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Thinkorswim format export

How Tradient formats trades for paper-trading in Thinkorswim, journaling, or copy/paste into chat.

5 min readexportthinkorswimjournaling

Every Tradient result and position can be exported in Thinkorswim’s human-readable trade format. It’s the de facto lingua franca for sharing options trades in chat, on Twitter, and in trading journals — and you can paste it directly into Thinkorswim’s order ticket to load a paper trade.

The format

Thinkorswim format is a one-line text representation of a multi-leg options trade:

BUY +1 IRON CONDOR SPY 100 17 JAN 25 460/465/430/425 CALL/PUT @0.85 LMT

Reading the parts:

  • BUY +1 — direction and quantity. For credit strategies, the convention is still “BUY” with a positive credit.
  • IRON CONDOR — strategy label.
  • SPY — underlying.
  • 100 — contract multiplier (always 100 for standard options).
  • 17 JAN 25 — expiration date.
  • 460/465/430/425 — strikes in TOS canonical order.
  • CALL/PUT — leg types matching the strikes.
  • @0.85 LMT — net price and order type.

Where to find the export

  • Radar results — every result row has an export button (the bracket icon) that copies the TOS string to clipboard.
  • Focus mode analysis — same button at the top of the analysis card.
  • Portfolio positions— the position drawer has a “Copy as TOS” action so you can journal the trade you actually own.

Pasting into Thinkorswim

  1. Open Thinkorswim (paper or live).
  2. Right-click anywhere in the chart or active trader window → Buy custom → With OCO bracket... or just open a new order ticket.
  3. In the order entry box, paste the TOS string.
  4. TOS parses it and populates the legs automatically.
  5. Review and confirm at TOS — Tradient does not place this trade for you.
Tip
This is the cleanest way to paper-trade Tradient ideas without connecting a live broker. Copy the TOS string from Radar, paste into Thinkorswim’s paper account, and track the result in your TOS journal. When you’re ready, connect your live broker and place trades through Tradient directly.

Format quirks

  • Single-leg trades drop the strategy label: SELL -1 SPY 100 17 JAN 25 430 PUT @1.40 LMT.
  • Calendar spreads include both expirations: ...17 JAN 25/14 FEB 25 430 PUT.... Tradient doesn’t currently scan calendars but if you’ve built one in Focus mode it exports correctly.
  • Net debit vs credit is implied by the BUY/SELL prefix and the sign of the price. TOS displays credits with a leading minus by convention; Tradient mirrors that.

Where to go next