# Set up Scalpel for one, two or three screens > Layouts that work on a laptop, one wide monitor or a multi-screen desk: how many desks to run, UI scale and zoom shortcuts, and where TWS fits. Source: https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/multi-monitor-setup Guide 2.4, Desks and layout. Beginner, 5 min read. Checked with Scalpel 1.12.8 on 2026-10-15. By Scalpel Team. **In short:** Scalpel is one window that opens maximized, with up to six desks across it. On a laptop run two or three desks, on one wide monitor four to six, and on several screens either stretch the window across two of them or keep Scalpel on one and TWS on another. Fit the desks to the screen with **UI scale** in Settings, Appearance (70% to 125%), or with `Ctrl`+`-`, `Ctrl`+`=` and `Ctrl`+`0`. A scalper's screen has one job: the book, the tape and the chart of the stock you are in, readable at a glance, with your hand on the keys. More desks only help if each one is still readable. This guide gives starting layouts for common screens and the controls to tune them. **Before you start:** - Desks you can add, hide and resize ([guide 2.2](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/arrange-desks)). ## How Scalpel uses the screen - **One window.** Scalpel opens maximized on the screen it starts on. Panels do not detach into separate windows. The smallest the window can be is 1120 x 720 pixels. - **Up to six desks** across the window, side by side. Each needs at least 240 pixels of width; about 400 or more reads comfortably, with the full book, the tape column and readable prices. - **UI scale** zooms everything, text and panels together, on top of your operating system's display scaling. At 90%, the same screen fits about 11% more. ## Starting layouts *Screenshot: Simplified: two desks on a laptop, four on one wide monitor, and Scalpel stretched over two screens with TWS on a third.* Widths below are the space Scalpel works with after your display scaling: a 1920 x 1080 laptop set to 150% in Windows behaves like a 1280 x 720 screen. | Screen | Desks | Width per desk | Notes | |---|---|---|---| | Laptop, 1280 wide after scaling | 2 | about 600 | Three fit at about 400 each; try UI scale 90% for three. | | 1920 x 1080 monitor at 100% | 3 or 4 | about 460 at four | The classic four-desk cockpit. | | 2560 x 1440 monitor at 100% | 4 or 5 | about 490 at five | Room for a scan desk plus four trading desks. | | 3440 x 1440 ultrawide | 6 | about 560 | All six desks, the + rail gone. | | Two 1920 screens, window stretched | 6 | about 630 | One desk sits across the bezel; see below. | These are starting points. If prices or venue names are cut off, run one desk fewer or step UI scale down 5%. ## Fit the cockpit to your screen ### 1. Set the number of desks Use the **+** rail to add desks and **Hide** to remove them until the count matches the table above ([guide 2.2](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/arrange-desks)). ### 2. Set UI scale Open **Settings** (`Ctrl`+`,`), then **Appearance**, and drag **UI scale**. It runs from 70% to 125% in 5% steps; 100% is the default. Click **Apply**. *Screenshot: Settings, Appearance: UI scale and its note, outlined.* Or use the keys from anywhere in the cockpit: `Ctrl`+`-` zooms out 5%, `Ctrl`+`=` zooms in 5%, and `Ctrl`+`0` goes back to 100%. A toast confirms the new value, for example **UI scale 90%**, and it is saved. On a Mac, use `Cmd` instead of `Ctrl`. ### 3. Balance the widths Double-click a grip between two desks to even them out, then widen the desk you trade from by dragging its grips. The stock you are in deserves the most room. ### 4. Trim the panels if the desks are short On a short screen, open the **CHART** cog and switch off the **MACD sub-pane** and **Delta sub-pane**, or lower **Rows per side** in the **LEVEL 2** cog ([guide 2.3](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/panel-settings)). Drag the panel gaps so the book and chart get the height. ## Two or three screens Because Scalpel is a single window, there are two ways to use more than one screen: 1. **Scalpel on one screen, everything else on the others.** Keep Scalpel maximized on your main screen, the one straight in front of you. Put TWS, your news, a browser or notes on the side screens. This is the simplest and the most common. 2. **Stretch Scalpel over two screens.** Restore the window (un-maximize it), then drag its left and right edges so it covers both screens, and run five or six desks. Drag the grips so a gap between desks lines up with the bezel, rather than a desk being cut in half by it. Either way, put the desk you trade from straight in front of you and the scan desk to one side. ## Where TWS or IB Gateway fits Scalpel needs TWS or IB Gateway running and logged in the whole time you trade: market data and orders go through it, and Scalpel's stops are watched by Scalpel itself, so they only work while Scalpel is running and connected ([guide 5.1](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/how-stops-work)). You do not need to look at it, though. - **IB Gateway** is lighter and has no trading screens, so it can sit minimized ([guide 1.4](https://scalpeltrade.com/guides/connect-interactive-brokers)). - **TWS** is fine on a side screen or minimized. Keep an eye out for its own pop-ups (log-in prompts, the daily restart), which can stop data until you answer them. **Tip.** On a laptop, set Windows display scaling to the value you can read comfortably first, then fine-tune Scalpel with UI scale. Two well-sized desks beat four you have to squint at. ## Questions **Can I put each desk on a different monitor?** Not as separate windows: Scalpel is one window. You can restore the window and stretch it across two screens, then spread the desks over both. **How do I zoom the Scalpel interface?** Ctrl and minus zooms out 5%, Ctrl and equals zooms in 5%, Ctrl and 0 resets to 100%, from 70% to 125%. On a Mac use Cmd. The same setting is UI scale in Settings, Appearance. **How many desks should I run?** As many as stay readable, usually two on a laptop, three or four on a 1920 wide monitor and up to six on an ultrawide. Each desk needs at least 240 pixels and reads best at 400 or more. **Does Scalpel work on a 1366 x 768 laptop?** The window's minimum is 1120 x 720, so it opens, but run two desks and try UI scale at 85% or 90% so the book and chart are readable. **Do I need TWS on screen?** No. TWS or IB Gateway must be running and logged in, but it can be minimized or on another screen. IB Gateway is the lighter choice if you do not use TWS itself.