Is NT only for paper traders or day traders?

[dafonseca]

After months working hard to get my strategy ready to go (backtesting, adjusting, programming, studying, etc,etc,etc), I am getting the point that: it is not possible to run any strategy for real with NT, unless you are a paper trader (as I used to be while testing) or a day trader. If a strategy sleeps positioned like mine, there is no set of NT configurations (sync TRUE, set to "wait until flat..", etc,etc) to make NT strategy syncronized with my broker account - IB, and so, everyday I have an unexpected order closing my position (not supported by my strategy) which brings me losses.
But, as an answer to my problem I have to use an extra official IB gateway, not supported by NT, which will bring me problems any way, since I have to turn off NT from time to time to clean chache, etc..and my daily problem, will become a weekly problem, at best.
My question would be: Is NT working on a solution to allow people, who wants to trade seriously, trade ? in case of so, please can I know more info on the status?
another question would be:
why NT does not warn about this huge constraint, avoiding people like me to lost precious time by looking to another solution or stop working?
note: let me know in case i got it wrong.

[koganam]

After months working hard to get my strategy ready to go (backtesting, adjusting, programming, studying, etc,etc,etc), I am getting the point that: it is not possible to run any strategy for real with NT, unless you are a paper trader (as I used to be while testing) or a day trader. If a strategy sleeps positioned like mine, there is no set of NT configurations to make it syncronized with my broker - IB, and so, everyday I have an unexpected order closing my position (not supported by my strategy) which bring me some kind of loss.
As an answer to my problem I have to use an extra official IB gateway not supported by NT, which will bring problems any way, since I have to turn off NT from time to time to clean chache, etc..and a daily problem will become a weekly problem.
My question would be: Is NT working on a solution to allow people, who wants to trade seriously, trade ? in case of so, please can I know more info on the status?
another question would be:
why NT does not warn about this huge constraint, avoiding people like me to lost precious time by looking to another solution or stop working?

You have a different problem. I keep trades overnight many times. Both manually entered trades, and trades that were entered by a strategy. If I have to restart NT, the trades do not get closed unexpectedly at my brokers.

[NinjaTrader_PatrickH]

Hello dafonseca,

Thank you for your post.

NinjaTrader is designed for Day Traders, but allows for Paper Trading as well.

When you are seeing these unexpected closes on position you hold from one session to the next, is it when you are re-enabling the strategies after a restart?

[sledge]

Ditching IB sounds like the solution.

[dafonseca]

My conclusion has come after many many unwanted trades, all set of configurations to make it work right, and last several interactions with NT support.
My manually trades has nothing to do with NT. the problem are the trades generated by NT strategies. IB turns off the its system every night and i have to reconnected NT every day which closes my position (when i run the strategy of course). After all, Do you use IB??

Please, could you be more specific? it will help a lot.

supposing your strategy generated a short position on NQ futures yesterday (overnight) ,
how would you set your strategy today? what kind of sets do you use? do you sync your position? what about "wait until position is flat"?

[dafonseca]

yes, my strategy sleeps positioned, and I need to restart NT, so I need to restart strategy.

[koganam]

My conclusion has come after many many unwanted trades, all set of configurations to make it work right, and last several interactions with NT support.
My manually trades has nothing to do with NT. the problem are the trades generated by NT strategies. IB turns off the its system every night and i have to reconnected NT every day which closes my position (when i run the strategy of course). After all, Do you use IB??

Please, could you be more specific? it will help a lot.

supposing your strategy generated a short position on NQ futures yesterday (overnight) ,
how would you set your strategy today? what kind of sets do you use? do you sync your position? what about "wait until position is flat"?

Try using the settings that I disclosed in this thread: http://www.ninjatrader.com/support/f...ad.php?t=71198

[dafonseca]

Wow, I will try this.. Thanks!!
One question:
You all ways SYNC TRUE when restarting a strategy, dont you?

[koganam]

Wow, I will try this.. Thanks!!
One question:
You all ways SYNC TRUE when restarting a strategy, dont you?

I am not sure that I understand your question. How do you mean: "SYNC TRUE"?

[dafonseca]

I mean set: SYNC ACCOUNT POSITION to TRUE when starting a strategy.

[koganam]

I mean set: SYNC ACCOUNT POSITION to TRUE when starting a strategy.

