Line studies and chart objects¶

Instruments toolbar¶

cTrader offers a comprehensive set of line studies and special objects for advanced technical analysis. All these options are available from the Instruments toolbar, which is positioned on the right side of the chart by default.

Mouse cursor¶

The Mouse cursor is the default pointer. Use it to move across the chart, modify chart objects or drag the chart along the timeline.

Crosshair cursor¶

The Crosshair cursor helps you see the exact price at a specific time. Click the Crosshair icon and hover over the chart. The corresponding price and time will be highlighted on the vertical and horizontal axes.

Click and hold the left mouse button, then move the cursor to another point on the chart to view the difference in price and time.

Market snapshot¶

Using market snapshot, you can compare the following values at a specific point: actual price, open, high, low, close and volume.

Click the Market snapshot icon and hover the cursor over the chart. You can also use market snapshot in the indicators area to view more details.

Lines¶

You can draw vertical and horizontal lines, diagonal trend lines and rays directly on the chart. These tools are grouped under a single button in the Instruments toolbar, the Trend line button. Hover over the Trend line button to expand the lines drop-down and select the desired line type.

Select the corresponding button and click the chart to place a line. To create a trend line or ray, click and hold the left mouse button on the first point on the chart, move the cursor to the second point and release the mouse button to draw a line connecting the two points.

• Vertical lines are often used to mark specific areas on the chart (for example, to show a correlation between the price and indicators below) – purple in the screenshot above.

• Horizontal lines are typically used to mark support and resistance levels – blue in the screenshot above.

• Trend lines are used to mark trends – green in the screenshot above.

• Rays are similar to trend lines but are also helpful for projecting future price movement – red in the screenshot above.

Manage lines

To edit a line, right-click it directly on the chart and select the style, thickness and colour from the pop-up. Tick the Apply as default box to use the current settings as the default for all future objects of this type. For horizontal lines, tick the Snap to chart price box and enter the exact price level to position the line.

For trend lines and rays, tick the Show angle box to display the exact angle on the chart.

Tick the Extend to infinity box to convert a trend line into a ray, or vice versa.

When finished, click Ok to apply the changes.

To move a line, simply drag and drop it to a new location.

Use Ctrl + drag, or Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V, to copy the line.

To edit the points of a trend line or ray, hover over the key points (dots on the line), then drag and drop each point separately to adjust the direction.

To delete a line, right-click it on the chart and click the Bin icon in the drop-down. Alternatively, select the line on the chart and press Del.

You can also remove a line or any other chart object using the chart menu. Right-click anywhere on the chart, select the Objects list from the drop-down, choose the desired object or line and click the x button next to it.

Pencil¶

The pencil tool allows you to draw free-form shapes and annotations directly on the chart in any mode using a pen-style cursor.

Unlike most drawing tools, it is not bound to a specific shape, making it ideal for adding notes when setting up trades – which can be useful for later review.

To use the pencil, select the Pencil icon from the Instruments toolbar and draw by holding the left mouse button on the chart.

Adjust the colour and thickness settings to customise your pencil marks. Right-click on a pencil drawing to open its settings.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy your drawing anywhere on the chart.

Equidistant channel¶

The equidistant price channel allows you to draw two precisely parallel lines on the chart.

Click the Equidistant channel icon in the Instruments toolbar, then click and hold the left mouse button to draw a line from the first point to the second. Release the mouse button to create the line. The second parallel line appears automatically.

To adjust the distance between the lines, click the line with the dot at its centre and drag it.

To move both lines together, click and drag the line with the two dots at its ends. Click and drag the dots at the ends of the lines to adjust the length or rotate the equidistant channel on the chart.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy the equidistant channel anywhere on the chart.

Andrews' pitchfork¶

Andrews' pitchfork is a technical tool used to identify potential support and resistance levels using three parallel lines that resemble a pitchfork.

Click the Andrews' pitchfork icon in the Instruments toolbar, then click and hold the left mouse button to draw a trend line from point 1 to the central point.

Release the mouse button, then drag points 1, 2 and 3 of the pitchfork to the corresponding price peaks. To move the Andrews' pitchfork, hover over the central line and drag it.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy Andrews' pitchfork anywhere on the chart.

Fibonacci tools¶

cTrader offers three basic Fibonacci tools:

• Fibonacci retracement
• Fibonacci fan
• Fibonacci expansion

Hover over the Fibonacci icon in the Instruments toolbar, then click the corresponding button on the Instruments toolbar to start drawing, or hover over the Fibonacci icon to select another Fibonacci tool.

Fibonacci retracement

Fibonacci retracement is a charting technique that uses horizontal lines to indicate potential areas of support or resistance at key Fibonacci levels before the trend continues in its original direction.

Fibonacci retracement levels can be used as buy triggers during pullbacks in an uptrend.

Select the Fibonacci retracement icon from the Instruments toolbar, then draw a trend line on the chart by holding the left mouse button.

cTrader divides the vertical distance between the selected points using Fibonacci ratios and draws horizontal lines accordingly.

Fibonacci retracement helps identify how far the price might pull back before continuing in the original direction. Traders often use these key levels to place pending orders.

Fibonacci fan

Fibonacci fan is a charting technique used to estimate support and resistance levels by drawing diagonal lines based on Fibonacci retracement levels.

Select the Fibonacci fan icon from the Instruments toolbar, then draw a trend line on the chart by holding the left mouse button.

cTrader divides the vertical distance between the selected points and draws new lines that connect the Fibonacci levels to the starting point.

Fibonacci fan lines are dynamic and extend beyond the static Fibonacci retracement levels.

