# SOAP2 Quick Help Guide
**Latest:** [Release Notes](./ReleaseNotes.md.html) • **Everything on one page:** [User Manual](./user_manual.md.html) • **Watch:** [Video walkthroughs](./videos.md.html)
SOAP2 (Simple Options Analysis Platform) is a Windows desktop app for options analysis and trade workflow on **Interactive Brokers (TWS)** via the IB API.
It is focused on live analysis and trade preparation. It is **not affiliated** with Interactive Brokers, and it does not provide backtesting or strategy optimization (yet).
SOAP2 is in **early access**: expect bugs and rough edges, and please send feedback.
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## Where do you want to start?
Follow the stages in order if you are new. Each page is short and ends by pointing to the next one.
| Step | Page | Level | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [Getting Started](./getting_started.md.html) | Standard | Install, TWS settings, first connection, first OA |
| 2 | [Core Concepts](./core_concepts.md.html) | Standard | OA, symbols, accounts, trades, Model vs Recorded |
| 3 | [Learning the Interface](./learning_the_ui.md.html) | Standard | Toolstrips, tutorials in order, shortcuts, shutdown |
| 4 | [Features Overview](./features_overview.md.html) | All levels | Every guide, graded Standard or Advanced |
| 5 | [Troubleshooting & Support](./troubleshooting_support.md.html) | Quick reference | Message Log, bug reports, limits, glossary |
Short on time? Do this:
1. Install and connect: [Getting Started](./getting_started.md.html) (about 10 minutes).
2. Open your first trade: [Initial Walk-Through](./initial_walkthrough.md.html) (about 15 minutes).
3. With a chain loaded, build a trade, set its rules and learn the alerts: [First Session Tutorial](./first_session_tutorial.md.html) (about 20 minutes).
## Which guide should a beginner read first?
A beginner reads [Getting Started](./getting_started.md.html) first, then the [Initial Walk-Through](./initial_walkthrough.md.html), then the [First Session Tutorial](./first_session_tutorial.md.html) (build a trade, set rules, alerts, Rewind, Trade Report), then [Core Concepts](./core_concepts.md.html). The [Features Overview](./features_overview.md.html) lists every other guide by difficulty.
The "beginner guides" for [Trade Rules](./trade_rules_beginner_guide.md.html) and the other single features are follow-ups for later, once you have an Options Analysis window open.
---
## Find a guide by difficulty
| Level | Good starting points |
|---|---|
| **Standard** (everyday use) | [Initial Walk-Through](./initial_walkthrough.md.html), [Top Toolstrip](./toolstrip_tutorial.md.html), [OA window](./optionschain_overview.md.html), [Commit](./commit_overview.md.html) |
| **Advanced** (skew and analytics) | [Risk Reversal & Skew](./optionschain_riskreversal.md.html), [GEX / VEX](./gexvex_user_guide.md.html) ([trader's field guide](./gexvex_trader_field_guide.md.html), [theory primer](./gexvex_theory_primer.md.html),[dealer-positioning tutorial](./dealer_positioning_tutorial.md.html)),[Index Distribution Stats](./indexstats_user_guide.md.html), [Trade Rules](./trade_rules_user_guide.md.html) |
Every guide, the Word guides and the full list by difficulty are in the [Features Overview](./features_overview.md.html), or use the search box above.
