Power E*TRADE PRO User Guide

Transcription

1 Power E*TRADE PRO User Guide (5/04)

2 Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 How This Manual Is Organized: Quick Guide, Specific Tasks, and Menus 1 CHAPTER 2 Are You and Your Computer Ready for Power E*TRADE Pro? 2 CHAPTER 3 Downloading/Installing the Software 4 CHAPTER 4 Starting the Software 8 CHAPTER 5 General Overview: How to Use Power E*TRADE Pro and Avoid Problems 15 CHAPTER 6 Quick Guide: Ways You Can Quickly Use This Software 27 CHAPTER 7 CHAPTER 8 Tracking Your Accounts: See Your Total Equity, Debit Balance and Cash and Margin Buying Power in Real Time (Account Balances, Buying Power) 58 Seeing Real-Time Details on Your Account Positions (Watch List, Positions) 65 CHAPTER 9 Setting Up Watch Lists to Get Detailed Information on Individual Stocks and Top 10 Performers in Real Time (Watch List: Watch/Top Ten) 78

3 CHAPTER 10 Viewing Real-Time Charts 91 CHAPTER 11 Seeing Streaming Nasdaq Level II Quotes (Level II View) 118 CHAPTER 12 Entering and Routing Your Orders (The Order Entry Window) 132 CHAPTER 13 Seeing Real-Time Order Status (Order Status View) 159 CHAPTER 14 Seeing Real-Time or Historical Displays of Bids, Asks and Trades (Time & Sales View) 166 CHAPTER 15 Setting Up and Getting Alerts (Alerts View) 178 CHAPTER 16 The High/Low and Market Data Tickers 185 CHAPTER 17 Layouts: How You Want Your Power E*TRADE Pro Screen to Look 190 CHAPTER 18 Linking Watch Lists, Charts and Views 211

4 CHAPTER 19 Using Virtual Desktops to Leverage Your Layout 214 CHAPTER 20 File Menu 216 CHAPTER 21 New Menu 232 CHAPTER 22 View Menu 258 CHAPTER 23 Utilities Menu 261 CHAPTER 24 Help Menu 267 iv

5 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 1 How This Manual Is Organized: Quick Guide, Specific Tasks, and Menus There are three ways you can start using Power E*TRADE Pro. 1. Use the quick guide (see Chapter 6) and worry about the details and more sophisticated techniques later. 2. Concentrate on accomplishing a specific task. (See Chapters 7 19) 3. Use the menus to get things done. (See Chapters 20-24) This manual is organized around each of these methods so you can find what you re looking for according to the way you want to use Power E*TRADE Pro. 1

6 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 2 Are You and Your Computer Ready for Power E*TRADE Pro? Topics covered in this chapter: Quick overview of the requirements Are you eligible to use Power E*TRADE Pro? How do you sign up for Power E*TRADE Pro? Will your computer be able to run Power E*TRADE Pro? Quick overview of the requirements To install Power E*TRADE Pro on your computer, you need to: Be or enroll as a Power E*TRADE customer Have a computer that meets the minimum requirements Call to have Power E*TRADE Pro activated for your account Download and install the software Are you eligible for Power E*TRADE? You need to make at least 27 trades in a calendar quarter to qualify for Power E*TRADE. As long as you continue to make at least 27 trades each quarter, you ll qualify for the following quarter. We review your eligibility each quarter, so if you do not qualify one quarter, you may the next. Make 27 trades at E*TRADE Securities in this quarter And you ll qualify for Power E*TRADE during January 1 March 31 April 1 June 30 April 1 June 30 July 1 September 30 2

7 July 1 September 30 October 1 December 31 October 1 December 31 January 1 March 31 How do you sign up for Power E*TRADE Pro? All Power E*TRADE customers are eligible for Power E*TRADE Pro. If you re already in the Power E*TRADE program, call and then press 2. A Power E*TRADE customer representative will assist you. If you re not yet in the Power E*TRADE program, call and then press 2 to enroll. Be sure to tell the representative that you re interested in Power E*TRADE Pro. Will your computer be able to run Power E*TRADE Pro? The minimum requirements to run Power E*TRADE Pro are: PC with 400 MHz (or higher) Intel Pentium processor Microsoft Windows 98/2000/XP/NT 4.0 (service pack 4 or higher) Minimum 128 MB of RAM with at least 64 MB available while running Power E*TRADE Pro 8 MB video card capable of supporting 1024x768 resolution with 256 colors Not sure whether your computer meets these requirements? Call , press 2 and we ll help you. 3

8 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 3 Downloading/Installing the Software Topics covered in this chapter: Before you start to download and install the software Firewalls with a time-out feature that s set Installing Power E*TRADE Pro on more than one computer Need help downloading/installing the software? Downloading and installing the software Starting the software after installation Desktop icons created as part of the installation Uninstalling Power E*TRADE Pro Before you start to download and install the software Before you download and install the software, close all other programs on your computer. Firewalls with a time-out feature that s set If you are behind a firewall (either one you ve set up, or one at your workplace) and a time-out feature has been set, we recommend that you call , press 2 and speak with one of our specially-trained Power E*TRADE representatives. Installing Power E*TRADE Pro on more than one computer You may use more than one computer to handle your Power E*TRADE Pro investments. To use Power E*TRADE Pro from a computer, you first need to install it on that computer. So, for example, if you use both a desktop and a laptop, you ll need to complete the download/ installation of the Power E*TRADE Pro software on both of your computers. Need help downloading/installing the software? We ve made the downloading/installation process as painless as possible. Give it a try. If you have any questions, just call us at and then press 2. 4

