So far I've been using only web-based stuff for my market activities but I'm having trouble finding anything that will let me chart option spreads. Web based or not, does anyone know where I can do this? Especially live multiday intraday charts.
If you're referring to risk graphs, thinkorswim does this pretty well. For more sophisticated option spread analysis there's also OptionVue and Option Net Explorer.
Had to program my own charting of the actual spreads themselves. Like a Commodity spread is a line on most charting service programs, had to program actual bars like OHLC. It amazing with so many folks that trade options, I have never seen any commercially produced charting, but I did see some of this in the 80's for very short time. I often believe variations of trading never seen books on, much money in them. One of very few areas of no books is Commodity spreads, and when pits were open, many of those in the pits only traded spreads, and huge money in spreads, it is often a slower way to make money but margins are low and supply/demand of products that are grown or used have reoccurring patterns of life. Like the old saying in coffee, never sell it in July(south America's winter) and I have never started unless I was short long term.
IB's TWS will do this just fine. My guess is others will, as well. Just be prepared for a lack of data. (I.E., use "Bid-Ask" rather than "Trades".)