# Watchlists Guide

How to create and manage watchlists for tracking symbols and patterns.

---

## Overview

Watchlists help you organize and monitor the symbols you care about:

- **Symbol Watchlists** — Track stocks, crypto, forex, ETFs
- **Pattern Watchlists** — Monitor for specific chart patterns
- **Smart Watchlists** — Auto-populated based on criteria

---

## Creating a Watchlist

### Basic Watchlist

1. Go to **Markets > Watchlists**
2. Click **New Watchlist**
3. Enter a name (e.g., "Tech Leaders")
4. Click **Create**

### Adding Symbols

**Method 1: Search**
1. Open your watchlist
2. Click **Add Symbol**
3. Search for the symbol
4. Click to add

**Method 2: Quick Add**
1. Type symbol directly in the add field
2. Press Enter
3. Symbol is added if valid

**Method 3: From Anywhere**
1. Right-click any symbol in the platform
2. Select **Add to Watchlist**
3. Choose destination watchlist

### Bulk Import

1. Open watchlist settings
2. Click **Import**
3. Paste symbols (comma or line-separated)
4. Click **Import All**

---

## Watchlist Views

### List View

Default view showing:
- Symbol and name
- Current price
- Daily change ($ and %)
- Volume
- Quick action buttons

### Grid View

Compact view with:
- Symbol tiles
- Price and change
- Mini sparkline charts
- Color-coded by performance

### Table View

Detailed view with:
- All available columns
- Sortable headers
- Customizable columns
- Export capability

### Switching Views

Click the view icons in the top-right of any watchlist:
- List icon = List view
- Grid icon = Grid view
- Table icon = Table view

---

## Organizing Watchlists

### Folders

Group related watchlists:

1. Click **New Folder**
2. Name the folder
3. Drag watchlists into folder
4. Collapse/expand as needed

### Ordering

- Drag watchlists to reorder
- Drag symbols within a watchlist to reorder
- Sort by column headers in table view

### Favorites

Mark frequently-used watchlists:
1. Click the star icon on any watchlist
2. Favorites appear at the top
3. Access via **Favorites** quick filter

---

## Smart Watchlists

Auto-populated watchlists based on criteria.

### Built-in Smart Watchlists

| Watchlist | Contents |
|-----------|----------|
| **Top Gainers** | Biggest daily gains |
| **Top Losers** | Biggest daily losses |
| **Most Active** | Highest volume |
| **New Highs** | 52-week highs |
| **New Lows** | 52-week lows |
| **Recently Viewed** | Your browsing history |

### Creating Custom Smart Watchlists

1. Click **New Smart Watchlist**
2. Set criteria:
   - Market cap range
   - Sector/industry
   - Price range
   - Volume threshold
   - Technical conditions
3. Save the watchlist
4. Updates automatically

### Example Smart Watchlists

**Large Cap Tech**
```
Sector: Technology
Market Cap: > $100B
```

**Oversold Stocks**
```
RSI(14): < 30
Volume: > 1M
Price: > $10
```

**Breakout Candidates**
```
Price: Within 5% of 52-week high
Volume: > 150% of average
```

---

## Pattern Watchlists

Track symbols for specific chart patterns.

### Creating a Pattern Watchlist

1. Go to **Patterns > Watchlist**
2. Click **New Pattern Watchlist**
3. Select patterns to monitor:
   - FVG (Fair Value Gaps)
   - Candlestick patterns
   - Chart patterns
   - Support/Resistance breaks
4. Add symbols to monitor
5. Save

### Pattern Alerts

When patterns form on watched symbols:
- Notification appears
- Symbol highlighted in watchlist
- Pattern details shown

### Pattern Watchlist Columns

| Column | Shows |
|--------|-------|
| Symbol | The asset |
| Pattern | Detected pattern type |
| Timeframe | Where pattern appeared |
| Confidence | Pattern quality score |
| Age | When pattern formed |
| Status | Active / Triggered / Fizzled |

