How to link charts in Sierra Chart: keep symbols and time ranges consistent across a multi-panel chartbook

How chart linking works in Sierra Chart

To link charts in Sierra Chart, give every chart that should follow the same instrument the same link number in its chart settings. After that, changing the symbol in one chart changes it in all the others in that group. A link group keeps symbols consistent, but it does not align how much history each chart loads or which session each chart uses, so check those settings separately.

This guide covers a typical multi-panel chartbook, such as an ES footprint, a 5-minute chart and a 30-minute TPO chart. The goal is that every panel shows the same contract and covers comparable dates and sessions. It also covers how to move between charts in a busy chartbook and how to confirm that the links actually work.

Why linking matters in a multi-panel chartbook

A chartbook (.Cht file) can hold many charts, and each chart keeps its own symbol, timeframe, studies and data settings. Without linking, switching from ES to NQ means editing every chart one by one. If you miss one, you can end up reading a footprint on NQ next to a profile still on ES. The quotes may look plausible, so the mistake is easy to miss.

The same problem appears at contract rollover. If your ES charts use a dated contract, moving from the expiring month to the next one means updating every chart. A link group turns that into one edit.

If you are still building the layout itself, read how to customize a Sierra Chart chartbook without losing the original layout first. It explains how to work on a copy before you change settings like these.

Step 1: Plan your link groups

Before you open any settings, write down which charts belong together. Link groups are based on the instrument, not the timeframe. Here is a practical layout:

• Group 1 (ES): 1-minute footprint (Numbers Bars), 5-minute candlestick chart, 30-minute TPO chart, daily chart.
• Group 2 (NQ): the same set of timeframes on NQ.
• Group 3 (CL): a 2-minute chart and a 15-minute chart with volume by price.
• No link: a chart you want to keep fixed on a reference market, such as EURUSD or a currency future. It should never change when you switch your main instrument.

Keep a chart unlinked whenever changing its symbol by accident would cause confusion. A common example is a correlation panel that should always show the same market.

Step 2: Assign the link number in chart settings

Open the first chart and go to Chart >> Chart Settings. Look for the setting that controls symbol linking. It is usually a numbered link field, and charts that share the same number change symbol together. Labels and tab placement can differ between Sierra Chart versions. If you don't see the field where you expect it, check the official Chart Settings documentation for your version before guessing.

Then:

1. Set the link number to 1 on every ES chart.
2. Set it to 2 on every NQ chart.
3. Set it to 3 on the CL charts.
4. Leave the reference chart with no link number (or the value that means "not linked" in your version).
5. Click OK or Apply on each chart. Changes to one chart do not carry over to the others in the group, so set each one individually.

Step 3: Test the link with a symbol change

Testing takes less than a minute and catches most setup mistakes.

1. In one chart from group 1, change the symbol to a different contract month of ES, or to another instrument for a quick test.
2. Check the title bar or symbol display of every other chart in group 1. Each one should now show the new symbol.
3. Check that charts in groups 2 and 3 did not change.
4. Change the symbol back.

If one chart did not follow, its link number is different or was never saved. Make sure the symbol string you enter matches your data service's format exactly. ES, NQ and CL symbols include an exchange and contract month code, and the format depends on the feed. A linked chart with a mistyped symbol will update, but it will show no data.

Step 4: Align time ranges across linked charts

Symbol linking does not make your charts cover the same period. Each chart has its own settings for how much history it loads and which session it uses. For a consistent multi-panel view, align these settings on every chart in a group:

• Days to load: In Chart Settings, check how many days of data each chart loads. If the 5-minute ES chart loads 10 days and the 30-minute TPO chart loads 3, the higher timeframe shows less context than you expect. Choose one value per group. Higher timeframe charts can load more history than your footprint, but make that a deliberate choice.
• Session times: Make sure every chart in the group uses the same session definition, either the regular trading hours (RTH) session or the full overnight session. If one chart uses RTH and another uses overnight, profiles, session highs and lows, and volume totals will differ, even though both show the same symbol.
• Tick data for the footprint: The footprint panel needs tick by tick data. In Global Settings >> Data/Trade Service Settings, Intraday Data Storage Time Unit must be set to 1 tick. Otherwise the footprint may look different from the other panels after a symbol change. The tick by tick data configuration page explains the details.

Sierra Chart also has options that link scrolling or chart position across charts, not only symbols. Availability and labels depend on your version, so check the Chart Settings documentation rather than relying on a menu name from memory.

Step 5: Navigate the chartbook efficiently

With four to eight linked charts, moving around becomes part of the workflow:

• Use the Window menu to see every open chart in the chartbook and jump to one directly. Rename charts so they are easy to identify (for example "ES 1m footprint" and "ES 30m TPO") instead of relying on default names.
• Put each link group in a predictable area of the screen. For example, place ES on the left monitor and NQ on the right. Then a symbol change always affects the same region.
• Before a session, change the symbol once in your main chart and check every panel in that group. This confirms that the link and the data loaded correctly.

If a chart opens blank after a symbol change, the cause is usually data or a symbol mismatch, not the link. The guide to a Sierra Chart chartbook not displaying correctly walks through those checks.

Step 6: Save the chartbook

Link numbers, days to load and session settings are stored with the chart, and the chart is stored in the .Cht chartbook. Save the chartbook with File >> Save after you finish. Then close and reopen it, and repeat the symbol-change test once. Study collections (.stdycllct) store studies, not chart linking, so they will not restore your link groups. See the official Chartbooks documentation for how chartbook files are saved and loaded.

Practical tick size check after linking

When you switch a linked group between instruments, check that price-based settings still make sense. ES and NQ both move in 0.25 increments. CL moves in 0.01, and RTY moves in 0.10. A footprint or volume by price row size that suits ES can be unreadable on CL. If you often switch one group between instruments with very different tick sizes, consider keeping a separate group per instrument instead.

If you would rather start from a layout where panels, studies and data settings are already arranged, a ready-to-use Sierra Chart chartbook can save setup time. You can still apply your own link numbers on top.

Conclusion

Chart linking in Sierra Chart comes down to three habits. Assign the same link number to every chart that should follow one instrument. Align days to load and session times so each panel covers comparable data. Test with one symbol change before you rely on the layout. Save the chartbook afterward, then reopen it to confirm everything held. For prebuilt multi-panel workspaces, browse the Sierra Chart chartbooks at SierraOnShop.

FAQ

Can a chart belong to two link groups at once?

No. A chart uses one link number at a time. If you want a chart to follow two different groups, duplicate it and assign each copy its own link number.

Does linking charts change their timeframes?

Symbol linking changes the symbol, not the bar period. Your 1-minute and 30-minute charts keep their own timeframes, which is the point of a multi-timeframe layout.

Will linked charts work across two different chartbooks?

Behavior across separate open chartbooks can depend on your Sierra Chart version and settings. Open both chartbooks, change the symbol in one, and check whether the other follows before you rely on it.

Why did my footprint stay empty after switching symbols?

The link probably worked. The new symbol may not have tick by tick history downloaded yet, or the symbol string may not match your data feed format. Check the data first, then the symbol spelling.