9 Downloading and installing the software You ll actually be installing two software applications Power E*TRADE Pro and Java Web Start in the same steps. Java Web Start ensures that you are using the most current version of Power E*TRADE Pro every time you log on. It works by comparing the version on your computer with the version on our servers and updates your software automatically if necessary. The Power E*TRADE Pro program you re installing on your computer works via your Internet connection to access your Power E*TRADE Pro account data as well as market and historical information. To download and install the software: 1. Go to etrade.com, type in your username and your password, select your country and language and click LOG ON. 2. Click the Investing tab. A menu appears below the Investing tab (see below). 5

10 3. Click the Power E*TRADE tab on the menu below the Investing tab, and you will be taken to the Power E*TRADE home page. 4. Click the Download Power E*TRADE Pro button, located in the middle of the page. The install shield will guide you through the downloading and installation process. The computer gives you this message: 5. Click Save to save the file to your computer. 6. When you reach the Java Web Start Setup window, read the Java Web Start license agreement. You must accept this agreement in order to use the product. If you agree to the license, click Accept. (You may choose Decline, but this will abort the installation process.) 7. The Log On window will appear. Type in your username and password (use the same username/ password you use to login to your account via etrade.com). Click OK to launch Power E*TRADE Pro. Starting the software after installation Once you have installed the software, you ll start the software from the E*TRADE Pro desktop icon or using the Start menu. You do not start it from the E*TRADE Financial Web site. Desktop icons created as part of the installation You ll see four icons on your desktop when the installation is completed. Click The E*TRADE Pro icon 6

11 to start the program. The Java Web Start icon You won t need to do anything with this icon. Data folder icon This folder is used primarily by the program to store saved layout pages. Logs folder icon This folder keeps track of messages sent by you to E*TRADE and from the Power E*TRADE Pro program to you. It s mostly used if you need to call in to report a problem. You may be asked to send this folder to E*TRADE. Uninstalling Power E*TRADE Pro See Chapter 24, the Help Menu. 7

12 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 4 Starting the Software Topics covered in this chapter: Mouse commands used in this manual Choice of two ways to start (load) the software The screens you see during the start process What the Power E*TRADE Pro main screen looks like Reducing the size of the main screen Description of the main screen Exiting Power E*TRADE Pro Mouse commands used in this manual Click always refers to a single left-click of your mouse. If a right-click is required, you ll see right-click. If a double left-click of your mouse is required, you ll see double-click. TIP: Some windows (screen views) have features that are accessible only through a pop-up menu. To see that menu, you need to right-click inside the bottom portion of the window (screen view) not in the bottom portion of the main screen. Choice of two ways to start (load) the software There are two ways to start Power E*TRADE Pro from your computer: using the desktop icon or using the Start menu. 8

13 1. Desktop icon Go to the desktop of your computer. Double-click the Power E*TRADE Pro icon and the program will load. If you re not already at your desktop and have other programs on your screen, minimize each program with a click on the Minimize button at the top right corner of a program window until you see your desktop. 2. Start button Alternatively, you can use the Windows Start button. There are three steps: 1. Click Start. 2. Click Programs. 3. Click Power E*TRADE Pro. This will launch the program. The start process Once Power E*TRADE Pro has launched, this is the screen you ll see: 9

14 TIP: The screen then goes blank for a short period of time until the login screen appears. To log into Power E*TRADE Pro, 1. Type in your user ID and password. 2. Click OK. 10

15 Your information will be authenticated to make sure you re authorized to access the Power E*TRADE Pro account. Authenticating. Please wait... The Power E*TRADE Pro title screen appears as shown below: The next screen is the Power E*TRADE Pro main screen, which is shown below and described in detail later in this chapter. What the Power E*TRADE Pro main screen looks like 11

16 Reducing the size of the main screen There are three steps to reduce the size of the Power E*TRADE Pro main screen: 1. Place your cursor in the lower left-hand corner of the Power E*TRADE Pro screen (see the arrow above). 2. Move the cursor around until it changes into a two-sided arrow. 3. Drag the two-sided arrow up and to the right around the screen until the Power E*TRADE Pro screen is the size and in the location you want and then release the mouse button. Description of what s on the main screen Working from the top of the screen to the bottom and from the left to the right side, here s what you see on the main screen: Control menu icon (E*TRADE logo) Click on the logo and you ll see commands to move the Power E*TRADE Pro screen, minimize the size of the screen and exit the program. 12

