Life Of Trade Icon/Color Codes
The Life of Trade Icon and Tab/Trade entry color show help you identify the status of your trades.
Icon Display and Color Coding
Note: Orders are automatically updated when you login to your trading account, whether Live, Virtual or Manual
Blue – Hollow Dots – No Connection
Active Order or Open Original Trade
Yellow – Hollow Dots – Open Connection
The Original Trade has been adjusted, but is still an Active Trade
Yellow – Solid Dots – Closed Connection
The Trade and any Adjustments have been closed, but one or more entries need to be
Matched or Reconciled
Green – Solid Dots – Closed Connection
Closed trade – which includes any adjustments – resulting in a Profit
Red – Solid Dots – Closed Connection
Closed Trade – which includes any adjustments – resulting in a Loss
Trade Entry Lines
Note: Depending on the Theme used, the following colors will vary. The bar color denotes whether the trade needs action – such as Reconciliation or Matching to another trade.
Blue Line
No action needed on these entries. The colored left tab shows the status of each trade:
Blue: (Open Trade, hollow dots, no connection), Yellow: (Adjusted, hollow dots, partial connection), Red: Loss (Closed, solid dots, connected), Green: Profit (Closed, solid dots, connected)
Yellow Line
Action is needed on these trade entries. The Trade may have gone through Expiration and needs to be Reconciled. By clicking on the Trade Line, the Trade Tab will display:
Once the action is completed, the entry will update on all Journal tables including the Tags, P/L Graph & Insight tabs.
It is important to reconcile expired trades to properly display profit and provide updated analytical information on your trading success.
Features Release: Life of Trade Journal View & Enhancements, Go Big Chart View.
Features Release Notes:
New & Enhanced Journal Features, ‘Go Big’ Chart view, Exchange List update.
We’re pleased to announce the latest Release of the Trade Tool Trading Platform. The Journal has an updated look and is more intuitive from automatic syncing and improved trade-matching. Users can now add notes immediately upon placing orders vs. having to navigate to other areas of the platform to do so. The New Journal Features and Functions are user-friendly, allowing more analytic capabilities.
Charts have a ‘Go Big’ button to maximize the chart size. The Exchange list has also been updated on the Dashboard in the Research Tab.
Life Of The Trade
Introducing the new “Life of Trade” View in the Journal.
Trades are grouped by Symbol, making it easier to follow the trade from Open-Adjust-Close – along with any Assigning/Exercising of the underlying stock.
This view further allows you to sort by Account, Symbol, etc for more targeted analysis.
Refine Journal Entries by ‘Status’
‘Status’ provides an additional avenue to refine your Journal updating and analysis in the Life of Trade view.
- Open – current, active trades without prior change in underlying. Identified by Blue Tab.
- Closed Complete – all legs of trade, including any adjustments or change of underlying, have been closed and matched. Identified by Green or Red tab (Profit or Loss).
- Adjustment – Unmatched – the original trade has been adjusted, but the changes have not been reconciled. This entry will be identified by a Yellow tab.
- Closed – Unmatched – the original trade, including adjustments and change of underlying are closed, but one or more components of the trade need to be matched. Identified by yellow tab.
- Incomplete – the original trade resulted in change in the underlying stock being Assigned or Exercised.
Automatic Account Syncing – Up to 2 Months
When you add your brokerage account to the platform, make sure to select the ‘Auto-Journal’ Feature enabled. By doing so, the system will automatically insert orders/trades from the last two months into the platform’s Journal.
After the brokerage is added, any trade executed on your brokerage website instead of through the platform portfolio will also be captured in the two-month time period.
Finally, there is no need to go to an account’s Order Status tab to update Journal Trade Tabs. Simply log in to the account from the Account Summary Tab. Trade tabs will automatically update for the last 2 months!
Journal Tile View includes more Trade Detail
The new Insight Tab in the Journal offers visual feedback on your trading activity. The graphs are responsive to and update automatically based upon criteria selected including:
- Trading Account
- Symbol(s)
- Tags
- and/or Date Range
The top graph shows the overall activity, as well as Winners & Losers.
The middle line graph displays profitability or losses over the date range selected.
The bottom bar graph shows profit/loss by trade in the selected date range.
Add Journal Notes Upon Submitting Orders
Users can now document details on Entering, Adjusting or Exiting a Trade quickly and easily after submitting an Order.
