FAQ
General
Q: What is the difference between your keyboard and software?
A: Think of our keyboard as a piece of hardware. It's core functionality is allowing you to send hotkeys (Cntl+Alt+X) to your operating system in a much more efficient way than holding down those specific keys on a QWERTY keyboard.
Think of our software as an add-on to various trading platforms (listed on our Connected Platforms page). It allows you to execute more trading functionality using a keyboard than trading platforms offer by themselves.
Q: Will your keyboard work with (a specific) trading platform?
A: Our keyboard will "work" with all trading platforms. However, the extent to which you can execute the trading functionality that you need (using the keyboard) is dependent on the hotkey and macro functionality offered on the software side.
Q: What are the advantages of your adding your software on top of my trading platform?
A: For all of the platforms we connect to, we add extra functions you can execute for each product, we greatly improve on stability and help you avoid costly trade mistakes, and we have patented technology that allows you to trade multiple products and spreads that no other platform offers. See the software section of our website to learn more.
Q: What groups and trading styles can benefit from Keyboard Trader?
A: A variety of groups and trading styles can benefit from Keyboard Trader:
- Proprietary trading firms
- Independent futures traders
- Hedge funds
- Spread trading
- Active trading
- Event trading
- Intraday trading
- Order flow trading
Q: What types of products can I trade with your software?
A: Keyboard Trader allows you to trade futures and spreads with all of the platforms that we connect to. In addition, Keyboard Trader allows you to trade stocks, forex and options with the TWS platform from Interactive Brokers.
Q: How does Keyboard Trader connect to the markets?
A: Keyboard Trader connects to the markets through the APIs of other trading software providers. This allows you to use Keyboard Trader as an add-on to your current trading platform without having to replace it. If you have an interest in using Keyboard Trader in conjunction with another Base Platform we aren't connected to yet, please let us know.
Q: How is my brokerage involved?
A: The brokerage does not need to be involved. We provide software and keyboards direct to customers and we take payments direct from customers.
Q: Is trading with a keyboard safe?
A: If used properly, absolutely. We only sell keyboards that meet our strict testing standards. We have also embedded multiple levels of safety into our software.
Q: Can I use more than one keyboard? Do I need multiple software licenses?
A: You can plug in multiple keyboards per workstation at the same time. If you are using Keyboard Trader software, you only need one license.
Q: What is the best way to get started using Keyboard Trader?
A: We recommend trying the sample configuration that most closely matches your trading style in a simulation environment.
Q: How long will it take me to build my own configuration?
A: Before you assume you need to build your own configuration, we recommend that you test our sample configurations in a simulation environment. If you decide to build your own configuration, a simple one might take just an hour or two to build it, test it, and start trading. More advanced configurations involve significantly more planning and tweaking.
Q: Can I try out the software before I commit to getting a keyboard from you?
A: We do not recommend that. Even if you just want to use a demo version of our software, we still recommend that you get one of our keyboards. Without one you will likely miss some major benefits. Keep in mind that the keyboard can be returned if you choose not to use our software.
Q: How should I decide between your "Pre-Paid" or "Transactional" pricing model?
A: If you trade light or moderate size, or expect it to take you several months to incorporate Keyboard Trader into your trading arsenal, the "Transactional" pricing model will probably be significantly cheaper for you. If you trade a lot of size, or expect to use Keyboard Trader quite heavily right away, the "Pre-Paid" plan may be slightly cheaper.
Q: If Keyboard Trader software doesn't connect to my trading platform, what should I do?
A: Please let us know if you are interested in us connecting Keyboard Trader to your trading platform. In the meantime, you can still use our keyboard.
Excel Connectivity
Q: Can you give me some examples of things I can do with the Excel connectivity to Keyboard Trader?
A: There are a wide variety of use cases; here are a few examples:
- (1) Trigger trades and other actions in Keyboard Trader by the changing values resulting from Microsoft Excel formulas. Formulas can be dependent on data you get from other market providers such as CQG or X_TRADER® Pro.
- (2) Time stops.
- (3) Send orders to your trading platform (through Keyboard Trader) using limit prices, stop prices, or quantities calculated in Microsoft Excel.
- (4) Turn flags in Microsoft Excel on/off from your keyboard. The flags can be read from your Microsoft Excel formulas to control a trading application to do whatever you want such as sending algos in X_TRADER® Pro.
- (5) Build custom processes for order placement, position management, or anything else you want.
- (6) Check out our new product for Big Data Publishing.
Q: Does Keyboard Trader or Microsoft Excel have to be the active application for the keyboard to control Microsoft Excel?
A: No - neither does. Regardless of which application is active on your computer, if you press a key on your Keyboard Trader keyboard, it will change cell values in Microsoft Excel. (Note that there are a few caveats that are easy to understand). This is a huge benefit as screen real estate is so important to traders - you can continue to focus on market data and you don't have to keep highlighting a window before you press a key on your keyboard.
Q: Can the connection between Keyboard Trader and Microsoft Excel be used to control any trading application?
A: Yes. Whether you trade futures, equities, options, or forex, and whether you use one of our API-connected platforms or a different one, Keyboard Trader with Excel connectivity can help you execute trades in your trading platform as long as your trading platform allows inputs from Microsoft Excel to control order execution.
Q: What kind of technical background is necessary for me to get the most out of the Excel connectivity?
A: It depends on what your goals are. If you just want to change a few values in Excel using the keyboard, no specific experience is required but a technical background is helpful. If you want to build a more complex system that involves heavy interaction between Keyboard Trader and Excel, then you will need solid experience writing formulas in Microsoft Excel, and a programming mindset will come in handy.
Q: Are you available to help me set up a system?
A: Yes we can advise you on an hourly basis.
X_TRADER® Pro and X_TRADER® API are trademarks (registered or otherwise) of Trading Technologies International, Inc. Trading Technologies International, Inc. assumes no liability in connection with the use of Partner’s [or other applicable party’s] services by any person or entity.
Microsoft Excel is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries.
