Guide to cTrader Linked Charts
A new feature has recently been added to both cTrader Web and cTrader Desktop. This feature is known as Linked Charts. By definition, it allows you to link charts together. This guide will help you to understand what this feature is for and how it works. Even if you think you know, it’s worth reading so you can understand cTrader’s unique approach.
Introduction
While you can link multiple charts to one another, you are also able to link cTraders new Active Symbols Panel to the charts. When two or more charts are linked together and you change the symbol of one chart, the symbol in the linked chart is also changed. If two charts and the Active Symbol Panel are linked together and the active symbol is changed in any of those sections, all other sections will change to the new symbol too.
How to Link Charts
As mentioned in the previous section, it’s possible to not only link charts but also the Active Symbol Panel. In the top left corner of each chart and the Active Symbols Panel, there is a colour picker. By default, the colour picker is white and unlinked to any other chart. When you click the colour picker eight linking options become available as well as the option to unlink (white with a diagonal red strike).
If you apply blue A to two charts and green B to two other charts, and then change the active symbol in one of the green B charts, the linked chart will be synchronized and also change its active symbol. The blue A charts will not be affected. If you also apply green B to the Active Symbol Panel then the active symbol in this section will also synchronize with the other two green B charts.
Why are Linked Charts Useful?
Traders who have a preferred chart setup (or a few favourites) which they like to use across the entire portfolio of symbols they trade find this feature most useful. They are able to define one group of chart properties, such as time frame, chart type, indicators, colour properties, zoom level etc. This allows to quickly change the underlying symbol for all of the linked charts simultaneously. This allows traders to quickly shift their view from one symbol to another without reconfiguring their chart setup at all.
How to Change Active Symbol
There are two primary ways to change the active symbol. The first and most simple way is to use the drop-down menu inside the chart, this is located right next to the colour selector. The second way is to use the Active Symbol Panel. For this to work you will need to link the Active Symbol Panel with the charts you intend to change the symbol of. When the Active Symbol Panel is linked to some charts, the MarketWatch or Watch List section can then be used to change the active symbol. This option can be disabled from clicking the small cog icon in the top right corner of the Active Symbol Panel.
How is this Different from Chart Templates
cTrader Linked Charts are different from templates because it allows you to change the symbol underneath the chart setup. Templates are applied on top of a chosen symbol. Using workspaces, you would need to open a new chart, set the timeframe and then apply the saved templates on top of the chart. Using cTrader Linked Charts you are able to swiftly change focus from one symbol to another. Chart templates remain useful for saving the chart setups you are not actively using.