Getting started with ATAS looks more intimidating than it is. Once it's installed and connected, you can have a clean order flow chart up in a few minutes. This guide walks through it step by step, in plain language, so you're not guessing.
(Quick note: this is a setup guide, not trading advice. Getting the tools right is step one; how you trade is up to you.)
Step 1 — Get ATAS
Download and install ATAS from the official site. There's a free trial, which is the smart way to start — you can set everything up and get comfortable before paying for anything.
Install it like any normal program and open it up. First launch can feel busy; don't worry, we'll simplify the screen shortly.
Step 2 — Connect your data
ATAS is a charting platform — it needs a data feed to show live futures prices. You have two main paths:
A built-in data connection. ATAS offers data subscriptions you can connect directly, which is the simplest route for a beginner who just wants to see charts.
Your broker's feed. If you already trade futures through a broker that ATAS supports, you can connect that instead, so your charts and your trading use the same source.
For learning and practicing order flow, the built-in data or a simulated/demo connection is plenty. Get live prices flowing before moving on.
Step 3 — Open a futures instrument
Pick a futures market to chart. Common beginner choices are the big, liquid index futures because they have plenty of order flow to read.
Open a new chart, search for the instrument, and load it. You should now see live candles updating.
Step 4 — Choose your chart type
For order flow, two chart types matter most:
- Footprint (cluster) chart — shows buying and selling inside each candle. This is the order flow view. (New to it? See What Is a Footprint Chart.)
- Candlestick with a volume profile — a normal candle chart with the sideways volume histogram added, so you can see the Point of Control and key levels.
Start with one. A footprint chart is the most "order flow" of the two and a great place to learn.
Step 5 — Add a volume profile
Add a volume profile so you can see where volume concentrates and find the Point of Control (the busiest price). This single addition gives you the most important level on the chart. (More in How to Find the POC.)
Set it to session or daily to begin — that keeps it relevant to intraday trading.
Step 6 — Keep the chart clean
The most common beginner mistake is a cluttered screen. Resist adding ten tools at once. A clean order flow starting layout is really just:
- A footprint or candle chart
- A volume profile with the POC marked
- Maybe the session high/low levels
That's enough to read the market. Add more only when you genuinely miss something.
If you'd rather not fiddle with settings, there are free ATAS chart templates you can import to get a clean layout in a couple of clicks — light and dark versions included.
Step 7 — Practice before going live
Use the demo/simulated mode to practice reading your new chart before risking money. Watch how price behaves at the POC, read the footprint, and get a feel for the platform. This is where the setup turns into skill.
What to do next
Once your chart is set up, the next step is learning to read it. Start with How to Read Order Flow for Beginners, and when you want to sharpen the setup, look at the best ATAS indicators for order flow.
The bottom line
Setting up ATAS for futures is really six small steps: install it, connect data, open a futures market, pick a footprint or profile chart, add the volume profile, and keep it clean. Do that on the free trial, practice in demo mode, and you'll have a proper order flow chart running in an afternoon.