Copying Historical Data from one machine to another

[adamus]

Hi

I'm running NT7 beta17 on two machines, and I have a large database with 10 years of tickdata for 10 instruments that took days to import from file.

This database is only on one machine - can I just copy the whole directory across to the other machine to have the database there too? If so, which directory should I copy?

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Hello adamus,

I suggest to copyu & paste the database file to the other PC. You can find the database at (My) Documents-->NinjaTrader 7-->db-->NinjaTrader(sdf).

Copy the file and paste it at the exact same location on the other PC. Please rename the current NinjaTrader(sdf) different. The sdf file named NinjaTrader in the db folder will be used as database.

[adamus]

Hi Jason,

just got around to following your instructions.

The NinjaTrader.sdf file is only 4MB. The rest of the data in the folder is about 10 gigs. You mean I should just copy and paste everything in the folder, but back-up the old NinjaTrader.sdf?

[NinjaTrader_JoshP]

adamus,

It is up to you what you want to copy. If you copy the .SDF file as well you will transfer the database to the new computer which includes things like your instrument lists, instrument setups, executions, session templates, etc. If you copy everything except the .SDF you will copy all of your data over, but nothing contained in the database.

[adamus]

Let me re-iterate that I would like to copy over the tick data, of which there is about 10 gigabytes. Do the instructions you outlined include the tick data, so it will be available in charting and strategy backtesting?

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Hello adamus,

Historical data is located in the database, so you would want to copy the database. However, it will transfer other data as well, such as instrument lists, session templates, etc.

Unfortnately I see no other option to transfer the tick data other than manually exporting/importing text files.

[adamus]

Jason,

so I can't copy the tick data? I got the impression from your previous post that I could. Please could you really spell it out in monosyllables if I can do this:

I want to copy the huge directory full of tick data and minute data from one machine to another.

I'll zip up the whole /db/ directory and on the new machine, move the existing /db/ directory out the way and unzip the contents into place.

I am not worried whether I get the instrument lists, templates or anything else or not. That's purely incidental to my main aim.

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Hello adamus,

Please disregard me previous post - this applies to version 6.5 only.

You can copy and paste the tick folder to transfer all tick data. My apologies for the confusion.

[8DTK8]

I am using NT 6.5.
I have looked in NT6.5 -> db and see 2 files NinjaTrader.mdb and Ninjatrader.Old.mdb.
I don't see any .sdf files.
What do I copy over?

Unlike the original poster, I just accidentally wrote over mine, but I have a nightly machine backup that I get old copies from.

Thanks,

Hello adamus,

I suggest to copyu & paste the database file to the other PC. You can find the database at (My) Documents-->NinjaTrader 7-->db-->NinjaTrader(sdf).

Copy the file and paste it at the exact same location on the other PC. Please rename the current NinjaTrader(sdf) different. The sdf file named NinjaTrader in the db folder will be used as database.

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Hello 8DTK8,

NinjaTrader 6.5 uses .mdb files while NinjaTrader 7 uses .sdf files. Both are database files. The .mdb file named 'NinjaTrader' is the database that is currently used. I suggest to copy and paste this file to the other PC.

In addition, we recommend to transfer settings and data using a backup file.
Create a backup file as per the instructions at the link below.

http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/CreatingABackupArchive.html

Once NinjaTrader created a backup file, it is located at My Documents-->NinjaTrader Backup as .ntbk file.

Copy this file to the new PC at the exact same location; My Documents-->NinjaTrader Backup.

Start NinjaTrader and restore your backup file.

http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/HelpGuideV6/RestoringABackupArchive.html

[8DTK8]

Thanks for the advice.
The reason I don't use the backup and retore function is that it's an all or nothing situation.
I do have backups that do just the database and then I restore it, but because of time considerations, I only do backups with the database option once every roll over.

Transfering the .mdb file is a great option for me because I have my machine fully backed up every night. Also this keeps me from losing the indicator work etc. that I've done since the last restore point (which I'm assuming will get overwritten if I use a backup file that also has the other options checked).

Thank you for your help. Please let me know if I have a misunderstanding about how the backup and restore function works or if there is any workaround to have the changes that I have done on indicators and strategies since the last restore point lost when I do a restore of the database (with a backup where all the boxes are checked off).

Much appreciated.

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Yes, if you have a backup file that includes 'NinjaScript files', it will overwrite the changes you made.

Restoring a database only, will not affect the code of your NinjaScript files.

[8DTK8]

I suppose my question was more to the extent of if I had a backup file where everything was checked off, is there a way to restore only the database (or only some other section) from that backup. Since you can choose which sections to backup, I thought it might be nice to be able to choose which section to restore.

If it's not an option, I would like to suggest it.

Thank you.

Yes, if you have a backup file that includes 'NinjaScript files', it will overwrite the changes you made.

Restoring a database only, will not affect the code of your NinjaScript files.

[NinjaTrader_Jason]

Unfortunately you cannot restore a backup file partially.

I will forward your suggestion to Development and ask them if they can add this to the list of future considerations of the software.

Thank you for your feedback.