One Command, More Timeframes, Plugins, and a Better Charting Experience

[BennyThadikaran]

This release brings a major update to the charting workflow. The old plot.py and plot_breadth.py scripts have been combined into a single entry point—chart.py—along with a redesigned CLI, new indicator plugins, improved drawing tools, and several quality-of-life improvements.

Python requirement: chart.py requires Python 3.10+

One script for stock and breadth charts

You no longer need to choose between separate scripts for regular charts and market-breadth charts. Both are now available through chart.py.

python chart.py --sym reliance
python chart.py --breadth
python chart.py --breadth sma adline -i n50

The command-line help has also been reorganized into clear sections for chart sources, indicators, plugins, and management commands. Options that are required to run a chart are now identified more clearly.

python chart.py -h

Updated timeframe options

The --tf option now supports four timeframes:

• d — Daily
• w — Weekly
• m — Monthly
• q — Quarterly

python chart.py --sym reliance --tf w
python chart.py --sym reliance --tf m
python chart.py --sym reliance --tf q

This replaces the previous daily and weekly values.

Simplified support and resistance option

The separate --snr and --snr-v2 options have been combined into one option.

Use --snr by itself for the original version:

python chart.py --sym reliance --snr

This is equivalent to:

python chart.py --sym reliance --snr v1

Use version 2 for support and resistance levels based on multiple touch points:

python chart.py --sym reliance --snr v2

Load symbols directly from a file

The new -f/--file option lets you load symbols from a file without first registering it as a watchlist.

python chart.py -f ~/Documents/symbols.txt

The file should contain one symbol per line. This is useful for temporary scans, generated symbol lists, and files that you do not want to keep in your watchlist configuration.

Existing named watchlists continue to work:

python chart.py --watch wa

Short aliases for popular indices

Frequently used indices can now be referenced through shorter aliases with both --sym and -i/--index.

Instead of:

python chart.py --sym "nifty financial services"

you can use:

python chart.py --sym nfin

Other examples include:

python chart.py --sym n50
python chart.py --sym nbank
python chart.py --breadth -i n500
python chart.py --breadth adline -i ttlmkt

Run the following command to see all available aliases, presets, and watchlists:

python chart.py --ls

Presets now work with any symbol source

Presets now store chart settings only. They are no longer tied to the watchlist, file, symbol, or breadth source used when the preset was created.

A preset named rs, for example, can be reused with individual symbols:

python chart.py --preset rs --sym reliance tcs marksans

The same preset can be applied to a file:

python chart.py --preset rs -f ~/Documents/symbols.txt

Or to a saved watchlist:

python chart.py --preset rs --watch wa

This makes presets more useful as reusable chart layouts rather than saved commands tied to a specific source.

Configurable indicator plugins

This release introduces a configurable plugin system for custom chart indicators.

Built-in plugin support includes:

• RSI
• ATR
• MACD
• Bollinger Bands
• Supertrend

Plugins are exposed as normal CLI options and are loaded only when used. This keeps the standard charting path lightweight while making it easier to add new indicators.

The exact option names are shown under the Plugins section of:

python chart.py -h

The plugin system is configuration-driven, so additional indicators can be integrated without adding their behavior directly to the main charting workflow.

Smarter indicator panels

Lower indicators now receive panels dynamically instead of relying on fixed panel numbers.

Compatible indicators can share the same panel by using primary and secondary y-axes. Indicators that require an independent scale or both axes receive their own panel automatically.

For example:

• A volume moving average can be placed on the volume panel.
• Two compatible lower indicators can share one panel.
• MACD can reserve its own panel when it needs separate axes for its lines and histogram.

This reduces unused chart space and produces cleaner layouts when several indicators are enabled together.

Improved chart interaction

Several improvements make interactive chart navigation easier:

On-chart notifications

Important actions and errors are now displayed inside the chart. This includes feedback when adding selections, reaching the first or last chart, or entering an invalid jump destination.

Visible shortcut reminders

The chart title now displays quick reminders for help and quitting:

SHIFT + H → Help     Q → Quit

Jump directly to a chart

To jump to a specific chart in the current symbol list, type its number and press j.

For example:

25j

jumps directly to chart number 25.

This is particularly useful when working through large watchlists or symbol files.

Better drawing tools

Draw mode now provides clearer guidance and more responsive feedback.

When CTRL, SHIFT, or CTRL + SHIFT is pressed, the chart displays the drawing action associated with that modifier:

• SHIFT — Trendline
• CTRL — Continuous segments
• CTRL + SHIFT — Horizontal segment

After selecting the first point, an animated preview line follows the cursor so you can see the result before placing the next point.

The preview uses blitting to keep interaction responsive while the mouse is moving.

Drawings now use JSON storage

Chart drawings are now stored in a single JSON file, organized by symbol and timeframe.

This replaces the previous pickle-based storage format. JSON storage is easier to inspect, back up, migrate, and process using external tools.

A migration script is included to convert existing pickle drawings to the new JSON format, so previous annotations do not need to be recreated manually.

More reliable batch chart saving

Batch PNG saving now tracks the result of each operation instead of silently assuming every chart was saved successfully.

After processing a symbol list, the application reports failed saves so missing charts can be identified and retried.

python chart.py -f ~/Documents/symbols.txt --save

CLI migration summary

The main command changes are:

Previous usage	New usage
plot.py	chart.py
plot_breadth.py	chart.py --breadth
--snr	--snr or --snr v1
--snr-v2	--snr v2
--tf daily	--tf d
--tf weekly	--tf w
Not available	--tf m
Not available	--tf q
Temporary watchlist setup	-f/--file
Full index names	Full names or aliases such as n50 and nfin

This release consolidates the charting tools into a more consistent interface while adding more flexible presets, additional timeframes, extensible indicators, improved navigation, and a smoother drawing experience.