars and the average price, even when the annotation is not selected.
To toggle the display of the bar/price values, hold down the SHIFT key and then click on the annotation.
Learn More. For more information about trendlines and their interpretation, please see .
Channel Lines can help to identify areas of support and resistance on the chart by using two parallel trendlines. Draw the main trendline and then extend the channel above (for downtrends) or below (for uptrends) the price action. For more information on channels, please see .