Fibonacci expansion

Fibonacci expansion is a charting technique used to plot potential support and resistance levels by tracking both the primary trend and the retracement.

Select the Fibonacci expansion icon from the Instruments toolbar and draw a trend line by holding the left mouse button. Release the button to place the second point, then position the third point of the expansion, which appears automatically linked to the cursor.

cTrader divides the vertical distance between the trend points using Fibonacci ratios and uses the low point of the retracement segment as a reference.

Fibonacci expansion is used to estimate where the price might move after the retracement.

Edit Fibonacci objects

To edit Fibonacci object properties, right-click its trend line on the chart.

In the pop-up, select the line type, thickness and colour.

Untick Fibonacci levels to disable them, or type new values to customise the levels.

By default, cTrader automatically snaps the key points to chart prices when editing or placing a Fibonacci trend line. Untick Snap to chart prices if you want to disable this behaviour.

Untick Display prices if you do not want to show the prices corresponding to the Fibonacci key levels on the chart.

Tick the Apply as default box to save the current settings as the default for all future objects of this type.

To move a Fibonacci object, hover over its trend line and drag it anywhere on the chart.

To edit the points (change direction), hover over the key points of the trend line and drag them separately.

To delete a Fibonacci object, right-click its trend line on the chart and click the Bin icon in the drop-down. Alternatively, select the object on the chart and press Del on your keyboard.

You can also remove an object using the chart menu. Right-click anywhere on the chart, select the Objects list from the drop-down, choose the desired object or line and click the x icon next to it.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy the Fibonacci object anywhere on the chart.

Gann objects¶

cTrader provides four Gann tools:

• Gann fan
• Gann box
• Gann square
• Gann square fixed

Click the Gann icon in the instruments toolbar, then select a Gann object from the list to start drawing.

Gann fan

A Gann fan projects a series of diagonal lines from a key high or low using fixed price–time angles, such as 1x1, 1x2, 2x1 and more. You can use these angles to measure trend speed, identify dynamic support and resistance and evaluate whether price is accelerating or decelerating relative to time. When the price holds above a rising fan line, it often signals trend strength, while breaks through key angles may indicate trend changes.

Gann box

A Gann box defines a specific price range and time span on the chart, forming a rectangular analytical framework. You can use the box to study market symmetry, internal divisions and proportional relationships between price and time. The box helps identify potential turning points, consolidation areas and future price targets based on how price interacts with the box boundaries and internal levels.

Gann square

A Gann square converts price and time into a square structure to highlight balance and proportional movement. You can use it to project important price levels and dates where market reactions are more likely to occur. The square emphasises geometric relationships, making it useful for analysing cycles, trend exhaustion and areas where price and time align.

Gann square fixed

A Gann square fixed preserves its geometric proportions regardless of chart zoom or scaling. You should use it when you need precise angle and ratio consistency for advanced price–time analysis.

Right-clicking a Gann object on the chart reveals a menu for managing the object.

• Colours – choose a new colour for the object.
• Thickness – select the line thickness of the object.
• Line type – select the line type of the object.
• Locked – lock or unlock the object on the chart.
• Duplicate – add a copy of the object to the chart.
• Display prices – show the prices corresponding to the Gann object levels on the chart.
• Settings – specify the price-time ratios used to construct the Gann object.
• Visibility – choose the periods for which the Gann object is visible.
• Reset to default – restore the Gann object settings to their default values.
• Delete – remove the Gann object from the chart.

Shape objects¶

cTrader allows you to draw rectangles, ellipses and triangles as outlines or filled shapes directly on the chart.

By default, the Rectangle icon is displayed in the Instruments toolbar.

Hover over the Shapes icon to select a shape.

To draw a shape, click the corresponding icon in the Instruments toolbar, then hold the left mouse button on the chart and move the cursor. Release the button to draw the shape.

To move a shape, simply drag and drop it anywhere on the chart.

To resize a shape, hover over the key points and drag them.

To edit a shape, right-click it and select the line type, thickness and colour. Tick the Fill shape box to make it filled, and select the opacity level.

Tick the Apply as default box to use the current settings as the default for all future objects of this type.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy a shape anywhere on the chart.

Markers¶

cTrader allows you to place eight different types of markers on the chart for more precise analysis. You can add circles, up arrows, down arrows, squares, diamonds, stars, up triangles and down triangles.

By default, the Up arrow icon is displayed in the Instruments toolbar. Hover over the button to select another marker from the drop-down, then click directly on the chart to place it.

To move a marker, simply drag it to any location on the chart. To change the marker colour, click the marker to select it, then click the Colour icon in the Instruments toolbar and choose the desired colour.

Use Ctrl + drag to copy your marker anywhere on the chart.

Text¶

cTrader allows you to type and edit text directly on the chart.

Select the Text icon from the Instruments toolbar, click your desired location on the chart and begin typing.

You can resize the text frame by dragging one of its corners, or move the entire text object by dragging it across the chart.

Right-click the text object to choose the font, size, colour and style. Tick the Apply as default box to save the current settings as the default for all future objects of this type.

Change colour¶

cTrader allows you to customise the colour of all chart objects available in the Instruments toolbar.

The simplest way to change an object’s colour is to select it on the chart, click the Colour icon in the toolbar and choose the desired colour.

Alternatively, right-click a desired object on the chart and select the colour from the properties drop-down.

Delete objects from the chart¶

All active indicators and drawings are listed in the chart objects menu.

Hover over the Objects icon in the Chart toolbar, select the desired indicator or object from the drop-down and click the x icon next to it to remove it.

Clicking an object in the drop-down will highlight it on the chart.