Thread: Strategy Trader FAQ

Strategy Trader FAQ

Please click on the appropriate link below to view the answer to your question:

Getting Started

• How do I learn to use the Strategy Trader platform? Click here.
• How do I activate one of the free, pre-loaded stEAs? Click here.
• How do I upload a free, downloadable stEA? Click here.
• How do I place manual trades? Click here.
• How do I change my MT4 account to a Strategy Trader account? Click here.
• How do I open a Strategy Trader account? Click here.

Automated Trading with a Strategy Trader EA

• How do I import a stEA? Click here.
• How do I activate an stEA? Click here.
• How do I backtest a stEA? Click here.
• How do I optimize a stEA?Click here.

Premium Charting Package

• How do I add a technical indicator? Click here.
• How do I upload a free technical indicator? Click here.
• How do I import historical data? Click here.
• How do I modify a chart workspace? Click here.
• What chart timeframes are available? Click here.
• What are the seven types of charts available? Click here.

Technical Support

• How do I uninstall and reinstall the platform? Click here.

Coding Information, FAQs, and Links

• General FAQs regarding Coding SAs, Indicators, and Functions: Click here.
• Questions and answers regarding ST Technicalities: Click here.
• Links to coding help files and tutorials: Click here.

If you have additional automated trading questions, please post your question and we will reply with an answer!

How do I learn to use the Strategy Trader platform?

Strategy Trader - The Next Evolution in Automated Trading

The Strategy Trader platform is an institutional-level platform designed to take full advantage of FXCM’s No Dealing Desk execution by using a direct connection to FXCM. With Strategy Trader, no bridge connection is used. This decreases the time it takes to execute trades, simplifies reporting, and ensures you get the best bid and best offer available from our liquidity providers.

Strategy Trader offers the following benefits:

• Faster and more reliable trade execution
• No Auto Syncs, Off Quotes or Out Trade error messages
• More price data to trade
• More reliable back-testing
• Trade in tandem with the FX Trading Station II
• Over 150 chart indicators, one of the most powerful charting packages to be offered by FXCM
• Advanced back testing with detailed strategy/trade analysis
• Uses C# for coding, easy to hookup and debug in visual studio
• Fewer logins with no need for a read-only login

What are the main windows?

The 4 most important windows are:

1. Workspaces – Provide access to charts, automated trading with stEAs, and technical indicators.
2. Dealing Rates window – Shows the most current real-time prices, margin requirements, and provides access to manual trading.
3. Navigation window – Provides access to individual accounts, indicators and stEAs for automated trading.
4. Account Manager window- Provides real-time account information with the ability to view account details, open positions, pending orders and logged actions. The breakdown of each tab is the following:

• Accounts - Displays how the performance of open trades are affecting the overall account.
• Open Positions - Provides the ability to manage or close open positions and details on individual net open positions per symbol.
• Orders – Shows all orders that have been placed on the account.
• Logs - Displays all logged activity including login times, open workspaces, added stEA’s and more.

Visual Guide of the FXCM Strategy Trader Platform

<a href="http://media.dailyfx.com/sales/online_support/images/stratworkspace.png" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.dailyfx.com/sales/online_support/images/stratworkspace.png" border="0"></a>
The additional windows are explained below:

5. Main Menu Bar - Offers access to all platform settings and functionality.
6. Standard Main Toolbar – contains icons for managing workspaces, opening new charts, accessing the quotes manager, opening the ST Editor and opening the data window.
7. Chart Analysis Toolbar – contains icons to manage symbols, add new indicators and stEA's, change the chart type and pointers, and format the overall view of the window.
8. Control Toolbar - contains icons to manage the view of the current active chart.
9. Command Line Toolbar – used to create a new view of a currency pair or a new time interval
10. Drawing Tools Toolbar – contains icons that run commands for adding drawings to the active chart.
11. Manual Trading Window - provides a quick way for users to execute basic manual trades.
12. Resolution Toolbar - allows you to make changes to the chart time frame.

Congratulations! You have learned the basic layout of the Strategy Trader platform. As an institutional-level platform, mastering the platform will take some time so many traders find it helpful to learn the platform with a demo account.

