Operations > Charts > Navigating a Chart

The following section covers navigation and display of NinjaTrader charts.

How to change the horizontal scale and time range of a chart

Horizontal Scaling

To compress or decompress the horizontal axis, left mouse click in the x-axis margin and move the mouse cursor to the left or right. Alternatively, use the Hot Keys CTRL + Up and CTRL + Down.

1. Click and drag to the right will compress the chart's time scale

Chart_Compressed

2. Click and drag to the left will decompress the chart's time scale

Chart_Decompressed

How to change the vertical scale and price range of a chart

Vertical Scaling

To compress or decompress the chart's vertical axis, left mouse click in the y-axis margin and move the mouse cursor up or down as shown in the images below:

1. Click and drag down will shrink the chart's price scale

Chart_ScaleShrink

2. Click and drag up will stretch the chart's price scale

Chart_ScaleStretch

Tip: You can also manually set the chart's price scale to a specific fixed price range from the Chart Panel Properties window.

Fixed vs Automatic Scaling

A box with an "F" (Fixed) will appear in the upper right corner of the chart margin any time the vertical chart axis is manually adjusted. This signifies the chart axis is set to a "fixed" scale. Left mouse click this button to return to automatic scale.

Chart_FixedIcon

How to scroll a chart (panning)

Horizontal Scrolling (panning chart left or right)

You can pan the chart left or right via the following controls:

Mouse controls	Scrolls the chart
Horizontal chart scroll bar at bottom of chart	1 bar at a time
Left mouse click and hold on chart canvas and drag left or right	1 bar at a time
CTRL key + Left mouse click and hold in the x-axis (time axis) and drag left or right	1 bar at a time
Mouse scroll wheel	3 bars at a time
CTRL key + mouse scroll wheel	9 bars at a time

Keyboard controls	Scrolls the chart
Left arrow key	Backward 1 bar at a time
Right arrow key	Forward 1 bar at a time
Page Up (or CTRL key + left arrow key)	Backward one page at a time
Page Down (or CTRL key + right arrow key)	Forward one page at a time
Home key	To the very beginning (first bar)
End key	To the very end (current bar)

Range Icon

If the horizontal axis is scrolled to the left or right from its starting location, a "return" icon will appear in the top right hand corner of the chart. Left mouse click on the icon to return the horizontal axis to view the last "live" data on the chart.

Chart_RangeIcon

Vertical Scrolling (panning chart up or down)

To pan the chart up or down:

CTRL + Left mouse click and hold on chart margin and drag up or down as depicted in the images below.

1. CTRL + Click and drag down will shift the chart's price scale up

Chart_DragCursorDown

2. CTRL + Click and drag up will shift the chart's price scale down

Chart_DragCursorUp

Free Mode Scrolling

You can also navigate the chart by changing both the price axis and time axis at the same time by holding down the CTRL key + Left mouse clicking and dragging in the chart area. This will allow you to move both the price and time axis in whichever direction the mouse is dragged.

How to go to a specific time on the chart

Go To...

You can go to a specific date and time on a chart by right clicking on the scroll bar and selecting Go To...

GoTo1

A Go To... window will appear in which you can enter the desired date and time. Once complete, select OK to go to that time.

GoTo2

How to zoom in and out in a chart

Zoom In

To create a zoom frame around a chart area you want to focus in on:

1.Left mouse click on the Zoom In icon in the tool bar, select the Zoom In menu item within the right mouse button click context menu, or use the zoom in Hot Key CTRL+ ALT + Z

2.Left mouse click and while holding down the left mouse button, draw a zoom frame region and release the button.

The chart display area will zoom in to the selected frame area.

Chart_Zoom

Zoom Out

Each zoom in can be undone to the prior zoom level with a zoom out. To zoom out, left mouse click on the Zoom Out icon in the chart tool bar, select the Zoom Out menu item within the right mouse button click context menu, or use the zoom out Hot Key CTRL+ ALT + O.

How to change the bar spacing and width

Bar Spacing

To change the spacing between bars:

•CTRL + Up arrow key decreases bar spacing

•CTRL + Down arrow key increases bar spacing

Bar Width

To change the width of bars:

•ALT + Up arrow key decreases bar width

•ALT + Down arrow key increases bar width

Alternatively, left mouse click on the "Chart style" chart toolbar icon to access bar spacing and width functions

Chart_ChartStyleToolBar

Note: On a multi-series chart, before changing bar spacing or width, you must select the Data Series you want to adjust by left mouse clicking on it. If none is selected, the primary Data Series of the chart will be adjusted.

How to change the cursor type

Cursor Type

You can have either the standard windows pointer, cross hair or global cross hair for chart navigation. You can toggle between cursor modes via the right mouse click context menu cursor sub menu, the "Cursor" chart toolbar icon or via the following shortcut keys:

CTRL + R	Pointer
CTRL + Q	Cross Hair
CTRL + G	Global Cross Hair (links crosshairs when enabled on two or more charts)

Chart_CursorMenu