Script keys

Script keys turn a one-line instruction into a single keystroke order. Bind a key combo to a short script and TickForge places that order — on the symbol currently linked to your Order Entry widget — the moment you press the key. They're the fastest way to trade a repeatable plan: scale in, take half off, flatten, or fire a full bracket without touching the mouse.

Script keys can send the order to the Interactive Brokers server instantly. If Quick Trade Mode is on (Settings → Trading), there is no confirmation step. Always test a new script on a paper account first.

Creating a script key

Open Settings → Script Keys and click + Add Script Key:

Name it something you'll recognize (for example, "Buy 100 at ask").
Key Combo — click the field and press the keys you want (for example, Ctrl+Shift+1).
Script — type the instruction (see below).
Click Validate to check it, then Save.

Script Keys settings

When you press a script key, the order is sent to Interactive Brokers for the symbol currently loaded in your Order Entry widget — there is no symbol field in the script. Load the symbol you want in Order Entry first (by typing it there, or via a link group), then press the key; the same script works on whatever symbol Order Entry is showing.

How a script is built

A script is a list of FIELD=VALUE pairs joined by the pipe character |:

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=100|TIF=DAY

Only ACTION is required. Every other field is optional and falls back to your Trading settings (or a built-in default) when you leave it out. Field names are not case-sensitive.

Fields

Field	Values	Notes
ACTION	`BUY`, `SELL`, `FLATTEN`, `CANCEL`	Required.
TYPE	`MKT`, `LMT`, `STP`	Default `MKT`. `LMT` and `STP` require a `PRICE`.
PRICE	`BID`, `ASK`, `LAST`, `MID`, or a number	The limit price — or the trigger price for a `STP` order.
QTY	a number, `POS`, `POS*N`, `FUNDS(pct%)`, `DOLLARS(amount)`	Defaults to your Trading default quantity.
TIF	`DAY`, `GTC`, `IOC`, `FOK`	Default `DAY`.
TP	a price expression	Take-profit leg.
SL	a price expression	Stop-loss leg. Include both `TP` and `SL` for a bracket order.
OUTSIDERTH	`TRUE`, `FALSE`	Allow the order to work outside regular trading hours.
ROUTE	`SMART`, `ARCA`, `NASDAQ`, `BATS`, `EDGX`	Needs Trading → Enable Direct Exchange Routing; otherwise everything routes `SMART`.

Prices

A price is an anchor — BID, ASK, LAST, or MID (the bid/ask midpoint) — or a plain number like 150.25. You can offset an anchor with one operator:

ASK+0.05 — five cents above the ask
BID-0.03 — three cents below the bid
ASK*0.99 — one percent below the ask

Only a single operation is allowed (+, -, or *) — there's no chaining like ASK+0.05*2. TP and SL accept the same price expressions.

Sizing

QTY accepts more than a share count:

100 — a fixed number of shares.
POS — your entire current position (handy for exits).
POS*0.5 — a fraction of your position (here, half), rounded down to whole shares.
DOLLARS(5000) — about $5,000 worth at the last price.
FUNDS(20%) — about 20% of your available funds at the last price.

Time in force

TIF sets how long the order stays alive at the broker:

DAY — works only for the current trading day; any unfilled portion is cancelled at the close.
GTC — good 'til cancelled; stays working across days until it fills or you cancel it.
IOC — immediate or cancel; fills whatever it can the instant it arrives and cancels the rest (a partial fill is allowed).
FOK — fill or kill; must fill in full immediately or it is cancelled entirely (no partial fill).

Examples

Copy any of these into a script key and adjust the numbers to your plan.

Entries

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=MKT|QTY=100

Buy 100 shares at market.

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=100|TIF=DAY

Buy 100 at the ask as a day limit.

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=BID+0.01|QTY=200|TIF=DAY

Join the bid plus a penny for 200 shares.

Sizing by money

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=MKT|QTY=DOLLARS(5000)

Buy roughly $5,000 worth at market.

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=FUNDS(20%)|TIF=DAY

Commit about 20% of available funds, limit at the ask.

Exits

ACTION=SELL|TYPE=MKT|QTY=POS

Sell the whole position at market.

ACTION=SELL|TYPE=MKT|QTY=POS*0.5

Take half off at market.

ACTION=SELL|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=POS|TIF=DAY

Offer the entire position at the ask.

Stops

ACTION=SELL|TYPE=STP|PRICE=LAST-0.30|QTY=POS

Stop the whole position out 30 cents below the last price.

Brackets (entry + take-profit + stop-loss)

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=100|TP=ASK+1.00|SL=ASK-0.50|TIF=DAY

Buy 100 at the ask, target +$1.00, stop −$0.50.

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=DOLLARS(3000)|TP=ASK+0.75|SL=ASK-0.25|TIF=DAY

A bracket sized by dollars: about $3,000 worth, target +$0.75, stop −$0.25.

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=100|SL=ASK*0.99|TIF=DAY

Buy with a protective stop one percent below the entry (no profit target).

Short selling

ACTION=SELL|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=BID|QTY=200|TP=BID-0.80|SL=BID+0.40|TIF=DAY

Short 200 at the bid; cover $0.80 lower, stop out $0.40 higher.

Routing and extended hours

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=BID|QTY=100|ROUTE=ARCA|TIF=DAY

Route directly to ARCA (requires direct routing enabled).

ACTION=BUY|TYPE=LMT|PRICE=ASK|QTY=100|OUTSIDERTH=TRUE|TIF=DAY

Allow the order to work in the pre- and post-market.

Emergency keys

ACTION=FLATTEN

Close the active symbol's position immediately at market (always routed SMART). All other fields are ignored.

ACTION=CANCEL

Cancel every open order on the account. All other fields are ignored.

Starter scripts (Buy, Sell, Flatten, Cancel) can be installed for you during the first-run setup, or any time by re-running the setup wizard.

Where to next

Connect Claude Desktop — ask Claude about your account and place orders by describing them.