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Getting Started

If you have any questions or require assistance navigating Full Scale Trading's simulator or live trading account, our support team is always more than happy to help. You can reach us through email, live chat, or phone.

Step 1 - Create a Full Scale Trading Account

Create a Full Scale account and start a free trial to receive your trading account credentials

Start Free Trial

Step 2 - Download the Sterling Trader Pro Trading Software

Click here to download Sterling Trader Pro. This is the trading platform you will be using to execute and manage trades.

Download Sterling Pro

Or, download through the official Sterling website:

https://www.sterlingtradingtech.com/products-and-services/platforms/sterling-trader-pro/

  • Click the "Download Current Pro Version" link on Sterling website
  • When prompted to Run or Save, please choose Run

Once the download is complete, double click to launch.

Sterling Trader Pro currently only works on Windows operating systems.

Step 3 - Login With Your Trading Account Credentials

During the setup of your account, you'll be prompted for your Trader ID and Password. Your account details for this step should be available in the Account section of your Full Scale trading dashboard. If you haven't signed up yet, you can start a free trial here and get a trading account.

You can also request a demo account from Sterling to access the platform right away. The demo account comes with delayed data and fake execution prices, but will let you set up your layout and preferences set up, as well as practice the mechanics of placing and managing trades through a trading simulator.

Step 4 - Create And Save A Trading Layout

Now it's time to set up your trading layout. This is the configuration of various trading windows on your screen(s).
Which features go where is up to you, but the core of a trading setup usually consists of the following windows

  • Level 2
  • Time and Sales
  • Trading Monitor
  • Position Summary
  • Clock (synced with market time)
  • Charts (Sterling or 3rd party)

All these windows are available through the following menu:

To get you started, Sterling has some tutorial videos on getting set up. Be sure to save your layout before logging out!

Step 5 - Set Up Hotkeys

Speed of execution is key for day trading. Hotkeys greatly increase the speed and volume of orders a trader is able to place, by replacing a series of mouse clicks with a single key stroke.

To set up the hot keys click “Enable Hot Keys”. The most important things to set up are the QTY, the action (sell, short, or buy), the price, and the desination

View Sterling's hotkey setup tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4nm1Sw4pC0

The core hotkeys we recommend setting up are:

  • LMT Buy
  • LMT Sell
  • STP Buy
  • STP Sell
  • Cxl/Close All

Step 6 - Charting

If you've chosen to go with another charting provider, proceed with setting it up and incorporate it into your workstation layout. A quick google search into stock charting software should yield a number of options.

Out of the paid offerings, eSignal is a market leader. If you're looking for something free, we'd recommend checking out TradingView and/or FreeStockCharts . These are both freemium - but are pretty damn useful and feature-rich even at their free tiers.

Step 7 - Trade!

Now you're all set to hit the markets and begin your proprietary trading journey! Start small on your first few trades - we recommend something liquid and slow, such as GE, with 100 shares.

Navigate to your desired symbol through a level 2 window, and use your hotkeys to prepare and submit an order.

In case of issues or emergencies, our support team is always available during market hours, with the ability to cancel/close orders if necessary.