diff --git a/piker/ui/_forms.py b/piker/ui/_forms.py
index 9e03a809..ab155394 100644
--- a/piker/ui/_forms.py
+++ b/piker/ui/_forms.py
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ async def handle_field_input(
 
 
 @asynccontextmanager
-async def mk_form(
+async def open_form(
 
     parent: QWidget,
     fields: dict,
@@ -319,10 +319,18 @@ async def mk_form(
 
     form = FieldsForm(parent)
 
-    for name, value in fields.items():
-        form.add_edit_field(name, value)
+    for name, config in fields.items():
+        wtype = config['type']
+        key = str(config['key'])
 
-    form.add_select_field('policy:', ['uniform'])
+        # plain (line) edit field
+        if wtype == 'edit':
+            form.add_edit_field(key, config['default_value'])
+
+        # drop-down selection
+        elif wtype == 'select':
+            values = list(config['default_value'])
+            form.add_select_field(key, values)
 
     form.add_field_label('fills:')
     fill_bar = QProgressBar(form)
diff --git a/piker/ui/order_mode.py b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
index e255148e..30229b82 100644
--- a/piker/ui/order_mode.py
+++ b/piker/ui/order_mode.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from ._editors import LineEditor, ArrowEditor
 from ._lines import LevelLine
 from ._position import PositionTracker
 from ._window import MultiStatus
-from ._forms import FieldsForm, mk_form
+from ._forms import FieldsForm, open_form
 
 
 log = get_logger(__name__)
@@ -378,6 +378,27 @@ async def run_order_mode(
             positions
         ),
 
+        open_form(
+            parent=chart.linked.godwidget,
+            fields={
+                'dollar_size': {
+                    'key': '**$size**:',
+                    'type': 'edit',
+                    'default_value': 5000,
+                },
+                'slots': {
+                    'key': '**slots**:',
+                    'type': 'edit',
+                    'default_value': 4,
+                },
+                'disti_policy': {
+                    'key': '**policy**:',
+                    'type': 'select',
+                    'default_value': ['uniform'],
+                },
+            },
+        ) as pp_config,
+
     ):
         view = chart._vb
         lines = LineEditor(chart=chart)
@@ -389,15 +410,6 @@ async def run_order_mode(
         pp.hide()
 
         # insert order mode config to left of mode label
-        pp_config = mk_form(
-            parent=chart.linked.godwidget,
-            fields={
-                '**$size**:': 5000,
-                '**slots**:': 4,
-                # '**policy**:': 'uniform',
-                # '**type**:': 'live-buy',
-            },
-        )
         sb = chart.window().statusBar()
         sb.insertPermanentWidget(0, pp_config)
         pp_config.hide()