Panels Overview
Panels are the building blocks of your OptionsRealTime workspace or Dashboard.
All panels have one or more views. Panels must have one view named Default. Any number of views can be created for each panel, giving flexibility in customizing the appearance of each panel.
For example, a Quotes panel might contain three underlyings (AMZN, MSFT, and NVDA) in a specific order, with a specific font size and simple layout, saved as the Default view. A second view in that same Quotes panel could have different symbols, colors, and font sizes, with a more detailed layout containing options Greeks information, saved as myQuotes. Simply click the listbox containing both Default and myQuotes to select the desired view.
The Default view of any panel or Dashboard cannot be renamed or deleted because it is a special view which all panels must have. However, the Default view can be modified and customized like any other view. Non-Default views can be renamed or deleted. Any view can also be Saved As a new view, essentially copying or cloning it.
A Dashboard view may start as an empty grid on which any panel can be dropped, resized, and dragged to a position. A Dashboard view may also be cloned from another Dashboard’s view, then renamed and customized. Dashboards, like panels, can have any number of views, each with any number of panels. Quickly select from any custom Dashboard by name, each with its own background color, theme, font sizes, and associated panel views.
Panel and Dashboard Operations
Section titled “Panel and Dashboard Operations”| Default View | Non-Default View | |
|---|---|---|
| Save | ✓ | ✓ |
| Save As | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reload | ✓ | ✓ |
| Load Default View | ✓ | ✓ |
| Delete | ✗ | ✓ |
| Rename | ✗ | ✓ |
Dashboard-Only Operations
Section titled “Dashboard-Only Operations”| Default View | Non-Default View | |
|---|---|---|
| Save As Startup | ✓ | ✓ |
| Load Startup View | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create | ✓ | ✓ |
| Create (Current Style) | ✓ | ✓ |
- Save As Startup: Save any Dashboard as the startup view (the first view seen when launching the application)
- Create: Make a new blank Dashboard view
- Create (Current Style): Make a new blank Dashboard view using the same fonts and themes as the current view
Common Features
Section titled “Common Features”All panels:
- Support the operations in the tables above
- Can be selected by a left mouse click
- Show a thick dashed border and alignment lines when selected
- Can be moved by dragging the hatched upper portion of the titlebar when selected
- Can be resized by hovering over edges or corners and dragging when selected
- Have a titlebar (the window frame in which the panel resides)
- Have a listbox of views in the right corner of the titlebar
- Have a hamburger menu in the right corner for managing views
- Have a maximize/restore icon for making the panel occupy the entire Dashboard
- Have a settings icon (gear) for configuring panel-specific attributes
- May have a chevron in the left corner for additional controls; when clicked, it opens or closes a row containing lists, checkboxes, or other inputs
- Support real-time data updates
Keyboard Controls
Section titled “Keyboard Controls”Besides mouse dragging and resizing, panels can be controlled via keyboard:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move right | Ctrl + → |
| Move left | Ctrl + ← |
| Move bottom border up | Ctrl + Shift + ↑ |
| Move bottom border down | Ctrl + Shift + ↓ |
| Move right border right | Ctrl + Shift + → |
| Move right border left | Ctrl + Shift + ← |
| Move left border right | Ctrl + Alt + → |
| Move left border left | Ctrl + Alt + ← |
| Select next panel (top to bottom) | Tab |
| Select previous panel | Shift + Tab |
Other Useful Shortcuts
Section titled “Other Useful Shortcuts”| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Reload entire Dashboard and all panels | Ctrl + R |
| Save entire Dashboard and all panels | Ctrl + S |
| Undo last layout change (resize, move, etc.) | Ctrl + Z |
Settings
Section titled “Settings”Each panel and the Dashboard itself has settings accessible via the gear icon in the upper-right corner of the titlebar. Settings typically include font size for chart labels, graph or quote size for containers, or colors for particular features.
Dashboard settings apply to that entire Dashboard only. For example, one Dashboard could have a particular background theme, font style, and large font sizes for those who prefer larger text. Every setting is saved for that particular Dashboard or panel as a group and is not applied system-wide.
Even settings like account masking are per-Dashboard, as one Dashboard may be used for screenshots to share on a website or video stream while another may not.
Settings Dialog Controls
Section titled “Settings Dialog Controls”All settings panels have a common set of dialog controls at the bottom:
- Reset: Reverts changes made in the current session to the last state in memory
- Reset to Defaults: Restores all settings to factory defaults
- OK: Saves changes to memory and closes the dialog
- Cancel: Discards changes and closes the dialog
Below are demos illustrating some of the concepts introduced above:
In these videos, a blank Dashboard is created, the lock icon is pressed to enter Design Mode, and panels are added. The Dashboard’s auto-layout features position the panels. An exposure graph is added, custom settings are applied, and a new name is given.
Panel Types
Section titled “Panel Types”Dashboard
Section titled “Dashboard”- Dashboard — Central workspace
Metrics
Section titled “Metrics”- Metrics — Single-value portfolio indicators
- Portfolio Metrics — Portfolio-level metrics
Quotes
Section titled “Quotes”- Quotes — Real-time quote displays
Reports
Section titled “Reports”- Reports — Position reports grouped by underlying or expiration
Charts
Section titled “Charts”- PnL Charts — Aggregate PnL through time with underlying last price overlay
- Exposure Chart — Greeks and metrics exposure by underlying at different implied vols
- Vol Scenario Chart — Volatility what-if analysis
- Maturity Chart — Option positions and metrics by expiration
- Portfolio PnL Chart — Portfolio PnL through time
- Net Liq Chart — Portfolio net liquidation value through time
Tables
Section titled “Tables”- Tables — Exposure, security, portfolio, and system tables
Other Panels
Section titled “Other Panels”- Log Viewer — Application logs and diagnostics