From Scanner to Trade: Full Workflow GuidesFrom Scanner to Trade: Full Workflow Guides
Table of Contents
Introduction
Why a Full Workflow is Crucial for Consistent Trading
Step 1: Defining Your Edge-What to Scan For
Step 2: Setting Up Scanners in TradingView
Step 3: Filtering & Ranking Potential Trades
Step 4: Deep Analysis-Technical, Fundamental, and Sentiment Checks
Step 5: Planning the Trade-Entries, Exits, and Risk
Step 6: Executing the Trade and Real-Time Adjustments
Step 7: Trade Management-Monitoring and Adapting
Step 8: Post-Trade Review and Journaling
Step 9: Tips, Case Studies, and Advanced Workflows
Conclusion: Making the Scanner-to-Trade Workflow Your Own
Introduction
What separates a consistent trader from someone who hops between strategies, never seeing results? Workflow.
The difference is as dramatic as preparing a gourmet moussaka with carefully layered ingredients versus tossing random ones into a pan.
As passionate trading tool creators, we know the power of process . Yet, most TradingView users stop at scanning for new tickers, rarely following a structured approach from scanning to trade selection , execution , and review . That’s where this in-depth guide comes in.
This article will walk you through a step-by-step workflow , using TradingView’s powerful features and easy-to-follow frameworks to help you transform from a chart-hopper into a methodical trader.
Let’s get started!
Why a Full Workflow is Crucial for Consistent Trading
Before we break down the process, let’s understand why a workflow matters.
Eliminates Guesswork : A workflow ensures every trade passes the same high standards, reducing emotional decisions.
Saves Time : Systematic filtering and ranking quickly highlight the best opportunities.
Improves Results : Backtests show that traders using a structured workflow outperform those who pick trades impulsively.
Enables Review : Every step can be reviewed post-trade, so you always know what worked and what didn’t.
The workflow is your trading “recipe.” Follow it, tweak it, and the results will come.
Step 1: Defining Your Edge-What to Scan For
Your workflow begins before you scan. First, define what you want to find. Are you a breakout trader, mean-reversion specialist, or a momentum chaser? Your edge -the reason you believe you can profit-should drive every scan.
Ask Yourself:
Do I want to catch squeeze breakouts with momentum?
Am I seeking multi-timeframe trend alignment?
Are volume spikes important for my entries?
Do I care about a stock’s fundamentals or just the chart?
Case Study: Finding Squeeze Momentum Setups
Suppose you love the squeeze momentum strategy. Your scanner should look for:
Low Bollinger Bandwidth (market coiling up)
Rising momentum (e.g., MACD turning up)
Volume spike confirming interest
This is your “ingredient list”-customize it to your taste and strategy.
Step 2: Setting Up Scanners in TradingView
TradingView’s Stock Screener is powerful, yet many traders barely scratch the surface. Here’s how to go beyond the basics.
2.1 Launching the Screener
Open any TradingView chart.
Click the Screener tab (bottom panel).
Choose Stocks , Crypto , or Forex according to your focus.
2.2 Customizing Your Filters
Set market (e.g., NASDAQ, NYSE, Crypto Top 100).
Add technical filters: price change %, RSI, MACD, volume, volatility, and, if available, squeeze momentum values (e.g., your custom script output).
Add fundamental filters if needed: EPS growth, P/E ratio, market cap, etc.
Example Setup: Squeeze Momentum Breakout Scan
Market: US stocks (selected in the screener)
Liquidity Filter: Volume × Price > 100M USD (focuses on liquid stocks and avoids thinly traded names)
Volatility & Momentum Filter: Vol Change > 10% (captures stocks with significant recent movement)
Minimum Price Filter: Price > 10 USD (to avoid penny stocks and illiquid tickers)
Volatility Squeeze Condition: 1. Bollinger Bands (20, 1 day) Lower above Keltner Channels (20, 1 day) Lower, and 2. Bollinger Bands (20, 1 day) Upper below Keltner Channels (20, 1 day) Upper (classic squeeze setup: BB inside KC highlights contraction/ready-to-expand momentum)
Calibration isn't about being perfect-it's about making your tools work better for specific markets.
2.3 Saving and Automating Your Scanner
Save your screener settings as a preset ( Save Screener Template ).
Set up alerts (once this feature becomes available in TradingView) so you’ll be notified when a new ticker matches your criteria.
Step 3: Filtering & Ranking Potential Trades
Your scanner likely spits out dozens of results. Time to filter and rank them, so you focus only on the “cream of the crop.”
