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Basic ADVFN Video Help
ADVFN HomeHelpChartsPoint & Figure ChartsBasic Usage
Point & Figure Charts
  Understanding P&F Charts
  Basic Usage

Basic Usage

To use Point & Figure charts, enter symbol name (use Search button if necessary). Initially P&F chart displays daily data for one month from the current date. Using Settings and Date Range tabs in the top left corner you can change displayed period and data frequency (quantification). Frequency combo applies to Date Range selection, too, and its selected value is displayed on Date Range tab for reference. After you selected period or date range, press Apply button on appropriate tab and chart will be rebuilt according to new settings.

When you are satisfied with period and frequency, you can tune two basic parameters of P&F chart - box size and reversal (see Understanding P&F Charts for explanation of their meaning). Generally, increasing the former makes chart more detailed on both scales while increasing the latter makes it less detailed on time scale. Note that the time scale (horizontal) does not represent time linearly (see Understanding). Also note that when reversal value is 1 chart is made more condensed by merging columns consisting of only one box, e.g. 'X' with the next column of 'O's.

Finally, you can change scale in the Price Scale combo in order to fit the chart into the screen area without need to scroll it or in order to make small details more visible. You can also use larger scale if you need more frequent date/time labeling.

If you click and drag mouse, you get 'rubberband' rectangle which will center and zoom in the chart to your selected area after you release mouse button. You can zoom it out by changing Price Scale to another scale.