Trend Line
Overview
Trend Lines are used to draw free-hand straight lines on any chart. Trend lines can be used on a chart to join higher bottoms or lower tops in order to determine changes in trend. The more times the trend line is touched - generally a valid trend line requires at least three touches - the more significant it is.
To add the tool to your chart, select the tool from the Drawing tool group, and left-click on the first bar you want to calculate the tool from. Next, left-click on the bar where you want to calculate the tool to. Optuma will then draw the tool using the default settings.
Actions & Properties
Actions
Create Parallel Line: This action creates a duplicate Trend Line that is parallel to the selected Trend Line. When this option is selected your mouse pointer will change into a pencil. Click on the position where you want to create the parallel Trend Line.
Add Line Alert: Selecting this action will set a Line Alert based on the selected line.
Add to Toolbar: Adds the selected tool to your custom toolbar.
Apply Settings to All: When multiple Trend Line tools have been applied to a chart, page or workbook, this action can be used to apply the settings of the one selected to other instances of the tool. This is a great time saver if an adjustment is made to the tool - such as line colour - as this allows all the other Trend Line tools in the chart, page or entire workbook to be updated instantly.
Copy Tool: Allows you to copy the selected tool, which can then be pasted onto a different chart window.
Move to Back: If the tool is displaying in front of other tools or indicators clicking this action will move the tool view to the background.
Move to Front: If the tool is displaying behind other tools or indicators on the chart, clicking this action will bring the tool to the forefront.
Restore Default Settings: Click this action if you have adjusted the default settings of the tool, and wish to return to the standard properties originally installed with Optuma.
Save Settings as Default: If you have adjusted any of the tool’s properties (colour, for example) you can save the adjustments as your new default setting. Each time you apply a new Trend Line to a chart, the tool will display using the new settings.
Delete: Deletes the tool from the chart.
Properties
Tool Name: Allows you to adjust the name of the tool, as it’s displayed in the Structure Panel.
Degrees: Can nominate the exact degree of the trend line, for example, if you want the trend line to display at 45-degrees, change the value to 45.
From Optuma 2.0 and later, the Trend Line Angle Labels will range between 0 - 180 for positive angles (above the horizontal plane) and -1 to -179 for negative angles (below the horizontal plane).
Line Style: The Line Style property allows you to adjust the type of line displayed. There are 8 options available: Solid, Dots, Dash, Dash Dots, Long Dash, Long Dash Dot, Long Dash Dot Dot and Stippled.
Line Width: Allows you to adjust the width of the Trend Line. Moving the slider bar to the right increases the thickness of each line.
Line Colour: Select this to change the colour of the Trend Line.
Extend Left: Check this box to extend the selected Trend line to the left.
Extend Right: Check this box to extend the selected Trend line to the right.
Show Angle: Check this box to display the angle of the line. Angles between 0 - 180 are positive (above the horizontal plane) and -1 to -179 for negative angles (below the horizontal plane). For example, 45° is sloping upwards towards the top-right of the chart, whereas -45° is sloping down towards the bottom-right.
Log Adjust: When the Trend Line is applied to a chart that has Logarithmic Scaling enabled, it will be automatically log-adjusted. If the chart is then switched to arithmetic scaling the line will appear curved. Unticking this box will revert the trend line to appear straight. Conversely, if the trend line is applied to an arithmetic chart and changed to log scale then it will appear curved until log adjusted.
Arrows: Provides an option of applying an arrow to either the start of the trend line, the end of the trend line or both ends.
Tool Transparency: Use this slider bar to adjust the transparency of the tool. Moving the slider to the left will increase the transparency of the tool.
Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the tool from the chart.