Option Tracker
Guides
4 min read

Trade Entry with Live Validation

Step-by-step guide for entering options trades with automatic contract matching and validation.

This guide walks you through entering a new options trade with automatic contract validation. The app matches your trade to real market contracts so you get live pricing from the start.

Trade Entry Form

Opening the Trade Form

  1. Go to the Trades page
  2. Click the New Trade button
  3. The trade entry form opens as a dialog

Step 1: Select Ticker

Start by entering the stock symbol:

  1. Type in the Ticker field (e.g., "AAPL")
  2. As you type, matching tickers appear below
  3. Click the ticker or press Enter to select it

The company name fills in automatically.

Step 2: Choose Expiration

After selecting a ticker, the expiration dropdown populates with available dates:

  1. Click the Expiration dropdown
  2. Available expiration dates appear, sorted nearest first
  3. Each date shows its type: (Monthly), (Weekly), or (Quarterly)
  4. Click to select your expiration date

LEAPS (Long-Term Options)

By default, the dropdown shows the next 12 months of expirations. For longer-dated options:

  1. Scroll to the bottom of the dropdown
  2. Click Load X more expirations (LEAPS)
  3. Additional expirations up to 2+ years out appear

Step 3: Select Strike

Once you have a ticker and expiration, the strike dropdown becomes active:

  1. Click the Strike dropdown
  2. Available strikes appear, centered on the current stock price (ATM)
  3. Type a number to filter (e.g., "185" jumps to $185 strikes)
  4. Click to select your strike price

The strikes are sorted with ATM (at-the-money) options near the middle, making it easy to find common targets.

Step 4: Option Type and Action

Select the option details:

  • Option Type: CALL or PUT
  • Action: BUY or SELL

Common combinations:

  • SELL PUT - Cash-secured put (wheel strategy start)
  • SELL CALL - Covered call (income on shares you own)
  • BUY CALL - Bullish speculation
  • BUY PUT - Bearish speculation or hedge

Step 5: Contract Validation

As you complete the form, the app validates your contract in real-time:

Successful Match

When your trade matches a live contract:

  • Green checkmark appears
  • "Contract matched" or "Exact match" message
  • The OCC symbol displays (e.g., AAPL250117C00185000)

No Match Found

If no matching contract exists:

  • Amber warning appears
  • "No matching contract found" message
  • The app may suggest similar contracts

This can happen if:

  • The strike doesn't exist for that expiration
  • The expiration date isn't valid
  • The ticker doesn't have options

Tip: Select from the dropdowns rather than typing to ensure valid selections.

Step 6: Enter Trade Details

Complete the remaining fields:

| Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | Contracts | Number of contracts (each = 100 shares) | | Premium | Price per share you paid or received | | Fees | Broker commission (optional) | | Notes | Any notes about the trade (optional) | | Tags | Labels for organization (optional) |

Step 7: Review and Confirm

When you click Save, a confirmation dialog appears showing:

  • Trade summary (ticker, strike, expiration, type)
  • Number of contracts and shares equivalent
  • Premium per share and total premium
  • Net cost or credit (after fees)
  • Break-even price
  • Contract match status

Review the details, then:

  • Click Confirm to create the trade
  • Click Edit to go back and make changes

Tips for Successful Contract Matching

  1. Use the dropdowns - Selecting from dropdowns ensures valid expirations and strikes

  2. Check the stock has options - Some smaller stocks don't have options chains

  3. Watch for adjusted strikes - After splits, some strikes may not exist exactly

  4. Weekly vs Monthly - Weekly options may have fewer available strikes

  5. Enter trades promptly - Contracts can be delisted after expiration

What Happens After You Save

Once your trade is saved:

  1. It appears on your Trades page with live pricing (if matched)
  2. P&L updates as the option price changes
  3. DTE (days to expiration) badge appears
  4. Break-even tracking begins
  5. Expiration notifications are scheduled

If the contract wasn't matched, you'll see a "No live data" badge. You can still track the trade manually or try re-matching later.

Editing Trades

If you need to change a trade after creation:

  1. Click the three-dot menu on the trade card
  2. Select Edit
  3. Update the fields as needed
  4. Save to re-validate the contract

When you change the strike, expiration, or option type, the app automatically re-matches the contract.