Bookmap Workspace Setup: Clean Layout for Futures Traders
Your Bookmap workspace decides whether the platform is useful or just visual noise. If you throw every column and indicator on the screen at once, you’ll miss the important stuff. This walkthrough shows how to set up a clean Bookmap workspace for futures trading so you can actually read order flow.
Core Pieces of a Bookmap Workspace
A solid Bookmap workspace for futures usually includes:
- One main heatmap chart per instrument
- Relevant DOM columns (depth, recent trades, imbalance)
- Clear volume bubbles with readable size
- Minimal but useful indicators/add-ons
- Saved presets for quick loading
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Main heatmap | Shows liquidity and price path |
| DOM columns | Depth, recent trades, imbalance |
| Volume bubbles | Executed market orders |
| Add-ons | Optional tools like icebergs, sweeps |
| Presets | Reload your setup instantly |
If you’re not clear on what Bookmap shows overall, start with Bookmap Basics: What It Is and How It Works and then come back to this.
Step 1: Choose Your Instruments and Layout
Don’t load eight markets at once. Start with one or two futures contracts you actually trade, like ES, NQ, CL, or GC.
For layout, a simple approach:
- One main Bookmap window per instrument
- Or a tiled layout with two instruments side by side
You can always scale up later once you’re actually reading the flow cleanly.
Step 2: Clean Up the Heatmap View
The heatmap should show liquidity clearly without looking like a rave.
- Dial in contrast so big levels pop and small noise fades
- Adjust opacity so you can still see price and bubbles
- Keep the visible price range tight enough to matter intraday
If you haven’t gone deep on this yet, read Bookmap Heatmap Basics to understand exactly what you’re tuning.
Step 3: DOM Columns That Actually Matter
You don’t need every possible column. Focus on the ones that tell you something useful:
- Bid/Ask size – shows resting liquidity
- Recent trades – shows where trades just hit
- Cumulative depth – shows how thick/thin the book is
Trim off anything you never look at. If a column doesn’t help you make a decision, kill it. For more detail on the DOM itself, check Bookmap Order Book (DOM) Basics.
Step 4: Volume Bubble Visibility
Bubbles should be obvious, not microscopic or overwhelming.
- Increase minimum bubble size to hide tiny noise
- Use enough opacity to see clusters quickly
- Keep the color scheme consistent so red vs blue is instantly clear
If you can’t tell at a glance who is hitting harder—buyers or sellers—your bubble settings are wrong.
Step 5: Add-Ons and Extra Indicators (Don’t Overdo It)
Most people overcomplicate Bookmap with every add-on they can find. Start simple:
- Consider an iceberg/absorption add-on if you care about hidden orders
- Maybe enable a sweeps/stop run tool if you trade momentum
- Avoid stacking five different footprint-style tools on top of each other
The point is to see clearer, not drown in overlays.
Step 6: Time and Zoom Settings
Your workspace needs the right time window:
- Too much history = clutter
- Too little = no context
For intraday futures, a common setup:
- Last 30–60 minutes front and center
- Ability to scroll back if you need prior session levels
Use horizontal and vertical zoom so that individual price levels and bubbles are easy to see without squinting.
Step 7: Save Your Workspace
Once you have a layout that actually works, save it so you don’t rebuild it every morning.
- Save the layout as a profile or workspace (depending on your Bookmap version)
- Create separate profiles if you trade different products or sessions
If you start tinkering and ruin everything, just reload the saved workspace and you’re back in business.
Final Thoughts
A good Bookmap workspace is simple: one or two instruments, a clear heatmap, meaningful DOM columns, readable bubbles, and a couple of add-ons you actually use. If you have to stare for ten seconds just to understand what’s going on, your layout is doing too much. Strip it down, save the clean version, and build your reading skill on that.