Upon successfully submitting an Order, simply click “Add Journal Notes“:
‘Go Big’ Feature for Charts
In addition to the ability to adjust Chart Height and Width, the Charts can now ‘Go Big’ and expand to full screen size.
Click as shown below:
The Buy/Sell icon, , located at the upper left of the screen allows you to trade directly from the full view. To return to the regular chart view, simply click the ‘Go Big’ icon or ‘esc’ on your keyboard.
Exchange List updated
The Exchange listed in the Company Overview section of the Dashboard now lists the name of the Exchange, instead of the abbreviation.
Change Log:
- Chrome – Version 72 – work-around to correct display issues caused by bug in browser’s latest Release
- Sending Symbols from Heatmap to Watch Lists has been corrected
- Contrast issues on Dark Themes addressed
- 404 Error resolved for Dashboard>Scans
- Cancelled Trades will not be included in Life Of Trade queries
- Sending candidates from Find>Scans to Research is resolved
- Manually entered entry price will not result in an Unmatched trade
Features Release: Responsive & Adaptive, Journal Enhancements, Tile View Sizes
Features Release Notes:
New Scans, Journal Summary, Analytical Graphs, Earnings Sort feature on select Scans
We’re pleased to announce the new version of the Trade Tool Trading Platform. Previous Releases provided the framework for new features and enhancements made available on this Release.
Cutting-edge technology enables the platform to Adapt and Respond to available space on Desktop and Tablet devices upon which the platform is viewed.
Platform utilizes Adaptive Technology
The platform now utilizes “adaptive” and “responsive” technology. This means the platform will take advantage of the screen size made available to it.
If you have a larger screen, it will stretch the content to fill. The result will be longer, viewable watch lists, options chains, and vertically filling content.
Tablets will stack content which creates a much better experience in Portrait View.
Enhanced Reconciliation in Journal
Reconciling trades is important and necessary for the Journal to accurately display Analytics including Win/Loss ratio. Analysis can be done by Symbol, Account, Tags, Date Range by using the ‘Refine By’ button selections.
Now it’s easier to review such trades. The following notice appears, giving you the ability to view all trades in the selected account(s) needing reconciliation.
Clicking “Reconcile” on the individual trade tab allows you to confirm the outcome of the trade:
Tile View Size selection available throughout Platform
Tile View offers size options throughout the platform. Size and Periodicity buttons are ‘locked’ at the top of the lists for continued access. The platform’s new Adaptive and Responsive technology adjusts the number of tiles per row based on available space
Select “Small”, “Medium” or “Large” on Market and Watch Tabs
Scans and Earnings/Dividends Calendar offer 4 sizes: Extra Small to Large.
New “Insight” Tab in Journal
The new Insight Tab in the Journal offers visual feedback on your trading activity. The graphs are responsive to and update automatically based upon criteria selected including:
- Trading Account
- Symbol(s)
- Tags
- and/or Date Range
The top graph shows the overall activity, as well as Winners & Losers.
The middle line graph displays profitability or losses over the date range selected.
The bottom bar graph shows profit/loss by trade in the selected date range.
Color Coding Accounts
Each trading account can be assigned a unique color from the Account Summary Tab. Each Trade or Order entry within this account will display this color tab in the Journal for easy account identification.
Journal Activity Line
The Journal Activity Line is customizable. Once this indicator is added to your Chart Profile, simply click the Gear icon to adjust settings:
Enter ‘Line Width‘ as well as other adjustments you wish to make on this Indicator , including Open/Close color/size and Profit/Loss line colors.
When completed, click “Add” to close the Journal Display Box and update display.
New Symbol Verification
Symbols will automatically update if an invalid symbol is entered and a new symbol exists.
If a symbol is not recognized, an Error notice will popup notifying the user of this. By clicking “Report Error“, the system will automatically research, and, if valid – add the symbol to the platform.
This process helps eliminate incorrect symbols from being added to the platform.
“Go Big” Button added to Strategy Template
Trade Detail of a Trade Finder Scan now includes a “Go Big” option button on the P/L graph.
This allows for not only easier viewing on smaller display screens, but also displays Stock Price/Risk Chart with three price points:
Current day (dotted line)
Halfway point to Expiration (dashes)
Expiration Day (solid line)
Simplified Journal Tabs
Tabs now display action of the Order/Trade for simplified at-a-glance status. Click below for detailed information on color codes of these tabs.
