Support Board
Date/Time: Tue, 30 Jun 2026 10:13:18 +0000
[User Discussion] - Reading Time and Sales in Sierra compared to other platforms.
View Count: 340
| [2026-05-15 21:25:18] |
| Island_Trader - Posts: 35 |
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I've been transitioning over to Sierra. Really enjoy the DOM, the tape however is another mess. So, thought I'd come here and ask if there are any tape readers here that might give some pointers to reading Sierra tape. I've been reading the tape for many many years in Ninjatrader, their tape moves down so you can follow it with your eyes. However Sierra tape moves from one line to the next, it doesn't move down. It's harder to follow down with your eyes. Are you just reading the top line only? Currently using Ninjatrader tape with Sierra DOM.... until I can get a read with Sierra tape. **I've also used ATAS and their tape is like Ninjatrader, the tape moves down so you can read it. I'm thinking the tape in Sierra/TT doesn't move because they are written in C++ so one line replaces the next, they don't scroll down as a function.
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| [2026-05-18 14:49:18] |
| John - SC Support - Posts: 46952 |
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I'm thinking the tape in Sierra/TT doesn't move because they are written in C++ so one line replaces the next, they don't scroll down as a function.
This statement does not make any sense. The Sierra Chart Time and Sales scrolls the data up as new data is added. So the most recent information is at the bottom of the window, and the data goes up in time. It is NOT replacing just a single line. Keep in mind, that if there are more trades occurring between the update interval of the Time and Sales window, then the entire window will change - that is, you may not see it "scroll" as there are more lines that need to be replaced than are shown in the window at that time. For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, use the Teton service: Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing |
| [2026-05-18 15:07:38] |
| Island_Trader - Posts: 35 |
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John, Thank you for the response. I think it’s been determined you’re correct it’s a gap issue. The gap between rows of tape is the problem. I’m overjoyed to know there’s an easy fix for it. Is there anything that I can do in my windows settings to adjust the row height or is that something you’re able to implement? |
| [2026-05-18 15:54:32] |
| John - SC Support - Posts: 46952 |
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The only setting that affects row height for the Time and Sales at this time is the Font. Refer to the following: Graphics Settings: Time and Sales Window Engineering is looking into an adjustment factor that can be applied to change the spacing between the rows. We do not know exactly when this might be done. For the most reliable, advanced, and zero cost futures order routing, use the Teton service: Sierra Chart Teton Futures Order Routing |
| [2026-05-18 17:10:46] |
| Island_Trader - Posts: 35 |
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Thank you for your help.
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| [2026-05-18 22:26:22] |
| seandunaway - Posts: 393 |
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So, thought I'd come here and ask if there are any tape readers here that might give some pointers to reading Sierra tape.
it's my opinion to not try to "read" the tape.. to not look at specific numbers or volumes coming through.. that no single print has any relevance at all (because it doesn't).. i find it irrelevant how many traded at a price, regardless of how fast it's scrolling. your mind will intuitively know subjective relative values like, "wow a lot" and "not much" efforting, and if it is being matched or not instead focus on the top portion of the tape only, about the top five or ten or occasionally twenty lines exclusively. with really soft eyes, even squinting again, just one man's opinion, but i do not think it's helpful at all to highlight or color differently any print. i do not care about where we traded five minutes or five hours or five days ago including opens or highs or levels, or if we traded above the ask.. the highlights distract from something else i'm trying to get in touch with which is the overall flow a line on a chart is not support, only buyers buying right now in this present moment is support it's my opinion that a different game unfolds if you're willing to stare at it exclusively without a single other distraction including a chart or dom. you've gotta get good and bored before the awareness will increase eventually you might begin to see a game of buyer or seller imbalances the way you might watch a football game or a sumo wrestling match. if you find it so entertaining you want popcorn and see story arcs like character development, conflict, climax, resolution then you're there a simple game of buyers and sellers balance and imbalances in the present moment then it's just another ten thousand hours of replay to honor what you see and execute it flawlessly and not follow irrelevant detours, despite all our human flaws and fears simple but not easy i'm not the authority but that's what i've personally found helpful after a decade of watching every tick then again you may have not wanted general tape recommendations and specifically wanted only sierrachart tape recommendations in which case there ain't nothing to it but to do it. whatever your preference was before will be rewritten and adapt in just a few dozen hours of replay. your mind's eye is more flexible than any piece of software Date Time Of Last Edit: 2026-05-18 22:44:52
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| [2026-05-18 22:53:48] |
| seandunaway - Posts: 393 |
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also i know it's obvious but just for completeness sake for those newer to the tape.. a green print may mean an initiative buyer crossing the spread and lifting the offer but it doesn't necessarily mean it's bullish.. a responsive seller sold it to them after all a page of green and also a page of red could imply a lot of aggressive buying and it's about knowing the difference of limit orders getting hit into and soaking and emotional orders lifting emotionally chasing or stopping out it might be helpful for people to think of energy in and energy out, as every buyer is a future seller and every seller is a future buyer and you might be able to anticipate areas where traders have entered and are now trapped and a liability finally i think where price can't go is just as telling as where it can and to not forget the negative space and absence of orders in these markets sorry for the book and of course don't take advice from people on the interwebs where opinions are pretty worthless Date Time Of Last Edit: 2026-05-19 13:56:18
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| [2026-05-18 23:22:46] |
| Island_Trader - Posts: 35 |
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Thanks for the tips. I probably need some time adapting to a different tape. It's never easy moving from one software to another. In a few months this will be old hat at least that's the hope anyway.
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| [2026-05-19 08:42:06] |
| Acro - Posts: 457 |
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seandunaway thanks for the information Do you set reconstruction parameters when you watch the tape or do you watch it without any reconstruction ? |
| [2026-05-19 13:36:43] |
| seandunaway - Posts: 393 |
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i think that zero reconstruction is perfectly fine and that's how i learned the game but sierrachart's combine by same price and type is such a gift to tape readers. it really simplifies the mental effort required to have a sense of how effective energy is at moving price in my opinion filtering is completely senseless. to me, 1000 one lots trading is just as important and equal to one 1000 lot trading ultimately, i think we each have to find what makes sense to us individually Date Time Of Last Edit: 2026-05-19 13:37:37
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| [2026-05-19 13:47:27] |
| seandunaway - Posts: 393 |
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i think if there's one secret to tape reading or even trading in general it really has to be: *the power of replay* if you played soccer, you wouldn't just show up on game day trying to figure out the game you'd diligently be doing two-a-days practice sessions with specifically designed drills to develop specific skills and overcome specific shortcomings it's my opinion that trading is a skill, not a secret, and these markets are so incredibly efficient. it's like showing up to the world cup each day and winner takes all of everyone's hard earned cash replaying, with specific objectives and drills, and sometimes at 1x, 2x, 5x, speed, etc.. is such the unfair advantage. you could achieve ten years of experience in one or two and ultimately i think to compete you'd simply have to sierrachart is entirely unmatched in this regard and you can replay every single tick of every instrument all the way back to 2011, with millisecond perfect accuracy, truly and accurately mimicking live markets and live tape |
| [2026-05-19 22:52:25] |
| Island_Trader - Posts: 35 |
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Okay Sean and Sierra you win. I still don't like the gap, but damn.... This tape is crazy good. Just like learning the tape you have to do it without distraction. I tossed the other tape on Monday leaving only Sierra. It gives an amazing read and flows like water... I turned the refresh rate faster and looking forward to trading tomorrow. |
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