# Chart and Workspace Setup Create a readable and reproducible chart workspace. Use this workbook alongside the course. Write your answers before opening the solutions. Practical work is self-reviewed; scored knowledge checks are in the Academy. ## 1. Chart configuration ### Instrument identity Identify the symbol, provider and product type on every saved chart. Two feeds can quote related but different instruments. A continuous futures series, a dated futures contract and a retail spot quote should not be silently substituted for one another. ### Bid ask and last price Bid, ask and last-trade charts represent different observations. A buy generally interacts with offered liquidity, while a sell interacts with bids under the trading arrangement. Comparing a fill against the wrong side can mislabel ordinary spread cost as an anomaly. ### Timeframes and aggregation A timeframe aggregates observations into bars. The open, high, low and close depend on the included interval and data. A one-hour candle contains less path information than its underlying shorter observations; it cannot reveal the exact order of every intrabar event. ### Session and timezone settings Session boundaries and timezones determine which observations enter a daily bar. Daylight-saving conventions can shift apparent session alignment. Record the display timezone and the source timestamp convention before comparing charts. ### Worked example Two providers show different daily highs because their daily boundaries differ. The discrepancy should first be investigated through interval definitions and data coverage, not explained immediately as an execution problem. ### Independent exercise List the metadata needed to compare two daily gold charts fairly. Include instrument, price stream, timezone and aggregation boundaries. My inputs and assumptions: My calculation or decision: Evidence that would change my conclusion: ## 2. Price displays ### Linear and logarithmic scales A linear scale gives equal vertical space to equal absolute changes. A logarithmic scale gives equal space to equal proportional changes. Choose the scale for the question and label it; switching scales can change the visual impression of long-term moves. ### OHLC and candle displays OHLC bars and candlesticks encode interval prices. Their styling changes readability, not the observations. Inspect numerical values when a visual pattern is ambiguous, and avoid treating a color convention as a universal standard across platforms. ### Volume pane interpretation A volume pane must identify what is counted: traded contracts, units, or quote/tick activity. A broker tick count is not automatically total gold-market volume. Interpret the measure within its feed and venue rather than extrapolating it to all trading. ### Adjusted versus unadjusted series Adjusted series modify historical values according to a stated method. Futures back-adjustment and fund distribution adjustments solve different display problems. Use raw tradable contract data when the research question depends on actual historical execution prices. ### Worked example On a linear scale, a move from 100 to 200 occupies the same distance as 200 to 300. On a log scale, equal doubling moves such as 100 to 200 and 200 to 400 occupy equal distances. ### Independent exercise Choose an appropriate scale for comparing percentage growth over a long period, then explain why the axis label must remain visible. My inputs and assumptions: My calculation or decision: Evidence that would change my conclusion: ## 3. Workspace organization ### Separate analysis and execution views Separate analysis, order entry and account monitoring so each has a clear purpose. An analysis workspace can contain several timeframes; an execution view should make instrument, quantity and order state obvious without excessive visual competition. ### Label saved layouts Name saved layouts by instrument, timezone and purpose. A descriptive name is more useful than a date alone when restoring a workspace later. Keep a record of which data feed and aggregation settings the template assumes. ### Use accessible contrast Use sufficient contrast, readable labels and more than color alone to encode direction or status. A learner should distinguish a selected order, a warning and a completed action without relying on a red-green distinction. ### Limit conflicting overlays Limit overlays to those needed for the current question. Several indicators derived from the same prices may look like independent confirmation while adding little new information. A clean chart makes assumptions and conflicting evidence easier to inspect. ### Worked example A chart contains seven momentum indicators and no visible order panel. Removing redundant overlays and restoring account state can improve the ability to identify what is being traded without changing any market data. ### Independent exercise Design separate analysis and execution layouts. Name three fields that must remain visible in the execution layout and explain why. My inputs and assumptions: My calculation or decision: Evidence that would change my conclusion: ## 4. Verification ### Compare two feeds Compare feeds only after matching instrument and timestamp conventions. Differences can arise from venue coverage, quote-side choice, aggregation and delay. Record the size and timing of the discrepancy before choosing an explanation. ### Identify stale quotes A stale quote may remain displayed after updates stop. Check timestamps, connection indicators and whether related fields are changing. A visible live badge without a fresh observation is insufficient evidence that the data is current. ### Check missing bars Missing bars are not automatically zero-return intervals. They may indicate closure, missing data or an aggregation issue. Mark the reason where known; inserting fabricated observations can alter indicators and backtest results. ### Restore a saved layout Restore a saved layout and verify its settings rather than assuming every field was preserved. Provider updates, symbol changes or device differences can alter the result. A small verification checklist makes the saved workspace reproducible. ### Worked example A five-minute series jumps from 10:00 to 10:15. Before calculating an indicator, determine whether the missing intervals represent a market closure or absent observations. Filling them with the last price imposes an assumption that must be explicit. ### Independent exercise Write a data-quality note for that gap and specify how a strategy requiring uninterrupted bars should behave until the reason is known. My inputs and assumptions: My calculation or decision: Evidence that would change my conclusion: ## Course project Submit a chart template with instrument, timezone, price type and data-source notes. ### Self-review rubric - Concepts and reasoning: 25% - Calculations, data and evidence: 30% - Process and risk controls: 25% - Limitations and communication: 20% Record one correction and one next practice task. This rubric is not automatically graded. ## Worked solutions ### Exercise 1 Match product, provider, bid/ask/last convention, session boundaries, timezone and coverage. Only after aligning these should remaining price differences be investigated as feed or market differences. ### Exercise 2 A log scale can help compare proportional growth, but the reader needs to know that distances represent ratios rather than equal cash changes. Neither scale proves a trading signal. ### Exercise 3 Account identity, instrument/quantity and current order or position state are essential examples. They connect an action to the correct account, exposure and state. Analysis tools may be placed elsewhere without losing these controls. ### Exercise 4 Record the missing timestamps, source and investigation status. A strategy that requires complete intervals should withhold the dependent calculation or clearly mark it unavailable until its documented missing-data policy can be applied. ## Further reading - https://www.metatrader5.com/en/terminal/help/charts_analysis