17 Title Bar The blue stripe across the top of the screen lists the name of the screen layout that s on the screen. Windows Buttons (Minimize, Maximize, Close) These buttons are for shrinking, enlarging, and closing a window. Account ID You may have more than one Power E*TRADE Pro account. Next to the account number that s already on the screen, you can click the down arrow to find your other account(s). Once you ve located the account you want to see, click on its number to select it. Cash Buying Power If the Power option on the View menu is toggled on, then the amount of your cash buying power will appear to the right of the account ID. You can toggle this feature on and off, according to your preference. TIP: Buying Power and View have underlined letters because there is a keyboard alternative to using your mouse to access menus and commands. You could press and hold the ALT key, then tap once the letters that are underlined (e.g., the v in View or the b in Buying Power) and release the ALT key and the letter. You don t need to type an uppercase letter. Margin Buying Power If the Buying Power option on the View menu is toggled on, then the amount of your margin buying power will appear to the right of the account ID. You can toggle this feature on and off, according to your preference. Main menu Shows the five main menu options (File, New, View, Utilities and Help). Each of these menus has its own drop-down menu.. Toolbar (with icons) The Toolbar has 13 icons (graphic images) running down the left side of the screen. The top icon is the Save Current Layout icon (it looks like a floppy disk). The Toolbar icons duplicate some of the functions accessible from Power E*TRADE Pro menus. Icons can be quicker to use since they re accessible right on the screen. To find out what an icon on the Toolbar will do, place the mouse pointer over an icon (don t click the mouse). The name of the icon will pop up on the screen and that name will give you an indication of the purpose of the icon. Order Entry window This window is always on your screen. Even when you create different layouts (screen views), this window will be there in this same size. You can move the window to another part of the screen (see How to move/reposition a window in Chapter 5) or minimize it. 13

18 Power indicators Call E*TRADE Financial if these turn red. Green is the on position. Virtual desktops You can save up to four sets of screen views in a layout file using the virtual desktop feature. Then you can quickly switch among the different layouts just by clicking on the different virtual desktops (#1, 2, 3 or 4). For more information, see Using Virtual Desktops to Leverage Your Layouts in Chapter 201. Clock Shows the current time. Exiting Power E*TRADE Pro To exit the program, 1. Click the Close button (the X) in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. or 2. Click File on the Power E*TRADE Pro main menu. Choose Exit. Then, Exit to leave the program without saving your work, or click Exit/Save to leave the program and save your work. (You may also click Cancel to return to the program. 14

19 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 5 General Overview: How to Use Power E*TRADE Pro and Avoid Problems Topics covered in this chapter: What you can accomplish with this program Three different ways you can get things done with this program Mouse commands used in this manual How to search for a security s symbol Use your mouse to access all the program features Navigating menus Icons on the Toolbar Reducing the size of the main screen Finding your way around the main screen Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus Using keyboard alternatives Windows are screen views Directories are folders Dialog boxes Linking different screen views together Layouts Using virtual desktops to leverage saved layouts How to adjust the size of a window How to move/reposition a window Where not to place a window Tiled vs. cascading windows Minimizing, maximizing and closing windows Getting help with Power E*TRADE Pro Exiting Power E*TRADE Pro What you can accomplish with this program With Power E*TRADE Pro, you can: 15

20 Keep track of your accounts and buying power in real time See dynamic, detailed account positions Customize your watch lists and get detailed information on individual stocks in real time View real-time charts See streaming Nasdaq Level II quotes Link different screen views together (this is one of the most powerful features of Pro see Chapter 18, Linking Watch List, Charts and Views) Enter your order easily and quickly, and specify your order routing See live order status See real time or historical displays of bids, asks and trades Set and see alerts Save layouts See multiple layouts in one saved file (see Chapter 19, Using Virtual Desktops to Leverage Your Layouts) Print screens Three different ways you can get things done with this program You can: 1. Use the quick guide (Chapter 6) and worry about the details and more sophisticated techniques later. 2. Concentrate on accomplishing a specific task (Chapters 7 through 19). 3. Use the menus to get things done (Chapters 20 through 24). This manual is organized along each of these ways so you can use the program the way you like to work. TIP: The most detailed information about a topic is found in the How to Do Specific Tasks chapters 7 through 19. However, keep reading Chapter 5 so you ll become familiar with features that apply no matter how you work in this program. Mouse commands used in this manual Click always refers to a single left-click of your mouse. If a right-click is required, you ll see right-click. If a double left-click of your mouse is required, you ll see double-click. TIP: Some windows (screen views) have features that are accessible only through a popup menu. To see that menu, you ll need to right-click inside the bottom portion of the window (screen view) not just in the bottom portion of the main screen. To see sample screen views with arrows illustrating this point, see Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus below. If you see: 16

21 1. Click File. 2. Click Save Layout. You are being asked to: First, click on the File menu option. Then click on the Save Layout menu option. Where you can do the same steps with your keyboard and without a mouse, you press and hold the ALT key and then tap the underlined letter key (the F in File lower case letters are fine with these keyboard combinations and the S in Save Layout) and then release all keys. Sometimes the SHIFT key is indicated instead of the ALT key. How to search for a security s symbol There are five steps: 1. Click Utilities on the Power E*TRADE Pro main menu. 2. Click Symbol Search on the Utilities drop-down menu (as shown below). The Find Symbol dialog box then comes on the screen as shown below: 17

