Stop drawing trend lines manually. This indicator automatically plots rising and falling trend lines – and highlights the congestion zones where big moves start.
What It Does
The Better Trend Lines indicator solves the biggest problem with trend line trading: subjectivity. Instead of guessing where to draw lines, the indicator:
- Automatically plots rising trend lines in uptrends
- Automatically plots falling trend lines in downtrends
- Highlights congestion zones – areas where the market consolidates before breaking out
- Colors candlestick wicks automatically (optional)
- Works on any instrument, any timeframe
How to Trade It
The strategy is simple: trade breakouts from congestion zones.
The Big Money is in The Big Moves.
When the market breaks out of a congestion zone (white bars on the chart) into a trending phase, real breakouts move fast and without pullback. Enter at market – don’t wait for a retest that may never come.
Congestion zones are where large players accumulate or distribute positions. When the breakout happens, they’re already positioned. You want to be with them, not chasing.
Why This Works
Most traders draw trend lines wrong. They connect random swing points, then wonder why price blows through their lines.
This indicator uses a specific algorithm to identify valid trend lines – ones that actually matter. Invalid lines never get plotted, which means less noise and clearer signals.
The congestion zone detection (white bars in the default setting) is the real edge. These zones mark equilibrium – where buyers and sellers are balanced. Breakouts from equilibrium lead to the fastest, cleanest moves.
Features
- Works on all chart types – tick charts, minute charts, daily and weekly charts
- Candlestick mode – automatically colors wicks to match trend direction
- Open EasyLanguage code – .ELD file for TradeStation is open code
- Text version included – use AI to translate the EasyLanguage code for your charting platform (Google Gemini is my current favorite AI coding tool)
Installation
- Download the .ELD file below
- Open TradeStation > File > Import/Export EasyLanguage
- Select “Import EasyLanguage file” and choose the downloaded file
- Apply to any chart
For candlestick charts:
- Customize indicator > Inputs > Set CandleStick to True
- Right click on any chart > Settings > Preferences > Display
- Tick “When a study paints a bar, paint the body and wick”
Trend Line Indicator Settings
| Input | Default Value | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | 4 | Sensitivity of swing/pivot point detection |
| UpBarColor | Green | Uptrend bar color |
| DownBarColor | Red | Downtrend bar color |
| CongestionBarColor | White | Congestion bar color |
| UpLineColor | Green | Uptrend line color |
| DownLineColor | Red | Downtrend line color |
| PlotPaintBars | True | On/Off toggle to color bars |
| PlotAllLines | True | On/Off toggle to plot all or most recent trend lines |
| PlotPivotPoints | True | On/Off toggle to plot pivot points |
| CandleStick | False | On/Off toggle to plot on candlestick charts |
To change the sensitivity of the swing/pivot points and number of trend lines, use the Strength input. A higher number means fewer, more significant swings and trend lines. To change line colors, use the recognized TradeStation color names listed here.
Note: the trend line indicator code was updated on 4 December 2025, and so what you see in the video at the top of this page might not match precisely the indicator code you download.
More Free TradeStation Indicators
- TRIN Indicator – One of the few truly leading market breadth indicators
- Stock Market Crash Indicator – Spot warning signs before major drops
- Commitment of Traders Indicator – See what commercial hedgers and large speculators are doing
- Better Volume Indicator – Stop ignoring the most underrated market variable
Professional-Grade Trading Indicators
The free indicators above are useful tools. But if you’re serious about trading futures, these are the indicators I actually trade with:
- Better Momentum – Identifies momentum shifts before they show up on price
- Better Sine Wave – Pinpoints cycle turning points
- Better Pro Am – Separates professional activity from amateur activity
Click here to see the full ‘Better’ Indicator suite.