No. That is precisely what I do not want to happen. I do not ever want a machine to attempt to take trades simply from my starting it (or anything else in it). I always manually sync my position if necessary. That is what the Positions tab is for: I look there, and if my account position is out of sync with the strategy position, I will take manual action.

If the whole situation is very messed up, I have been known to manually go completely flat, then enter trades to match the current strategy position, including the stops and targets.

Repeat: I never let the computer take positions or initiate trades just because I start the program.

[dafonseca]

Wow, I am now following you, and it makes sense.
But if you can tell me this:
your strategy is 1 NQ 06-15 short (overnight). Your account position at IB is 1 NQ 06-15 short.
you, of course, have both information before opening bell.
You say : never SYNC it true, I got it!
But when you start strategy NT does not know you are short (account) and it will sell 1 NQ (as the strategy says so), in this case you will be 2 NQ short on IB account (1 unwanted). Am I right?

So, what will you do this case?
Btw, Do you use if (historical) return?

[koganam]

Wow, I am now following you, and it makes sense.
But if you can tell me this:
your strategy is 1 NQ 06-15 short (overnight). Your account position at IB is 1 NQ 06-15 short.
you, of course, have both information before opening bell.
You say : never SYNC it true, I got it!
But when you start strategy NT does not know you are short (account) and it will sell 1 NQ (as the strategy says so), in this case you will be 2 NQ short on IB account (1 unwanted). Am I right?

So, what will you do this case?
Btw, Do you use if (historical) return?

Look again at the settings. The only things that are restored are entry and exit orders, that would exist if the strategy had not been closed. Any positions that exist will still exist. So no. The only things that will be restored will be the exit orders. IOW, if you are already in a position, and the strategy determines that you should be in that position, only the Target and Stop orders will be restored. You do not get an extra entry.

As you ask, I will tell you that yes, I have exposed a parameter for RealTimeOnly, which I use if in the middle of the trading day, I have a position, and I want the strategy to operate after ignoring my current position. If RealTimeOnly is enabled, it will enable the Historical filter. (For example, I may be flat for whatever reason, and if I allowed historical orders, the strategy will place a Stop and Target because it thinks that I am in a position, and I may not want to get into a position, so cannot manually sync).

Read the NT Help on the matter. It says, inter alia, (emphasis mine): "When starting a NinjaScript strategy that relies on historical data for calculating its current position and orders states, it will immediately submit live any working orders that reflect the current strategy's overall order state."

So, the strategy is compared to what the strategy state should be, and orders are issued as required, if the state does not match.

[dafonseca]

Interesting.
But, as I try to avoid testing when I am betting real money your advice has been valuable to me.
Just to confirm. considering what you ve said.
"IOW, if you are already in a position, and the strategy determines that you should be in that position, only the Target and Stop orders will be restored. You do not get an extra entry."

If the strategy is short (so is my account) I turn off NT.
the after I restart strategy (without Sync True or If (historical) return and even without knowing my account position (1 NQ short);
1-the strategy will consider it as 1 short, wont sell anything, and will only generate stop loss and target orders.

2- if you do not want stop and target order generation (as you for any reason are flat - middle of the day) you manually insert if (historical) return; and no past order will be generated, whatsoever.

Can you confirm both 1 and 2?
Thank you.

[koganam]

Interesting.
But, as I try to avoid testing when I am betting real money your advice has been valuable to me.
Just to confirm. considering what you ve said.
"IOW, if you are already in a position, and the strategy determines that you should be in that position, only the Target and Stop orders will be restored. You do not get an extra entry."

If the strategy is short (so is my account) I turn off NT.
the after I restart strategy (without Sync True or If (historical) return and even without knowing my account position (1 NQ short);
1-the strategy will consider it as 1 short, wont sell anything, and will only generate stop loss and target orders.

2- if you do not want stop and target order generation (as you for any reason are flat - middle of the day) you manually insert if (historical) return; and no past order will be generated, whatsoever.

Can you confirm both 1 and 2?
Thank you.

Yes. But test it on Market Replay or Sim101 using a real datafeed. Never accept anything that appears to read differently from how you understand it, until and unless you have tested out the so-called other/correct interpretation to your own satisfaction. We test with Sim101 and/or Market Replay before we put our real money at risk.

When it comes to our capital, DTA.