22 3. Type the name of the company (e.g., General Electric Co) in the box below Symbol Lookup. 4. Click Find (don t click OK, or the dialog box will disappear). The screen will display the results of the search as shown below: To find symbols for other companies: 18

23 Type the name of the company you want to search for. Click Find. Repeat these steps as needed. 5. Once you ve found all the symbols you want to locate: Click OK. or Click the Close button (X in the upper right-hand corner) in the Find Symbol dialog box. The Find Symbol dialog box will disappear from your screen. Use your mouse to access all the program features Some menus are only accessible through a right-click there is no keyboard alternative. Navigating menus With this program, you can generally use your mouse or the keyboard to make menu choices. For example, if you click on the File menu or hold ALT and tap f, nine choices appear on the dropdown File menu as shown below: 19

24 For more detailed information on menus, see Using menus (Chapters 20 to 24). Icons on the Toolbar Icons are a quick way of accessing program features. You just click on the graphic icon and up pops the result on the screen. Although icons are available for many of the program features, they aren t present for every single one. That s where menus come in. Power E*TRADE Pro uses drop-down menus and pop-up menus you can access via mouse clicks or, for the most part, via keyboard commands. Reducing the size of the main screen See Chapter 4, Reducing the size of the main screen. Finding your way around the main screen See Chapter 4, Description of what s on the main screen. Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus Some windows (screen views) have features that are accessible only through using a right-click with your mouse. To see if a window has a right-click, pop-up menu: Right-click inside the bottom portion of the window (screen view). Then, if a menu pops up: Click a menu choice. See below how a menu pops up after right-clicking the lower portion of a Level II window. 20

25 Using the keyboard alternative You may prefer to use keystrokes instead of mouse clicks to select your choices. In general, you can access most program menus and commands with the keystrokes. You use keyboard commands by pressing and holding the ALT key, then tapping once the letter that s underlined (e.g., the F in File) and releasing both keys. You don t need to type an uppercase letter. TIP: With some keyboard combinations, you ll press and hold the SHIFT key instead of the ALT key you ll see that noted by a menu option where it applies. Windows are screen views In this manual, the terms windows and screen views are used interchangeably. Directories are folders Some menus and dialog boxes refer to a directory. A directory is a folder. 21

26 Dialog boxes Dialog boxes give you options to fill in information (e.g, a security s symbol) and/or to select an option (view top 10 largest percentage gainers that day). Below is the Watch List dialog box where you can fill in a security s symbol to be watched, view your account positions or see the top ten performers that day in various categories. Linking different screen views together You can use the link feature to create and select groups of views that are linked together by their symbols. This is an important program feature. A security symbol change in one is applied to other views linked to it. Currently, you can link Chart, Watch List, Time & Sales, and Level II views. See Linking Watch Lists, Charts and Views in Chapter 18. Layouts Layouts are worthy of a chapter of their own and they have one see Chapter 17, Layouts How You Want Your Power E*TRADE Pro Screen to Look. A layout is the Power E*TRADE views (windows) on your computer screen. You can have one or more screen views (e.g., Accounts Balances, Level II view, Time & Sales view and so on) on the screen at one time. Layouts can be temporary or in saved files. 22

27 If you put view(s) on the screen, you can use those views without saving them as long as you don t call up another layout or exit the program. If you save those views, the saved filed is called a layout in Power E*TRADE Pro. When you know that you ll want the same screen views again, save them as layouts so you don t reinvent the wheel each day. Besides the Order Entry window that s always on the screen, Power E*TRADE Pro gives you the flexibility to decide what additional information you want on the main screen. You can set up many different layouts if you want to view information in different ways. For example, you might want to have one layout that just shows your account balances and the order entry window. Or, you might want to have another layout that shows a Level II view for several stocks that you can quickly switch between. Using virtual desktops to leverage saved layouts For more information, see Using Virtual Desktops to Leverage Your Layouts in Chapter 19. How to adjust the size of a window There are three steps: 1. Place your cursor in one of corners of the windows you want to resize. TIP: You cannot resize two of the windows the Order Entry window and the Account Balances window. 2. Move the cursor around until it changes into a two-sided arrow (if it doesn t change into a twosided arrow, the window can t be resized). 3. Move the two-sided arrow until the window is the size you want and release the mouse button. How to move/reposition a window You may want to change where windows appear on the screen. There are four steps: 1. Click anywhere on the Title Bar (the horizontal strip running across the whole window where the name of the window is shown see the arrow on the Title Bar of the Order Entry window shown below). 2. Hold down a mouse button. 23

28 3. Drag the window to the desired location. 4. Let go of the mouse button. The window will move to the place you chose. Where not to place a window Leave a space at the bottom of the main screen. If you place windows in that spot, you may not be able to see the icons for windows that have been minimized. Tiled vs. cascading windows Windows can be set side-by-side (tiled), on top of one another (cascading) or a combination of the two. To see examples, look below at the two tiled windows (Watch List and Time & Sales are side-by-side) and three cascading windows (Order Entry, Order Status and Account Balances are on top of one another). Generally, tiled windows will work better in Power E*TRADE Pro. When you click on cascading windows, the selected window goes to the top of the pile. Note, however, depending upon the order in which you click on windows and their relative size, you may lose sight of one or more windows. For that reason, it s generally better to have all tiled windows, if possible. 24