3.1 The First Pass-Eliminate Noise
Skip tickers with low liquidity (e.g., daily volume < 100,000 shares for stocks).
Ignore assets with unreliable price action (wide spreads, frequent gaps).
Check for major news events or earnings that could cause unexpected volatility.
3.2 Ranking Your Candidates
Prioritize by:
Strength of signal (e.g., squeeze + multi-timeframe trend alignment)
Volume surge (higher is better)
Relative strength vs. benchmark (e.g., SPY, BTC)
Proximity to strong support/resistance (closer is often better for risk/reward)
Pro Tip: Create a Scorecard
Assign 1–5 points for each criterion and total up scores for each ticker. Focus on the top 3–5 results.
Don’t just “feel” your top picks-score them for objective clarity!
Step 4: Deep Analysis-Technical, Fundamental, and Sentiment Checks
With ranked candidates, now perform a deeper dive. This is where your experience and favorite tools come into play.
4.1 Charting and Technicals
Apply your key indicators (e.g., Squeeze Mom, Power Trends, Volume Profile).
Check price structure: higher highs/lows, base breakouts, wedges, etc.
Look for confluence: do different indicators and patterns agree?
4.2 Multi-Timeframe Confirmation
Check setup validity on daily, 4H, and 1H charts.
Does the larger trend support your trade, or are you trading against momentum?
4.3 Optional: Fundamental & Sentiment Checks
Is the company reporting earnings soon? Any big news?
For crypto, is there on-chain or social sentiment you should know about?
Example Workflow:
Chart 1: Daily Squeeze setting up, MACD positive, volume picking up.
Chart 2: 1H uptrend confirmed, minor pullback for entry.
News: No earnings for two weeks-less risk of surprise.
Step 5: Planning the Trade-Entries, Exits, and Risk
Now that you have a shortlist of well-vetted opportunities, it’s time to craft a plan. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail-so we layer in precise entries, realistic targets, and robust risk management.
5.1 Entry Strategies: The Art of Timing
Your scanner found potential, but your entry determines your reward-to-risk. Here’s how to approach it on TradingView:
Breakout Entry: Place buy-stop orders just above resistance or the squeeze “release” point.
Pullback Entry: Wait for a retrace to moving average or previous support, then enter on bullish reversal candle.
Confirmation Entry: Wait for indicator confirmation (e.g., Squeeze firing, MACD cross, volume surge) before pulling the trigger.
Great entries are less about prediction and more about preparation and confirmation.
Visualizing Your Entry
Draw horizontal lines at anticipated entry points ( Alt + J hotkey). Use TradingView’s “long position” tool to visualize profit/loss zones.
5.2 Setting Targets: Aim for Realistic Wins
Don’t hope-measure! Define exits before entering so emotion doesn’t sabotage your plan.
Price Target: Project a move based on past squeeze breakouts (e.g., last breakout ranged $4, set target for similar move).
ATR (Average True Range): Use ATR to estimate typical moves and avoid setting targets too far or too close.
Fibonacci Extensions: Use Fibs to find likely resistance/support for partial profits.
5.3 Stop Losses: Defend Your Capital
Risk management is your lifeline. Set stops where the trade idea is invalidated-not just at arbitrary numbers.
Below previous support or swing low (for long trades).
At technical invalidation-e.g., squeeze fails and price dips below the setup.
ATR-based stop (e.g., 1.5x ATR below entry).
Trade Example:
Entry: Breakout above $100.
Stop Loss: $97 (previous support, 1.5x ATR).
Target: $104 (measured move from last squeeze).
5.4 Position Sizing: How Much to Risk?
Golden Rule: Risk only a small percentage of your trading capital per trade.
Standard: 1–2% of account per trade.
Use TradingView’s position tool to measure.
Calculate shares/contracts based on distance from entry to stop.
Position sizing is the invisible lever that controls your trading destiny.
Step 6: Executing the Trade and Real-Time Adjustments
Execution bridges planning and reality. Even the best plans need discipline, fast reflexes, and the willingness to adapt if markets shift.
6.1 Entering the Trade: Be Precise
Use limit or stop orders, not market orders, to avoid slippage-especially in fast-moving assets.
Review your parameters one last time.
Set alerts using TradingView’s Alarm Clock icon for your entry, stop, and target.
// Basic Alert Example in Pine Script
if (ta.crossover(ta.sma(close, 9),ta.sma(close, 21)) )
alert("Bullish crossover detected", alert.freq_once_per_bar)
6.2 Monitoring During the Trade
Keep emotions out-let the process work. However, always watch for:
Sudden news events or market shocks.
Volume surges against your position.
