Use two databases

[ntsomeone]

Hi,

is it possible to use two discinct databases with Ninjatrader? I want to use merged futures in one and unmerged futures in the other.
If this is not possible, can I have two installations of Ninjatrader on the same PC?
Or is there another solution for my needs?

Thanks
ntsomeone

[bltdavid]

Welcome to the forums!

Maybe setup two users on your PC, then
install NinjaTrader as User1 and also as User2.

Designate User1 as merged futures, User2 as unmerged futures.
Login/Logout as necessary.

There are other ways.
(Btw, I don't think you need two dbs to actually do that,
it's an option setting, and the merge/nomerge of futures
data happens when the bars are being built.)

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello ntsomeone,

You can do this by maintaining two user folders.

1. Exit NinjaTrader
2. Open the Documents folder
3. Copy the NinjaTrader 8 folder and paste it on your Desktop
4. Rename the folder on the desktop NinjaTrader 8 Unmerged
5. Move the NinjaTrader 8 Unmerged back into the documents folder.

You should at this point have two folders in your documents:
NinjaTrader 8
NinjaTrader 8 Unmerged

To change installation:

1. Exit NinjaTrader
2. Rename NinjaTrader 8 to NinjaTrader 8 Merged
3. Rename NinjaTrader 8 Unmerged to NinjaTrader 8

The platform always looks for the folder NinjaTrader 8 so you can maintain as many different user folders as you want to.

Both user folders are separate, if you make changes in one that will not affect the other.

[ntsomeone]

Hello Jesse,

thank you, that works. But there is no possibility to have two charts of the same future, one merged, one unmerged at the same time on my PC?

But I could work with your solution. Is it possible to specify the NinjaTrader folder as a command line parameter? That way it would be easier, I just would have to create two links to the executable, each specifying a different folder.

Thanks,
ntsomeone

[NinjaTrader_Jesse]

Hello ntsomeone,

There is a roundabout way that you could do that however that involves making a new instrument. Each instrument can have its own merge policy setting so you could in theory watch an ES merged chart and create a custom instrument with the same settings but a different name like ES2 and non merged.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/manage_database.htm

This is not very practical because you have to define a new instrument for each one that you wanted to compare and also define the roll overs/offsets etc. If you are only going to be comparing a few instruments then you could certainly set up secondary instruments. Keep in mind you won't be able to actually live trade the second instrument as the name would not be valid to submit orders.

As a side note there used to be an undocumented \D command line switch which could be used to specify a path in the shortcut however trying that this morning I do not see that it works any more.

[ntsomeone]

Hello Jesse,

thank you for the additional information!

Regards,
ntsomeone