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§24 SIMULATOR Settings

Practice the days that actually mattered with Market Replay, trade them with scalper hotkeys, and let each closed trade auto-log into your Trading Journal with its R-multiple so the practice-then-review loop closes itself.

Tapeboard SIMULATOR_SIMULATOR_SETTINGS

Table of Contents

  1. [Simulator Settings (SIM SETTINGS) Reference]
    • [Account & Realism Settings]
    • [Commission & Fee Structures]
    • [Execution & Audio Controls]
    • [Trade Defaults & Order Ticket Configuration]

2. Simulator Settings (SIM SETTINGS) Reference

The SIM SETTINGS modal configures execution logic, account rules, fee structures, and order entry defaults to tune the simulation environment to mirror live brokerage conditions.

2.1 Account & Realism Settings

Account Type

  • Options: CASH | MARGIN
  • Description: Controls account leverage rules, shorting capabilities, and settlement logic.
  • CASH: Operates with 1× leverage (cash equal to balance). Short selling is disabled. Funds settle according to standard cash settlement cycles.
  • MARGIN: Grants up to 4× intraday buying power (requires a minimum equity threshold of $2,000). Enables short selling capabilities.

CASH

Margin gets 4× intraday buying power (min $2k equity) and can short. Cash is 1× and can't short.

Commission / share ($)

Flat per-share commission on every fill. Default 0 (retail equities are commission-free).

Commission / trade ($)

Flat per-fill commission. Default 0.

SEC + TAF fees

Apply regulatory fees on sells (SEC §31 + FINRA TAF). Tiny but real.

Enforce legacy PDT rule

Off by default — the $25k PDT rule was eliminated 2026-06-04 (FINRA Rule 4210). Enable to simulate the old rule: block the 4th day-trade in a rolling 5 business days when equity < $25k (margin only).

Note: the PDT rule only applies to margin accounts, it has no effect on a cash account.

Order audio

Speak a short cue when an order fills or cancels (e.g. “Bought 100 AAPL at 282.65”), using your browser’s built-in voice. Off by default.

Note: the PDT rule only applies to margin accounts, it has no effect on a cash account.

MARGIN

Tapeboard SIMULATOR_SETTINGS_MARGIN

Margin gets 4× intraday buying power (min $2k equity) and can short. Cash is 1× and can't short. Commission / share ($)

Flat per-share commission on every fill. Default 0 (retail equities are commission-free). Commission / trade ($)

Flat per-fill commission. Default 0. SEC + TAF fees

Apply regulatory fees on sells (SEC §31 + FINRA TAF). Tiny but real. Enforce legacy PDT rule

Off by default — the $25k PDT rule was eliminated 2026-06-04 (FINRA Rule 4210). Enable to simulate the old rule: block the 4th day-trade in a rolling 5 business days when equity < $25k (margin only).

Enforce Legacy PDT Rule

  • Type: Toggle Checkbox (Disabled by default)
  • Description: Simulates historical Pattern Day Trader (PDT) regulations.
  • Off (Default): Mirrors updated regulatory frameworks (e.g., post FINRA Rule 4218 amendments) where the strict $25,000 equity restriction for day trading is eliminated or modified.
  • On: Re-enforces the legacy $25,000 minimum equity rule. If account equity drops below $25,000 on a margin account, the system restricts execution to a maximum of 3 day trades within a rolling 5-business-day window; executing a 4th day trade triggers a trading lock.
  • Note: The PDT rule strictly applies to MARGIN accounts; it has no effect on CASH accounts.

2.2 Commission & Fee Structures

Commission / Share ($)

  • Input Type: Numeric field (Default: 0)
  • Description: Configures a flat per-share fee charged on every executed order fill (e.g., $0.005 per share). Defaulting to 0 simulates modern commission-free retail equity trading.

Commission / Trade ($)

  • Input Type: Numeric field (Default: 0)
  • Description: Sets a fixed, flat transaction fee charged per executed order ticket regardless of share size.

SEC + TAF Fees

  • Type: Toggle Checkbox (Enabled by default)
  • Description: Applies real-world regulatory transaction fees exclusively to sell orders:
  • SEC Section 31 Fee: Small fee assessed on total principal dollar value of equity sales.
  • FINRA Trading Activity Fee (TAF): Per-share fee assessed on covered equity sell transactions.

2.3 Execution & Audio Controls

Order Audio

  • Type: Toggle Checkbox (Disabled by default)
  • Description: Enables real-time text-to-speech audio feedback for order executions and cancellations using the native browser speech synth engine (e.g., "Bought 100 AAPL at 282.65").

2.4 Trade Defaults & Order Ticket Configuration

Configures the default state for any newly opened order ticket. Modifications save instantly without altering active/open order tickets.

Default Quantity

  • Input Type: Numeric field (Default: 100)
  • Description: The starting share quantity auto-populated whenever a new order ticket is initialized.

Quantity Step (+ / -)

  • Input Type: Numeric field (Default: 100)
  • Description: Sets the increment/decrement step amount for the + and - manual adjustment buttons on the order ticket.

Quick Quantity Buttons

  • Input Type: Comma-separated list (Default: 100, 200, 500)
  • Description: Configures quick-selection preset buttons on the order execution widget. Accepts up to 5 comma-separated numerical values (e.g., 100, 200, 500, 1000).

Default Order Type

  • Options: AUTO | MARKET | LIMIT
  • Description:
  • AUTO: Retains platform system default (Limit order).
  • MARKET: Auto-selects instant execution at best available market price.
  • LIMIT: Auto-selects limit pricing requiring a specified price target.

Default Time-in-Force

  • Options: DAY | DAY+ | GTC | IOC | FOK
  • Description: Sets the default longevity order instruction:
  • DAY: Valid only during regular market session hours (9:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST); expires at market close.
  • DAY+: Includes extended hours trading (Pre-market and After-hours sessions).
  • GTC (Good-Til-Cancelled): Order remains active until manually cancelled or filled across sessions.
  • IOC (Immediate-Or-Cancel): Fills whatever portion can be executed immediately; cancels remaining balance.
  • FOK (Fill-Or-Kill): Requires the entire order size to fill immediately in full, or the whole order is cancelled.

Limit Price Pre-Fill

  • Options: LAST | BID | ASK | MID
  • Description: Dictates how the initial limit price field auto-populates when loading a symbol into the order ticket:
  • LAST: Populates using the most recent trade execution price.
  • BID: Populates using the current national best bid price (ideal for limit sells/shorts).
  • ASK: Populates using the current national best ask price (ideal for limit buys).
  • MID: Populates using the exact midpoint between Bid and Ask.