Reversal candles (e.g., bearish engulfing at target zone).
6.3 Adjusting On-the-Fly
Sometimes, price action demands flexibility:
Move stop to break-even once price moves in your favor.
Scale out (sell a portion) at first target, let the rest run.
Exit early if your setup is invalidated (e.g., heavy volume reversal).
Adaptation is not abandoning the plan-it’s respecting the market’s message.
Step 7: Trade Management-Monitoring and Adapting
Trade management is an art that separates amateur from pro.
7.1 Trailing Stops and Locking Profits
Use trailing stops (fixed % or ATR-based) to lock in gains if price runs well past your target.
TradingView’s “long/short position” tool helps visualize your risk/reward as price moves.
7.2 Scaling In/Out
Scale in: Add to winners on confirmed strength (e.g., after strong breakout retest).
Scale out: Sell partial positions at key resistance/fib levels.
7.3 Dealing With Adverse Moves
If stop hit, close trade-review, don’t revenge trade.
If setup changes dramatically (e.g., news reversal), consider exiting early.
The best traders protect profits, not egos.
Step 8: Post-Trade Review and Journaling
By now, you’ve completed the trade-but the learning (and edge-building) is just beginning.
8.1 Review Every Trade: The Secret to Improvement
Did you follow your plan? If not, why?
What worked? What didn’t?
Were your scanner criteria effective?
Was your sizing/risk on point?
8.2 Journaling Your Workflow
Create a trade journal, either in TradingView’s notes or external tool (Notion, Google Sheets, etc.)
Screenshot entry/exit with annotations.
Log your scanner triggers and reasoning.
Add psychological notes: Were you calm or emotional?
Tag setups: “Earnings Squeeze,” “Breakout,” etc.
A detailed journal is your best trading mentor.
8.3 Performance Analysis
Periodically review your logs to spot patterns:
Which setups yield best R/R?
Where do you most often break your rules?
How does time of day/market impact outcomes?
Step 9: Tips, Case Studies, and Advanced Workflows
9.1 Expert Tips for Workflow Success
Automate alerts for scanner triggers-don’t stare at screens all day.
Batch your research (e.g., scan every evening, then focus only on finalists).
Develop a pre-trade checklist (see sample below).
Refine regularly: Tweak scanner filters as markets evolve.
// Sample Pre-Trade Checklist as Comments
// 1. Is the squeeze setup clear on multiple timeframes?
// 2. Is volume confirming the move?
// 3. Any major news/earnings ahead?
// 4. Stop loss + target realistic?
9.2 Real-World Case Study: Squeeze Momentum on TSLA
Imagine your scanner spits out NASDAQ:TSLA due to a tight squeeze and surge in volume.
Analyze the chart: Daily chart shows a strong squeeze setup with multi-timeframe squeezes firing bullish momentum (see the MTF Squeeze dashboard and green histogram). Volume spikes confirm buying interest. The 4H and daily timeframes are both aligned to the upside.
Check Earnings: Earnings are 30 days away, reducing the risk of event-driven surprises.
Trade Setup: Set entry just above the most recent swing high ( $197.5 ), with stop-loss below the support and squeeze base ( $186 ). The initial profit target is set at a measured move near $220 (prior swing high resistance and typical squeeze expansion).
Manage the Trade: Enter on breakout above $197.5; once price reaches around $208–$210, move stop to break-even. As price hits $220, sell half and trail the remainder using the 4H ATR or dynamic support.
Journal: “Setup fired as per screener and indicator alignment: volume spike, momentum, and squeeze breakout confirmed. Exited partial at target, managed risk throughout.”
9.3 Advanced: Multi-Timeframe, Multi-Asset Workflow
Combine scans across different assets (stocks, crypto, forex) using saved screener presets for catching opportunities globally. Create custom “watchlists” for different strategies, and rotate focus based on market conditions.
Stocks: Focus on squeeze breakouts.
Crypto: Seek mean reversion in sideways markets.
Forex: Look for multi-timeframe trend alignment.
Conclusion: Making the Scanner-to-Trade Workflow Your Own
Trading is not about prediction, but process. The difference between hope and edge is workflow-layered, adaptable, and reviewable.
By mastering the scanner-to-trade workflow, you can:
Act with confidence, not hesitation.
Avoid missed wins and costly emotional losses.
Turn complexity into clarity-one structured step at a time.
Start simple, layer in complexity as your skills grow, and let your journal be your improvement compass. The recipes here are just a foundation-make them your own, adapt them for your tools, markets, and goals.
Your next high-quality trade is just a repeatable workflow away.
Happy trading and happy building!
