flatBottom

This tool draws a channel with a horizontal bottom line and a sloped top line. Traders often use it when price is trending but seems to be respecting a flat support or resistance level at the bottom.

Syntax

flatBottom(fromPoint, toPoint, bottomLinePoint, styles?, text?)

Parameters

• fromPoint: (use newPoint(time, price)) The first anchor point that starts the sloped line.

• toPoint: (use newPoint(time, price)) The second anchor point that sets the slope/direction of the top line.

• bottomLinePoint: Defines where the flat bottom line will be drawn (this sets the width/height of the channel).

• styles (optional) Style settings:

  • backgroundColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors). Fill color between lines.

  • fillBackground (boolean). Turn background fill on/off.

  • transparency (number). 0 = solid, higher = more transparent.

  • linecolor (RGBAColor | BaseColors). Color of main lines.

  • linestyle (number). Line pattern (from the charting library).

  • linewidth (number). Line thickness.

  • extendLeft (boolean). Extend the channel left.

  • extendRight (boolean). Extend the channel right.

  • labelVisible (boolean). Show the text label.

  • labelBold, labelItalic, labelFontSize (…). Label font styling.

  • labelTextColor (RGBAColor | BaseColors). Label color.

  • labelHorzAlign, labelVertAlign (string). Label alignment.

  • showBarsRange, showPriceRange, showDateTimeRange, showPrices (boolean). Show stats on the drawing.

  • textcolor (RGBAColor | BaseColors). Legacy text color alias.

  • leftEnd, rightEnd (number). Line cap styles (charting library semantics).

• text (optional) A short label for the channel (only shows if labelVisible = true).

Return Value

• string — A unique drawing id.

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Example

Here’s a script that plots a flat-bottom channel every 36 candles. We use the low price as the flat base and the highs for slope/distance.

//@version=1
init = () => {
    // Place this drawing on the main chart
    indicator({ onMainPanel: true, format: 'inherit' });
};

// Draw a Flat Bottom channel every 36 candles to highlight rising ranges with a firm floor.
onTick = () => {
    // Tip: using a modulo lets this run only sometimes, keeping charts clean.
    if (index % 36 == 0) {
        // 1) Define a sloped top using two recent swing points.
        //    - fromPoint: 20 candles ago at its HIGH
        //    - toPoint:   5 candles ago at its HIGH
        const topFrom = newPoint(time(20), high(20));
        const topTo = newPoint(time(5), high(5));

        // 2) Fix the bottom (flat) level.
        //    Use a swing low to make it meaningful as a "floor".
        const bottomAnchor = newPoint(time(10), low(10));

        // 3) Optional styles: show label, fill background, and extend right.
        const styles = {
            fillBackground: true,
            backgroundColor: color.rgba(0, 128, 255, 0.08),
            transparency: 60,
            linecolor: color.blue,
            linewidth: 2,
            linestyle: 0,         // solid (charting library value)
            extendRight: false
        };

        // 4) Create the channel. The label appears because labelVisible is true.
        flatBottom(topFrom, topTo, bottomAnchor, styles);
    }
};

This will create a teal channel with a flat base on the lows and a sloping top line from the chosen highs.

Result

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Tips

• Great for spotting price action where support is holding steady but highs are trending.

• Works well for triangle-like consolidation patterns.

Warning

• If your bottomLinePoint is too close to the top anchors, the channel may appear squashed.

• Forgetting to enable labelVisible means your text label won’t show.

Good Practice

• Use flatBottom to highlight breakout zones — flat support often leads to big moves once it breaks.

• Keep colors consistent across your script (e.g., teal for flat channels), so it’s easy to recognize the tool.