NinjaTrader Data Series Basics

The Data Series window controls the core behavior of every chart in NinjaTrader. Bar type, bar value, session template, candle colors, wick thickness, tick replay, days to load—it's all here. If you learn this window properly, your charts will load faster, look cleaner, and behave exactly how you want.

How to Open the Data Series Window

Right-click on any chart → Data Series…

This single window handles the majority of chart configuration.

Core Settings You Should Understand

Setting	Purpose
Instrument	ES, MNQ, CL, etc.
Type	Minute, Tick, Range, Volume, Renko, Heiken Ashi
Value	5-minute, 1500-tick, 10-range, etc.
Trading Hours	RTH, ETH, 24/7 templates
Days to Load	Amount of history pulled
Tick Replay	Required for some indicators
Chart Color Options	Bar up/down, borders, wicks

These settings control how the bars form and how the chart performs.

Selecting Bar Type

The “Type” dropdown is where you choose:

• Minute – time-based bars
• Tick – volume-based bars
• Range – movement-based bars
• Volume – contracts traded
• Renko – fixed-size brick charts

Most futures traders stick to:

• 1-minute
• 5-minute
• 1500-tick
• 10-range

Pick the bar type that matches your style. Don’t mix 20 different types in one workspace unless you like confusion.

Bar Value Explained

The “Value” field controls how big each bar is. Examples:

• 1-minute → value = 1
• 1500-tick → value = 1500
• 10-range → value = 10

Small values = more bars, more detail. Large values = slower bars, bigger swings.

Trading Hours Templates

This controls what session times the chart uses.

• Default 24/7 – continuous chart
• US Equities RTH – 9:30–16:00 ET only
• CME ETH – regular futures extended hours

Futures traders typically use CME ETH (the standard full session template).

If your chart looks like it’s missing data, the trading hours template is usually the reason.

Days to Load

This is exactly what it sounds like: how much historical data the chart loads.

• Too big = slow charts
• Too small = missing context

Good defaults:

• Minute charts: 30 days
• Tick charts: 5–10 days
• Range charts: 10–20 days

Tick charts load heavy data — don’t try to load 60 days of it unless you hate yourself.

Tick Replay

Tick Replay reconstructs bars tick-by-tick for indicators that depend on intrabar movement.

Important notes:

• Tick Replay slows down loading
• Not all indicators need it
• Only enable it if your indicator requires it

You can toggle it at the bottom of the Data Series window.

Candle and Bar Colors

Inside Data Series you can change:

• Bar Color Up
• Bar Color Down
• Candle Outline
• Wick Color
• Plot width and style

Most traders save a default style and reuse it across workspaces.

To learn chart templates, check out your chart templates article.

Performance Settings

At the bottom of the Data Series window:

• Load data based on (bars or days)
• Show session break
• Tick Replay

These impact chart speed more than anything else.