Data Entry Features

Description of Different Methods for Data Entry

AutoTrader provides you four ways to enter a value to most editable fields. The recommended method is to use the mouse wheel. For large change in values, use the keypad. The popup list can be used to change the value to something close to the current value, but using mouse wheel is still the fastest way to change the value. As a last option, you can always use the keyboard to type in your new value. You need to tab out of the field in order for the change to take effect.

Using Mouse Wheel

To use the mouse wheel to change a value, simply move the mouse pointer into the editable field. The original background color of the field is white. When you start scrolling the wheel up or down, the value will change one tick for every notch of the wheel, scroll up will add one tick, scroll down will subtract one tick.

The background color changes to yellow if the value is changed. To cancel a change, simply scroll the wheel back to the orginal value (and background returns to white) then move the mouse pointer out of the field. To accept the new value, simply move the mouse pointer out of the field, if any action is required due to the change in value, it will be performed immediately. An example is if you have an open position, and you want to change the stop offset, as soon as you move the mouse pointer out of the stop offset field, the stop order will immediately be updated to the new value.

Using Pop up Key pad

This is ideal for changing large values on a field. If say you need to change the value by 100 ticks, you will need to do a lot of scrolling with the mouse wheel to get there. To do it faster, simply click on the wheel while the mouse pointer is inside the field you want to change. The mouse wheel is the third button on your mouse and can be clicked if you press down on it. When you see the keypad, simply right click on a number to add the specified number of ticks, or use left click to subtract the specified number of ticks. So if you want to add 100 ticks, all you need to do is center click the mouse to display the keypad, then click on 50 twice, then click on OK to accept the new value. Click on Cxl to abort the change. Click on Clr to set the value to 0.

Using Pop up List

Move the mouse into an editable field and right click your mouse to display a popup list containing a range of values you can change the current field value to. Simply select the new value and the change is accepted. Simply click anywhere outside of the popup list to close the popup list and no change will be made.

Typing in the Value

As a last option, you can always type in the new value to the field. Make sure it is a valid value. You need to click on the Save button if you want to make the change permanent. If you do not click on the Save button, any order related value changes will revert back to the last saved value. This is useful if you want to change the settings only for a particular trade and reset back to the default (saved values) when a position is closed.

[ Back ]