Enhanced Dashboard Overview
The Dashboard Tab, under Research, has a ‘cleaner’ look: Larger tables, easier-to-read data are among the enhancements made possible by the Adaptive/Responsive Technology.
The Overview Table, located at the upper right of the Dashboard, provides additional information, simply by clicking on the following:
- Name: Company Overview
- Industry: Competitors
- Location: HQ address
- Website: Live link to Company website
Finally, this table shows whether or not the stock is Optionable.
New Themes Available
More theme choices are available, not just “Light” or “Dark”. Simply click on your Username at the top of the platform sen and select from High-Contrast Dark, Midnight Dark, Forest Dark or even Pink.
Additional Journal Enhancements
- Automatic 2-month trade/order status update when logging into account
- Notes can be tagged to Brokerage Account
- Substantially improved Trade Match upon Closing, Legging Out or Adjusting
- Refined rules on Notes filtering
- Improved Reconciliation & Price data
Other New Chart Features
- Tooltip displays TradeFinder name (Ex: BullCall)
- Simplified Chart Header: Improved placement & display
Other Added Features
- “Legend” expands to display individual Score Icons at bottom of platform screen
- Increased Options Chain loading speed
Change Log:
- Covered Call correctly represented on charts
- Newly added brokerage account is default account
- Time zone issue corrected for Journal entries on charts
Select Background Theme
The Tabs on the Journal are Color Coded for Easy Understanding of the Trade
Primary Tab Color Coding (see below for expiration tab coding)
Note: Journal Tabs are automatically updated when you login to that account (Live) or simply select a Virtual or Manual Account. Orders/Trades are updated as far back as two months.
Light Blue
Active Live Order
This indicates that you have a current live order
Dark Blue
Trade – Open
This indicates the opening transaction of a trade
Grey
Expired Order
This can be from a order that you canceled, or a day order that did not get filled
Green
Closed Trade – Profit
This indicates a trade that you closed for a profit
Red
Closed Trade – Loss
This indicated a trade that you closed for a loss
Yellow
Closed Trade – Unmatched – Profitability not yet determined
You close a trade that the system could not automatically match
Unmatched Trades can happen if there are multiple trades and an entry trade needs to be identified or because a multi-leg trade was split on exit, or change of stock position when an option expired (exercise/assignment)
This is easily matched by clicking the edit icon (pencil) and selected which open order to match to. In some cases there may only be one, and it is simply a verification.
Expiration Tab/Tagging Colors
Red or Green with No Color Tagging
This indicated the option trade expired Out of the Money (OTM)
There were no options exercised or assigned through expiration
Red or Green with Dark Green Color Tag
This indicated that there were ITM options exercised/assigned
However, there was no change is stock ownership. Example: Bull Call where both legs were exercised/assigned.
Red or Green with Yellow Color Tag
This indicates a change in stock ownership through exercise/assignment
This will happen with single leg options trade or where one leg of a spread was ITM at expiration
It is important to reconcile expired traded to properly display profit. If there are unreconciled expired options, the reconciliation window will automatically display when you go to the options tab.
Features Release: Tag Results Table Summary, New P/L Graphs, Earnings Data in Scans & New Scans 2018-03-04
Features Release Notes:
New Scans, Journal Summary, Analytical Graphs, Earnings Sort feature on select Scans
We’re pleased to announce new features and enhancements to the Trade Tool Trading Platform. The updates provide additional journal tools including Analytical Graphs, and Tag Summary report. New scans have been added providing more ways to find opportunities. Earnings date information has been added as a sort features on select scans.
Tag Results Table Summary
A new Tag Results Summary Table was added below the Analytics Tab in the Journal. The data is dynamically impacted by the Account(s) and filters such as Date Range, Symbol and Tags.
This powerful feature can be used to compare trade performance by account, by strategy, date range, etc.
P/L by Duration & P/L by Timeline Graphs
A Graphs Tab was added to the Journal which provides two ways to view the P/L:
Duration: P/L by the Number of Days in a Trade
Timeline: P/L by the Close or Expiration Day
The data dynamically updates by Account(s) and Filters, such as Date Range, Symbols or Tags selected.
Diamonds represent Stock Trades, Circles represent Option Trades
Click/Drag the cursor over the Graph to change/enlarge orientation (see below). Hover the cursor to see individual trade information.
