IMSL C# Chart Guide: High-Low-Close Plot

IMSL C# Programmer’s Guide

Charting 2D Types >> High-Low-Close Plot

High-Low-Close Plot

High-Low-Close plots are used to show stock prices. They are created using the HighLowClose class.

The markers can be formatted using the attribute MarkerColor.

In a high-low-close plot the vertical line represents the high and low values. The close value is represented by a “tick” to the right. The open value, if present, is represented by a tick to the left.

The SetDateAxis method will configure the x-axis for dates. This turns off autoscaling of the axis.

Example

In this example, random security prices are computed in the CreateData method. The time axis is prepared by calling SetDateAxis.

(Download Code)

using Imsl.Chart2D;
using System;
using System.Drawing;

public class SampleHighLowClose : FrameChart {
    private double[] high, low, close;

    public SampleHighLowClose() {
        Chart chart = this.Chart;
        AxisXY axis = new AxisXY(chart);

        // Date is June 27, 1999
        DateTime date = new DateTime(1999, 6, 27);

        int n = 30;
        CreateData(n);

        //  Create an instance of a HighLowClose Chart
        HighLowClose hilo = new HighLowClose(axis, date, high, low, close);
        hilo.MarkerColor = Color.Blue;

        //  Set the HighLowClose Chart Title
        chart.ChartTitle.SetTitle(“Stock Prices”);

        // Setup the x axis
        Axis1D axisX = axis.AxisX;

        //  Set the text angle for the X axis labels
        axisX.AxisLabel.TextAngle = 270;

        // Setup the time axis
        hilo.SetDateAxis(“d”);

        // Turn on grid and make it light gray
        axisX.Grid.IsVisible = true;
        axisX.Grid.LineColor = Color.LightGray;
        axis.AxisY.Grid.IsVisible = true;
        axis.AxisY.Grid.LineColor = Color.LightGray;
    }


    private void CreateData(int n) {
        high = new double[n];
        low = new double[n];
        close = new double[n];
        Random r = new Random(123457);
        for (int k = 0;  k < n;  k++) {
            double f = r.NextDouble();
            if (k == 0) {
                close[0] = 100;
            } else {
                close[k] = (0.95+0.10*f)*close[k-1];
            }
            high[k] = close[k]*(1+0.05*r.NextDouble());
            low[k] = close[k]*(1-0.05*r.NextDouble());
        }
    }

    public static void Main(string[] argv) {
        System.Windows.Forms.Application.Run(new SampleHighLowClose());
    }
}