desktop:add_a_contract [Documentation]

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Contract ======

{{:desktop:c-contract-laddernew2.png|}}


      - Properties Change properties for the contract window.
  -     New Screen Dropdown Brings up a second contract window, a new chart, a market history window, or an account contract window.
  -     Strategy Activation Allows users to view both outrights and strategies on the contract window.
  -     Contract Months List of the various contract months you can choose from.
  -     Lot Size The number of lots you want to enter (using the left click of the mouse).
  -     Pull All Pull all the orders out of the market.
  -     Order Template Allows the user to use the Order Templates.
  -     Flatten All Flatten your position.
  -     Order Types Choose from a various selection of order types. Order types can be added in the main properties.
  -     P&L / Position View Profit & Loss, Unrealized Profit & Loss, Net position, and more (select from various options in the contract properties).
  -     Volume Bar Add the volume bar from contract properties. Use it to add volume to the Lot size field
  -     Session High The high price of the trading session. Note: The session High will be colored in blue on the market prices.
  -     Center Market Left click the button to center the market in the contract window.
  -     Market Status The status of the market. Can be opened, closed, in pre-open, or pre-close, or suspended. For CME products a countdown to each session can be added.
  -     Net Change The net change per trading session.
  -     Total Market Volume By Price Displayes the current market volume traded at each price.
  -     Available Market Bids & Offers Current bid & offer depth displayed. Blue is bids and red is offers.
  -     Settlement The previous session’s settlement price.
  -     Market Prices Displays the market prices for the choosen product.
  -     Your Working Offers Shows your offers working in the market.
  -     Implied Offers Offers implied from working orders in the spreads.
  -     Last Price/Volume The last price and volume traded.
  -     Trade Histogram A graphical display of trades as they occur in the market.
  -     Implied Bids Bids implied from working orders in the spreads.
  -     Session Low The low price of trading session. Note: The session low will be colored in red on the market prices.
  -     Total Trading Volume The total trading volume per session.
  -     Scroll Market Left click the up arrow to scroll the market up, and left click the down arrow to scroll the market down. TIP: You can also use the wheel on your mouse to scroll up and down.
  -     Average Price The average price of your open position. Blue will indicate that you are long, red will indicate you are short.
  -     Your Working Bids Shows your bids currently working in the market.







====== Adding a Contract ======
To select a new Contract you can select Contract from the New Item Menu.


Click the + to the left of the exchanges to see a list of available contracts. Or you can type either the name or symbol of the product to find it faster.


{{:desktop:contract_picker.png|}}

Double click a desired contract or select it and click Ok.
====== Selecting Months and Strategies ======
{{:desktop:c_-_sp_tab.png|}}

Use the Market Tab to switch between available markets. Just click on the market that you desire to trade. If you want to view multiple markets for the same contract then just open a second Contract and select the additional market.

{{:desktop:c_sp_menu.png|}}

The Spread dropdown allows you to choose whether or not strategies are visible in the Market Tab Strip. If a contract has no spreads available then the ‘SP’ button will not be displayed. The SP dropdown will display all available strategies for that market. If you do not to see all the available markets choose the first 2 months only option.

{{:desktop:c_strategy_tab_strip.png|}}

Once visible, selecting Spreads is the same as selecting any other market. To the right of each spread market is a carrot dropdown with all available spreads for that front month.

{{:desktop:c_strategy_tab_strip_with_spreads.png|}}
====== New Screen Dropdown ======

You can create different windows directly from the contract window. Click the drop down arrow to choose from a second contract window, a new chart, profile chart, market history window, or an account contract window.

{{:desktop:new_item_dropdown.png|}}

  * **Contract Window:** Select Contract to pull up a new contract window for the current contract
  * **Chart Window:** Select Chart to pull up a new instance of the chart window for the current contract
  * **Profile Chart:** Select Profile Chart to pull a new Profile Chart window for the current contract.
  * **Spread Matrix:** Select Spread Matrix to pull a new Spread Matrix window for the current contract.
  * **Market History:** Select Market History to pull a new Market History window for the current contract.
  * **Account Contract:** Select Account Contract to pull up a new Account Contract window for the current contract.

