Add a technical indicator to a chart in cTrader
After you create a custom technical indicator, install one from cTrader Store or open an indicator .algo file using cTrader, the indicator becomes available for use. You can add an instance of the indicator to a chart and begin using it, either within the Algo app or Trade app.
Add an instance
In the Indicators tab of the Algo app, click the Add instance button for the indicator you want to use. Select a symbol and period, then click the settings icon to specify values for customisable parameters if available.
Note
The Lines parameter is universal to all indicators, even when it is not explicitly declared or used in the indicator code.
The chart on the right displays the added indicator.
Depending on the default settings specified by the indicator developer, the algorithm output is overlaid either on the chart or displayed in a separate panel just below the chart.
You can always change the location of the indicator output in the Properties section when managing the indicator.
Delete an instance
To delete an indicator instance, right-click the instance, then select Remove instance.
Use the indicator elsewhere
In both the Trade and Algo apps, you can follow the instructions below to add any indicator, whether built-in or custom, to a chart.
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Click the Indicators icon in the chart toolbar, then choose an indicator in the window that appears.
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In cTrader Windows, press the Space button, type an indicator name into the search bar, then choose the indicator from the results list.
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Right-click anywhere on a chart, select Indicators in the context menu, then choose an indicator.
Manage an active indicator
When you add an indicator to a chart, a new toolbar for the indicator appears in the top-left corner of the chart or panel. Hover your cursor over this toolbar and you will see three icons, namely Hide, Properties and Close indicator, in addition to the indicator parameter values and output.
The indicator parameter values and output are defined as follows:
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Parameter values – specific settings that differ from indicator to indicator. For example, in MACD Crossover, available values include source, long cycle, short cycle, signal periods and shift. In custom indicators, you are not limited to preset parameters.
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Output – current values of the indicator as reflected by the chart.
Hide indicator
Click the Hide icon in the indicator toolbar to make the indicator invisible without removing it from the chart. To make it visible again, click the Show icon.
Modify properties
Click the Properties icon in the indicator toolbar to open the indicator settings window.
In the Parameters section, you can open the drop-down menu for Panel and set whether you want the indicator to be displayed directly on the chart or in a separate panel. It is also possible to change the indicator core settings and calculation attributes here.
In the Lines section, you can specify the indicator lines that should be displayed and set their properties, such as colour, line type and thickness.
In the Bars, Levels and Additional sections, you can configure the settings for the indicator bars, levels (horizontal lines) and instance information, if available, respectively.
Learn more
Click the Video icon, if available, to open a tutorial where you can learn more about the indicator in your browser.
Remove indicator
Click the Close indicator icon in the indicator toolbar to delete the indicator from the trading chart. For indicators displayed in a separate panel, the entire panel is removed when the indicator is deleted.
Use the object manager
The object manager allows you to manage all active indicators from a single location.
To open the object manager, press Ctrl+I, or you can click the Drawings/Indicators icon in the chart toolbar and select Indicators.
To open the object manager, press Cmd+I or click the Drawings/Indicators icon in the chart toolbar.
You can manage each indicator through the control icons beside it, add new panels to house indicators and perform other tasks.
Clicking the Remove all indicators button deletes all indicators from the chart at once.
