FAQ - Customization

How can I change the background color and font size?

To customize application Look & Feel preferences such as color scheme or font size:

1. Press Setup in the top right corner of the window and choose Application Settings... from the menu. Click Look and feel in the left panel.
2. Choose one of the available color schemes: dark, bright, or old school TOS. The former two are also available in high contrast.
3. Choose one of the available font sizes: from small to very large.
4. Click Apply settings.

For a video tutorial on this topic, click HERE.

 

How do I change my default order quantity?

Please click on Setup>Application Settings>Order Defaults tab and you can change the default quantity that will be entered for Stocks, Options, Futures, Futures Options and Forex orders.

How do I import/create/delete/edit watchlists?

The watchlists that you have created in any other TD Ameritrade platform should be visible within the thinkorswim trading platform. For example, if you have created a watchlist on the website, it should appear under the “Personal” section of your watchlists. To create a new watchlist click on the MarketWatch Tab, and click on “Quotes." Click on "Show Actions Menu" icon at the upper right-hand corner of the sub-tab and select the option to Create Watchlist. In the next window, you will be prompted to input a name for your watchlist. You can either add the ticker symbols you wish to monitor manually by typing the symbol in the blank box or paste symbols from the clipboard. You can also upload a .CSV or Excel file, then click import. Once you are done, click Save.

More info on watchlists: HERE.

How do I save my platform settings?

There are a number of ways to save different settings, i.e. drawings, charts, styles, etc. These are saved server-side, meaning they will be persistent regardless of the computer you login with. To save your currently viewed settings, click on “Setup” in the upper-right corner of the platform, then “Save Workspace as…”, designate a name for the workspace and press OK. These are saved locally to your computer, so they will not be available if you log in using a different computer.

How can I customize the columns on the monitor tab/position statement?

To customize the columns on your Position Statement, click on the “Gear”  icon above the far-right column that you see in that section (it will be either “Margin Req” or “BP Effect” depending on your settings). If you do not see the gear, you are likely on the “Old Layout” – click the menu button at the upper right of the position statement and select “New Layout” in the drop down menu. The gear will then appear. Once you have clicked on that gear, you will see a pop up window labeled “Columns of group (group name)”. From here, you can select any available criteria as a column header, put them in the desired order, then click “OK” to apply the changes.

How do I setup text or e-mail alerts?

Alerts can be sent to your e-mail or to your mobile phone through a SMS message (also known as a text). To setup a text alert, login to thinkorswim, then click the "Setup" button at the top right of the main window. In the menu, select “Application Settings”. A new window will appear. In it, select the “Notifications” tab at the top. Here you will see a field toward the upper right, that says “Send text to: Add number”. Click the add number button. In the new window, enter in your 10 digit phone number with NO dashes. Then check the box to agree to the terms, and finally click the button at the bottom right that reads "Get confirmation code".

You should receive a text message with a four digit code. Type the code into the field next to your phone number on the existing window on your desktop computers screen. Then click "Confirm". You have now successfully entered your number.

The next step is to tell the software to send you a text when your order fills, an alert is triggered, etc. In this same window, you will see a list of checkboxes on the left had side. If you select “Order Fills” for example, and check the box next to it, the settings on the right hand side of the page will show checkboxes specifically for order fills. Here, make sure "Send SMS during US market hours" is checked. You can also check the option for after US market hours if you please. Finally, click “Apply Settings” at the bottom of this window.

To setup an e-mail alert, login to thinkorswim, then click the "Setup" button at the top right of the main window. In the menu, select “Application Settings”. A new window will appear. In it, select the “Notifications” tab at the top. Here you will see a field toward the upper right, that says “Send e-mail to:”, enter your e-mail and click the button that reads “Get confirmation code”. You should get an e-mail with a code. Take the code and input it into the filed provided on the notification setup window, then click “Confirm”.

The next step is to tell the software to send you an email when your order fills, an alert is triggered, etc. In this same window, you will see a list of checkboxes on the left had side. If you select “Order Fills” for example, and check the box next to it, the settings on the right hand side of the page will show checkboxes specifically for order fills. Here, make sure “Send e-mail” is checked. Finally, click “Apply Settings” at the bottom of this window.