Thread: hi do I need to keep the trading platform open?

Hi, are my trades registered on the main server and complete the trades even if i close down the software my end? Or do I have to leave my pc or laptop on and running the fxcm software if I have to go out of the house for a while? thanks greg

Sorry just noticed my question is in the wrong forum,I was in a rush to leave the house at the time.I left my laptop on and the trading station running.

Answered within 50 seconds on live chat,maybe a bit of a rookie question but just needed to be sure....thanks

Hello gregjones, and thank you for your post! On behalf of myself and everyone here at FXCM, welcome to the forum community!


Do I need to stay logged in to the Trading Station platform?

Your trades, stop, limit, and entry orders sit on our servers. Your positions will not close if you log out and you do not need to be logged in to the platform for your stop, limit, and entry orders to execute properly. So you have the advantage of being able to manage your risk and enter / exit the market without being logged in to the platform or while being away from the computer.

As for alerts and strategies, in order for those to remain active on the platform you must be logged in.


How can I save my active strategies on the platform so that when I log out and log back in they are still there?

Once you log out the platform will automatically keep and pause any strategies you had running when you log out. When you log in again by default the platform will ask you if you would like to reactivate any strategies you were running before you logged out.

To change or modify the way that the platform starts your strategies again when you log in simply click on "System" on the top left hand corner of the Trading Station platform and then click "Options".

From there scroll down and left click on "Strategies Options" in the Markescope 2.0 section. You will see the options available for this to the right. Choose your options accordingly, click "Apply" and then "OK".

I need to be logged in so that my strategies continue running. What if my computer crashes or if I need to turn my computer off? How can I continue to have my strategies running if that is the case?

Running Trading Station through a Virtual Private Server (VPS) service can significantly improve your connectivity to our servers and allow your strategies to continue running even if you turn your computer off.


What is a VPS?

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) allows you to log onto a separate server on your desktop that is solely devoted to your Trading Station account. VPS is like a mini computer system within your own computer and has its own hard disk space and RAM.


What are the advantages of using a VPS?

• Your trades will still execute even if your computer is shut off or your computer crashes.
• You can turn your computer off and your strategies will continue to trade.
• You are protected from potential power outages that can affect your computer.
• Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) cannot slow down your execution speed.
• You can log in to the Trading Station platform from any computer in the world, even if the platform is not installed.

How can I start benefiting from utilizing a VPS service?

If you choose to run Trading Station on a VPS, FXCM recommends FXColo.com a third party VPS software provider. Please click here for more information regarding the specifications (memory size, disk space, OS) for each of the packages offered by FXColo.

You can log in to the FXColo VPS using any operation system. The operating system that you will be working with from the FXColo VPS once you are logged in will be Windows 7 Pro.


Do you have other Trading Station questions?

Many traders find that a 5-10 minute introduction to the features of the Trading Station platform saves them time and allows them to get fast answers. I’d like to invite you to the Live Trading Station Walkthrough to learn more about our platform and charts. One of our specialists conduct a live demonstration followed by a question and answer period.

Please click on the link below that corresponds to what type of account you have to attend any of the live sessions:

FXCM LLC (US) | FXCM LTD (UK) (Spread Betting Live Walkthrough)

Please click here for more information about the Trading Station platform and Marketscope 2.0 charts in general. If you have additional Trading Station questions, please post your question on this thread and we will reply with an answer!


Thank you again for your post gregjones! Please feel free to post with additional questions or contact me directly at julius@fxcm.com

Originally Posted by gregjones

Answered within 50 seconds on live chat,maybe a bit of a rookie question but just needed to be sure....thanks

Thank you, I just need this opinion

Hello Obella1023, and thank your for your post!


Should I keep the Trading Station platform open and remain logged in?

As mentioned in my previous post on this thread (hi do I need to keep the trading platform open?) your trades, stop, limit, and entry orders sit on our servers. Your positions will not close if you log out and you do not need to be logged in to the platform for your stop, limit, and entry orders to execute properly. So you have the advantage of being able to manage your risk and enter / exit the market without being logged in to the platform or while being away from the computer. As for alerts and strategies, in order for those to remain active on the platform you must be logged in.