29 Minimizing, maximizing and closing windows Any window you open can be minimized and restored; some of the windows can be maximized. Minimize button To make a window disappear but not close: Click the Minimize button. This doesn t close out the window. The screen just goes down to the bottom of the screen in a taskbar. To see a window after it has been minimized: Click the Restore button or the Maximize button. Maximize button To enlarge a window to a full-screen size: Click the Maximize button If you want to restore the view to its prior size: Click the Restore button. Close button To close a window: Click the Close button. Getting help with Power E*TRADE Pro You ve got tthree choices: 1. Online manual 1. Click Help. 2. Click Power E*TRADE Pro Manual (pdf). 2. Click help 25

30 3. Telephone 1. Click help. 2. Click Power E*TRADE Pro Help (html) Power E*TRADE Pro has technical support experts available 24 hours a day at , option 2. Exiting Power E*TRADE Pro To exit the program, Click the Close button (the X) in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. or Click File on the Power E*TRADE Pro main menu. Choose Exit. Then, click Exit to leave the program without saving your work, or click Exit/Save to leave the program and save your work. (You may also click Cancel to return to the program.) 26

31 P O W E R E * T R A D E P R O U S E R G U I D E Chapter 6 Quick Guide: Ways You Can Quickly Use This Software Topics covered in this chapter: First, some quick essentials How to search for security s symbol Handling multiple accounts How to keep track of your accounts and buying power in real time How to have your buying power always in view on the screen How to see details in real time on your account positions How to have a watch list in real time on individual stocks or top 10 performers How to see real-time charts How to see streaming NASDAQ Level II quotes How to link and leverage different views, charts and information How to enter your orders and also choose your order routing How to see live order status How to see real time or historical display of bids, asks and trades How to set up and get alerts How to use the High/Low Ticker How to use the Market Data Ticker How to use speed keys to create an order How to use layouts Using virtual desktops to leverage saved layouts Getting help with Power E*TRADE Pro Exiting Power E*TRADE Pro First, some quick essentials Two of the most powerful features in the program Mouse commands used in this manual Finding your way around the main screen Use your mouse to access all the program features Navigating menus 27

32 Icons on the Toolbar Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus Moving/resizing windows (screen views) Layouts saving screen views Directories are folders Dialog boxes Getting additional general information on how to use the program Before you jump in to use the program, please read the following: Two of the most powerful features in the program Make sure you become familiar with linking and virtual desktops, How to link and leverage different views, charts and information and using virtual layouts. Mouse commands used in this manual Click always refers to a single left-click of your mouse. If a right-click is required, you ll see right-click. If a double left-click of your mouse is required, you ll see double-click. TIP: Some windows (screen views) have features that are accessible only through a pop-up menu. To see that menu, you ll need to right-click inside the bottom portion of the window (screen view) not just in the bottom portion of the main screen. To see a sample screen view with an arrow illustr ating this point, see Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus below. If you see: 1. Click File. 2. Click Save Layout. You are being asked to: First, click on the File menu option. Then click on the Save Layout menu option. Where you can do the same steps with your keyboard and without a mouse, you press and hold the ALT key and then tap the underlined letter key (the F in File lower case letters are fine with these keyboard combinations and the S in Save Layout) and then release all keys. Sometimes the SHIFT key is indicated instead of the ALT key. Finding your way around the main screen The top horizontal row includes the name of the layout (saved screen views) if it has been saved. (Iin the window shown below, it s called Untitled because it hasn t been saved yet.) The next horizontal row includes the Main Menu: 28

33 File New View Utilities Help Each of the Main Menu options has its own drop-down menu. The next horizontal row has your Account ID number and, if the Buying Power toolbar (found on the View menu or the Buying Power icon on the left side of the screen) is toggled on, you ll also see your cash buying power and your margin buying power. If the Toolbar (the Toolbar option on the View drop-down menu) is toggled on, icons are vertically displayed on the left side of the screen. For more information, see Finding your way around the main screen in Chapter 5. Mouse clicks give you all the program features Some menus are only accessible through a right-click there is no keyboard alternative. Navigating menus You can use your mouse or the keyboard. For example, if you click on the File menu or hold ALT and tap f, nine choices appear. For more detailed information, see Using menus (Chapters 20 to 24). Icons on the Toolbar Icons are a quick way of accessing program features. You just click on the graphic icon and up pops the result on the screen. This is the icon for the Accounts Balances view. Although icons are available for many of the program features, they aren t present for every single one. That s where menus come in. Power E*TRADE Pro uses drop-down menus you can access via mouse clicks or, for the most part, via keyboard commands. If you re not seeing the toolbar icons on the left side of the screen and you want to use the icon feature, you need to toggle the Toolbar feature on. To turn on the Toolbar: 1. Click View on the main menu. 2. Click Toolbar (so there s a check mark to the left of the Toolbar as shown below). 29

