Object Properties

Graphical objects can have various properties depending on the object type. Values of object properties are set up and received by corresponding functions for working with graphical objects.

All objects used in technical analysis are bound to the time and price coordinates: trendline, channels, Fibonacci tools, etc. But there is a number of auxiliary objects intended to improve the user interface that are bound to the always visible part of a chart (main chart windows or indicator subwindows):

Object	ID	X/Y	Width/Height	Date/Price	OBJPROP_CORNER	OBJPROP_ANCHOR	OBJPROP_ANGLE
Text	OBJ_TEXT	—	—	Yes	—	Yes	Yes
Label	OBJ_LABEL	Yes	Yes (read only)	—	Yes	Yes	Yes
Button	OBJ_BUTTON	Yes	Yes	—	Yes	—	—
Bitmap	OBJ_BITMAP	—	Yes (read only)	Yes	—	Yes	—
Bitmap Label	OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL	Yes	Yes (read only)	—	Yes	Yes	—
Edit	OBJ_EDIT	Yes	Yes	—	Yes	—	—
Rectangle Label	OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL	Yes	Yes	—	Yes	—	—

The following designations are used in the table:

X/Y – coordinates of anchor points specified in pixels relative to a chart corner;
Width/Height – objects have width and height. For "read only", the width and height values are calculated only once the object is rendered on chart;
Date/Price – anchor point coordinates are specified using the date and price values;
OBJPROP_CORNER – defines the chart corner relative to which the anchor point coordinates are specified. Can be one of the 4 values of the ENUM_BASE_CORNER enumeration;
OBJPROP_ANCHOR – defines the anchor point in object itself and can be one of the 9 values of the ENUM_ANCHOR_POINT enumeration. Coordinates in pixels are specified from this very point to selected chart corner;
OBJPROP_ANGLE – defines the object rotation angle counterclockwise.

The functions defining the properties of graphical objects, as well as ObjectCreate() and ObjectMove() operations for creating and moving objects along the chart are actually used for sending commands to the chart. If these functions are executed successfully, the command is included in the common queue of the chart events. Visual changes in the properties of graphical objects are implemented when handling the queue of the chart events.

Thus, do not expect an immediate visual update of graphical objects after calling these functions. Generally, the graphical objects on the chart are updated automatically by the terminal following the change events - a new quote arrival, resizing the chart window, etc. Use ChartRedraw() function to forcefully update the graphical objects.

For functions ObjectSetInteger() and ObjectGetInteger()

