How to apply the same strategy to multiple instruments?

[localappleseed]

Currently I use the following two methods to apply my Strategy to multiple instruments:
1) From NT menu, open a chart for stock ABC, then apply Strategy against this chart; repeat this steps to different instruments.
2) From NT menu, select Strategies -> New Strategy.. -> Enable. repeat this steps to different instruments.

Both above methods are from GUI interface, is there a way to apply my strategy to multiple instruments through reading a list of instruments? Thanks.

[NinjaTrader_ChrisL]

Hello localappleseed, thanks for your post.

Each strategy must be enabled on a single instrument individually. The only way of automatically adding a series is to use AddDataSeries within the script and have one script trade multiple instruments. We have a guide on multi instrument scripts here:

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/?multi-time_frame__instruments.htm

Please let me know if I can assist any further.

[localappleseed]

Thanks, Chris.
So it appears to me that the added new instruments must be hardcoded like:
AddDataSeries("MSFT", BarsPeriodType.Minute, 5);

Is there a better way to input the instruments instead of hard-coded?

[NinjaTrader_ChrisL]

Hello localappleseed, thanks for your reply.

See the "Correlation" indicator as an example of dynamically loading a series. The case where this can and will go wrong is during a backtest in the strategy analyzer.

Please let me know if I can assist any further.

[localappleseed]

So if I need to apply the Strategy to 10 instruments, I would have to use AddDataSeries() 10 times, correct?
AddDataSeries("MSFT", BarsPeriodType.Minute, 5);
AddDataSeries("DELL", BarsPeriodType.Minute, 5);
...
...
AddDataSeries("NT", BarsPeriodType.Minute, 5);

I am still thinking if it is possible to read a list of instruments from a file or something like that.

[NinjaTrader_ChrisL]

Hello localappleseed, thanks for your reply.

You can use a list to load the instruments if you would like, it needs to be tested of course. I do recall doing something similar in the past, so loading in a list of strings during State.Configure should work fine. Doing this will be outside of the scope of support we can provide, but we do have an example here:

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/?using_system_io_file_propertie.htm

Best regards.

[localappleseed]

Your help is very much appreciated!