Hot Keys

The Hot Keys window is a quick and easy way to create trading shortcuts. With a single keystroke, you can send a pre-defined order to the market.

For example, you can associate the "F2" key with a buy market order. Whenever you press the "F2" key on your keyboard, an order is sent to the market to buy 100 shares of DELL at the current market price.

It is highly recommended that you export your Hot Keys to a file using the instructions below. If the Hot Key Setup detects a problem, all your settings are automatically cleared. If you have stored your Hot Keys as a file, they can be easily imported again.

If you customize this tool and wish to preserve the changes for future sessions, you must select Save Layout from the File drop-down menu before exiting the platform.

Create a New Hot Key

1. Select Hot Key Setup from the Tool menu. The Hot Key Setup window will appear.
2. Click the Add button, and select a key (or combination of keys). For example, press the "F2" key, and "F2" appears in the window. Press the "Ctrl,""Alt," and "F2" keys at the same time and "Ctrl+Alt+F2" appears in the window.
   Click OK.
   Note: In most programs, Hot Keys consist of an "F" key (F1, F2, F3...F12) alone or combined with the "Ctrl" and/ or "Alt" keys.
3. Select an Action from the Action list. This is the action you want the program to take when you press the Hot Key on your keyboard. Available options are as follows:
   
   
   Options that affect your Market Depth Window:
   
   

   Buy	Submits a buy order to the market.
   Buy on Ask	Submits a buy order to the market for the ask price + or - a certain amount. If the "Use Adjustment Window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Buy on Bid	Submits a buy order to the market for the bid price + or - a certain amount. If the "Use Adjustment Window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Sell	Submits a sell order to the market.
   Sell On Ask	Submits a sell order to the market for the ask price + or - a certain amount. If the "Use Adjustment Window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Sell On Bid	Submits a sell order to the market for the bid price + or - a certain amount. If the "Use Adjustment Window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Sell Short	Submits a Short Sell order to the market.
   Sell Short On Ask	Submits a Short Sell order to the market for the ask price + or - a certain amount. If the "Use Adjustment Window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Sell Short On Bid	Submits a Short Sell order to the market for the bid price + or - a certain amount. If the "use adjustment window" box is checked, a pricing window will appear when you press your hot key, and you can adjust prices up or down using the arrow keys on your keyboard.
   Price Increment	Every time you press the hot key, increases the current price in the price field by a set amount.
   Price Decrement	Every time you press the hot key, decreases the current price in the price field by a set amount.
   Shares Increment	Every time you press the hot key, increases the current number of shares in the shares field by a set amount.
   Shares Decrement	Every time you press the hot key, decreases the current number of shares in the shares field by a set amount.
   Select Symbol	Automatically brings up the selected symbol in the Market Depth Window.

   
   Options that affect your Open Orders:
   
   

   Close Out Selected	Closes out selected positions.
   Close Out All	Closes out all positions.
   Cancel Selected Orders	Cancels selected Open Orders.
   Cancel All Orders	Cancels all Open Orders.
   Cancel Current Symbol	Cancels all open orders for the symbol currently displayed in the Market Depth Window.

   
   
   
   
4. Further define the action by completing the highlighted fields in the Order Options section:
   
   Shares: Enter the number of shares you wish to trade.
   Symbol: Enter the stock symbol of the company you wish to trade.
   Type: Select an advanced order type (Market, Limit, Stop Market, Stop Limit, Trail Stop, Make Best).
   Price: Enter the price you wish to receive for your trade.
   Stop: Enter the price you wish the market to reach before your order is sent.
   TIF: Set the Time In Force: (Day, Day+, GTC, GTC+, IOC).
   Route: The ECN route you wish to use for your trade.
   Display: The amount of shares that will be displayed to the market.
   Discretion: The amount of flexibility you are willing to accept in the price of your trade.
   Use Adjustment Window: Available for all "on Bid" or "on Ask" trade types. When this option is checked on, an order adjustment window will appear before your order is sent, for greater price control.
   
   AON: All Or None: fills all the shares or none of them.
   
   
   
5. Click "Save" to preserve your changes.

Trade Using Hot Keys

1. After you have created a "Hot Key" using the steps listed above, press the Hot Key (or Hot Key combination) that you established on your keyboard. (Example: "F2" or "Ctrl" and "Alt" and "F2")
2. If selected, an Adjustment Window will appear. Change the symbol, price, number of shares or route, and click the Submit button to place your order.
   
   
   
   Note: The following key commands will move the price up and down incrementally:
   
   Arrow Up: Increases price by 1¢
   Arrow Down: Decreases price by 1¢
   Arrow Right: Increases price by 5¢
   Arrow Left: Decreases price by 5¢
   
   Arrow Up+Ctrl: Increases price by 10¢
   Arrow Down+Ctrl: Decreases price by 10¢
   Arrow Right+Ctrl: Increases price by 25¢
   Arrow Left+Ctrl: Decreases price by 25¢
   
   Arrow Up+Alt: Increases price by $1.00
   Arrow Down+Alt: Decreases price by $1.00
   Arrow Right+Alt: Increases price by 50 ¢
   Arrow Left+Alt: Decreases price by 50 ¢
   
   
   
3. An Order Verification window will appear. Click the Submit button to place your order.

Export Your Hot Keys

1. Click the "Export" button, and name your file.
2. Click "Save."

Import Your Hot Keys

1. Click the "Import" button, and select the file you wish to import.
2. Click "Open."