<WRAP center round info 100%>
**Tip:** you will also get a list of all availible options related to a future
</WRAP>

====== Setting Volumes ======
{{:desktop:c_adding_volumes.png|}}

A contract volume must be set prior to submitting an order. If you try and submit an order with no volume it will be rejected. By default only left click trading is enabled. If you would like to take advantage of right click net, or a separate right click volume, you will need to enable right click trading from the trading tab of the Contract Properties.

The volume fields use a custom Volume Picker designed for quick volume changes.

{{:desktop:c_-_setting_volumes_-_2.jpg|}}	This volume is used when submitting an order with a left click.

{{:desktop:c_-_setting_volumes_-_3.jpg|}}	This volume is used when submitting an order with a right click. This field can be set to net position entry or a numeric entry (same as left click volume). The Net feature allows you to flatten tour position with a right click. Enable right click trading from the trading tab of the Contract Properties.

Or

{{:desktop:c_-_setting_volumes_-_4.jpg|}}
====== Volume Bar ======

{{:desktop:c_volume_bar.png?300|}}



The Volume Bar is convenient for quick volume changes. If the right click volume field is enabled for numerical entry then the Volume Bar will update the volume field that is currently selected

{{:desktop:c_new_volume_bar.png?300|}}



{{:desktop:c_-_volume_bar_-_3.jpg?25|}}	Switch between fixed number tabs. X and Y are fixed tabs. Z is configurable in the Main Properties, Quantities.

{{:desktop:c_-_volume_bar_-_4.jpg?70|}}{{:desktop:c_-_volume_bar_-_5.jpg?70|}}
Switch between Sum and Chain mode.
Sum mode: clicking 2, 2, 2 = 6
Chain mode: clicking 2, 2, 2 = 222
Fonts	The font can be increased or decreased by sliding the Splitter underneath up or down.
====== Account Positions======
Account Position information is displayed in the upper right corner of the Contract. By default your Net Position and Unrealized Profit and Loss are listed. Only trades for the current market and account are included.

{{:desktop:c-_account_positions.png?300|}}

Additional account position fields can be selected from the accounts tab of the Contract Properties.

{{:desktop:c-_account_positions_2.png?100|}}

Account Position details correspond to the current market and current trading account.

{{:desktop:c_-_account_positions_-_3.jpg?100|}}

Additional details can be added from the Accounts tab of the Contract Properties. If the additional items don’t all fit then adjust the Splitter below them by sliding it up or down.
====== Contract Ticket ======
The Contract Ticket is used for rapid order entry. Pre-configured volumes reduce the need to change a contracts volume between the submission of one order and the next. Hit Bid and Hit Offer buttons submit orders against the best bid and best offer prices without having to click a specific price. Joining the best bid and best offer is simplified by enabling price tracking. The Contract Ticket can be enabled from the Trading tab of the Contract Properties. Contract Ticket configurations are on the Ticket tab of the Contract Properties.

{{:desktop:c_contract_ticket2.png?350|}}

 **1. Working Offer List.** The list can be configured to display all working orders or an order summary. The order summary aggregates orders by price and order type.

 **2. Sell Volume Buttons.** Clicking a volume button submits a sell limit at the offer price and corresponding volume.

 **3. Enable offer price tracking.** Click the icon until the last rung is highlighted. To disable, click the icon again — the middle rung will be highlighted. When enabled, the offer price tracks the market's best offer price.

 **4. Submit a sell limit.** Uses left or right click volume at the offer price.

 **5. Pull all working offers.**

 **6. Offer price behavior.** It tracks the best offer price if tracking is enabled. Otherwise, adjust manually using arrows or by clicking in the offer column.

 **7. Hit Bid.** Submits a limit sell order at the best bid price using left or right click volume.

 **8. Hit Offer.** Submits a limit buy order at the best offer price using left or right click volume.

 **9. Bid price behavior.** Tracks best bid if enabled. If disabled, adjust manually using arrows or by clicking in the bid column.

 **10. Enable bid price tracking.** Click the icon until the top rung is highlighted. To disable, click again to show the middle rung.

