Options Prices

Using the Options Prices icon you can insert futures options chains into excel.

After clicking on the Options Prices icon the Insert Options dialogue will display where you can use the search for symbol field or find optionable stocks and futures options through the symbol browser tree.

Once the underlying instrument has been selected, add any fields you wish to display in the options chain. Note that the fields will vary depending on whether an equity option or futures option has been selected.

Now the Parameters can be selected. Here you can change the expiration using the ‘Expiration Dates’ drop down, update the 'View' type and number of strikes and change the ‘Strike Display’. The Static strike display will lock the option chain as the underlying moves. Dynamic strike display' will update the range of strikes as the underlying moves.

If you would like to insert all expirations at one time into your excel sheet, the ‘All’ selection will insert all open expiries. You can also insert all monthly or all weekly expirations at one time by clicking on those respective links. Multiple expiries can also be added through the Expiration dates drop down. Here you can select all expirations that you want to insert by checking the box next to expiration date.

There are three different ‘Views’ that can be applied for option data. The default is Side-by-side with 10 strikes applied. This view will display the 10 closest calls and puts near ‘at the money.’ By clicking on the default 10 drop down, you can opt to show additional strikes, add your own value of strikes to display or opt to view all open strikes for that expiration(s).

The second view is Side-by-side range where you can set a custom range of strikes to display.

The last view is Stacked. The Stacked view lists calls and puts one on top of the other. Using Stacked, you can set the amount of strikes in and out of the money you wish to display for both calls and puts. Using the ‘Apply to all’ option will update all in and out of the money fields at one time with the selected value.

Once completed, click Insert and the equity option chain will display in the excel spreadsheet.

For futures options, depending on the underlying contract, selecting the option type will be necessary (default is American). The Expiration dates drop down will allow you to choose different expirations available regardless of the underlying selected. Number of rows (strikes) can updated and the strike display can be static (rows do not update with underlying) or dynamic. The Select All Expirations button can be applied to display all expirations of the options type selected, or individual expiries can be selected from the expirations drop down.

By default, the Highlight Strikes parameter is checked.

Favorites

After inserting any underlying’s option chain, the Favorites tab will save these instruments for easy insertion later.

Upon opening Favorites, you will see a list of the last 20 symbols whose option data was viewed. Double click or click and drag a symbol to add the underlying to the insert dialogue.

The Favorites dialogue can be enlarged by clicking on the pin icon in the upper right corner and then hidden by clicking the pin icon once again.