ENUM_OBJECT_PROPERTY_INTEGER

Identifier	Description	Property Type
OBJPROP_COLOR	Color	color
OBJPROP_STYLE	Style	ENUM_LINE_STYLE
OBJPROP_WIDTH	Line thickness	int
OBJPROP_BACK	Object in the background	bool
OBJPROP_ZORDER	Priority of a graphical object for receiving events of clicking on a chart (CHARTEVENT_CLICK). The default zero value is set when creating an object; the priority can be increased if necessary. When objects are placed one atop another, only one of them with the highest priority will receive the CHARTEVENT_CLICK event.	long
OBJPROP_FILL	Fill an object with color (for OBJ_RECTANGLE, OBJ_TRIANGLE, OBJ_ELLIPSE, OBJ_CHANNEL, OBJ_STDDEVCHANNEL, OBJ_REGRESSION)	bool
OBJPROP_HIDDEN	Prohibit showing of the name of a graphical object in the list of objects from the terminal menu "Charts" - "Objects" - "List of objects". The true value allows to hide an object from the list. By default, true is set to the objects that display calendar events, trading history and to the objects created from MQL5 programs. To see such graphical objects and access their properties, click on the "All" button in the "List of objects" window.	bool
OBJPROP_SELECTED	Object is selected	bool
OBJPROP_READONLY	Ability to edit text in the Edit object	bool
OBJPROP_TYPE	Object type	ENUM_OBJECT r/o
OBJPROP_TIME	Time coordinate	datetime modifier=number of anchor point
OBJPROP_SELECTABLE	Object availability	bool
OBJPROP_CREATETIME	Time of object creation	datetime r/o
OBJPROP_LEVELS	Number of levels	int
OBJPROP_LEVELCOLOR	Color of the line-level	color modifier=level number
OBJPROP_LEVELSTYLE	Style of the line-level	ENUM_LINE_STYLE modifier=level number
OBJPROP_LEVELWIDTH	Thickness of the line-level	int modifier=level number
OBJPROP_ALIGN	Horizontal text alignment in the "Edit" object (OBJ_EDIT)	ENUM_ALIGN_MODE
OBJPROP_FONTSIZE	Font size	int
OBJPROP_RAY_LEFT	Ray goes to the left	bool
OBJPROP_RAY_RIGHT	Ray goes to the right	bool
OBJPROP_RAY	A vertical line goes through all the windows of a chart	bool
OBJPROP_ELLIPSE	Showing the full ellipse of the Fibonacci Arc object (OBJ_FIBOARC)	bool
OBJPROP_ARROWCODE	Arrow code for the Arrow object	uchar
OBJPROP_TIMEFRAMES	Visibility of an object at timeframes	set of flags flags
OBJPROP_ANCHOR	Location of the anchor point of a graphical object	ENUM_ARROW_ANCHOR (for OBJ_ARROW), ENUM_ANCHOR_POINT (for OBJ_LABEL, OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL and OBJ_TEXT)
OBJPROP_XDISTANCE	The distance in pixels along the X axis from the binding corner (see note)	int
OBJPROP_YDISTANCE	The distance in pixels along the Y axis from the binding corner (see note)	int
OBJPROP_DIRECTION	Trend of the Gann object	ENUM_GANN_DIRECTION
OBJPROP_DEGREE	Level of the Elliott Wave Marking	ENUM_ELLIOT_WAVE_DEGREE
OBJPROP_DRAWLINES	Displaying lines for marking the Elliott Wave	bool
OBJPROP_STATE	Button state (pressed / depressed)	bool
OBJPROP_CHART_ID	ID of the "Chart" object (OBJ_CHART). It allows working with the properties of this object like with a normal chart using the functions described in Chart Operations, but there some exceptions.	long r/o
OBJPROP_XSIZE	The object's width along the X axis in pixels. Specified for OBJ_LABEL (read only), OBJ_BUTTON, OBJ_CHART, OBJ_BITMAP, OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL, OBJ_EDIT, OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL objects.	int
OBJPROP_YSIZE	The object's height along the Y axis in pixels. Specified for OBJ_LABEL (read only), OBJ_BUTTON, OBJ_CHART, OBJ_BITMAP, OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL, OBJ_EDIT, OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL objects.	int
OBJPROP_XOFFSET	The X coordinate of the upper left corner of the rectangular visible area in the graphical objects "Bitmap Label" and "Bitmap" (OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL and OBJ_BITMAP). The value is set in pixels relative to the upper left corner of the original image.	int
OBJPROP_YOFFSET	The Y coordinate of the upper left corner of the rectangular visible area in the graphical objects "Bitmap Label" and "Bitmap" (OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL and OBJ_BITMAP). The value is set in pixels relative to the upper left corner of the original image.	int
OBJPROP_PERIOD	Timeframe for the Chart object	ENUM_TIMEFRAMES
OBJPROP_DATE_SCALE	Displaying the time scale for the Chart object	bool
OBJPROP_PRICE_SCALE	Displaying the price scale for the Chart object	bool
OBJPROP_CHART_SCALE	The scale for the Chart object	int value in the range 0–5
OBJPROP_BGCOLOR	The background color for OBJ_EDIT, OBJ_BUTTON, OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL	color
OBJPROP_CORNER	The corner of the chart to link a graphical object	ENUM_BASE_CORNER
OBJPROP_BORDER_TYPE	Border type for the "Rectangle label" object	ENUM_BORDER_TYPE
OBJPROP_BORDER_COLOR	Border color for the OBJ_EDIT and OBJ_BUTTON objects	color

When using chart operations for the "Chart" object (OBJ_CHART), the following limitations are imposed:

It cannot be closed using ChartClose();
Symbol/period cannot be changed using the ChartSetSymbolPeriod() function;
The following properties are ineffective CHART_SCALE, CHART_BRING_TO_TOP, CHART_SHOW_DATE_SCALE and CHART_SHOW_PRICE_SCALE (ENUM_CHART_PROPERTY_INTEGER).

