Knowledge Base
Relative Comparison Chart
Overview
With the Relative Comparison Chart, the performance (in percent) of securities can be plotted against each other from a common starting date (eg over the Last Year, Last Quarter, Year to Date, or a fixed date). If you wish to plot performance from different starting dates use the Historical Comparison Chart.
To create a Relative Comparison Chart select the chart style from the New > Multi-Code Chart menu. From the security selection window, type the code or name to be compared and double-click to move it to the window on the right-hand side. When all the codes have been selected click the Open button to open the chart.
It's also possible to open a folder as a Relative Comparison Chart. Press F3 to open the Security Selection window and expand the exchange folders to locate the folder, eg the ASX Top 20 in the S&P folder. Right-click on the Top 20 folder and select Open Relative Comparison Chart from the Open Folder As option:
The Relative Comparison chart includes a Relative Comparison Codes panel that is displayed above the Structure Panel.
From here you can add new codes to the chart as well as select which codes to display.
A Date Range setting has been added, Year To Date. When selected only the current calendar year will be displayed.
Converting Currency
Currency fluctuations can have an impact on the overall relative gain / loss of codes used on the chart. From Optuma v1.5 and later you can adjust the underlying currency the Relative Comparison chart is using to take these fluctuations into account.
You can convert the currency of the chart via the Title bar. By default it will be set to NONE:
In the following example you can see a comparison between a Relative Comparison chart using no conversion, and one that has been converted to a different currency (Yen).
In the above example you can see the currency conversion has had a significant impact on the overall values on the chart (though the shape of the lines is only slightly changed).
Removing a Code
When you have several codes displayed on the Relative Comparison Chart you can use the Relative Comparison Codes panel (right-hand side of screen above Structure Panel) to remove a code you no longer want displayed.
Move your mouse cursor to the code you wish to remove and left-click on the small red X displayed just above the code:
This will remove the code from the Relative Comparison chart.
Video
This video is pulled from the Optuma 101 course that you can access here. This course takes you through the basics of Optuma and helps you get up and running and using Optuma to its full potential. This videos takes us through how to apply and adjust this chart.
Actions & Properties
Actions
Apply Settings to All: When multiple Spreads have been applied to a chart, page or workbook, this action can be used to apply the settings of the one selected to other instances of the tool. This is a great time saver if an adjustment is made to the tool - such as changing the colour - as this allows all the other Spreads in the chart, page or entire workbook to be updated instantly.
Compare Another Code: Click here to add more comparison codes from the security selection window.
Move to Back: If the lines of the tool are displaying in front of other tools or indicators clicking this action will move the lines view to the background.
Move to Front: If the lines of the tool are displaying behind other tools or indicators on the chart, clicking this action will bring the lines to the forefront.
Restore Default Settings: If you have adjusted any of the chart's properties (such as the colour) you can save the adjustments as your new default setting. Each time you subsequently apply the tool to a chart it will display using the new settings.
Save Settings as Default: If any of the Relative Comparison Chart properties have been changed (colour, for example) the adjustments can be saved as the new default setting. Each time a new Relative Comparison Chart is opened it will display using the new settings.
Delete: Delete the Relative Comparison Chart from the page.
Properties
When a line is clicked two Property boxes will appear, one for the specific line and one for the chart in general.
All Properties
Tool Name: Allows for the name of the tool to be changed, as displayed in the Structure Panel.
Time Frame: Allows you to change the chart's time frame (for example, changing from a 1-day Chart to a 1-week Chart).
Date Range: Allows you to set the starting point the Relative Comparison Chart plots from. The following options are available:
- Everything
- Today
- Yesterday
- Last Week
- Last Fortnight
- Last Month
- Last Quarter
- Last Year
- Last 5 Years
- Last 10 Years
- Year To Date
- Selected Date
Show Plot Text: Tick this checkbox to display the code labels (BHP, for example) at the end of each line to identify the security.
Labels: This allows you to adjust the text label displayed at the end of each line on the chart. The options are Code (default), Name, Name & Code.
Label Size: Allows you to adjust the size of the text of the label. Moving the slider to the right will increase the size of the text.
Tool Transparency: Use this slider bar to adjust the transparency of the chart. Moving the slider to the left will increase the transparency of the chart.
Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the chart.
Show In Price Scale: When selected the last closing value will be highlighted in the Price Scale.
Line Properties
Remove Plot: Removes the relative comparison line from the chart.
Plot Style: There are 6 options: Line, Dot, Histogram, Step, Shaded, or Shaded Step
Line Style: This allows the line display to be adjusted. There are 8 options available: Solid, Dots, Dash, Dash Dots, Long Dash, Long Dash Dot, Long Dash Dot Dot, Stippled.
Line Width: Allows the width of the line to be adjusted. Moving the slider bar to the right increases the thickness of the line.
Colour Scheme: Allows you to change your Colour Scheme to Copy Colours from Price Chart, Single Colour (Default), Positive / Negative, or Custom (click here to see how to use Custom scripts to change bar/line colours)
Line Colour: Allows the colour of the line to be adjusted. Clicking on the drop-down arrow will display a colour swatch. Locate the desired colour and left-click it once to select it.
Visible: Un-tick this checkbox to hide the tool from the chart.