---

## Watchlist Alerts

### Price Alerts

1. Right-click a symbol in watchlist
2. Select **Set Alert**
3. Choose condition:
   - Price above/below
   - Change percentage
   - Volume spike
4. Set notification method

### Bulk Alerts

Set the same alert across multiple symbols:

1. Select multiple symbols (Ctrl/Cmd + click)
2. Right-click → **Set Alert for Selected**
3. Configure alert
4. Applied to all selected

### Alert Management

View and manage all alerts:
1. Go to **Settings > Alerts**
2. See all active alerts
3. Edit, pause, or delete

---

## Sharing Watchlists

### Export

1. Open watchlist
2. Click **Export**
3. Choose format:
   - CSV (spreadsheet)
   - JSON (data)
   - Text (symbol list)
4. Download file

### Import

1. Click **Import Watchlist**
2. Select file or paste data
3. Map columns if needed
4. Import

### Share Link (Coming Soon)

Share read-only watchlist with others via link.

---

## Watchlist Widgets

### Dashboard Widget

Add watchlist to your dashboard:

1. Go to **Dashboard**
2. Click **Add Widget**
3. Select **Watchlist**
4. Choose which watchlist
5. Position and resize

### Sidebar Quick Access

Pin watchlists to sidebar:

1. Right-click watchlist
2. Select **Pin to Sidebar**
3. Access with one click

---

## Columns Reference

### Available Columns

| Column | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| Symbol | Ticker symbol |
| Name | Company/asset name |
| Price | Current price |
| Change | Daily $ change |
| Change % | Daily % change |
| Open | Opening price |
| High | Daily high |
| Low | Daily low |
| Volume | Daily volume |
| Avg Volume | Average volume |
| Market Cap | Market capitalization |
| P/E | Price-to-earnings ratio |
| 52W High | 52-week high |
| 52W Low | 52-week low |
| RSI | Relative Strength Index |
| SMA 50 | 50-day moving average |
| SMA 200 | 200-day moving average |

### Customizing Columns

1. Click **Columns** button
2. Check/uncheck columns
3. Drag to reorder
4. Save as default (optional)

---

## Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut | Action |
|----------|--------|
| `N` | New watchlist |
| `A` | Add symbol |
| `Delete` | Remove selected symbol |
| `↑/↓` | Navigate symbols |
| `Enter` | Open symbol details |
| `Space` | Toggle selection |
| `/` | Search in watchlist |

---

## Best Practices

### Organization

- Keep watchlists focused (10-20 symbols each)
- Use descriptive names
- Group related watchlists in folders
- Archive old watchlists instead of deleting

### Maintenance

- Review watchlists weekly
- Remove symbols you no longer follow
- Update smart watchlist criteria as needed
- Check for delisted symbols

### Workflow Tips

- Create watchlists for different strategies
- Use pattern watchlists for trade ideas
- Set alerts on key levels
- Review "Recently Viewed" for patterns in your research

---

## Troubleshooting

### Symbol Not Found

- Check spelling
- Try alternative ticker (e.g., BRK.B vs BRK-B)
- Symbol may be delisted
- Some international symbols need exchange prefix

### Watchlist Not Updating

- Check internet connection
- Refresh the page
- Data updates every few seconds during market hours
- After-hours data may be delayed

### Can't Delete Watchlist

- Built-in smart watchlists cannot be deleted
- Ensure you're the watchlist owner
- Check if watchlist is used by alerts or strategies

---

## Related Guides

- [Pattern Detection](./05-pattern-detection.md) — Pattern recognition
- [Stock Hunter](./09-stock-hunter.md) — AI recommendations
- [Making Trades](./16-making-trades.md) — Trade execution
- [Dashboard](./02-platform-features.md) — Dashboard customization

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*Watchlists sync across all your devices automatically.*