 **11. Submit a buy limit.** Uses left or right click volume at the bid price.

 **12. Pull all working bids.**

 **13. Buy Volume Buttons.** Clicking a button submits a buy limit at the bid price and corresponding volume.

 **14. Working Bid List.** The list can display all working orders or a summary aggregated by price and type.

====== Buy/Sell Bar ======

The Order Load Bar submits trades a specified number of ticks off the best bid/offer. Quickly load orders off the market so that they are readily available for single click and drag-and-drop revisions. Right and left click trading is supported.The Order Load Bar can be enabled from the trading tab of the Contract Properties. Single click and drag-and-drop revisions are configurable from the contract tab of the Main Properties.

{{:desktop:c_buy_sell_bar.png?300|}}

 **1. Bids will be submitted** at a limit price at the specified number of ticks lower than the best bid price. Offers will be submitted at a limit price at the specified number of ticks higher than the best offer price.
 
<WRAP center round info 100%>
 TIP: The ticks will adjust and know the tick increments of the product you are trading.
</WRAP> 

  Example: the corn is set to 14 which is 1 1/2 cents, but if you pulled up the Mini Dow it would be 6 ticks, or the Mini S&P would be 150 or 1 1/2 points.

 **2. Working bid volume** is displayed in the following format: Total Orders (Total Volume)  

  
  Example: 3 (7) would indicate 3 working orders that have a total working volume of 7 lots.

 **3. Buy with a single click.**  
  The buy button can be clicked multiple times and will continue to submit orders the specified distance from the best bid.

 **4. Sell with a single click.**  
  The sell button can be clicked multiple times and will continue to submit orders the specified distance from the best offer.

 **5. Working offer volume** is displayed in the following format: Total Orders (Total Volume)  

  Example: 3 (7) would indicate 3 working orders that have a total working volume of 7 lots.


====== Centering and Scrolling Depth ======

{{:desktop:c_center_depth_and_scroll.png?400|}}

**1. Center depth of market.**

**2. Scroll depth of market up.**

**3. Clicking on the price column** can be configured to center depth in different ways. This is configured in the contract tab in the Main Properties/Contract/Price Column Centering.

   None
   
   Center the depth around the price that was clicked
   
   Center the depth at the current bid and offer in the current Contract window
   
   Center the depth in all open Contract windows






====== Market Details ======
The four corners of the Contract grid provide additional market information.

{{:desktop:c_market_details.png?300|}}

**1. High price** for the current trading day.


**2. Low price** for the current trading day.

**3. Total traded volume** for the current trading day.  This value is provided directly by the exchange. It may or may not include trades due to spreads depending on the exchange.
Market Mode or the current status of the market. PreOpen, Open, Closed, Suspended, etc.

<WRAP center round info 100%>
TIP: Located in the Main properties/Contract/Market Mode the CME now provides a countdown as to set in seconds as to when the next market mode will change.
</WRAP>

====== Order Types ======

Without using an Order Ticket, the Contract window is able to submit the following order types. All orders are placed with a single left or right click in the bid or offer columns.

Link to order types here: 

[[order_types|← Order Types Here]]
====== Market on Close Orders ======
To place an MOC order, click the dropdown arrow in the toolbar of the contract window and choose "Market on Close."

**Note:** The MOC button will not be visible after the market closes or halts for the session until the market enters "PreOpen" for the next session.

**Note:** The close time that is used is the electronic close time, NOT the pit close time.

{{:desktop:moc1.png?400|}} 
In the MOC setup box you will be able to choose the following:

The number of seconds before market close that your first order is submitted.
The number of seconds before market close that your last order is submitted.
The number of orders your MOC will be broken into. In this example it is 3, so if you submit a 6 lot it will be 3 separate 2 lot orders.


After you have your settings configured click OK.

{{:desktop:moc2.png?400|}}

To place the order:


Choose the quantity of each order in the "L:" box.
Confirm the MOC settings.
The final step which places the orders is to click in the Bid column to buy or the Offer column to sell.


{{:desktop:moc3.png?400|}}

You will not see the orders in the "My B" or "My O" columns as they are held on the server until the specified times. You will see the orders in your order book under the "All" or "Held on Server" tabs.