34 Right-click on certain windows (screen views) for extra menus Some windows (screen views) have features that are accessible only through using a right-click with your mouse. To see if a window has a right-click, pop-up menu: Right-click inside the bottom portion of the window (screen view). Then, if a menu pops up: Click a menu choice. See below how a menu pops up after right-clicking the lower portion of a Level II window. 30

35 Moving/resizing windows (screen views) Windows may overlap or hide one another unless you readjust where they appear on the screen. All windows can be moved about the screen and some of them can be resized. For more information, see Chapter 5, How to adjust the size of a window and How to move/reposition a window. Layouts saving screen views In a moment you ll be clicking away and putting various windows (screen views) on your monitor. If you want to see these views later today or sometime in the future without having to recreate them, you ll need to save them as a layout (for more information, see Chapter 17, Layouts How You Want Your Power E*TRADE Pro Screen to Look). Directories are folders Dialog boxes Some menus and dialog boxes refer to a directory. A directory is a folder. Dialog boxes give you spaces to fill in information (such as a security s symbol) and/or to select an option (such as view top 10 % gainers). 31

36 Below is the Watch List dialog box where you can choose whether to fill in a security s symbol to be watched, view your account positions or see the top ten performers that day in various categories. Getting additional information on how to use the program For additional general information, see Chapter 5, General Overview on How to Use Power E*TRADE Pro and Avoid Problems. To get help on specific features, look in the Table of Contents to get answers in three ways: By the task you want to accomplish Using the menus or Using the icons. How to search for a security s symbol There are five steps: 1. Click Utilities on the Power E*TRADE Pro main menu and select Symbol Search. The Find Symbol dialog box then appears on the screen as shown below: 32

37 3. Type the name of the company (e.g., General Elec Co) in the box below Symbol Lookup. 4. Click Find (don t click OK or the dialog box will disappear). The screen will display the results of the search as shown below: 33

38 To find symbols for other companies: Type the name of the company you want to search for in the Symbol Lookup box. Click Find. Repeat these steps as needed. 5. Once you ve found all the symbols you wanted to look up: Click OK. or Click the Close button (X in the upper right-hand corner) in the Find Symbol dialog box. The Find Symbol dialog box will disappear from your screen. Handling multiple accounts There are three steps to switch between or among accounts: 1. Click the down arrow next to the account number on the screen. 2. Highlight the account number you want to see. 3. Click that account number. TIP: If you want more detailed information, look at Chapters 7 through 19 to see how to accomplish specific tasks. How to keep track of your accounts and buying power in real -time With the Account Balances view, you can do two things monitor your cash and margin buying power and also see your total equity and debit balance as they change in real time. Either: 1. Click the Show Account Balances view icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click New on the main menu. 2. Click Account Balances. The Account Balances window (screen view) comes up on the screen as shown below: 34

39 If you want to have your buying power displayed on the main screen even if another window is placed on top of the account balances view, see: How to have your buying power always in view on the screen below. For more detailed information on accounts balances, see Chapter 7, Tracking Your Accounts: See Your Total Equity, Debit Balance and Cash and Margin Buying Power in Real Time (Account Balances). How to have your buying power always in view on the screen You can see, at all times, your buying power in real time by the top of the screen to the right of your account number. To show or hide your buying power amounts, either: 1. Click the Show/Hide Buying Power Toolbar icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click View. 2. Click Buying Power. If there s a checkmark to the left of Buying Power, the feature is in the on position. 35

40 How to see details in real time on your account positions Check all the stock positions held in your account at a glance. Updates are generated dynamically in real time. There are four steps plus optional fifth and sixth steps: 1. Click the Show Watch List icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click New. Click Watch List. 2. Click Positions (click on the radio button the circle so the circle has a dot in it). 3. If you need to switch between accounts, 4. Click OK. a. Click the down arrow to call up a different account number on the drop-down menu. b. Highlight the account number you want to see. c. Click on that account. The watch list with your account positions comes up on the screen. You may stop here or you can continue on with these two optional steps: 5. Right-click inside the lower portion of the Positions watch list screen view (not just in the lower portion of the main screen). A pop-up menu appears with four choices as shown below: Watch List Setup Column Layout Display Options Delete Selection 36

41 6. Click on your choices. Additional screens will pop up and you can make your selections, if desired. You can: Go back to the Watch List dialog box to display other information on the Watch List Configure your column layout to add or delete columns Adjust how columns are aligned Change the fonts and colors that are displayed For more detailed information on viewing your positions, see Chapter 8, Seeing Real Time Details on Your Account Positions. How to have a watch list in real time on individual stocks or top 10 performers Spot your trading opportunities and react quickly. Keep an eye on the stocks not yet in your portfolio or view the top 10 gainers, losers, or high-volume stocks across multiple exchanges. As for keeping an eye on the securities in your Power E*TRADE account, see: How to see details in real time on your account positions. There are three steps plus an optional fourth step here: 1. Click the Show Watch List icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or 37

42 Click New. Click Watch List. The Watch List dialog box comes up on the screen as shown below: 2. Type in a name for the watch list. 3. You have three choices: Watch individual securities not in your account Watch securities in your account (your positions) Watch Top 10 performers in various categories Below are the steps to take for each of these choices. You can access an additional drop-down menu by right-clicking inside a view that comes up on the screen. (1) Watch individual securities not in your account There are four steps: 1. Click Watch (click the radio button the circle so the circle has a dot in it, if it doesn t already). 2. If you know a security s symbol, then type the symbol you want to watch in the box to the left of the FIND button. 38

