Instrument object is null during Strategy Optimization

[bojim]

I started getting this error all of a sudden on the "Instrument" object and it's keeps me from being able to perform optimizations.

System.NullReferenceException: 'Object reference not set to an instance of an object.'

else if (State == State.Configure)
{

UnitsCalculation = (Instrument.MasterInstrument.InstrumentType == InstrumentType.Forex)
? UnitsCalculationType.Pips
: UnitsCalculationType.Ticks;

...
}

This code is not new, and has worked with optimizations in the past. Is there some way to see a more detailed output of what is going on?

The problem must be elsewhere in an extremely large code base.

Back tests run fine, this only occurs during optimizations.

Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello bojim,

Thanks for your post.

Dynamically adding data is not fully supported. Instrument is not guaranteed to be available in State.Configure, and this specifically will not work with optimizations.

Arguments supplied to AddDataSeries() should be hardcoded and NOT dependent on run-time variables which cannot be reliably obtained during State.Configure (e.g., Instrument, Bars, or user input). Attempting to add a data series dynamically is NOT guaranteed and therefore should be avoided. Trying to load bars dynamically may result in an error similar to: Unable to load bars series. Your NinjaScript may be trying to use an additional data series dynamically in an unsupported manner.

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

Please let us know if there is anything else we can do to help.

[bojim]

Is there a way to safely determine the Instrument type or tick size during optimizations ?

Thanks!

[NinjaTrader_Jim]

Hello bojin,

Yes, data will be available in State.DataLoaded, so you may check the Instrument object then.

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/NT%20HelpGuide%20English.html?onstatechange.htm