Question 1

I am not seeing any breakout signals. All columns show zeros.

Accepted Answer

Check these common causes: iLogicMode = 1 (AND) requires BOTH range and volume spikes, which is strict. Try switching to iLogicMode = 2 (OR) to see if signals appear. Also check that iRangeMult and iVolMult are not set too high — the defaults of 1.5 work well for most markets. The study needs at least iAvgLen + 2 bars of data to initialize.

Question 2

The RadarScreen shows a breakout from hours ago. Is it stale?

Accepted Answer

Check the BarsSince column. If it shows a large number, the breakout is old. The RadarScreen persistently tracks the last breakout until a new one occurs in the opposite direction. Sort by BarsSince ascending to see the most recent breakouts first — values of 0-3 indicate fresh signals.

Question 3

Can I use this on forex or crypto?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but forex spot data often has unreliable volume. Set iLogicMode = 2 (OR) so range spike alone can trigger a signal, or set iVolMult very low (e.g., 1.0) to effectively ignore the volume component. Crypto markets with exchange-reported volume work normally with the default AND mode.

Question 4

The text labels from Range % or Volume % mode are cluttering my chart.

Accepted Answer

Text objects from Mode 2 and Mode 3 accumulate over time as new breakouts occur. Remove and re-apply the study to clear old labels. Alternatively, switch to Mode 1 (Dots) for a cleaner look that does not create text objects.

Question 5

I see dots but they are hard to see against my chart colors.

Accepted Answer

Change the cBullPlot and cBearPlot color inputs to colors that contrast with your chart background and candlestick colors. For dark chart backgrounds, cyan and magenta (the defaults) work well. For light backgrounds, try darker colors. You can also increase the plot Weight in the Plots tab to make dots larger.

Question 6

How does this differ from the PaintBar study in the same bundle?

Accepted Answer

The ShowMe marks breakout bars with dots or data labels above/below the bar, while the PaintBar colors the entire price bar. They complement each other: the PaintBar gives instant visual recognition, while the ShowMe (especially in percentage mode) tells you how strong the spike was. Many traders use both together.

Question 7

I do not see any colored bars on my chart. The indicator is applied but nothing is painted.

Accepted Answer

The PaintBar only colors bars at the exact moment a breakout fires. If the market is consolidating without any range or volume spikes, no bars will be painted. This is normal — the absence of colored bars means no breakout signals are present. Try lowering iRangeMult and iVolMult to 1.2, or switch iLogicMode to 2 (OR) to see more signals.

Question 8

I am getting too many painted bars. The chart looks noisy.

Accepted Answer

Tighten the filters: increase iRangeMult and iVolMult to 2.0 or higher to require bigger spikes. Make sure iLogicMode = 1 (AND) so both range and volume spikes are required. Use iTriggerMode = 1 (Close-based) to filter out wick-only breaks. Increase iLookback to use a wider consolidation range.

Question 9

Can I change the breakout colors to something other than cyan and magenta?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Right-click anywhere on the chart, go to Studies > Edit Studies..., select the study, and click the Inputs tab. Change the cBullBar and cBearBar inputs. You can enter any TradeStation color name (Red, Green, Yellow, White, DarkGray, etc.) or use RGB(r,g,b) for custom colors. Choose colors that contrast well with your chart's candlestick colors.

Breakout Bar Bundle

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What's Included

Breakout Bar Scanner

Breakout Bar ShowMe

Breakout Bar PaintBar

Full Color Customization

5 Ready-Made Palettes

70+ Individual Colors

Color Mixing Guide

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