TradingCharts

XABCD Pattern

Validate the structure with ratio checks: for a Gartley, B should retrace about 0.618 of XA and D complete near 0.786 of XA; a Bat completes deeper near 0.886.

What it draws

A five-point harmonic pattern tool for mapping structures such as the Gartley, Bat, Butterfly and Crab. Each leg is measured against the others with Fibonacci ratios, and the D point marks the potential reversal zone (PRZ) where a trade is typically considered.

How to draw it

  1. Pick XABCD Pattern from the left toolbar (Patterns group).
  2. Five anchor points placed in order: click X at the origin swing, then A, B, C and finally D at the projected completion. The chart connects the legs and labels the retracement ratios between them as you place each point.

How traders use it

  • Validate the structure with ratio checks: for a Gartley, B should retrace about 0.618 of XA and D complete near 0.786 of XA; a Bat completes deeper near 0.886.
  • Treat the D point as a potential reversal zone — plan entries there with a stop beyond the X extreme.
  • Use the AB=CD symmetry inside the pattern to fine-tune where D should complete.
  • Combine with momentum divergence or candlestick confirmation at D before acting.

Settings reference

Double-click the drawing (or use its floating toolbar → gear) to open settings:

Setting Control Possible values Default Effect
Show Ratios checkbox on/off on Shows the leg retracement ratios next to each pattern leg.
Point 1 Label text any short text X Label drawn at pattern point 1.
Point 2 Label text any short text A Label drawn at pattern point 2.
Point 3 Label text any short text B Label drawn at pattern point 3.
Point 4 Label text any short text C Label drawn at pattern point 4.
Point 5 Label text any short text D Label drawn at pattern point 5.
Color color any color (theme color picker) #05B878 Color of the pattern legs and labels (per-leg colors below override individual legs).
Line Width select 1px | 2px | 3px | 4px 2px Stroke thickness of the drawing’s lines and outlines.
Line Style select Solid | Dashed | Dotted Solid Dash pattern used for the drawing’s lines.
Leg 1 Color color any color same as the pattern color Overrides the color of pattern leg 1 (X→A).
Leg 2 Color color any color same as the pattern color Overrides the color of pattern leg 2 (A→B).
Leg 3 Color color any color same as the pattern color Overrides the color of pattern leg 3 (B→C).
Leg 4 Color color any color same as the pattern color Overrides the color of pattern leg 4 (C→D).
[Tab] Text — Text checkbox + textarea on/off, with a multiline text box for the label content off (on when the drawing already carries text) Enables an attached text label on the drawing; typing in the box auto-enables it and updates the label live.
[Tab] Text — Text Color color any color same as the drawing’s line color Color of the attached text label.
[Tab] Text — Font Size select 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 48, 64, 72 14 Point size of the attached label text.
[Tab] Text — Bold checkbox on/off (B toggle button) off Renders the label in bold.
[Tab] Text — Italic checkbox on/off (I toggle button) off Renders the label in italics.
[Tab] Text — Word Wrap checkbox on/off off Wraps long label text onto multiple lines instead of one long line.
[Tab] Text — Text alignment (vertical) select Top | Middle | Bottom Top Vertical placement of the label relative to the drawing.
[Tab] Text — Text alignment (horizontal) select Left | Center | Right Center Horizontal placement of the label relative to the drawing.
[Tab] Coordinates number + datetime one row per anchor point: price (number, step 0.05) and local date/time the drawing’s current anchor values Edits anchor geometry numerically — changing a point’s price or time moves the drawing live on the chart.
[Tab] Visibility checkbox + number range interval buckets: Ticks; Seconds 1–59; Minutes 1–59; Hours 1–24; Days 1–366; Weeks 1–52; Months 1–12; Ranges (each bucket has an on/off checkbox, most also a from–to range) visible on all intervals Per-timeframe visibility rules — untick a bucket to hide the drawing on those chart resolutions, or narrow the from–to range within a bucket.

Editing & managing

  • Move / adjust: drag the drawing or any anchor handle; magnet mode snaps points to OHLC values.
  • Clone / lock / hide / delete from the floating toolbar or right-click menu.
  • Templates: save the current style from the settings dialog and reapply it to new drawings.
  • Every action is undoable (⌘Z / Ctrl+Z).

Watch out for

  • Ratios rarely land perfectly; a pattern forced onto price by stretching tolerances is a common source of failed harmonic trades — wait for confirmation at D.