Please click on one of the links below for a Strategy Trader demo account:

FXCM LLC (US) Demo Account | FXCM LTD (UK) Demo Account

To open an account now,select the appropriate link below:

FXCM LLC (US) Open an Account l FXCM LTD (UK) Open an Account

FXCM Strategy Trader Video Tour



If you have additional Strategy Trader questions, please post your question and we will reply with an answer!

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How do I activate one of the free, pre-loaded stEAs?

There are four free, pre-loaded stEAs available for you to choose from:

1. ST Breakout

• Strategy type - Breakout trading strategy, which attempts to anticipate price action that breaks through a previous support or resistance level.
• Currency pairs- GBP/JPY and USD/JPY currency pairs, as these pairs often have a high likelihood of breakout price movement.

2. Grid Trader

• Strategy type – Range trading strategy, using a limited martingale methodology, where each trade is the same lot size.
• Currency pairs – Any currency pair that is range-bound with prices trading between a lower support and upper resistance level.

3. After Hours Trader

• Strategy Type – Trend reversal strategy, which attempts to capitalize on short-term overbought or oversold market conditions.
• Currency pairs - EUR/USD, USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and USD/CHF during the Asian market hours, where the major pairs are typically ranging.

4. MACD

• Strategy Type – Trending strategy, identifying trades based upon the MACD main and signal lines crossing over each other.
• Currency pairs – Any currency pair that is trending with the price reaching higher-highs or lower-lows.

Follow the steps below to activate the stEA of your choice:

1. Locate the Navigation window. Open the Strategy Advisor folder and Marketplace folder to find the four, pre-loaded stEA’s.

2. Select the stEA you would like to have trade for your account. For example, select ST Breakout.

3. Drag the stEA onto a chart for the currency pair you want to trade.
4. A Format Objects window will appear. The buttons on the right-hand side will allow you to customize your stEA.

5. If you prefer to use the default settings or when you finish customizing your stEA, select close.

6. From the Strategy Trader chart, locate the red Auto button in the upper left corner. To activate the stEA, select “Automate Order Execution” from the Auto drop-down menu.

7. The Auto button will update to green once a stEA is activated for automated trading.

8. A confirmation message will display in the bottom right of your platform, confirming automated trading with a stEA has been activated.


Congratulations! Your stEA is now active for live trading! The automated trading strategy will begin to trade automatically once a trading signal is triggered.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I upload a free, downloadable Strategy Advisor (stEA)?

There are many free, downloadable Strategy Advisors (stEAs) available from forexcodesource.com.

To upload and activate a stEA from forexcodesource.com:

1. Register for a login to forexcodesource.com. Register now
2. After you login, visit the stEA download page: Category:Strategies - Wiki.fxprogrammers.com
3. Locate the stEA you wish to install and click on the stEA name. For example, we will download the RSI stEA.

4. The page will update with the stEA code details.

5. From the Strategy Trader platform, navigate to file > Strategy Language editor.

6. A Strategy Language Editor window will appear. Click on File > new.
7. From the New window, select Strategy Advisor and select OK.

8. Enter the stEA name exactly as it displays on forexcodesource.com. Please note, the name of the stEA must match the name of the EA in forexcodesource.com.

9. A new tab with code will update automatically. Select all of the code, right click and select delete.

10. Navigate back to forexcodesource.com and click on the stEA you wish to upload. Copy the entire code from the strategy page.

11. Paste the code in the new stEA tab in the Strategy Language Editor window.

12. Right click inside the page and click on compile from the drop-down menu.

13. Navigate back to the Strategy Trader platform. The stEA will update to the “my strategy advisor” folder in the Navigation menu.

Congratulations! You have learned how to upload a free Strategy Advisor (stEA)from forexcodesource.com. Your stEA is now available and can be traded automatically by adding the stEA to a chart and activating the strategy. Visit the step-by-step guide to activate a stEA to learn more about activating a stEA from a chart.

How to Upload a Strategy Trader EA

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I backtest a stEA?

Strategy Trader offers a professional-level of performance data for back-testing and analysis.

To back-test a Strategy Trader EA:

1. From the Strategy Trader platform, add a stEA to the chart for the currency pair you would like to back-test.
2. A Format Objects window will display. Select properties.

