Question 1

I see very few displacement zones on my chart. Is the indicator too strict?

Accepted Answer

The dual qualification (both MinBodyATR AND MinBodyRatio) is intentionally strict to ensure only genuine institutional impulse candles are detected. If you want more signals, reduce MinBodyATR to 1.2 or MinBodyRatio to 0.6. Be aware that lowering thresholds will include weaker candles that may not carry the same institutional significance. The rarity of signals is a feature — each displacement zone has high conviction.

Question 2

What is the difference between MinBodyATR and MinBodyRatio? Why do I need both?

Accepted Answer

MinBodyATR measures absolute body size relative to ATR — it catches candles that are large relative to recent volatility. MinBodyRatio measures body proportion — what percentage of the candle is body vs wicks. A candle can be large (high ATR multiple) but indecisive (long wicks, low ratio), or it can be proportional (high ratio) but small (low ATR multiple). The dual filter ensures the candle is both large AND committed — the hallmark of genuine institutional order flow.

Question 3

Can I use displacement zones alongside Fair Value Gaps or Order Blocks?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Displacement candles, FVGs, and OBs are complementary concepts. Displacement candles are often the impulse move that creates an FVG (the gap in the 3-candle pattern) and that follows an OB (the accumulation before the move). Apply all three indicators to see the complete institutional footprint: where they accumulated (OB), how they moved (displacement), and where imbalance remains (FVG).

Question 4

Zones disappear suddenly. Is the indicator repainting?

Accepted Answer

No. Zones are removed for two reasons: mitigation (price closed through the zone in the opposite direction) or expiration (the zone exceeded MaxZoneAge bars). Both are expected behavior. Increase MaxZoneAge if you want zones to persist longer.

Question 5

DispDir shows 0 for every symbol. No displacement candles are detected.

Accepted Answer

Displacement candles require both a large body (1.5x ATR) and high body ratio (70%+). During choppy or indecisive markets, these conditions are rarely met. This is normal — the dual filter ensures only genuine institutional impulse candles qualify. Try lowering MinBodyATR to 1.2 or MinBodyRatio to 0.6 for more signals, or scan during the most volatile market hours (first and last hour).

Question 6

BodyATR shows high values but BodyRatio is below 0.7. Why is no displacement detected?

Accepted Answer

The dual qualification requires BOTH conditions to be met simultaneously. A high BodyATR with low BodyRatio means the candle was large but had significant wicks — indicating indecision despite the size. Only candles that are both large AND committed (minimal wicks) qualify as displacements. This is the key filter that separates institutional impulse from volatile noise.

Question 7

Can I scan for displacement candles on different timeframes simultaneously?

Accepted Answer

No. Each RadarScreen window uses a single interval for all symbols. To monitor multiple timeframes, create separate RadarScreen windows with different interval settings. A 5-minute window catches intraday displacements while a daily window catches swing-trade-level institutional moves.

Question 8

The metric text labels are overlapping and hard to read.

Accepted Answer

Text labels accumulate as new displacement candles are detected. Remove and re-apply the study to clear old labels. Set ShowMetrics to false for dots only. You can also increase MinBodyATR or MinBodyRatio to reduce the number of qualifying candles and their associated labels.

Question 9

I see dots on candles that do not look particularly large to me. Are they real displacements?

Accepted Answer

The indicator compares body size to the 14-bar ATR, not to the overall visible chart range. A candle that looks average visually may still have a body exceeding 1.5x ATR if recent volatility has been low. Check the metric labels — the ATR multiple and ratio numbers give you the objective qualification. If you want larger visual candles, increase MinBodyATR to 2.0 or higher.

Question 10

Can I use the ShowMe without the main chart indicator?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The ShowMe detects displacement candles independently and works as a standalone study. However, using it alongside the chart indicator gives you the full picture: the chart indicator draws the body zones for pullback reference, and the ShowMe marks the exact displacement bars with their strength metrics.

Question 11

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 that meet both displacement thresholds simultaneously. If the market is choppy or indecisive, no candles may qualify. This is normal — displacement candles are rare by design. Try lowering MinBodyATR to 1.2 or MinBodyRatio to 0.6 for more signals, or check during the first hour of trading when institutional order flow is strongest.

Question 12

Can I change the displacement colors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. To change colors, right-click anywhere on the chart, go to Studies > Edit Studies..., select the indicator, click the Inputs tab, and change BullDispColor and BearDispColor to any TradeStation color name or RGB values. The defaults of Cyan and Magenta are chosen for maximum contrast against standard candlestick colors on dark chart backgrounds.

Question 13

The colored bars look the same as my regular candlestick body colors. How do I fix this?

Accepted Answer

Change the BullDispColor and BearDispColor to colors that are distinctly different from your chart's up/down candle colors. If your chart uses green and red candles, try Cyan and Magenta (the defaults). If your chart already uses cyan, try Yellow and White instead. The key is contrast — displacement bars should stand out immediately.

Displacement Candle Bundle

What's Included

Displacement Candle Chart

Displacement Candle RadarScreen

Displacement Candle ShowMe

Displacement Candle PaintBar

Full Color Customization

5 Ready-Made Palettes

70+ Individual Colors

Color Mixing Guide

Copy-Paste Ready