{{:desktop:moc4.png?400|}}

To see what time each order of the MOC batch will enter the market you can add the "Activation" column to the order book via the properties. In the example below you will see the order is broken into 3 orders and their activation times are 5 seconds apart.

{{:desktop:moc5.png?400|}}

====== Order Templates ======
You can enter more advanced order types using our New Order Templates. The Order templates can be enabled from the main properties located in the Contract Tab.

[[desktop:order_templates|← Order Templates Here]]



====== Contract Columns ======
{{:desktop:c_contract_columns_1_.png?300|}}

The following contract columns are always displayed by default. You are able to drag and drop to change the order of the columns and adjust their widths. The two columns that can be removed are the History column and Total Column. These can be removed through the contract properties window, in the Display Tab.

**1. Total:** The total volume traded at each price for the current trading day. The darker the color is an indication of a more recently traded price. The fade time and Trade/Trade Background fade colors are configurable.

**2. History:** The history column is a graphical display of trades as they occur in the market. The maximum number of trades that can be plotted is 100. Each new trade is plotted to the left or right of the previous trade at its traded price. You can double click the History column to change the graph from left to right to right to left.

**3. My B (My Bid):** Your working bids. Only working orders for the Current Trading Account are displayed, if you need to see working orders for multiple accounts then you can do so with the Order Book window.

**4. Bid:** Current bid depth displayed.

**5. Price & Net Change:** The market prices are listed vertically as well as the net change for the market for the current trading day.

**6. Offer:** Current offer depth displayed.

**7. My O (My Offer):** Your working offers. Only working orders for the Current Trading Account are displayed, if you need to see working orders for multiple accounts then you can do so with the Order Book window.

====== Column Layout ======
**Moving Columns**

{{:desktop:moving_columns.png?200|}}

Move a column within the grid by dragging the column header with your pointer or mouse.

Click and hold the left mouse down on the desired column header. A vertical like will be drawn indicating where the column will be inserted.
With the left mouse button still down drag the column left or right. The vertical bar will move between columns indicating where the column will be inserted.
Let the mouse button up when the desired location is reached.



**Resizing Columns**

{{:desktop:resizing_columns.png?200|}}

Resize the width of a column within the grid by dragging with your pointer or mouse.

Click and hold the left mouse down on the right border of the column header you want to resize.
With the left mouse button still down drag the mouse right or left. A bar will appear indicating the new width of the column.
Let the mouse button up when the desired width is reached.



**Sorting Columns**

{{:desktop:sorting_columns.png?200|}}

Click on a column header to sort the grid. Click again to reverse the sort.

Note: not all grids can be sorted.

{{:desktop:sorting_columns_down.png?20|}} Descending order.
{{:desktop:sorting_columns_up.png?20|}}	Ascending order.

====== Splitters ======

{{:desktop:c_splitter.png?300|}}

Splitters allow you to resize certain areas of the screen. Some sizeable areas adjust fonts dynamically.

  * Place your mouse over the splitter until it becomes the Image or Image cursor.
  * Click and hold your left mouse button.
  * Drag the splitter in the desired direction.

====== View Only ======
If all you want to do is watch a specific market then you can set it to View Only mode. This is useful in two ways. Unnecessary information is hidden decreasing the amount of screen space taken up, and accidental order submission is prevented. You can set the Contract window to View Only mode in the Contract Properties, Trading tab, Contract Mode.

{{:desktop:c_view_only.png?300|}}

<WRAP center round info 100%>
TIP:

Reduces the amount of screen space needed to view the depth of market.
Helps to prevent accidental order submission.
</WRAP>


====== Time Order Entry ======
Allow users access to Pete Steidlmayer's Time Entry screen additional Fee applies.
CTS Time order entry allows the user to place an order held on our servers to be executed at a future time. The Time Order entry can be enabled by selecting the add-on in the Market Data setup page. Once the add-on is added you can enable this from the Trading tab of the Contract Properties. Please click here to view the pricing.

