Frequently Asked Questions

Xtend

How do I create a Watch List?
To create a Watch List in Xtend, begin entering the symbol into the look up field. You can enter exact symbols or choose from the symbols and descriptions that drop down as you enter text. You can also drag and drop symbols from anywhere in Xtend to the Watch List.
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How do I add a new Watch List to Xtend?
To create a new Watch List, maximize the Watch List module. On the right side of the Watch List view, click on Create and enter a name into the text field and click "Create New Watch List". Your new Watch List will be available immediately and you can begin adding symbols to create this new list.
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How do I link accounts in Xtend?
In order to link accounts from Xtend, you will need to know the account number of the account you would like to link. To begin the process, open the Activity module of Xtend and hover over the Account tab and then select Profile from the drop down. On the right side of the page, click on the Link Accounts hyperlink. A new window will pop up where you will enter the account number and submit the request.
In order to confirm that these accounts should be linked, you will need to login to the account which you have requested linking and Accept the link request. To do this, log into the account, hover over the Account tab and select Profile. Once in Profile, select the Link Accounts hyperlink and click on Accept to confirm the request.
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How do I switch between profiles? Linked accounts?
To switch between different profiles within Xtend, click on the Settings button at the top of your dashboard. At the top of the menu there is a Current Profile drop down that allows you to select the profile view you would like to use. Select a profile from the drop down by clicking and Xtend will apply changes, and adjust your dashboard view to the settings.
To switch between accounts, click on the Account information tab next to Settings at the top of your dashboard. By clicking on the pull down you will be able to see which accounts are linked and toggle between them.
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How do I set up email alerts?
To set up email alerts for your Watch List, open the Activity module of Xtend. Hover over the Quotes tab and select Watch Lists from the drop down. From this screen you can create a new Watch List, adjust the order of your Watch List(s), and set up email and system alerts. To create an email alert, select the symbol for which you would like to create one and click on the Alert hyperlink. The selected row will expand to allow you to select the parameters and selections for your alert. You can change notification options by clicking on the Notification Options hyperlink.
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How do I place a trade from the Trade Ticket?
From the Trade Ticket you can place regular and advanced orders, including OTO, OCO, Trailing Stop, and Contingent orders. To place a trade from Trade Ticket you can use the symbol look up for stock, options or futures, or drag the symbol from any of your other dashboard modules. From the Trade Ticket you can adjust buy/sell, enter number of shares or contracts, select between instruments and/or strategies, choose Limit, Market, Stop, Stop Limit, or Market On Close.
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How do I change my theme?
You can change your theme at any time from Settings. Feel like changing from black to blue? Use the General section of Settings. Interested in using a pre-loaded theme? Go to the Themes tab and select from Trade View, Stock, News, Options, or Active.
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How can I get in touch with optionsXpress Customer Service?
You may call us during U.S. market hours at 1300 781 132 . You may also chat online with customer service or trading staff using Live Help during U.S. market hours.
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How can I get new versions of Xtend?
When a new version of Xtend is released by optionsXpress, you will be prompted by Xtend when you start the application. This prompt will enable you to automatically load updates. Your settings and profiles are also transferred in new updates, so there is no need to reconfigure or re-set your preferences.
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How do I submit feature requests or provide feedback?
Your experience is very important to us, and we continually strive to enhance our products. We are always looking for feedback from our customers and encourage you to submit your comments and thoughts. To send us feedback from Xtend, click on the Help Center icon at the bottom of Xtend and select "Send Feedback". A new dialogue where you can enter questions, concerns, or request features will open over your dashboard.
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What is Community? Do I need special privileges to participate?
Xtend Community is an online gathering place for traders to chat, discuss, and exchange ideas and thoughts. Available from the Community button at the bottom of your dashboard, the Community feature is a secure chat environment comprised of multiple rooms and accessible by all Xtend users.
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If I have multiple optionsXpress accounts, can I login to Xtend with them?
Yes. If you have any optionsXpress accounts you can download and use Xtend. If your accounts are linked, they will also be available from Xtend.
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What is Trade Patterns? Is it secure?
Trade Patterns provides a graphical interpretation of the trades being made by other anonymous, like-minded investors. Enter a symbol into the look up to view trading analysis, and click on symbols within Trade Patterns module to refine your analysis. Trade Patterns is secure, and no private customer data is released from this module.
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Where are you physically located?
optionsXpress Australia' main office is located at:
Unit 5, 4 Skyline Place
Frenchs Forest NSW 2086
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How are accounts protected?
optionsXpress is a member of SIPC, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which protects against losses caused by the financial failure of the broker-dealer, but not against losses resulting from depreciation in a security's value. Your optionsXpress accounts are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), up to $500,000 (including up to $100,000 for cash claims).
Additionally, optionsXpress at its own initiative, and at no additional cost to you, has secured excess SIPC coverage offering your account additional account protection beyond SIPC's limits. optionsXpress' excess SIPC policy covers in the aggregate up to $100,000,000 each and every loss, subject to a maximum limit of $24,500,000 per customer, $900,000 of which may be cash.
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What are Xtend's System Requirements?
Xtend was designed and developed to be installed and used in basically all modern computers. Even so, we recommend certain minimum system requirements for optimal performance:
Windows
  • Intel® Pentium® III 1GHz or faster processor, 512MB of RAM
  • Recommended: Pentium 4 2GHZ or faster, 1 GB of RAM
  • Windows 7, Windows Vista®, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, or Enterprise include 64 bit editions, Windows Vista SP1, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition SP2 and SP3, Windows 2000 SP4, Windows 2003 Server
MAC OS X
  • Intel Core™ Duo 1.83 GHz or faster processor; Power PC® G4 1GHz or faster processor
  • Mac OS X 10.4.11 or Mac OS X 10.5.4, 10.5.5, and 10.6
  • 512MB of RAM
Linux
  • Intel® Pentium® III 1GHz or faster processor, 512MB of RAM
  • Recommended: Pentium 4 2GHZ or faster, 1GB of RAM
  • Fedora 8 and later, Ubuntu 7.10 and later, OpenSuse 10.3 and later
  • Xterm should be present on the system
Built on Adobe Air, Xtend only requires users to install Air and Xtend files to run the application.
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