3. A Strategy Properties window will display. Select the Back-Testing tab at the top of the window.
4. Make changes to the Backtesting Mode, Precision and Assumptions based on your preferences. Select OK.

a. Backtesting Mode- we suggest using the Extended Backtesting Mode since it considers the forex spread in calculating historical, hypothetical performance results.
b. Backtesting Precision – Selecting “Use Bar Magnifier” will allow you to choose between tick or minute timeframes.

5. Close the Format Objects window.
6. From the Strategy Trader platform, click on report > select Generate Strategy Performance Report.

7. A Strategy Performance Summary Report window will appear.

There are three categories of hypothetical performance reports:

1. Strategy Analysis – Provide various performance summary reports including equity curves, p/l ratios, and profit metrics.
2. Trade Analysis – Provide trade-by-trade performance reports including the number of winning trades, drawdown p/l, and percentage profitability.
3. Periodical Analysis – Provide timeframe performance reports including monthly p/l, daily gross loss, and average profit per month.

You are now ready to begin using your back-tested results to evaluate the historical performance of your stEA.

To make reports easy to use, a description of each report is provided from the three main categories.

To view the report details, select the report you prefer and the report details will display on the right-hand side. For example, the Equity Curve Detailed report for the ST Breakout stEA for the USDJPY currency pair is below.

You now have all the tools you need to do basic back-testing for Strategy Trader EAs. You can continue to make changes to the automated trading strategy settings until you find the strategy settings you are confident with.

How to Back-test a stEA

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I place manual trades?

Strategy Trader is an automated trading platform, fully optimized for No Dealing Desk forex execution. While you have the option to place manual trades with Strategy Trader, we suggest that you take advantage of the award-winning Trading Station II platform for manual trading. Any FXCM Standard or Micro account can use the Strategy Trader platform in addition to the Trading Station II platform. The Trading Station is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including one click trading and the ability to trade directly from the charts. Download the Trading Station II platform

Visit the Trading Station II FAQ for a step-by-step guide that explains how to place orders on the Trading Station II.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I change my MT4 account to trade with Strategy Trader?

[SIZE="2"]Moving your MT4 account to Strategy Trader is easy! Please email admin@fxcm.com from your email address on file and request to have your MT4 account transferred to trade with the Strategy Trader platform. Be sure to include the read-only account number and allow two business days to complete the transfer.

FXCM Ltd. accounts please note: Hedging is not available on the Strategy Trader platform. Hedged positions will carry over to Strategy Trader during the transfer; however, all orders created after the transfer will function without hedging.

To learn more about the benefits of Strategy Trader, visit one of the links below:

FXCM LLC (US) Strategy Trader Page l FXCM LTD (UK) Strategy Trader Page

How do I import a stEA?

Strategy Trader uses the open source C# programming language, allowing programmers to code and debug in Microsoft Visual Studio.

Automated traders have the option to import a stEA that they code themselves or that they receive from FXCM’s vast automated trading community.

To import a stEA to the Strategy Trader Platform:

1. Save the stEA file to your computer. As an example, we will install a stEA called the RSI DBI Strategy coded by a fellow FXCM trader.
2. To keep your files organized, we suggest that you create a folder to store all of your stEA files. For example, we have created a folder titled “stEA”.

3. Open the stEA file.

4. The Import Techniques window will appear. Click on OK to import the stEA to the Strategy Trader platform.

5. A confirmation window will display to confirm the stEA import was successful.

6. Navigate back to the Strategy Trader platform. The stEA will update to the “My Strategy Advisors” folder in the Navigation menu.

Congratulations! You have learned how to import a stEA to the Strategy Trader platform and you are ready to begin automating your stEA.

Where can I find more free trading strategies?

You can take advantage of free trading strategies posted to the Strategy Trader forum. For additional strategies that you can upload to the Strategy Language Editor, visit forexcodesource.com.

If you have additional Strategy Trader questions, please post your question and we will reply with an answer!

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How do I optimize a stEA?

Benefits of Strategy Trader Optimization

Strategy Trader provides access to advanced optimization features FREE of charge. Strategy Trader’s intelligent optimization automatically back-tests hundreds of strategy parameters for the best settings, saving you time in deciding the best settings for your automated forex trading strategy.

