Connection Behaviour Settings
1. Purpose of Connection Behavior Settings
The Connection Behavior Settings control when and how OptionsApp establishes a connection to TWS.
This section is located in OptionsApp under:
Settings -> Connection Behavior
These settings are designed to automatically control the connection behaviour to TWS. This allows you to specify whether OptionsApp connects directly on startup or only establishes a connection to TWS within certain time windows.
2. Activate on Startup
The Activate on Startup setting determines whether OptionsApp should automatically establish a connection to TWS immediately on startup.
Setting: Yes
If Activate on Startup is set to Yes and you then click Save below, OptionsApp will attempt to automatically establish a connection to TWS after the next startup.
This means:
OptionsApp starts and immediately attempts to connect to TWS.
Setting: No
If Activate on Startup is set to No, OptionsApp will not automatically connect to TWS on startup.
In this case, the connection remains disconnected until it is either established based on the time schedule or manually initiated via the Connect button.
3. Time-Based Connection
Additionally, the connection to TWS can be controlled based on time. This approach is recommended, as it allows OptionsApp to only connect to TWS during relevant trading hours.
With time-based connection enabled, you can specify for Monday through Friday or for the entire week when OptionsApp should connect to TWS.
Typically, Monday through Friday are used for this purpose.
Enabling Saturday or Sunday is usually not necessary since regular options trading does not occur on those days. Additionally, brokers often perform maintenance work on weekends, which can result in brief connection interruptions.
4. Recommended Time Windows
The configured time window should at least cover the regular US core trading hours.
US core trading hours begin at 9:30 AM (US Eastern Time) and end at 4:00 PM.
Since settlements occur shortly after 4:00 PM, you should set the times somewhat more broadly.
Therefore, the minimum time window is recommended as:
Monday through Friday - 09:30 AM to 5:00 PM US Eastern Time
However, it is better to extend the time window somewhat further. This is particularly important if features like Profit Targets or other monitoring mechanisms should remain active during extended trading hours.
In this case, OptionsApp must remain connected to TWS so that open trades can be monitored and potential closures can be executed.
One more important note: The TWS Restart should occur outside the time period when OptionsApp is connected to avoid error messages and issues.
5. Manual Connection
If both Activate on Startup and Time-Based Connection are set to No, OptionsApp will not establish an automatic connection to TWS.
In this case, you must manually establish the connection.
To do this, open the Connection Status or connection icon at the top of OptionsApp and then click Connect.
Only then will OptionsApp attempt to establish a connection to TWS.
6. Saving Your Settings
Changes to the Connection Behavior Settings are only applied when you click Save at the bottom of the settings area.
If you do not save, the previous settings remain active.
7. Summary
The Connection Behavior Settings determine when OptionsApp should establish a connection to TWS.
There are three basic options:
- automatic connection immediately on OptionsApp startup
- time-based connection within defined weekdays and times
- manual connection via the Connect button
Time-based connection from Monday through Friday with a sufficiently large time window around US trading hours is recommended. This keeps OptionsApp connected to TWS during the relevant trading phase, depending on server and network connection, without being unnecessarily active outside trading hours.