In the previous lesson, we built our TradingView analysis environment and became familiar with the main tools we will use throughout the Academy.
Now that the platform feels more familiar, the next step is learning how to work with it more efficiently.
When we analyse markets regularly, we repeat many of the same actions: drawing levels, marking sessions, moving between timeframes, switching instruments, removing objects, and comparing charts.
All of these actions can be performed through TradingView's menus. As they become part of our routine, however, shortcuts can make the process faster and allow us to stay focused on the chart.
The objective is not to memorise every shortcut available in TradingView.
We want to learn a small set of commands that support the way we analyse markets and gradually make them part of our normal workflow.
If you prefer using the menus while you are learning, that is completely fine. Shortcuts are there to make repeated actions faster, not to change how the analysis itself is performed.
Why Efficiency Matters
Most beginners naturally start by using the mouse for almost everything.
There is nothing wrong with that while we are learning where the different tools are located.
Over time, repeatedly opening menus for actions we perform dozens of times can interrupt the flow of analysis.
Shortcuts allow us to:
mark charts more quickly;
move between timeframes;
search for instruments without navigating through menus;
remove or correct drawings efficiently;
spend less time interacting with the interface;
maintain our focus on the chart.
Speed itself is not the objective.
We first need to know what we want to mark and why. The shortcut simply gives us a quicker way to do it.
After enough repetition, the commands we use most often will become familiar naturally.
Drawing and Marking Levels Efficiently
Drawing tools will become increasingly important as we move into the practical part of the Academy.
We will use them to mark price levels, sessions, areas of interest, and other information directly on the chart.
A few shortcuts can make this process much easier.
Trend Line: Alt + T
One of the most frequently used drawing tools is the Trend Line.
The shortcut on Windows is:
Alt + T
On macOS, TradingView uses:
Option + T
Once the tool is activated:
Click the first point on the chart.
Move the cursor to the desired endpoint.
Click again to complete the line.
Although its name is Trend Line, the tool can be used for more than drawing traditional trend lines. It gives us a flexible way to connect two points or mark information directly on the chart.
Using Shift for Precise Alignment
When using the Trend Line, holding Shift constrains the angle of the drawing.
This makes it easier to create a horizontal line or work with fixed-angle alignment when required.
The process is simple:
Activate the Trend Line.
Select the first point.
Hold Shift while positioning the line.
Place the second point.
We do not need to use this every time we draw. It is simply a useful control when more precise alignment is required.
Horizontal Line: Alt + H
When we want to mark a specific price level across the chart, we can use the Horizontal Line.
The shortcut on Windows is:
Alt + H
On macOS:
Option + H
We can use Horizontal Lines to mark levels such as:
support;
resistance;
High of Day;
Low of Day;
important liquidity levels.
Later in the course, we will become much more specific about which levels matter to our strategy and why.
For now, the objective is simply to become comfortable placing and adjusting them.
Horizontal Ray
The Horizontal Ray serves a similar purpose to the Horizontal Line but behaves differently.
Instead of extending indefinitely in both directions, it begins at the point we select and extends in one direction.
This can be useful when a level becomes relevant from a particular moment onward and we do not want the drawing extending across the earlier part of the chart.
Depending on the current TradingView interface and operating system, the available shortcut can be checked directly beside the Horizontal Ray tool in the drawing menu.
This is a useful habit for any shortcut we do not remember: rather than guessing, check the command shown by TradingView itself.
Vertical Line: Alt + V
The Vertical Line will be particularly useful for the type of intraday analysis we perform.
The shortcut on Windows is:
Alt + V
On macOS:
Option + V
We can use Vertical Lines to mark:
market sessions;
important times;
economic or market events;
specific moments in price action;
the beginning or end of an analysis interval.
Because timing matters in intraday trading, vertical references can help us understand not only where price moved, but also when that movement occurred.
Removing and Correcting Objects
When working on a chart, we will sometimes place a line incorrectly or decide that a drawing is no longer needed.
Learning how to correct those actions quickly helps us keep the chart organised.
Undoing the Last Action
To reverse the last action, we can use:
Ctrl + Z on Windows.
Command + Z on macOS.
This is useful when we have just placed or modified something incorrectly.
Selecting and Removing Multiple Objects
TradingView also allows us to select several drawings at once.
On Windows, hold Ctrl while clicking the drawings you want to select.
On macOS, use Command.
Once selected, the drawings can be removed using the appropriate delete control for the device or through TradingView's object controls.
The exact deletion key can vary by keyboard and operating system, so there is no need to memorise one universal command.
The useful habit is learning to remove unnecessary markings regularly so that the chart remains readable as the analysis develops.
Finding Shortcuts When You Forget Them
There is no reason to memorise every TradingView shortcut before moving forward.
TradingView displays available shortcuts alongside many drawing tools and commands, and the Help Center also maintains a shortcut reference.
If you forget a combination, check the relevant tool or menu rather than trying to remember it.
With repetition, the shortcuts we use regularly will become familiar naturally.
The others can remain in the menu until we actually need them.
Moving Between Timeframes Efficiently
In Lesson 1 of this chapter, we explored adjusting the timeframe with the selector located at the top of the chart.
TradingView also allows us to change the chart interval directly from the keyboard.
