# Reading a print

> What each Option Flow column means - side, type, size at fill, flags, Vol / OI and Next-day OI - plus the net premium side rule and why some prints are left out of totals.

Source: https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/reading-prints (updated 2026-11-01)

Each row on the [Option Flow](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/quick-start) tape is one options trade. This page explains every column and the rules behind the totals.

## The columns

| Column | What it shows |
|---|---|
| **Time** | When the print happened, in your time zone |
| **Ticker, Strike, C/P** | The contract |
| **Expiry, DTE** | Expiration date (for example 10/30/26) and days to expiry (0d is today) |
| **Side** | Where it filled: **Above ask**, **Ask**, **Mid**, **Bid** or **Below bid**, with a meter. Hover for the exact spot (for example "Ask 92%"). |
| **Type** | **Sweep**: filled across several exchanges at once. **Single**: one fill. |
| **Size @ fill** | Contracts and fill price, for example "1,200 @ $1.48" |
| **Premium** | Size × fill × 100 |
| **Flags** | Why the print stands out (below) |
| **Next-day OI** | Whether open interest rose the next session (below) |

Optional columns, from the **Columns** panel: Date, Side %, Vol / OI, OTM, IV, Score, Spot, Bid / ask spread, Exchange.

## Flags

| Flag | Rule |
|---|---|
| **Golden** | $1M or more in premium, filled at or above the ask |
| **Aggressive** | A sweep of $250K or more, 0 to 7 days to expiry |
| **Unusual** | $50K or more, with the day's volume above open interest |
| **Repeat ×N** | The ticker printed 3 or more times within a 12-minute window |

## Vol / OI

Vol / OI shows the contract's volume today against its open interest, for example "5,000 / 1,200". It turns bold when volume is above open interest. Volume above open interest suggests new positions are being opened, though it can't say which side opened them.

## Next-day OI: did it stick?

Open interest updates once a day. Next-day OI checks the following session to see whether open interest rose by roughly the size of the print:

- **Confirmed**
- **Partial**
- **Not confirmed**
- **Expired** (the contract expired first)
- **Pending** (the next session's numbers aren't in yet)

It's a confirmation after the fact, not a prediction. The column appears once some loaded prints have a result.

## The side rule

Bought and sold come from the vendor's execution estimate for each print. As the page puts it:

> Net premium = premium at or above the ask minus premium at or below the bid, from the vendor's execution estimate. Mid prints are left out.

So:

- **Bought:** at or above the ask.
- **Sold:** at or below the bid.
- **Mid:** shown on the tape, but not counted in net premium.

The same rule is used across Option Flow, Stats, the ticker panel, the contract drill-down and Net flow on Pulse.

## Prints left out of totals

Some prints are reported in a way we can't fully trust. They stay on the tape, labeled, but are left out of every total:

| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| **Unconfirmed** | The day's reported volume for this contract doesn't cover this print. |
| **Late report** | Reported after 4:15 PM ET. |

**Where they're excluded:**

- the Flow summary line;
- the calls and puts totals;
- repeat counts;
- the ticker panel;
- [Stats](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/stats);
- [Snapshot](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/snapshot/quick-start).

Stats shows how many were excluded, for example "12 prints excluded (late or unconfirmed)".

## A print isn't a reason

A print shows that a trade happened. It doesn't show why. A call bought at the ask can be:

- a new bullish bet;
- a hedge against a short stock position;
- one leg of a spread.

Look for repeats, size against open interest, and Next-day OI. Then check the ticker on [Dealer Edge](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/dealeredge/quick-start) before reading anything into it.

## Related

- [Option Flow Quick Start](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/quick-start)
- [Filters, views and columns](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/filter-settings)
- [Stats](https://tradeecho.com/docs/features/optionflow/stats)

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*Trade Echo docs are for product education only - not financial advice. Options trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for all investors.*