If you are running any alerts and / or strategies then I would say yes you should stay logged in to the Trading Station. If you are not running any alerts and / or strategies then in my opinion no harm would be done by logging out of the platform.


Thank you again for your post Obella1023! Please feel free to post with additional questions or contact me directly at julius@fxcm.com

Originally Posted by Obella1023

Thank you, I just need this opinion

Hi,

I intend to install Trading Station 2 on a VPS server and run some strategies and alerts. None of these strategies and alerts trigger trades but email when certain setups occur in the market so that I can then possibly act upon them by entering a trade manually. The problem I have encountered is that I cannot log into Trading Station 2 on the server and then also on my laptop as it does not allow dual logins from different locations. However, I don't want to use a demo account on the server as this expires after 1 month and as I understand demo accounts the price is more based upon a simulation of the market and can differ from the actual price on a live account.

What are your suggestions? Open a second live account? Also, is there a way of copying strategies and alerts from one computer to another easily via the file system rather than having to re-enter them all?

Regards,
Sean.

Hello stcowan, and thank you for your post!


How can I log in to multiple platforms with my live account?

By default you are only able to log in to one Trading Station platform at a time with a live account. If you would like to have the ability to be simultaneously logged in to your live account from different platforms, all you need to do is fill out the Multiple Session Request and Waiver form that is attached to this forum post. Once you complete the form please send it as an attachment from the email address that we have on file for you to the operations department and they would be more than happy to enable that functionality for you. The operations department can be reached at one of the email addresses below:

Standard Accounts: admin@fxcm.com | Micro Accounts: admin@fxcmmicro.com

The request can take up to two business days to process. Please let me know if you have submitted a Multiple Session Request and Waiver form and I can help expedite the process for you.


What is the difference between the demo accounts and live accounts?

Each platform offers the same exact features for both demo and live accounts. That means you will see the same price feeds / spreads / features / functionality on both demo and live accounts. The only difference between demo and live accounts is that demo accounts have unlimited liquidity.


Will I make the same amount of money on a demo account as on a live account if I make the same exact decisions on each?

The results could slightly differ due to slippage which is an inherent condition of all markets. Slippage doesn't happen on demo accounts because all orders are executed instantly at the price you see on your screen no matter what; there is unlimited liquidity with demo accounts. With a live account there is limited liquidity at each price level. Please click on one of the links below to learn more about slippage from our execution risks page:

FXCM LLC (US) l FXCM LTD (UK) l FXCM Australia (AU)

How can I transfer my strategies and strategy dashboard setups from one computer to another?

Your strategies, strategy dashboard setups and everything else for the Trading Station Desktop platform should be located in the following folder:

My Computer > Local Disk (C:) > Program Files > Candleworks > FXTS2

What you can do is save your strategies and strategy dashboard setups onto a USB Flashdrive and then transfer them from computer to computer. Just save your strategies and strategy dashboard setups on the USB Flashdrive from one computer, plug it into another computer that has the platform downloaded on it and paste the files in the same folders you found them in.


Thank you again for your post stcowan! Please feel free to post with additional questions or contact me directly at julius@fxcm.com

Originally Posted by stcowan

Hi,

I intend to install Trading Station 2 on a VPS server and run some strategies and alerts. None of these strategies and alerts trigger trades but email when certain setups occur in the market so that I can then possibly act upon them by entering a trade manually. The problem I have encountered is that I cannot log into Trading Station 2 on the server and then also on my laptop as it does not allow dual logins from different locations. However, I don't want to use a demo account on the server as this expires after 1 month and as I understand demo accounts the price is more based upon a simulation of the market and can differ from the actual price on a live account.

What are your suggestions? Open a second live account? Also, is there a way of copying strategies and alerts from one computer to another easily via the file system rather than having to re-enter them all?

Regards,
Sean.