Series and panels

When you add an indicator, function, or strategy, two choices shape the result:

1. Series — what data goes into the formula
2. Panel — where the output is drawn

This page covers both — in ChartUI and in code.

Loading chart…

EMA uses close prices on the main panel; RSI uses close in its own panel.

Series — the data feeding the script

What is a “series”?

A series is a column of numbers aligned to chart time — one value per bar:

Example series	Field	Typical use
Main symbol close	c	RSI, EMA defaults
Main symbol high	h	HIGHEST, band upper bounds
Main symbol volume	v	Volume studies
EMA output	EMA	Input to DISPLACE or CROSS
RSI output	RSI	Custom strategy thresholds

In code, the chart stores references as:

seriesId:field

Example: mainSeriesId:c for close (exact seriesId comes from getSeriesManager()).

Picking a series in ChartUI

1. Toolbar → Indicators (or add from catalog).
2. Pick indicator / function / strategy.
3. In Parameters, find inputs labeled Series, Price CLOSE, A Series, etc.
4. Open the dropdown — options look like SymbolName.Close, EMA.EMA, RSI.RSI.

flowchart LR
  Main["Main OHLC"]
  EMA_out["EMA output"]
  Fn["Function input"]
  Strat["Strategy input"]

  Main --> EMA_out
  Main --> Fn
  EMA_out --> Fn
  EMA_out --> Strat

The dropdown is built from chart.getSeriesManager() — every series currently on the chart, including outputs from scripts you already added.

Order matters: add the source indicator first, then the function/strategy that consumes it.

Default series matching

When you open settings, the dialog auto-picks a series if an input has properties.def:

• def: "c" → matches main close
• def: "h" → matches high
• def: "MACDLine" → matches MACD line output after MACD is on the chart

If nothing matches, the first available series is used.

Conditional inputs (functions)

Some inputs toggle between constant number and series:

Mode	Use when
Number	Fixed threshold (e.g. RSI > 70)
Series	Compare two live lines (e.g. EMA vs SMA)

IF, SUM, and AVERAGE use this pattern. In the UI you pick Number or Series first, then the value or dropdown.

Multi-instrument charts

With a second symbol overlaid (Multi-instrument charts), overlay series appear in the same dropdown. You can run RSI on the overlay’s close instead of the main symbol.

Series in code

function getSeriesReference(chart, field: string): string {
  const series = Object.values(chart.getSeriesManager()).find((s) =>
    s.fields.includes(field),
  );
  if (!series?.seriesId) throw new Error(`Field ${field} not found`);
  return `${series.seriesId}:${field}`;
}

const ema = structuredClone(chart.getScripts().EMA);
chart.addScript("EMA", ema);

const emaRef = getSeriesReference(chart, "EMA");

const displaced = structuredClone(chart.getScripts().DISPLACE);
displaced.inputs.DSERIES.value = emaRef;
chart.addScript("DISPLACE", displaced);

More examples: Programmatic wiring.

Panels — where the script draws

Main chart vs new panel

Placement	Best for	Examples
Overlay (main chart)	Lines on candles	EMA, BBAND, KELTNERCHANNEL
New panel	Oscillators, volume-style	RSI, MACD, ATR, OBV
Existing panel	Stack related studies	Two indicators sharing one strip

Each script ships with a default newPane flag — see catalogs for Default pane column.

Picking a panel in ChartUI

In the script settings dialog, find Panel:

Option	Effect
New panel	Creates a new row below the chart
Main chart	Draws on the price pane
Named panel	Reuses an existing pane (e.g. after RSI already opened one)

Changing panel updates config.pane and config.newPane before the script is applied.

When to override defaults

Situation	Try
RSI hides candles	Panel → New panel (RSI defaults to this already)
Compare two MAs on price	Panel → Main chart for both
MACD + RSI stacked	Add MACD (new panel), add RSI → Panel → pick MACD’s panel or separate panels

Panels in code

ChartInstance exposes:

chart.getChartPanels();
// [{ id: "…", label: "Main chart", main: true }, { id: "…", label: "RSI", main: false }]

Panel targeting on addScript(proto) uses the pane field on the cloned ScriptDefinition (same as UI). Advanced hosts can also call addPanelToModel() on the Chart class — Chart runtime access.

Price tags on the scale

In Chart settings → On chart, toggle Scale per layer to show/hide the last-value label on the Y axis — independent of which panel the script uses.

End-to-end UI checklist

1. Load candles (setMainSeriesData or connector).
2. Add base studies first (e.g. EMA, then SMA).
3. Open each study’s settings → verify series inputs.
4. Set Panel (overlay vs new vs existing).
5. Add functions/strategies that consume earlier outputs.
6. Tune visibility in Chart settings layers tabs.

Quick troubleshooting

Problem	Fix
Dropdown missing EMA line	Add EMA and confirm it calculated (enough bars)
Strategy always uses MACD	Change LINE / SIGNAL series inputs away from defaults
Two oscillators squash each other	Use separate panels or one panel intentionally
Wrong symbol’s close	Re-select series after changing overlay selection

What is next?

• Programmatic wiring — clone definitions and set seriesId:field
• Indicators overview
• Functions overview
• Strategies overview
• Chart settings — visibility layers