What it does
Measures each bar's range — high minus low, optionally shown as a percentage of price or smoothed with an average — as a plain histogram of bar-by-bar volatility. Unlike ATR it typically does not incorporate gaps via true range, making it the most direct possible reading of intrabar travel. Range expansion and contraction cycles are the raw material of breakout and volatility analysis.
Typeoscillatorseparate pane
How to add it
Click Indicators (ƒx) in the header.
Search “Dext Simple Range” and click the result.
Hover its legend row and click the gear to open settings.
How traders use it
- A cluster of shrinking-range bars marks compression; expect an expansion phase to follow and prepare breakout plans.
- A sudden range spike versus the recent average flags an event bar — often the start of a move when it breaks structure, or a climax when it appears after an extended trend.
- Compare the current bar's range with its average (for example 14-period) to normalize what counts as 'wide' for the symbol.
- Use range readings to scale stops and targets so risk matches current volatility.
Inputs
| Input | Type | Default | Range / Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Display Squeeze Colors | boolean | On | — |
| Display Big Bar Shapes | boolean | On | — |
| Narrow Range | number | 7 | 1–50 |
| Wide Range | number | 20 | 1–50 |
| Big Bars % Range | number | 5 | 0.1–100 |
| Big Bars % Volume | number | 500000 | 0–100000000 |
| Shapes Position | select | top | Top / Bottom / Above bar / Below bar |
Plots & styling
| Plot | Style | Default color |
|---|---|---|
| Range Bars | data | #000000 |
| Uncommon Range Bars | histogram | #000000 |
| Common Range Bars | histogram | #000000 |
| Shapes | shapes | #000000 |
Every plot's color, line width and visibility can be changed on the Style tab. Precision, price-scale labels and status-line values are configurable at the bottom of the Style tab.
Tips
- Reference levels (where the study has them) are editable — tune them to the instrument you're trading.
- Hide the study from the legend eye instead of removing it when you only want it out of the way temporarily.
- Merge multiple oscillators into one pane from the legend ⋯ menu to compare them on a shared axis.
Watch out for
- Ignoring gaps understates volatility on symbols that jump between sessions; ATR is the better measure there.
- Range says how much price moved, not which way; it must be paired with directional tools.