Backup and Restore thinkorswim platform on Windows10

[fryguy]

If you backup the TOS directory, will it backup all the imported and shared indicators you have?

 

[MerryDay]

@fryguy all your imported and shared indicators are stored on TOS servers. No need to backup and restore. Sign on from any machine and all your indicators are there. However, workspaces are stored on individual computers. I get around that by creating a share link for my workspaces. That way, if I am away from home, I just have to open my shared link to have my custom workspace.

 

[rad14733]

If you backup the TOS directory, will it backup all the imported and shared indicators you have?

A lot of your setup is stored on the TOS servers... Workspaces are only stored within your install directory, however...

Posted with @MerryDay...

 

[hockeycoachdoug]

A question regarding backing up TOS when you have multiple accounts linked to your 1 TOS installation. I login with an old account where I have accumulated a large number of indicators, workspaces, scans, etc. If I where to do a new install of TOS on my computer, then restore from my backup would my indicators, scans, etc go into the new TOS install that has a different login?

I used to trade accounts for my kids on TOS and that's how I accumulated all the indicators, etc. Now I have my own accounts on TOS too and with the accounts linked, I can see them all and switch between them, but I still need to login to TOS with my old login from one of my kid's accounts in order for all the indicators to be available to all the linked accounts. I want to be able to just login to TOS with my login, but still access all the indicators, etc.

Kinda long winded explanation, hope what I want to accomplish makes sense.

 

[MerryDay]

@hockeycoachdoug studies, scans, watchlists are saved on TOS servers under that specific log-in. You would have to do a share link to get them into your other log-in.

 

[c0der]

SAVE WORKSPACE saves EVERYTHING viewable on your thinkorswim platform's windows (screens). Keep in mind saving workspace is not stored in the "cloud" and is stored locally on the host computer... therefore if you move to a different computer it will not be transfered...... you will need to import it via SHARE WORKSPACE to allow sharing to yourself.

There's no "share workspace option" for me though. any workaround? @MerryDay

 

[rad14733]

There's no "share workspace option" for me though. any workaround? @MerryDay

@c0der You have to Save before you can Share... Share Workspace won't show up until you have Saved Workspaces to Share...

 

[c0der]

@c0der You have to Save before you can Share... Share Workspace won't show up until you have Saved Workspaces to Share...

I already have a saved workspace though. See above screenshot, it's titled "MoneyMagnet".

 

[rad14733]

I already have a saved workspace though. See above screenshot, it's titled "MoneyMagnet".

Have you changed any settings in Setup > Application Settings > System or Setup > Application Settings > Startup by chance...??? And have you exited and restarted TOS...??? Also, you can't break anything by trying to Save Workspace again using a different name... This is an odd one but I think it has happened before...

 

[c0der]

Nope, didn't change any settings:

https://imgur.com/1e9wZfH

Yes restarted TOS too and I have multiple workspaces too, but share workspace has never appeared for me before.

 

[MerryDay]

@c0der Assuming you are not using On-Demand and you are using the live platform, your options are deleting and re-installing the application or contacting TOS Support as your screenshot does not look like the typical menu available on the default platform.

 

[bi11tacu1ar]

This is out of date.

For Windows10 the thinkorswim folder is located in C:\Users\"user"\AppData\Local\ and then there is a folder called "login-browser-data" in C:\Users\"user"\.thinkorswim\.

You may still be able to load it onto a USB and turn it into a portable TOS but this needs to be tested. I may test it later and post my findings. I have my doubts that it will work however.

 

[Chris77]

Yes, there is a way to make your ToS platform portable "to go" as long as you have windows machines. This process could be helpful for people using work machines without ToS install.

Considering you have a personal windows machine where you have installed ToS platform on it and spent hours maybe days to add code related to indicators, charts and studies etc. Now one fine day your machine crashes for hardware failure or whatever it maybe. For this rainy day there is a way to get you back up and trading within mins.

Here is how: Thinkorswim platform is a based on Java and merely a java executable with required binaries, libraries and its OS-related files all located somewhere in windows directory. It does a fancy install but all it is doing is extracting the downloaded install file.

After you have installed you ToS and added your settings, WL, scans, indicators, charts, and what not; locate this directory on your windows10 machine:

C:\Program Files\thinkorswim

If you look into this you will see a lot of files; DO NOT EDIT/OPEN ANY FILES INSIDE THIS DIRECTORY

Now, copy this directory thinkorswim to a usbdrive and voila you just made your ToS portable. I would use a high R/W usbdrive and latest USB driver like 3.0+

Plugin this USB on a different windows machine(typically with no prior ToS installed) and locate thinkorswim application inside the directory and doubleclick on it. That should start ToS without a install on this machine.

Optional: If you like to treat your fancies without USBdrives, sync this directory on the primary machine with apps like dropbox or googledrive or box. The thinkorswim directory is not more than a 1gig on my machine.

The process maybe be similar on linux or mac machines but the location and install directories will be different due to OS platforms.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for the tip, super fast, easy and professional!!

 

[Yello]

To me the very easiest way to transfer everything to another PC/Notebook is:

1. In the ThinkOrSwim desktop app go to Setup (top right)
2. "Share" the individual desktops (no need to copy the links)
3. On the new PC go to the Tools Tab > Shared Items
4. Clicking on the blue link will install that specific workspace

That includes all studies, scans and watchlists.