Setup multiple Apex accounts with the same strategy

[betsuni_123]

Hi everyone.
I am setting up NinjaTrader and I have multiple Apex evaluation accounts. I would like to run the same semi-automatic strategy/script in each account.
My question is: do I need to set up the strategy on each account in it's own individual chart? So it looks like this below:


Or, can I have one window for one chart and then put the strategy there multiple times but select new account each time? Like below:

[NinjaTrader_Clayton]

Hello betsuni_123,

Thank you for the question.

While the default "Sample ATM Strategy" is used for demonstration here, you would want to reach out to the developer of the actual NinjaScript Strategy you are referring to and ask them how is best to use their strategy.

• NinjaScript Strategies can be programmed to work in a variety of ways so instead of guessing or asking for the opinion of someone who didn't make the code, it would be best to reach out to the people who made it and ask them which way would be best.
  • 3rd Party Disclaimer

This forum will remain open for other users to share their insight, but again, you will want to reach out to whoever made the NinjaScript Strategy directly for the best advice.


Please let us know if we may provide any further assistance.

[betsuni_123]

Hi Clayton.
It is me who made the strategy that I will be using. So I am wondering how best to "place" it on a chart. It is a 3 minute NQ chart for all of my Apex accounts. Is it best to use 1 chart or multiple tabs of charts?
Thanks.

[bltdavid]

You could start all strategies on the same chart, once for each
account, varying the account each time you enable the strategy.

But, it probably depends on a few things.

Does your strategy perform any AddChartIndicator calls?

If yes, then you'll have a jumble of indicators all being added
to the same chart, which might not be so great.

What about toolbar buttons?

The question is, does your strategy code adorn the chart or
the toolbar in any way that would conflict with the same
strategy being started multiple times in that same chart
window?

If your strategy is pretty darn simple (in fact, the simpler
the better), then, cautiously experiment by starting the
strategy in the same chart for, say, only two accounts

If all works well, then proceed to start the strategy for
more accounts inside the same chart, I doubt there
would be any problem, but again, depends on what
kinds of non-strategy things your code might be doing.

-=o=-

Having said that, I don't think I would do it.

I would open a new chart in a new tab, using handy
'Duplicate in New Tab' option from tab right-click menu.

But first, rename the initial tab to be '@ACCOUNT', using
the handy 'Rename' option from tab right-click menu.

Try that and see if you can make that approach work.

If successful, then switch over to starting all in the same
chart, if you want -- but, realize that whether you setup
just one chart, or one chart tab per account, either
approach is a one-time work effort (because you'll
save your charts/tabs arrangement in a workspace).

My point is, the real work (the time-consuming part you
can never skip over) is enabling the strategy itself. These
steps cannot be avoided, so whether you do these steps
in one chart, or multiple chart tabs, well, bummer, you
will always be doing them anyways.

But, yeah, all in one chart window? Uh, not necessary, but
then again, certainly not technically impossible. Your call.

Whether it's best practice for your situation, you'll have
to decide that for yourself.

Just my 2˘.

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello betsuni_123,

bltdavid is providing good information.

Yes, you can add multiple strategies using different Account selections to the same chart.

The resources saved by not having additional charts open would be minimal (depending on the bar type used).

You could also choose to use separate charts. I agree that this would be a matter of preference and works best for your trading behavior.

[betsuni_123]

Hi Chelsea and bltdavid,
I appreciate both of your advices very much. Have a great day.

[bltdavid]

Another option is use a trade copier and start the strategy
in just one account, which is usually called the 'leader' account.

Then use the trade copier to replicate the trades in that
leader account to the remaining accounts, which are
typically referred to as the 'follower' accounts.

This is also a viable alternative, and might be easier than
enabling the strategy multiple times in one or more windows.

Why?
Because most trade copiers, like a workspace that will save
your chart arrangements, probably can save its settings, allowing
you to easily retrieve and re-initialize it -- remember, you cannot
automate the 'enabling' of a strategy, so if you have a lot of eval
accounts, well, that's the same repetitive boring steps for every
eval account every time you start the strategy, because you
need to repeat those steps for each account.

A trade copier could help automate away (so to speak) all of
those repetitive 'enabling' steps (except for that first leader
account, of course).

The point is, using a trade copier, you'd only start the strategy
once, in one account. The trade copier does the rest.

Just my 2˘.

[bltdavid]

As time goes by, you'll probably consider the
trade copier option a better solution than enabling
the same strategy for multiple accounts.

Why?
Because now, by only ever starting the strategy
one time, in your leader account, you can make
the strategy as complicated as you want it to be.
Things like adding code for toolbar buttons, or
maybe a chart trader button or two, or by making
calls to AddChartIndicator.

You can build (or buy) an advanced strategy and
start it one time, one time only, and let the trade
copier do the replication part for the remaining
accounts.

The point is, the trade copier actually opens up
choices for your running strategies, either by
writing more complicated strategies that do
more advanced things, or by buying one.

The trade copier allows you to grow your
skills with coding strategies -- or allows you
to buy advanced strategies -- because the
complications brought on by multiple enabling
has been eliminated by the trade copier.

Said another way, using a trade copier for the
'repetitive' department actually opens up more
choices in the strategy department.

A trade copier allows you to grow.