Indices

1. Search & Select a Symbol (Top-left)

Where: Top-left search box on TradingView.

1. Click the search field and type the forex pair (e.g., EURUSD or GBPJPY).
2. Choose from All, Forex, Futures, or other categories to narrow the results.
3. Click the symbol to load it on the chart. You can also press Enter to load the top result.
4. Tip: use the watchlist “+” to add frequently used symbols for quick access.

2. Timeframes & Interval (Top bar)

Where: Top bar / interval selector (1m, 5m, 1H, D, W, etc.).

• Click a preset timeframe (e.g., 5 for 5-minute) or type a custom interval (e.g., 3m).
• Use the range selector or drag the chart to change visible history.
• Tip: press number keys (1, 5, 15, 60) or Ctrl/Cmd + timeframe shortcuts if available.

3. Indicators & Strategies (Indicators tab)

Where: Top toolbar → Indicators (also a keyboard shortcut).

1. Open the Indicators panel to browse built-in indicators, public library scripts, and your own scripts.
2. Search e.g., “EMA”, “RSI”, “MACD”, or “VWAP”, then click to add to the chart.
3. Open indicator settings (gear icon next to indicator name) to change inputs, style, and visibility (subpane/overlay).
4. Use the formatting tab to change colors, thickness, and scale (left axis or new scale).
5. Tip: save frequently used indicator sets as an Indicator Template to apply quickly to any chart.

4. Drawing Tools (Left vertical toolbar)

Where: Left edge vertical toolbar — drawing tools and objects.

1. Trend Line / Ray: click and drag to draw support/resistance lines.
2. Fibonacci Tools: draw retracements and extensions from two points.
3. Pitchfork, Rectangle, Ellipse, Text/Marker: add structured annotations and labels.
4. Brush / Measure: freehand and distance measurement (shows pips, bars and percentage).
5. Right-click any drawing → Settings to change color, style, label, lock, or remove.
6. Tip: use the magnet/snap option to connect lines precisely to OHLC points; use the object tree (eye icon) to hide/show elements.

5. Panels & Sidebars (Right side)

Where: Right sidebar hosts Watchlist, Alerts, Public Chat, Ideas, Financials.

• Watchlist: add/remove symbols; click a symbol to load it immediately.
• Alerts: create price or indicator alerts (click the alarm icon → set condition, expiration, notification method).
• Ideas/Streams: community content and published scripts for learning and inspiration.

6. Bottom Bar — Trading Panel, Strategy Tester & More

Bottom area contains the trading panel (broker connection), strategy tester, and Pine Script console.

• Strategy Tester: run strategy scripts to see hypothetical P&L, trades list, and performance summary.
• Trading Panel: connect a broker, place orders, or simulate through paper trading.
• Tip: use the strategy inputs and test with different time ranges to evaluate edge cases.

7. Chart Interaction & Visuals

1. Crosshair / Cursor: switch between crosshair, dot, or arrow cursor modes from the top bar.
2. Zoom & Pan: scroll to zoom; click+drag for panning. Hold Alt / Option for alternate drag behaviour.
3. Scale: click left/right price axis to change scale (log/linear). Lock the scale to keep fixed zoom.
4. Chart Types: Candles, Bars, Line, Heikin Ashi, Area — select from the top bar.
5. Time zone & session times: chart settings → Time Zone & Session to hide overnight data or change trading sessions.

8. Save Layouts, Templates & Export

1. Save Layout: click the floppy/disk icon or top-right "Save" to preserve indicators, drawings and panels.
2. Templates: save indicator templates and chart style templates (colors, background, etc.).
3. Snapshot / Export: camera icon → download PNG of the chart or share a link to the layout.
4. Tip: create one layout for intraday (fast timeframes) and another for daily/weekly analysis.

9. Creating Alerts

1. Right-click on price level → "Add Alert on ..." OR use the bell icon.
2. Set alert condition (price, crossing, indicator value), expiration, alert name and notifications (email, app, webhook).
3. Manage alerts from the Alerts Manager in the right sidebar.

10. Scripts, Pine Editor & Strategy Testing

• Open Pine Editor (bottom) to paste or write scripts — Save → Add to chart to run an indicator or strategy.
• Use Strategy Tester results to see trades, net profit, drawdown, and performance metrics.
• Browse public library indicators for community tools — always validate on multiple timeframes before trusting them live.

Pro Tips & Shortcuts

• Shortcuts: Alt + drag = duplicate object; Ctrl/Cmd + Z = undo.
• Fast add: double-click on chart to add a horizontal line at that price.
• Clean view: press F for full-screen chart mode.
• Reliability: save a backup layout locally by exporting layout or taking snapshots of versions.
• Testing: use replay mode (top bar) to step through historical price action for strategy practice.

Troubleshooting & Safety Notes

• If indicators look wrong, check the indicator’s source (some scripts use different price fields like hl2 or typical).
• If drawing tools are hard to align, enable snap/magnet or zoom in to anchor to exact candle points.
• Always paper-trade new strategies before live execution and keep risk controls outside the chart (position sizing, stop limits).