There are three optimization methods to choose from:

1. Exhaustive - Evaluates all of the potential settings.
• A good method to use if there are few simulations.
2. Genetic - Evaluates only the most promising simulations.
• Genetic optimization is the preferred method.
3. Walk-Forward – Uses two time periods – the first time period is used to create the optimization settings. The optimization settings from the first period are evaluated on the second time period.
• Works best when optimizing for specific market conditions.

To optimize a stEA:

1. From the Strategy Trader platform, add a stEA to the chart for the currency pair you would like to optimize.
2. A Format Objects window will appear. Select Optimize.

3. A Select Optimization Method window will appear. Select the optimization method you prefer and click on OK. The example below uses the Genetic optimization method.

4. An Algorithm Properties window will appear. Select the Start and End values for the range of values that the optimization will test and click OK.

5. The Optimization Report will display. You can analyze the simulated performance of each strategy setting and decide which variables to use.

6. To update the strategy to the parameters you prefer, double-click anywhere on that specific row of performance.

7. An FXCM Strategy Trader window will appear, allowing you to confirm your new automated trading parameters. Select Yes.

8. A final confirmation window will appear.

Congratulations! You have completed an optimization for your Strategy Trader EA and you can activate your automated strategy for trading anytime.

Advanced Back-testing and Optimization

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I add a technical indicator?

Strategy Trader offers over 100 pre-loaded technical indicators to fine-tune your technical analysis and get you trading in no time. From Elliot Wave to Tick Rate of Change, the depth of pre-loaded indicators is one of several ways that Strategy Trader offers professional-level technical analysis.

To add a technical indicator:

1. From the Navigation window, expand the Indicators folders.

2. Drag and drop your preferred indicator onto the chart of your choice.
3. A Format Indicator window will appear. Update the indicator settings and click OK.

4. The chart will update with the technical indicator and settings selected.

How do I modify or remove a technical indicator?

To modify or remove a technical indicator, right click directly on the technical indicator and a drop-down menu will display. Select “Format” or “Remove” to update your technical indicator properties or remove the indicator from the chart.

Congratulations! You have learned the basics of how to add or remove a technical indicator from the Strategy Trader platform.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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What are the seven types of charts available?

The Chart Analysis Toolbar allows you to select from seven different chart types.



The available chart types are:

1. Candlestick
Candlestick charts display the OHLC (Open, High, Low, Close) prices for the given period of time. The open and close are indicated by the tops and bottoms of each candle’s rectangular body. The high and low are indicated by the wicks, or individual lines above and below each body.



2. Bar
Bar charts display the same information as candlestick charts, but in a visually different manner. Again, there is the OHLC of each time frame, high and low represented by the top and bottom of each line, and the open and close by the hash marks to the left (open) and right (close) of the line.



3. Line on Close
Line on Close charts represent only the close prices (connected by a straight line) for the time frames selected.



4. Line Break
Line break charts are similar to Point & Figure charts (below), but the way reversals are determined is slightly different. The Line Break charts require that the previous 3 highs must be broken, in order to reverse the trend, or that the previous 3 lows must be broken in order to reverse the trend.



5. Renko
Renko charts are constructed by placing a brick in the next column, once the price surpasses the top or bottom of the previous brick, by a predefined amount. Time is not of concern on this chart, and there will be no pattern as to when a new bar occurs, until price moves outside of the previous bar. This can be helpful when searching for key support/resistance levels.



6. Kagi
Kagi charts are similar to Renko charts, as the Kagi line will move up as price breaks above the previous high price, or down when the price breaks below the previous low price. Thin lines are used to represent increased supply when the price falls below the previous low.



7. Point & Figure
Point & Figure charts are composed of a number of columns that either consist of a series of X’s or O’s. X’s indicate a rising price, O’s indicate a falling price. This can be helpful when searching for key support/resistance levels.



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What chart timeframes are available?

Strategy Trader provides the flexibility to use any chart timeframe you want.

To update the chart timeframe:

1. Right click inside the chart and select Format Symbol.

2. A Format Symbols window will appear. Click on the Settings tab.

3. Select the timeframe of your choice from the drop-down menu, and then update the length of time field to the right. You may update any of the other chart settings available. Click OK.

