How to Use Simulated Trading

Simulated Trading is a mode that allows playing back historical data on charts and in DOM windows and using manual and auto trading during playback.
Level 1 and 2 data for simulated trading can be downloaded or collected from any supported data provider or from our servers using Market Data Sim feed.
Market Data Sim provides access to Futures, Crypto, Stock, Forex, and Index instruments: several months of minute and one week of tick Level 1 and Level 2 data. Find the full instrument list here.

Simulated Trading Setup

Choose a Mode

Use the dropdown to switch between Standard and Advanced Simulated Trading .
Advanced Simulated Trading uses Level 2 data as well as Level 1.

Choose a Resolution

Use the dropdown to select data replay resolution.

Set a Starting Point to Begin Simulation

To set the starting point on your chart, click the Start Simulated Trading button and click the place on your chart to begin simulation from. It’ll start automatically after the starting point is set and data is loaded.

You can also set the starting point using the calendar.

Once the date in the calendar is set, click the Set the date and time to start Simulated Trading button to start.

Manage the Replay

Use control buttons to Pause, Resume, Step Forward.
Click Go to Realtime to exit Simulated Trading mode.
Change the simulation speed by dragging the control .

Switch to Workspace Mode

Click the Workspace Mode button to enable it.
In Workspace Mode Simulated Trading will start on all charts, Scanner and DOM windows within the selected workspace.
This mode should be enabled if you want to use DOM windows and Order and Position Tracker in Simulated Trading mode.

Service windows opened from the View menu will not switch to Simulated Trading mode.

Manual Simulated Trading

Use Chart Trading Panel or Depth of market (DOM) window to place orders manually during simulation.
To monitor your orders, use the Order and Position Tracker.

See Chart Trading for more info.

Using DOM Windows in Simulated Trading Mode

To start playback and simulated trading in a DOM window:

1. Enable Workspace Mode.
2. Click the Start Simulated Trading button.
3. Select the starting point on a chart.

Your DOM window will be played from the same point.

Your DOM window should be opened as a separate window from File → New → DOM window.
Service windows opened from the View menu will not switch to Simulated Trading mode.

Simulated Auto Trading

Apply signals and start auto trading during simulation by using the SA/AA button or via Format → Automate Order Execution.

See Getting Started with AutoTrading for more info.

Using Order and Position Tracker in Simulated Trading Mode

For the Order and Position Tracker to display simulated trading results, it should be open via File → New and Workspace Mode should be enabled.
Order and Position Tracker will display simulated trading orders and positions starting from the moment simulated trading was enabled. Simulated trading results from previous sessions will not be displayed.
When simulated trading is stopped, the Order and Position Tracker will display real trading history.

Collecting Data

Most of the data vendors do not provide historical Level 2 data. With the Collect Data option you can start collecting real-time Level 2 values from your data provider or download sample historical data from our servers and use it for simulated trading.

Click the Simulated Trading Collect Data button to open the data collecting menu.

Not available in the free version.

Custom Symbols

On the Custom Symbols tab you can start collecting real-time data for the symbols in the selected workspace.

1. Check/uncheck the listed instruments as needed. The list will only include instruments open in the selected workspace.
2. Click Collection settings to expand the menu.
   Set when to Start collecting: Immediately, Next Hour, Session, Day, etc. or set a specific date and time.
   Set when to Stop collecting: By user command; After X Hours, Days, etc. or set a specific date and time.
   
3. Click Start to begin collecting.
   Do not shut down your PC or put it into hibernate mode while data is being collected. Click the icon in the system tray if you want to stop collecting data.

Sample Data

On the Sample Data tab you can download historical data for sample instruments from MultiCharts servers:

1. Select the instruments you'd like to download.
2. Click Start to begin downloading.
   There are no collection settings for this tab. Data downloading will begin after you click Start and will stop after all the available data is downloaded. If needed, manage it in the Data Downloading Progress menu.
   
3. After the data is downloaded, the Data Loaded message will appear. Click it to open up a workspace with the downloaded sample data.

Data Collecting Progress

To monitor data collection, click the Data Collecting Progress icon in the system tray or go to QuoteManager → Tools → Data Collecting Progress.
This window displays symbols that collect real-time data and historical data downloading for sample symbols.

• OHLC – Level 1 data that can be used to plot charts.
• L2 – Level 2 data that can be used for Advanced Simulated Trading.
• SL - Status Line data.

On the right side you can see each symbol’s status:

• Off – data is not being collected.
• Connecting – MultiCharts requested data from your data provider and waits for the response.
• X quotes – indicates the amount of collected values.

Click the gear icon next to the symbol to open collection settings. Here you can change resolutions and fields that are collected for the symbol.
Click the cross to stop collecting data for the selected symbol.

To manage the symbol list or groups of symbols, click the gear icon at the top:

• Add new symbols to start collecting data for them.
• Delete symbols from the list to stop collecting data for them.
• Select All or Select None to manage symbols in bulk.
• Select resolution and quote field to collect values for.

After collecting is finished, a pop up will appear in the bottom right corner of your screen.