Inconsistent HOB Behavior? This Setting Might Be the Reason

Filter Historical Lines Smaller Than X Bars

The “Filter Historical Lines Smaller Than X Bars” option is designed to declutter your chart by removing historical lines that fall below a certain length. However, when used in combination with Possible Hidden Order Blocks (PHOBs), this filter can occasionally lead to unexpected behavior.

The Issue

1. Invalidation Due to Size: When a Possible HOB (PHOB) is identified, it is drawn as a line on the chart. If the length of the PHOB is smaller than the threshold set in the filter, the PHOB may be removed immediately because it is considered “too small.”

2. Reappearance: The same PHOB may reappear if its conditions are met again in subsequent bars or if the filter settings are adjusted.

3. Confusion: This can create a scenario where a PHOB disappears and reappears intermittently, leading to confusion for traders trying to analyze the market structure.

Example Behavior

• A PHOB appears with a length of **5 bars**.

• If the filter is set to remove lines smaller than **10 bars**, the PHOB is invalidated and disappears.

• If market conditions later cause the PHOB to meet other criteria, it may reappear — only to disappear again if it remains too short.

Solution

To avoid this issue, set the filter to a minimum value of 1 bar. This ensures that no PHOBs are removed due to their size, preserving consistency in your analysis.

Key Takeaways

• The filter is useful for decluttering charts, but it may lead to inconsistencies when combined with PHOBs.

• Setting the filter to **1 bar** ensures that all PHOBs remain visible, regardless of their length.

• For a clean analysis, consider adjusting the filter only after confirming that PHOBs are no longer needed for the current chart setup.