{{:desktop:cp-_time_entry_ladder.png?300|}}

**1. Pull Orders:** Pulls Time activated orders

**2. Go to current market time:** Click to take you to the current market time.

**3. Selected bid and offer price** Tells you what bid and offer price is selected on the ladder.

**4. Columns D/T:** (( The Time column displaying one minute increments (Default is set to display 30 time increments).

{: Time Bracket column displaying Profile Chart brackets(default is 30 min brackets)

MY B: My Bid column displays your scheduled working bids. Only working orders for the Current Trading Account are displayed.
  * B: Bid column is the order entry allowing the user to enter a scheduled bid.
  * S: Sell column is the order entry allowing the user to enter a scheduled offer.

My O''': My Offer column displays your scheduled working offers. Only working orders for the Current Trading Account are displayed.

**5. Change view:** Allows you to display just the bids and offers in time entry window.

**6. Auto size columns:** Allows you to size the Columns


====== Contract Properties ======
Some Contract properties can be configured in the Contract Tab in the Main Properties window Contract properties allow you to configure how the Contract window is displayed. They only affect the current Contract window and may override global settings configured in the Contract Tab in the Main Properties.

{{:desktop:c_-_contract-properties.png?300|}}

Click the Properties button in the upper left corner of the Contract Window to open the Contract Properties.

===== Display Tab =====
The Display Tab contains properties that affect the display of information in a Contract Window.

{{:desktop:newcontractwindow.png?400|}}

  - **Name:** Changes the name of the contract on the contract window Set– Sets the name to be displayed.
  - **Layout:** When clicked, the layout and settings of the current Contract Window will be saved as default and used to create all new Contract windows.
  - **Save:** This will save a copy of the current Contract Window layout and the saved layout can be found in the Window Management.
  - **Auto Order Scale:** Displays how shaded order volume is based on market.
  - **Auto Proportional Scale** Displays how shaded volume is based on market.
  - **Auto-Track:** Auto Track The Contract window is able to automatically track the market. From the dropdown –
    * **Smooth** – The market scrolls up and down to constantly center itself.
    * **Centered** – Stays centered on the current market best bid.
    * **Depth** – This shows the bids and offers as a list instead of on a ladder. Prices where there are no bids/offers are hidden. This can be helpful in wide or thin markets
  - **Fade Time:** The time taken in minutes for the Total column to fade from the Trade color to Trade Background color. The fading colors provide a sense of where the market has been and when.
  - **Grid Font Size Override:** Changes the font size of the entire contract window grid.
  - **Middle Font Size:** Changes the font size of the Lot, Net, and P&L lists.
  - **Mouse Follow:** Ensures that the mouse remains in the row that contains a specific price. If this is enabled then resting the mouse pointer over a bid or offer price will cause the system to automatically move the mouse pointer when the market moves so that the mouse remains over the same price row. Having the mouse remain over the same price row lowers the risk of submitting an order at the incorrect price.
  - **Max History:** The total number of trades to display in the History column. The maximum value allowed is 100.
  - **Resize Columns:** Returns columns to their default length.
  - **Total Trade Volume By Price:** Displays volume traded at the specific price.
  - **Trade History:** If enabled the Trade History column provides a graphical display of trades as they occur in the market. Each trade will be plotted horizontally to the left or right (configurable) of the previous trade, and vertically at the price traded.
  - **Order Counts:** This will add a second column of Bids and Offers that display the number of distinct orders that comprise the bids and offers.
  - **Order Scale:** This option colors the bid columns in the Bid Counts and Offer Counts columns are scaled using this value. This provides a visual indication of the relative volume available in the market at different prices. Adjust this value to provide a meaningful ratio or bar width. The Bid and Offer colors will appear as a bar against their corresponding Background colors. note the button to the right of the prop scale. You can click the button to manual or change it to auto which will auto-adjust the scaling for the gradients that display or manual
  - **Position in Queue:** Displays Position in Que tab on contract window.
  - **Position in Queue Indicator:** Displays Position in Queue indicator on contract window.
  - **Proportional Scale:** Setting a number will display how shaded volume is. For example, if a proportional scale of 50 is chosen, at 25 bid the volume bar would be halfway shaded.