4. The chart will automatically update with your new timeframe and settings. For example, we updated our chart to display a 150 second candlestick chart.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I modify a chart workspace?

You can create, modify and edit workspaces with multiple, customized charts for each of your automated trading strategies. Strategy Trader provides advanced workspace customization to meet an advanced technical traders needs.

To modify a chart workspace:

1. Select file> new workspace to create a new workspace.

2. A new workspace will appear.

3. Right click inside the workspace and select Chart Window to add a new chart to your workspace.

4. An Insert Symbol window will appear. Select the symbol from the available list.

5. Select the Settings tab and update the timeframe and available settings. Click OK.

6. The chart will automatically update to your workspace.

7. You can customize the chart with the technical indicators and stEAs you prefer. In the below example, we added the C_Doji indicator and the MACD stEA to a 5 tick EURUSD candlestick chart.

8. Repeat the steps to create as many customized charts that you need within this workspace.
9. To arrange your charts, select Window and select from one of the four available options. As an example, select Arrange All.

10. To save the workspace after you complete your changes, select file> Save Workspace As. Name your workspace and save.

Congratulations! You now are familiar with the basic functions of the chart workspaces. Strategy Trader offers complete customization of workspaces and the option to open multiple workspaces as you wish.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I activate an stEA?

To activate an stEA:

1. Locate the Navigation window. Find the stEA you would like to automate from the three available folders:

• Strategy Advisors – Displays default stEAs.
• My Strategy Avisors – Displays stEAs that you coded and uploaded. Learn how to upload a free stEA now.
• Marketplace – Displays stEAs you imported from the global Strategy Trader community.

2. Select the stEA you would like to have trade for your account. For example, we will select the StochasticSlow stEA that is available free from forexcodesource.com.

3. Drag the stEA onto a chart for the currency pair you want to trade.
4. A Format Objects window will appear. The buttons on the right-hand side will allow you to customize your stEA.

5. If you prefer to use the default settings or when you finish customizing your stEA, select close.

6. From the Strategy Trader chart, locate the red Auto button in the upper left corner. To activate the stEA, select “Automate Order Execution” from the Auto drop-down menu.

7. The Auto button will update to green once a stEA is activated for automated trading.

8. A confirmation message will display in the bottom right of your platform, confirming automated trading with a stEA has been activated.

Congratulations! Your stEA is now active for live trading! The automated trading strategy will begin to trade automatically once a trading signal is triggered.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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How do I upload a free technical indicator?

There are many free, downloadable technical indicators available from Wiki.fxprogrammers.com.

To upload and activate a technical indicator from forexcodesource.com:

1. Register for a login to forexcodesource.com. Register now
2. After you login, visit the technical indicator upload page: Category:Indicators - Wiki.fxprogrammers.com
3. Locate the technical indicator you wish to install and click on the Indicator name. For example, we will upload the Head And Shoulders indicator.

4. The page will update with the technical indicator code details.

5. From the Strategy Trader platform, navigate to file > Strategy Language editor.

6. A Strategy Language Editor window will appear. Click on File > new.
7. From the New window, select Indicator, and then OK.
8. Enter the indicator name exactly as it displays on forexcodesource.com. Please note, the name of the technical indicator is listed on the code page after public class.

For example, we must name our indicator, “Head_And_Shoulders_Indicator”.

9. A new tab with code will update automatically. Select all of the code, right click and select delete.

10. Navigate back to forexcodesource.com and click on the stEA you wish to upload. Copy the entire code from the strategy page.

11. Paste the code in the new Indicator tab in the Strategy Language Editor window.

12. Right click inside the page and click on compile from the drop-down menu.

13. Navigate back to the Strategy Trader platform. The indicator will update to the “Indicators” folder in the Navigation menu.

Congratulations! You have learned how to upload a free technical indicator from forexcodesource.com. Your technical indicator is now available and can be added to a chart right away.

Tip - Keep your Strategy Trader files organized in their own dedicated folder!

To keep your Strategy Trader files organized in a central location, we recommend saving all of your Indicators and Strategy Trader EA files in the same folder so you can easily find them if necessary. As you grow your stEA and indicator library, you will be able to locate the files you need right away.

Do you have more questions about automated trading with Strategy Trader? Feel free to click Post Reply and let us provide you with an answer to your questions!

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