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What You Can Compare

A Comparison Node compares two values. Most examples put one indicator against another, which leaves the impression that indicators are the only thing it accepts.

They aren't. Raw price, a previous candle's value, and an N-candle high or low are all valid on either side - so several common price action rules are already expressible without a single indicator.

This page lists everything you can put into a comparison.

The operands​

OperandWhat it isHow you select it
IndicatorAny of the supported indicators - EMA, RSI, Supertrend, VWAP, ATR and the restSearch for it in either side of the node
Raw priceThe candle's own Close, Open, High or LowPick Candle in the list and set its Source
Averaged priceOHLC4, HLC3, HL2Also Candle, with Source set to OHLC4, HLC3 or HL2
Pivot levelA support or resistance level from the previous session, such as R1 or CPR's TCThe Pivot Points or CPR indicator
Previous candle valuesWhat a value was N candles agoSet Offset
N-candle high or lowThe highest or lowest value over a lookback windowThe Min Max indicator
ConstantA fixed number, such as 60 or 24000Pick Number at the top of the list, then type the value into the field that appears on the node
TimeThe candle's clock timeA Time Node, not a Comparison Node

Any of these can appear on either side. Close > EMA(20), EMA(20) < Close and RSI(14) > 60 are all valid.

When you click a side of a Comparison Node, the list starts with Number, followed by the indicators, including CANDLE. A Candle operand shows on the node as its settings in order, for example CANDLE (OHLC, CLOSE, 5m, 0): candle type, source, timeframe, and offset.

Combining values with + − × ÷​

Each operand on a Comparison Node has + − × ÷ controls beside it. Use them to turn one side of a comparison into a small calculation instead of a single value.

RuleComparison
Price at least 1% above the EMAClose > EMA(20) × 1.01
An unusually wide candleHigh − Low > ATR(14) × 2

You can chain more than one operation on the same side of a comparison.

To build one, click an operator next to an operand, then choose the value to combine it with - a Number or any indicator.

Price action rules you can already build​

"Above the previous 20-candle high"​

Use Min Max with min_max_type = MAX, source = HIGH, period = 20. Compare Close against it with Crosses Above.

There's a full worked example in Min Max, including the matching breakdown exit.

"Higher than the previous candle"​

Use Offset. Offset = 0 is the current, still forming candle; Offset = 1 is the last completed one; 2 is the one before that.

So "this candle's close is above the previous candle's high" is a Candle with Source Close and Offset 0, compared with a Candle with Source High and Offset 1.

"RSI was oversold and has recovered"​

Two comparisons joined with an AND Logical Node: RSI(14) with Offset = 1 below 30, and RSI(14) with Offset = 0 above 30.

"Only after 9:30"​

A Time Node, ANDed with your entry conditions.

Mixing timeframes​

Each indicator carries its own Timeframe, and one strategy can mix them - for example, enter on a 5m signal only when the 1H trend agrees. Add both conditions and join them with AND.

Worked example: a breakout with a trend filter​

"Buy when a 5-minute candle closes above the previous 20-candle high, and price is above VWAP."

PieceHow it's built
5-minute candlesTimeframe 5m on every indicator in the strategy
Above the previous 20-candle highComparison: Close Crosses Above Min Max (MAX, HIGH, period 20)
Price above VWAPComparison: Close Greater Than VWAP
Both must holdAn AND Logical Node joining the two
VWAP and VWMA on index spot charts

Index spot charts carry no volume, so VWAP and VWMA don't work on them. Use a futures chart for the index instead, or drop the volume weighted indicator from the condition. See Trend Indicators.