Tradovate Workspace Setup Basics for New Traders
A messy workspace equals messy trading. Tradovate gives you flexibility, but most beginners abuse it—too many windows, random layouts, and charts that look like a ransom note. Here’s how to set up a clean, functional workspace that doesn’t slow you down.
Start With a Single Layout
In the top-left menu, go to Workspace → New Layout. Name it something obvious like “Futures Layout.” Don’t create five layouts. You need one good one, not a collection of half-baked attempts.
Core Panels You Actually Need
Most traders only need four panels:
- Main Chart – your primary timeframe
- Secondary Chart – smaller timeframe or session view
- DOM – your order entry engine
- Watchlist – ES, MES, NQ, MNQ, CL, GC, etc.
If you’re running more than this as a beginner, you’re compensating—not learning. Keep it tight. Use the DOM guide you read earlier (DOM settings guide) to configure your ladder properly before continuing.
Arranging the Workspace
Drag windows by their top bar. Tradovate’s snap grid makes it easy to tile them cleanly. A good beginner setup is:
| Panel | Position |
|---|---|
| Main Chart | Left 2/3 of screen |
| Secondary Chart | Bottom-left or small right strip |
| DOM | Right side, vertical |
| Watchlist | Top-right or under DOM |
Saving Your Layout
Go to Workspace → Save. Tradovate autosaves on close, but don’t trust it blindly. Manual saves stop stupid surprises like losing your layout after a crash.
Workspaces for Evaluations
If you're trading prop firm evaluations, don’t clutter your screen. Use fewer markets and fewer panels. The more distractions you have, the easier it is to break rules. If you aren’t clear on those rules, read the hidden prop firm traps guide before risking anything.
Final Workspace Advice
A good workspace doesn’t look fancy—it looks boring. Clean lines, readable charts, and fast access to your DOM. That’s it. Anything beyond that is ego decoration, not trading.