For example:
Timeframe & Keyboard Entry
1 minute - 1 + Enter
5 minutes - 5 + Enter
15 minutes - 15 + Enter
1 hour - 1H + Enter
Daily - 1D + Enter
When we type only a number, TradingView interprets it as minutes. Letters can be added to specify other periods, such as hours or days.
This becomes useful when moving repeatedly between different levels of market detail.
For example, we might look at H1 for broader context, move to M15, perform our main analysis on M5, and later use M1 when greater execution detail is required.
Instead of opening the timeframe menu each time, we can enter the interval directly.
The important part is still understanding why we are changing timeframe.
Moving faster between charts does not improve the analysis unless each timeframe has a purpose.
Switching Between Markets
We can use a similar approach when changing instruments.
With the chart active, simply begin typing the symbol or instrument name.
For example:
GER40;
US100;
US30;
SPX;
XAUUSD;
ETHUSD.
TradingView opens Symbol Search, allowing us to select the required instrument and data source.
As we covered in Lesson 1, the same market can be listed under various ticker symbols, depending on the provider.
For that reason, speed should never replace verification.
Before beginning an analysis, make sure the instrument and data source are the ones you intend to use.
Working With Multiple Chart Layouts
TradingView can display several charts within the same workspace.
Depending on the TradingView plan and available layout options, we can work with configurations containing multiple charts, including layouts with 2, 4, 6, or 8 charts.
There are two particularly useful ways to use them.
Comparing Different Markets
For example, a four-chart workspace could contain:
Chart 1: GER40
Chart 2: US100
Chart 3: XAUUSD
Chart 4: US30
This allows us to monitor several markets without constantly moving from one chart to another.
Viewing Different Timeframes
We can also use multiple charts to view the same market across different timeframes.
For example, GER40 could be displayed on H1, M15, M5, and M1 at the same time.
This can become useful when our analysis requires both broader context and more detailed execution information.
TradingView also provides options for synchronising symbols and intervals between charts when working with multi-chart layouts.
We do not need this functionality to begin learning.
If the layout we want is not available on our current TradingView plan, we can simply move between charts manually. The analytical process remains the same.
Do We Need Multiple Monitors?
Not necessarily.
It is easy to associate professional trading with desks covered in monitors, but the number of screens does not determine the quality of an analysis.
For someone learning to trade, one monitor or a laptop is enough.
For some types of chart analysis, even a tablet can be enough.
TradingView's Watchlist and multiple-chart layouts already provide ways to move between or monitor several markets from a single screen.
Additional monitors may improve convenience later, particularly if we want to keep several markets, timeframes, news, or the execution platform visible simultaneously.
They are not necessary for learning or applying the strategy.
If additional screen space eventually provides a genuine practical benefit, we can upgrade the setup then.
A Practical Example
Imagine that we are preparing our GER40 analysis before an intraday session.
We begin on H1 to get a broader view of recent price action.
Rather than opening the timeframe menu, we type 1H and press Enter.
We then move to M15, followed by M5, where we want to work in greater detail.
Suppose we want to mark the previous High of Day and Low of Day.
We use the Horizontal Line shortcut to place a line at each level.
We then want to mark an important session time, so we use the Vertical Line shortcut to place a reference at the relevant point on the chart.
While drawing, we place one object incorrectly.
Instead of interrupting the process, we use Undo and continue.
We now want to see what US100 is doing.
We begin typing US100, select the correct instrument and data source, and move directly to that chart.
After reviewing it, we return to GER40.
If our TradingView plan supports the layout we want to use, we could instead keep both markets visible simultaneously.
None of these actions improves our analysis by itself.
They simply reduce unnecessary steps between what we want to do and what appears on the chart.
That allows us to keep more of our attention on the market itself.
Your Turn
Open the TradingView workspace you created in Lesson 1.
This time, try performing some of the actions without relying entirely on the menus.
Start with GER40 and practise drawing with the Trend Line. Hold Shift on one attempt so you can see how the drawing becomes constrained.
Place two Horizontal Lines, add a Horizontal Ray, and use a Vertical Line to mark a specific time.
Deliberately place one object incorrectly and use Undo. Then practise selecting several drawings and removing them together using the controls available on your device.
Next, move between M1, M5, M15, H1, and Daily using direct keyboard entry.
Switch from GER40 to US100 and then to XAUUSD by beginning to type the instrument name directly on the chart.
Finally, if your TradingView plan supports multiple-chart layouts, experiment with displaying several markets at once.
There is no need to analyse the markets or find a trade.
The purpose is simply to repeat the actions until navigating TradingView begins to feel natural.
The Xcelerate Trade Perspective
Efficiency in TradingView is not about performing as many actions as possible in the shortest amount of time.
It is about reducing the attention we spend operating the platform.
We first need to understand what we are looking for, which levels matter, and why we are moving between markets or timeframes. Shortcuts only make those actions easier to perform.
This is why there is no need to memorise every command TradingView offers.
Learn the ones you use regularly. The rest can stay in the menus until you need them.
Accuracy comes first. Efficiency develops through repetition.
As these actions become familiar, we can spend less time thinking about how to operate TradingView and more time using it for its real purpose: analysing the market and preparing our decisions.
In the next lesson, we will move beyond the analysis platform and look at the different ways we can access trading capital, including personal accounts, funded accounts, Prop Firms, and the role of brokers in our trading journey.
See you in the next lesson!