Setting up Quantower.
Quantower is the platform I use for most of my analysis. It has the best footprint chart implementation I've found at its price point, and the workspace system is flexible enough to build exactly what you need.
01 Install
Download the installer
Go to quantower.com and download the latest installer. Use the standard installer, not the portable version, it handles updates better.
Run as administrator
Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator. Quantower requires admin rights for the initial install to set up its drivers.
Launch and create an account
On first launch, create a Quantower account. This is required to activate the license (including the free tier) and to sync your workspaces across machines.
Screenshot, Quantower login screen
02 Data Connection
Open Connection Manager
Click the plug icon in the top toolbar to open the Connection Manager. This is where you configure your data feed.
Add your data feed
I use Rithmic for futures. If you're trading crypto, Binance or Bybit connections are built in. For stocks, Interactive Brokers or Tradovate work well.
Test the connection
Once connected, open a chart for a liquid instrument (ES, NQ, or BTC/USD) and confirm you're getting tick data. The status bar at the bottom should show Connected in green.
03 Workspace Layout
The workspace is the container for all your panels. My recommended setup for orderflow analysis uses a 4-panel layout.
Screenshot, recommended workspace layout
| Panel | Location | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Footprint chart | Main center | Primary orderflow analysis |
| DOM ladder | Right side | Live order book depth |
| Volume profile | Left overlay | Session/composite context |
| Time & Sales | Bottom strip | Tape reading, large prints |
04 Footprint Chart Settings
These are the settings I run. They're not the only valid setup, but they're what works for me on ES futures. Adjust for your instrument and style.
| Setting | Recommended value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Chart type | Bid × Ask | Shows aggression at each level |
| Aggregation | Tick range | More consistent bar size |
| Range size | 4 ticks | Good for ES, adjust for other instruments |
| Color by delta | On | Immediate visual of buy/sell dominance |
| Imbalance filter | 300% | Highlights significant aggression |
| Volume profile | Session | Keep it relevant to the current day |
05 Tips & Common Issues
High CPU usage on startup
Normal for the first few minutes as Quantower downloads historical data. If it persists, reduce the lookback period in chart settings.
Footprint showing incorrect delta
Usually a data feed issue. Disconnect and reconnect Rithmic. If it persists, check that your broker subscription includes full depth of market data, not just top-of-book.
Save your workspace
Once you've built your layout, save it with a name. Quantower can crash during updates and unsaved workspaces are lost.