Exercise Options - Manual File

Instructions

The Option Exercise window includes a Load from File button that lets you import a file with instructions to exercise or lapse specific options. You can create the file using any word processing program, and the file must include a comma-delimited list of values, one line for each option. You can use one of two different formats. Table 1 illustrates using the underlying, Table 2 shows fields for symbol mode.

For each option you want to include in the file, create one line of text and observe the following rules:

  • Include one value for each field described in the table(s) below.

  • Separate field values by commas.

  • List field values in the order in which they appear in the table(s) below.

    Field Name Possible Values   Field Name Possible Values

    Table 1 - Underlying Mode

     

     

    Table 2- Symbol Mode

     

    action

    exercise, lapse

     

    action

    exercise, lapse

    account #

    IBKR acct number, i.e. U44982

     

    account #

    IBKRacct number, i.e. U44982

    underlying

    underlying symbol, i.e. IBM

     

    local symbol

    IBMSE

    strike

    i.e. 50

     

    exchange

    i.e. AMEX (smart is not accepted)

    right

    p, c

     

    quantity

    i.e. 3

    LastTrading DayorContractMonth (yyyymmdd) or (YYYYMM)**

    i.e. 20150930 or 201509

     

    override*

    yes, no

    multiplier

    i.e. 100

     

     

     

    exchange

    i.e. AMEX (smart is not accepted)

     

     

     

    quantity

    i.e. 3

     

     

     

    override*

    yes, no

     

     

     

     

     

    * Specifies whether your settings will override the system's natural action. For example, if you have the action set to exercise an option and that contract is not in-the-money, you would receive a message saying that the contract was not in-the-money and would not exercise option. However, if you have the override set to "yes," this instruction will override the system and the option will exercise.

    **If you use the format YYYYMMDD we understand that you are using the last trading day. If you use the format YYYYMM we understand that you are identifying the contract month.

    Your lines in the file based on the examples in the tables above would look like this:

    exercise, U44982, IBM, 50, C, 2001509, 100, AMEX, 3, no
    exercise, U44982, IBMSE, AMEX, 3, no

     

     

 

Additional Resources

Learn About Options Exercise in Trader Workstation at IBKR Campus

Visit the Trader Workstation Website