# DOMTrader settings

Open the **gear beside the instrument in the DOMTrader panel header**. Settings has six sections: **View**, **Columns**, **Order Entry**, **VWAP**, **Position bar** and **Hotkeys**. Changes update this panel; use [Reuse panel settings](/guide/en/templates) to reuse a configuration.

## View: geometry and readability

![DOMTrader View settings with the entry gear and ladder in the background](/guide/assets/b0eb123c391c6c4e-dom-trader-settings-view.png)

| Control | What it changes |
| --- | --- |
| Centering | Manual leaves the price range where you put it; Keep market in view recenters when needed; Always center follows the market. Center in the toolbar performs a one-time recenter. |
| Ticks per row | Number of native price ticks combined in a row. With a 0.1 tick, 10 ticks gives a 1.0 price step. Ctrl+wheel changes this quickly. |
| Row height / Scroll step | Row height sets vertical spacing; scroll step sets how many rows one scroll movement advances. |
| Refresh interval, ms | Visual update interval. A larger value paints less often; it does not change the meaning of the book quantities. |
| Auto-size columns | Fit columns to panel width. Turn it off to use manually chosen widths. |
| Show spread / Show level 1 / Show totals | Show empty prices between best quotes, the top quote strip, and bottom column totals. |
| Price header | Display the normal Price label, last price, spread in ticks, percentage change or UTC day range in the price heading. |
| Depth levels per side | Limit displayed depth on each side. Zero means all available levels, not unlimited exchange depth. |
| Preview order quantity | Show the configured order quantity at the pointer before a ladder action. |
| Alternate rows / Observed high–low | Alternate row backgrounds and mark the high/low of retained observed trades. |
| Trailing price digits | Shorten displayed prices to their trailing digits. Zero keeps full prices; orders still use the full valid row price. |
| Size format / Decimal places | Choose normal, rounded or abbreviated quantities and their displayed precision. |
| Quantity display | Show base or quote quantities. This display unit is separate from the sidebar's order-quantity unit. |
| Reset liquidity after seconds / price movement | Automatically reset change measurements after the configured time or native-tick distance. Zero disables the corresponding trigger. |

## Columns: style and emphasis

Select a column in the expandable list on the left. **Visible** shows or hides it; Price remains visible. Set preferred width, color and bold text. Numeric analysis columns also offer histogram/gradient/text styles, full-row fill and up to four highlight thresholds. Move left/right changes its order. Additional copies can be removed while keeping the required column kind. [DOMTrader columns and volume profiles](/guide/en/dom-trader-columns) covers metrics, intervals and resets.

![DOMTrader column selection and appearance settings](/guide/assets/c4231a5c16bc9731-dom-trader-settings-columns.png)

## Order Entry: defaults and visible controls

**Show order entry**, **Slim mode**, **No labels** and **Show additional order parameters** arrange the sidebar. Quantity, default quantity and reset-after-placement control sizing. **Quick buttons** accepts semicolon-separated buttons and newlines for rows, for example `1;2;5;10` and `+1;*2;/2;x`. The first row sets quantities; the second adjusts them, and x restores the default.

Set default TIF, SL/TP values in the chosen protection unit, and breakeven offset. The control/action checkboxes choose which sections and buttons remain visible. Hiding a control does not disable an already saved order option. Review the complete order in its confirmation. [Order Entry: prepare and review a ticket](/guide/en/order-entry) explains the financial effect of these settings.

![Order-entry layout, quantity presets and defaults](/guide/assets/8767208d5db8c289-dom-trader-settings-entry.png)

## VWAP and Position bar

Enable **Show VWAP** and choose its calculation interval and row filters. VWAP weights prices by base quantity even when the ladder displays quote amounts. Observed, rolling, day/session and custom intervals follow the same controls as [DOMTrader columns and volume profiles](/guide/en/dom-trader-columns).

![VWAP calculation range and filters](/guide/assets/1c79d9ad5891ec56-dom-trader-settings-vwap.png)

**Show position bar** controls the summary below the ladder; **Position bar on top** moves it above. Choose currency, ticks or percent for P/L and optionally enable a second independent P/L value. Currency and percentage are provider-reported. Tick movement is signed entry-to-mark price movement and excludes fees and quantity.

![Position-bar placement and two P/L display selectors](/guide/assets/cd9ffdf7450f38b3-dom-trader-settings-position.png)

## Hotkeys and templates

**Hotkeys** opens the panel's shortcut settings. Keyboard trading also requires the application's trading-shortcut gate; the ladder mouse lock is separate. After arranging the panel, right-click its title/header → **Templates** to save or apply the setup. Applying a panel template locks ladder mouse trading again. [Keyboard controls](/guide/en/keyboard) · [Reuse panel settings](/guide/en/templates) · [DOMTrader: read and use the price ladder](/guide/en/dom-trader)

## Set up a compact ladder

1. Open the panel-header gear → **View**. Set ticks per row and row height until both sides of the spread are readable.
2. Expand **Columns**, select an analysis column and turn on **Visible**. Set its width and choose text, histogram or gradient display where offered.
3. Open **Order Entry** and show the sidebar. Set quantity presets and the desired control visibility; review saved order options even when their controls are hidden.
4. Close the dialog, inspect the result on the actual ladder, then save the layout with [Reuse panel settings](/guide/en/templates).