Inserting Line Studies Tools on the MT4 Software
The next option on Insert menu within MT4 platform is Line Studies Button. These tools are used to insert and draw trendlines or to place various technical analysis tools on charts. This button is shown below:
Line Studies in Meta Trader 4
The button can be used to insert the following on charts:
- Vertical Line
- Horizontal Line
- Trend Line
- Trend by Angle
A trader may require to draw any of these line studies on charts for different purposes: each line study will be placed on the chart depending on the type of analysis that a trader want to achieve.
Vertical Line
This is set on chart when a trader wants to mark a particular point in a chart, maybe to mark the time they bought indices or sold indices. To insert this vertical line on chart, a trader will open insert menu, as shown above, then click on 'Vertical Line' option - to select this, cursor will also change to explain vertical line icon and then select point on chart where you as a trader want to draw this line.
Insert a Vertical To a Chart in MT4
Horizontal Line
On MT4 trade platform, this line is set on chart so as to mark a resistance level or a support level on the chart. The horizontal line can be drawn by selecting its button within the insert menu and then clicking on level where you want to place it.
Drawing a Horizontal Line in MT4
On the trading example above this horizontal line is drawn at trading price support level, the price bounces up the second time that it gets to this point. The trend then changes to upward trend direction.
Trend Line
This is one of the most oftenly used analysis tool in indices. To draw this trend-line a trader can access this button from the insert menu. An upwards trend line in MT4 is shown below.
Trend Line Drawn in Meta Trader 4
To draw a trend line a trader has to have 2 points & join these points with the trend line & then extend it as displayed above.
A trader can draw this trend-line for either an upward trend direction or downward trend direction
Trend Line by Angle
Next option is to draw a trend by angle, this one resembles the ordinary trend line shown above, only that in addition it will show the angle at which the trend line is slanting which many trade transactions may use as a signal & specify to only trade if the angle is more than 30 degrees.
Customizing
As a trader you may want to change the formatting of a specific item for examples let use "Trend Line" study, if you want to edit its properties then you can choose it by double-clicking on it, then right click on it & the following menu will show.
Changing
Common Properties
After the above menu appears (Note the trend line has three square points that you can click and drag with your mouse to adjust it to another point using these three squares), select the first option only "Trend Line Properties", the following popup window will appear.
From this menu one can rename the trend-line, give it a description, change the style color to another color using the down arrow next to the color named "Blue" above or change the width property by selecting a different style from the 2 drop down arrow buttons next to the color button, & then choose okay.
Other options are marked 'Parameters' & 'Visualization'
Parameters
On parameter, tick/untick the option marked as 'Ray', this will extend/unextend the trend line up to the point where you have chosen. Download MetaTrader platform to learn what this we're talking about.
Visualization
Visualization is used to choose whether the line is displayed on all time frames or only shown on a choose few time frames that a trader can select & choose from this option as illustrated below.
Customizing Tools MetaTrader 4 Studies