In OnStateChange() State == State.Configure Vs. DataLoaded for SetTrailStop()?

[EquityTrader]

Hello,

Question #1: Should the SetTrailStop(), SetStopLoss(), SetParabolicStop(), and SetProfitTarget() methods be called in the "OnStateChange()" when "State == State.Configure" or "State == State.DataLoaded"?

Question #2: Are one of these two places a bad, dangerous place to insert these methods, is one a little better than the other, or are they both just as good as locations for these 4 methods to be inserted?

I ask this question because I noticed a difference between where the NinjaTrader Strategy Builder inserts the "Stops and targets" methods (SetTrailStop(), SetStopLoss(), SetParabolicStop(), and SetProfitTarget()) and where the examples in the official NinjaTrader help docs for these 4 methods insert these methods.

When I use the Strategy Builder in the newest NinjaTrader Desktop version (8.1.2.1) and add any of these 4 methods (including both of the variants for the 3 methods that have them, for a total of 7 possible choices) from the "Stops and Targets" tab, it inserts these methods in "OnStateChange()" when "State == State.DataLoaded", like this:

else if (State == State.DataLoaded)
{
    SetProfitTarget(CalculationMode.Currency, 0);
    SetTrailStop("", CalculationMode.Percent, 0, false);
}

However, on the 4 official NinjaTrader help docs for these 4 methods, the examples show these methods being inserted in "OnStateChange()" when "State == State.Configure", like this:

SetStopLoss() official help doc: https://ninjatrader.com/support/help...etstoploss.htm

protected override void OnStateChange()
{
    if (State == State.Configure)
    {
        // Submits a stop loss of $500
        SetStopLoss(CalculationMode.Currency, 500);
    }
}

SetTrailStop() official help doc: https://ninjatrader.com/support/help...ttrailstop.htm

protected override void OnStateChange()
{
    if (State == State.Configure)
    {
        // Sets a trail stop of 12 ticks
        SetTrailStop(CalculationMode.Ticks, 12);
    }
}​

SetParabolicStop() official help doc: https://ninjatrader.com/support/help...abolicstop.htm

protected override void OnStateChange()
{
    if (State == State.Configure)
    {
        // Sets a parabolic stop using default acceleration (0.02), accelerationMax (0.2), accelerationStep (0.02) settings and a floor value of 12 ticks
        SetParabolicStop(CalculationMode.Ticks, 12);

        // Sets a parabolic stop of with a currency floor of 500

        SetParabolicStop("MyLongEntry", CalculationMode.Currency, 500, false, 0.03, 0.3, 0.01);
    }
}

SetProfitTarget() official help doc: https://ninjatrader.com/support/help...ofittarget.htm

protected override void OnStateChange()
{
    if (State == State.Configure)
    {
        // Submits a profit target order 10 ticks away from the avg entry price
        SetProfitTarget(CalculationMode.Ticks, 10);
    }
}​

Thank you very much in advance,

EquityTrader

[EquityTrader]

Hi NinjaTrader support,

Could one of you please respond to my post? I posted it almost two full business days ago.

I am sure your answer will be worth the wait and I am very appreciative for the extremely high level of your answers to my posts in years past.

Thank you very much in advance!

EquityTrader

[NinjaTrader_ChelseaB]

Hello EquityTrader,

For Set methods specifically, State.Configure and State.DataLoaded would not make any difference. In both states, this would be calling the method before data starts being processed in OnBarUpdate().

[EquityTrader]

Thank you, NinjaTrader_ChelseaB! I really appreciate this answer and your previous excellent answers over the years.