43 If you don t know a security s symbol, click the Find button to find it. 3. Once you ve typed in the security s symbol, click the Add button to the right of the Find button. For other securities you want to watch, repeat steps 2 and 3 above. 4. When all the symbols are displayed, click OK. (2) Watch securities in your account (your positions) There are three steps: 1. Click Positions (click the radio button the circle so the circle has a dot in it). 2. If necessary, click the down arrow to locate the account number you want to use. 3. Click OK. (3) Watch Top 10 performers in various categories There are four steps: 1. Click Top Ten (click on the radio button the circle so the circle has a dot in it). 2. Click on the characteristic you re interested in (largest % gainers, etc.) from the drop-down menu. 3. Click on the exchange (e.g., NYSE) from the drop-down menu. 4. Click OK. For more detailed information on watch lists and positions in your account, see Chapter 8, Seeing Real -Time Details on Your Account Positions. For more detailed information on watch lists and top 10 performers, see Chapter 9, Setting Up Watch Lists to Get Detailed Information on Individual Stocks and Top 10 Performers in Real Time. How to see real-time charts See markets move and spot trends with intraday and historical charts. View up-to-the minute pricing and volume, plus add fully customizable technical studies and indicators. There are seven steps here plus optional eighth and ninth steps: 1. Once you know a security s symbol: 39

44 Click the Show Charts View icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click New. Click Chart View. The Chart Settings menu box appears on the screen as shown below. You use the Chart Settings dialog box to: Specify the type of chart Specify the start and end dates for the chart Specify the time period for the chart Add a technical study to the chart The Chart Settings window contains these features: Period: Start Date: End Date: Specifies the time intervals for the chart. The beginning date of the period displayed on the chart. The ending date of the period displayed on the chart. 40

45 Chart/Axis/Grid: Symbol: Study: Chart Type: OK: Can be used to customize the colors of each chart. Enter the symbol/symbols of the chart. Can be used to view selected studies on a chart. Candlestick, Bar, High, Low, Open, or Close. Saves the changes and closes the Chart Setup window. 2. Select the chart time period from the pull-down menu: Monthly Weekly Daily 30 minute 15 minute 5 minute 3 minute 1 minute 3. Specify the start day(s) and the end date for the chart in the provided fields. Click on the calendar icon for help with selecting dates. 4. Select the colors for the chart s background color, axis color, and grid color by clicking on the boxes in the upper right-hand corner. 5. Enter the symbol/symbols 6. (optional): Select a technical study from the pull-down list to be added to the chart. 7. Select the chart type from the pull-down menu (Candlestick, Bar, High-Line, Low-Line, Open-Line, Close-Line). 8. (optional): Customize the colors for the candlestick, bar or line chart. 9. Click OK. The chart appears. A sample chart is shown below: 41

46 For more detailed information on charts, see Chapter 10, Viewing Real-Time Charts. How to see streaming Nasdaq Level II quotes Get real-time bid and ask data from the major market centers. Multiple Level II quote windows allow you to estimate the depth of the market for several stocks simultaneously. There are three steps here plus optional fourth and fifth steps: 1. Click the Show Level II View icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click New on the Main menu. Click Level II View. The Level II View Setup dialog box comes on the screen as shown below: 42

47 2. Type in the symbol and, if applicable, the broker alert. 3. Click OK. 4. Right-click inside the lower portion of the Level II view (not the lower portion of the opening/ main screen). A pop-up menu (shown below) appears with nine choices: Setup Font Color Ranges Alert on Change Show Time Show Level I Show Trade Ticker Show Level II ECN Show ECN Book Accounts 43

48 5. Make your choices. For more detailed information on Level II views, see Chapter 11, Seeing Streaming Nasdaq Level II Quotes. How to link and leverage different views, charts and information You can use the links feature to create and select groups of views, charts and other information that are linked together by their symbols. A symbol change in one is applied to other views linked to it. Currently, you can link Chart, Watch List, Time & Sales, and Level II views as follows: Clicking a symbol in the Watch List changes the symbol in the Level II view, the symbol in the Time & Sales view, and the primary symbol in the Charts view. Changing the primary symbol in the Charts view changes the symbol in the Time & Sales and Level II views. Changing the symbol in the Level II view changes the symbol in the Time & Sales view and the primary symbol in the Charts view. Changing the symbol in the Time & Sales view changes the symbol in the Level II view and the primary symbol in the Charts view. 44

49 There are nine steps to create a link: 1. Place on the screen the information you want to link. 2. Click Utilities on the main menu. 3. Click Links. The Symbol Link Groups Manager dialog box appears as shown below: 4. In the Groups box, type a name for the group of linked views. The Symbol Link Groups Manager dialog box contains the following information: Groups The names assigned to groups of linked views. You can use the box below the word Groups to name a new linked group. Add Adds the group in the new group box to the list of linked groups. Remove Removes the selected group from the list of linked groups. Reset All Removes all groups except the Default group from the list of linked groups. Available The views on the current layout that can be added to the selected link group. A view can belong to only one group. 45