===== Trading Tab =====
 The Trading Tab properties only effect trading behavior of the Contract window.

{{:desktop:tradingtabnew.png?400|}}

  - **Buy/Sell Bar:** Displays a Buy/Sell bar that sets limit orders away from last traded price by ticks.
  - **Contract Ticket:** Hides or displays the Contract Ticket on the contract window.
  - **Market History:** Adds the Market History screen to the contract window.
  - **Mini Market:** Adds the Mini Market screen to the contract window.
  - **Order Tag:** Adds the Order Tag tool to the contract window. Order Tags will be shown on the order book.
  - **Order Tag List:** Displays a dropdown of already created Order Tags.
  - **Right Click Volume:** Enables right click trading.
  - **Right Click Fixed Order Type:** Sets what type of trade right click trade is.
  - **Time Entry:** Displays a Time Entry Bar that allows order entry by time.
  - **Volume Bar:** Hides or displays the Volume Bar on the Contract Ladder.
  - **Trading Enabled:** Allows order submission and displays working orders, position and P&L information.
===== Ticket Tab =====
The Ticket Tab contains properties that affect the Contract Ticket if it is enabled.


{{:desktop:ticketviewnew.png?400|}}

  - **Reset Price Tracking:**After an order is submitted the Contract Ticket will begin to automatically track the best bid and best offer.
  - **Order Summary:** Displays the order on the ticket view.
  - **Working Orders:** Displays working orders on the ticket view.
  - **Volume X:** Changes the listed lot volumes to trade at on the ticket view.

===== Accounts Tab =====

{{:desktop:accounttabnew.png?400|}}

  - **Alternate Account:** The user can select an account different to the one selected on the main application window.
  - **Net Position:** Hide or display various account position details on the Contract window. Account position details correspond to the market and Currently Trading Account. The fields are listed in the order in which they are enabled.
  - **Net Position Format:** Hide or display various account position details on the Contract window. Account position details correspond to the market and Currently Trading Account. The fields are listed in the order in which they are enabled.
  - **P&L:** Profit and loss. P&L factors in unrealized and realized profit and loss.
  - **Realized P&L:** Displays Realized P&L
  - **Unrealized P&L:** Displays Unrealized P&L
  - **Total Buys:** The total number of contracts bought.
  - **Total Sells:** The total number of contracts sold.



===== Window Tab =====

{{:desktop:linking_1.png?600|}}

** 1.To enable the linking** you need to go to the properties button located in each window.

{{:desktop:linking_2.png?400|}}

**2. Once in the properties,** you need to navigate to the window tab and enable the linking for each window you choose to link.

**3. Click in the value area** to enable the linking. You need to do this in every window you want to link.

**4. You can click on the color bar** in the value area to set a color, this allows you to easily differentiate which windows are linked to.

**5. You can also set a shape** that will show up just to the right of the properties as another way to differentiate which windows are linked.

**6. The acct info direction** allows you tie the Quote Board alternate account to the trading ladders alternate account. You can set the window to send only, send and receive, or receive.

**7. The market info direction** allows you to tie the Markets between the Quote Board, Trading ladder, and chart. You can set the window to send only, send and receive, or receive. In the above example send and receive is selected for all three windows now any change I make will be made between all three windows.

===== Time Activation Tab =====

{{:desktop:timeentrynew.png?500|}}

<WRAP center round info 100%>
To enable the Time Activation tab, go to the contract window properties, Trading, and select Time Entry. The Time Activation table will appear on the chart, and a Time Activation tab will display in the contract window properties.

</WRAP>

{{:desktop:timeentrynew2.png?300|}}

  - **Time Entry:** Enables Time Entry
  - **24 Hour Time:** Time is displayed in a 24 hour format.
  - **Start Time Hours:** Displays selected sorted hours on Time Activation table.
  - **Start Time Minutes:** Displays selected sorted minutes on Time Activation table.
  - **Time Bracket:** Displays selected time in brackets on Time Activation table.
  - **Time Display:** How the time intervals are displayed.
  - **Exclude:** Excludes certain sorting letters on the Time Activation table.