---
## Jump to a topic
- **Installing and connecting to TWS:** [Installation prerequisites](./getting_started.md.html#installation-prerequisites), [Connection prerequisites (TWS)](./getting_started.md.html#connection-prerequisites-tws), [Tastytrade as a second data source](./tastytrade_market_data_user_guide.md.html)
- **Watchlist and symbols:** [Watchlist guide](./watchlist_user_guide.md.html), [Tickers (watchlist)](./core_concepts.md.html#tickers-watchlist), [Symbol settings](./symbolsettings.md.html)
- **The Options Analysis (OA) window:** [Overview](./optionschain_overview.md.html), [Expiries](./optionschain_expiries.md.html), [Toolstrip](./optionschain_toolstrip_tutorial.md.html), [Grids](./optionschain_grids.md.html), [Model hover popup](./model_hover_popup_user_guide.md.html)
- **Building a trade:** [Trade Builder for Beginners](./trade_builder_beginner_guide.md.html), [Trade Builder reference](./trade_builder_user_guide.md.html), [Commit window](./commit_overview.md.html), [Model import/export](./model_trade_importexport_user_guide.md.html)
- **What SOAP2 does by itself at startup:** [What Happens at Startup](./startup_user_guide.md.html) (loading, connection, first OA, background jobs, offline start)
- **Trades, accounts and fills:** [Trade List](./TradeList.md.html), [Executions & allocation](./executions_allocation.md.html), [Trade Log](./tlog_user_guide.md.html), [Portfolio](./portfolio_user_guide.md.html), [Trade Reporting](./trade_reporting_user_guide.md.html), [Trade Reports journal](./trade_reports_journal_user_guide.md.html), [Outlook Multi-Timeframe Starter Guide](./outlook_multitimeframe_starter_guide.md.html), [Accounts](./accounts_user_guide.md.html), [Back and Forward](./back_forward_user_guide.md.html)
- **Rules and alerts:** [Trade Rules Beginner's Guide](./trade_rules_beginner_guide.md.html), [Rule Sets](./trade_rules_rule_sets_guide.md.html), [Templates](./trade_rules_templates_guide.md.html), [Hybrid Trades](./trade_rules_advanced_guide.md.html), [Reference](./trade_rules_user_guide.md.html)
- **Skew, exposure and regime tools:** [Risk Reversal & Skew](./optionschain_riskreversal.md.html), [GEX / VEX](./gexvex_user_guide.md.html), [TRACE](./trace_user_guide.md.html), [Hedging Flow](./hedgingflow_user_guide.md.html), [Sticky Skew](./stickyskew_regime_user_guide.md.html), [Dispersion](./dispersion_regime_user_guide.md.html), [Rewind](./rewind_user_guide.md.html)
- **Learn to read the analytics:** [Market read routine](./market_read_routine_field_guide.md.html), [GEX / VEX field guide](./gexvex_trader_field_guide.md.html), [TRACE field guide](./trace_trader_field_guide.md.html), [Hedging Flow field guide](./hedgingflow_trader_field_guide.md.html), [Skew field guide](./skew_trader_field_guide.md.html), [Volatility context](./volatility_context_trader_field_guide.md.html)
- **Charts and statistics:** [Data Chart](./datachart_indicators_user_guide.md.html), [Market Statistics](./market_statistics_user_guide.md.html), [Index Distribution Stats](./indexstats_user_guide.md.html), [IB Scanner](./ibscanner_user_guide.md.html)
- **Shortcuts, settings and monitors:** [Keyboard shortcuts](./keyboard_shortcuts.md.html), [Settings menu](./settings_tutorial.md.html), [Top toolstrip](./toolstrip_tutorial.md.html), [Status bar](./bottomtoolstrip_tutorial.md.html), [Multi-display](./multi_monitor_quick_reference.md.html), [Bank holidays](./BankHolidays.md.html)
- **Editions and updates:** [Licensing & Editions](./licensing_user_guide.md.html), [Version Handling & Updates](./version_handling_user_guide.md.html), [Release Notes](./ReleaseNotes.md.html)
- **Ask Claude about SOAP2:** [AI Assistant (Claude)](./ai_assistant_user_guide.md.html), [AI remote access](./ai_remote_access.md.html)
- **Something broke:** [Troubleshooting & Support](./troubleshooting_support.md.html), [Send feedback by email](./emailsetup.md.html)
- **What is SOAP2?** [Product overview](./01-overview-marketing.md.html), [Videos](./videos.md.html), [Word guides](./features_overview.md.html#word-guides-downloadable)
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## Help and community
- Slack: https://soap2-licensing.soap2-reg.workers.dev/join-slack
- Contact: `[email protected]`
- In the app: **Help > SOAP > Send Feedback**