You can set a special mode of image display for OBJ_BITMAP_LABEL and OBJ_BITMAP objects. In this mode, only part of an original image (at which a rectangular visible area is applied) is displayed, while the rest of the image becomes invisible. The size of this area should be set using the properties OBJPROP_XSIZE and OBJPROP_YSIZE. The visible area can be "moved" only within the original image using the properties OBJPROP_XOFFSET and OBJPROP_YOFFSET.

For the fixed-sized objects: OBJ_BUTTON, OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL, OBJ_EDIT and OBJ_CHART, properties OBJPROP_XDISTANCE and OBJPROP_YDISTANCE set the position of the top left point of the object relative to the chart corner (OBJPROP_CORNER), from which the X and Y coordinates will be counted in pixels.

For functions ObjectSetDouble() and ObjectGetDouble()

ENUM_OBJECT_PROPERTY_DOUBLE

Identifier	Description	Property Type
OBJPROP_PRICE	Price coordinate	double modifier=number of anchor point
OBJPROP_LEVELVALUE	Level value	double modifier=level number
OBJPROP_SCALE	Scale (properties of Gann objects and Fibonacci Arcs)	double
OBJPROP_ANGLE	Angle. For the objects with no angle specified, created from a program, the value is equal to EMPTY_VALUE	double
OBJPROP_DEVIATION	Deviation for the Standard Deviation Channel	double

For functions ObjectSetString() and ObjectGetString()

ENUM_OBJECT_PROPERTY_STRING

Identifier	Description	Property Type
OBJPROP_NAME	Object name	string
OBJPROP_TEXT	Description of the object (the text contained in the object)	string
OBJPROP_TOOLTIP	The text of a tooltip. If the property is not set, then the tooltip generated automatically by the terminal is shown. A tooltip can be disabled by setting the "\n" (line feed) value to it	string
OBJPROP_LEVELTEXT	Level description	string modifier=level number
OBJPROP_FONT	Font	string
OBJPROP_BMPFILE	The name of BMP-file for Bitmap Label. See also Resources	string modifier: 0-state ON, 1-state OFF
OBJPROP_SYMBOL	Symbol for the Chart object	string

For the OBJ_RECTANGLE_LABEL object ("Rectangle label") one of the three design modes can be set, to which the following values of ENUM_BORDER_TYPE correspond.

ENUM_BORDER_TYPE

Identifier	Description
BORDER_FLAT	Flat form
BORDER_RAISED	Prominent form
BORDER_SUNKEN	Concave form

For the OBJ_EDIT object ("Edit") and for the ChartScreenShot() function, you can specify the horizontal alignment type using the values of the ENUM_ALIGN_MODE enumeration.

ENUM_ALIGN_MODE

Identifier	Description
ALIGN_LEFT	Left alignment
ALIGN_CENTER	Centered (only for the Edit object)
ALIGN_RIGHT	Right alignment

Example:

#define  UP          "\x0431"
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnStart()
  {
//---
   string label_name="my_OBJ_LABEL_object";
   if(ObjectFind(0,label_name)<0)
     {
      Print("Object ",label_name," not found. Error code = ",GetLastError());
      //--- create Label object
      ObjectCreate(0,label_name,OBJ_LABEL,0,0,0);
      //--- set X coordinate
      ObjectSetInteger(0,label_name,OBJPROP_XDISTANCE,200);
      //--- set Y coordinate
      ObjectSetInteger(0,label_name,OBJPROP_YDISTANCE,300);
      //--- define text color
      ObjectSetInteger(0,label_name,OBJPROP_COLOR,clrWhite);
      //--- define text for object Label
      ObjectSetString(0,label_name,OBJPROP_TEXT,UP);
      //--- define font
      ObjectSetString(0,label_name,OBJPROP_FONT,"Wingdings");
      //--- define font size
      ObjectSetInteger(0,label_name,OBJPROP_FONTSIZE,10);
      //--- 45 degrees rotation clockwise
      ObjectSetDouble(0,label_name,OBJPROP_ANGLE,-45);
      //--- disable for mouse selecting
      ObjectSetInteger(0,label_name,OBJPROP_SELECTABLE,false);
      //--- draw it on the chart
      ChartRedraw(0);
     }
  }