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Bug: Document that MinimizeMainWindow=yes can suppress live option Greeks #371

Description

@machdragon

We found a reproducible interaction between IBC’s MinimizeMainWindow setting and IBKR option computation ticks.

Environment:

  • macOS
  • IBC 3.23.0
  • TWS 10.47
  • TWS API server version 178
  • Live CME futures and futures-options market data
  • Futures and futures-options trading permissions enabled
  • Option and underlying futures market data both subscribed through the API

With this configuration:

MinimizeMainWindow=yes

TWS launched successfully through IBC and API prices continued working normally. ES futures prices and ES futures-option bid/ask quotes were live and updating.

However:

  • The restored Mosaic workspace was blank.
  • Model Navigator contained no option-model values.
  • API tickOptionComputation callbacks 10, 11, 12, and 13 were all absent.
  • No actionable API error was reported.
  • Repeated probes continued receiving live option NBBO while receiving no implied volatility, Model Price, or Greeks.

We then changed only:

MinimizeMainWindow=no

After restarting through IBC:

  • The saved option-chain layout was restored.
  • TWS displayed Implied Volatility and Model IV values.
  • The unchanged API probe received ticks 10, 11, 12, and 13 within ten seconds.
  • Bid, ask, last, and model implied volatility, price, and Greeks were all populated.
  • No API errors were reported.

Launching TWS normally also delivered all four computation channels.

This does not necessarily require an IBC code change. It may be TWS lazily initializing or suspending its option-model components when the main window is minimized before the saved analytical layout becomes active.

A documentation note under MinimizeMainWindow may be sufficient. Suggested wording:

When MinimizeMainWindow=yes, TWS may not restore or initialize option-model views that supply live option computation data. API prices can continue working while tickOptionComputation callbacks, including implied volatility, Model Price, and Greeks, remain absent. Users requiring live option computations should set MinimizeMainWindow=no, retain an active option page with IV/Model columns, and verify those values after each TWS restart.

This behavior may not affect most price-only API users, but it is important for users or applications collecting live IBKR option IV and Greeks through the API that this behavior is documented.

The corresponding IBC log is available and can be attached if useful.

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