SPY Price is shown on the Timeline Graph. Hover the cursor over the price line to see the close price on a specific date.
Earnings Data added to Select Scans
Earnings data has been added Chart Pattern and Volatility Scans. You can now sort scan results by Number of Days to Earnings (Days ER) or Earnings Date (Next ER).
New Bullish/Bearish Outlook Scans
New scans have been added giving you more ways to find trading opportunities based on outlook:
- Top 100 Stock Performers by Percent in the last 30 days, 90 days and 1 Year
- Golden Cross
- Death Cross
Click on the icon to get Scan detail. Click the ‘Star’ Icon to add to your ‘Favorites’.
Other Added Features
- Hide Trend Line Option – Icon allows you to ‘clean up’ the chart to view certain aspects. Clicking the ‘eye’ icon allows you to hide the trend lines, clicking again displays them again.
- Insiders Fields – Color Coded based on impact
Change Log:
- Added Extension to Gains Tab download tab.
- Corrected Option Chain reset in Real Time.
- Restored Chart Max history to 25 years where available.
- ‘Extend By’ flags/other notification display repaired.
- GE Valuation data restored.
Features Release: Industry Bar Chart, Platform Enhancements 2018-02-12
Industry Bar Chart
The Bar Chart replaces the Rainbow Chart on the Market Tab. This better represents the movement of the sectors. In addition, the Industry types are more clearly identified by abbreviation, for example: Tech, FinSrv, Util for Technology, Financial Services, Utilities.
Change Log:
- Added Option to Mask Account Balances on Portfolio
- Fixed – Extend Chart functions display corrected
- Option Chain in Real Time reset issue resolved
- Tile Chart periodicity sticks to User Setting even when changing lists
- Options expiration default opening is 30 days out.
- Dashboard chart periodicity setting is resolved
- Enhanced Color Picker for charts, ‘Show Palette’.
- Added RT Chart Data for TDA accounts
Market - The Big Picture
Start here for the overall outlook.
Designed to show what the overall markets are doing by viewing the graphs, charts and maps. You can change the time frame to check trends, use the maps on the right side of the page for a picture of sectors in relation to the market. Even drill down to industry within the sector and more.
Color Codes of The Trade Journal
The Tabs on the Journal are Color Coded for Easy Understanding of the Trade
Primary Tab Color Coding (see below for expiration tab coding)
Note: Orders are automatically updated when you check order status. Just make sure to select the time frame to cover the trades that need updating
Light Blue
Active Live Order
This indicates that you have a current live order
Dark Blue
Trade – Open
This indicates the opening transaction of a trade
Gray
Expired or Canceled Order
This can be from a order that you canceled, or a day order that did not get filled
Green
Closed Trade – Profit
This indicates a trade that you closed for a profit
Red
Closed Trade – Loss
This indicated a trade that you closed for a loss
Yellow
Closed Trade – Unmatched – Requires action to match to related
trade. Expand tab to see detail of trade.
Unmatched Trades can happen if there are multiple trades and an entry trade needs to be identified or because a multi-leg trade was split on exit, or change of stock position when an option expired (exercise/assignment)
This is easily matched by clicking the edit icon (pencil) and selected which open order to match to. In some cases there may only be one, and it is simply a verification.
Expiration Tab/Tagging Colors
Red or Green with No Color Tagging
This indicated the option trade expired Out of the Money (OTM)
There were no options exercised or assigned through expiration
Red or Green with Dark Green Color Tag
This indicated that there were ITM options exercised/assigned
However, there was no change is stock ownership. Example: Bull Call where both legs were exercised/assigned.
Red or Green with Yellow Color Tag
This indicates a change in stock ownership through exercise/assignment
This will happen with single leg options trade or where one leg of a spread was ITM at expiration
It is important to reconcile expired traded to properly display profit. If there are unreconciled expired options, the reconciliation window will automatically display when you go to the options tab.
Market Overview: Get more of a broad view
View activity of the NYSE, Nasdaq or American Stock Exchange by time frame. The upper area of this part of the Market Tab shows the number of advancing or declining stocks by sliding your cursor along the graph.
Likewise, the bottom portion of shows the number of stocks that reached their 52-week High or Low by sliding your cursor along the lower graph.
The constant figures show the number of stocks in each category for the current/most recent trading day.