50 Add >> Adds the selected available view to the selected link group. << Remove Removes the selected view from the selected link group. << Remove All Removes all the views from the selected link group. In Selected Group The views contained in the selected group (the ones that you chose to link from the Available Group). OK Saves any changes to the linked groups and closes this window. Cancel Closes this window without saving changes. Apply Saves any group changes without closing this window. 5. Click Add. The new group name moves down and now appears in the group list as shown below (see Link2 in the dialog box). 6. Click the name of the new group (such as Link2) or an existing group in the list. 7. In the Available box, select the views you want to link. 46

51 TIP: You can select more than on view to move at a time. To select a string of views that are next to one another, hold down the Shift key and click the first and the last views in the string. To select views that are not next to one another, hold down the Ctrl key and click the views you want. Use the bracketed numbers in the view titles to make sure you are linking the views you want to link. 8. Click Add. The selected views are moved to the In Selected Group box. 9. Click OK to save the new linked group. The link will be saved as part of the saved layout on the screen. How to enter your orders and choose your order routing Use the Order Entry window (see below) to enter your orders and to route them directly to an ECN (Island, Instinet, or Archipelago) or use E*TRADE Financial s proprietary auto-routing system. 47

52 There are ten steps: 1. Make sure the correct account number is shown. If you have more than one account, click on the down arrow to select your account number from the drop-down menu. 2. Type in the security s symbol. 3. Click to select the condition (limit or market or stop). 4. Click to select the term (Day or GTC). 5. Complete the quantity. 6. Click to indicate whether you want all-or-none if the quantity is over Complete the price. 8. Click to indicate whether it s buy, sell, cover, or short. 9. Click AUTO, ISLAND, INSTINET, or ARCA to specify the order routing, and your order will be entered. TIP: Enter your order faster by double-clicking on the bid or ask in a watch list or Level II window. A confirmation pops up on the screen (see below): 10. Click OK to place the order or Cancel to cancel the order or make necessary changes. For more detailed information on completing your order and order routing, see Chapter 12, Entering and Routing Your Orders. 48

53 How to see live order status Watch your order dynamically update from the moment you place it to the time you receive confirmation that the order has been executed. See the status of all orders entered for that day. There s one step here plus optional second and third steps: 1. Click the Show Order Status View icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or Click New. Click Order Status View. The Order Status view appears as shown below: 2. Right-click inside of the lower portion of the Order Status view. A pop-up menu appears with three choices: Log cancels Confirm cancels Setup Pop Up on Export Order Status 3. Make your choices. For more detailed information on order status, see Chapter 13, Seeing Real-Time Order Status. How to see real time or historical display of bids, asks and trades The Time & Sales view provides a real-time or historical display of bids, asks and trades for a specified security. There are seven steps here plus optional eighth and ninth steps: 1. Click the Show Time & Sales View icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or 49

54 Click New. Click Time and Sales View. The Time & Sales Setup dialog box comes on the screen: 2. Type in the symbol. If you don t know a security s symbol, click on the Find button and the Find Symbol dialog box will come on the screen. You ll type in a company s name, click Find and once you have the results you need, click OK. 3. Click on the desired Time/Sales Time Period--Current or Historical. 4. If historical, in the Historical section click on the down arrow to see the drop-down menu. 5. Select the number of Days Back you want to see. 6. Select the start time and end time. 7. Click OK. A time and sales chart will appear. 8. Right-click inside the lower portion of the Time and Sales view. A pop-up menu appears with three choices as shown below: Time/Sales Setup Configure Time/Sales Show Symbol Entry Panel 50

55 9. Select a menu item. For more detailed information on time and sales charts, see Chapter 14, Seeing Real Time or Historical Display of Bids, Asks and Trades. How to set up and get alerts Stay close to the markets. Power E*TRADE Pro will alert you with sounds, messages, and windows when an event you specify has occurred. There are eight steps: 1. Click the Show Alerts View icon on the Toolbar at the left side of the screen. or... Click New. Click Alerts View. The Alerts Setup dialog box pops up: 51

56 2. Type in the symbol. 3. Click Add. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the other securities. 5. Click on a security s symbol to highlight it and then specify the conditions for the alert: Price >, Price <, New High, New Low, Opening >, Opening <, Total Volume >, Total Volume <, Tick Ct >. Specify how you ll be notified: Alert Window and/or certain text in a Note. 6. Click OK. The Alerts window will appear as shown below: 52

57 7. Click Setup alerts to call up the Alerts Setup dialog box to add another security to your alert list. 8. Click the Close button (the X) in the upper-right hand corner to close out this dialog box. For more detailed information, see Chapter 15, Setting Up and Getting Alerts. When an alert condition is met, you ll be notified. An example is shown below. To remove the alert from the screen, click OK and click the X. How to use High/Low Ticker The High/Low Ticker Window displays intraday and 52-week highs and lows for selected types of securities. You can specify which types of securities you would like the window to display, and customize the appearance and behavior of the ticker. 53