Running backtests in NinjaTrader is relatively straight forward, once you learn the ropes. NinjaTrader uses a special window, called the Strategy Analyzer, to run all backtests and optimizations. The first step to finding this window is to click on File \ New \ Strategy Analyzer.
When the Strategy Analyzer opens, the window is divided into 3 vertical panes. The left window allows the user to select the instrument to test. The middle window contains the statistics and backtest information. The final window on the right is not visible; it slides out when you put the mouse over the word “Backtest” in the top right corner.
Finding the symbol that you want to test
It’s important to emphasize that you need a data connection before diving into any of this. NinjaTrader is not a standalone platform. The information that you would like to test is not available by default. Instead, NinjaTrader uses the Account Connection to go out to the broker or data provider to obtain the historical data. Everything below is a moot point if you have not already downloaded historical data and/or do not have an open Account Connection.
The left pane lists all lists that have been created using the Instrument Manager. NinjaTrader supplies lists of the most common instruments available: the DOW, S&P 500 and major forex pairs. Testing an instrument like a junior gold mining stock or something less common requires creating a new list in the Instrument Manager.
One cool feature is that you can test multiple instruments at the same time. If you want to view your strategy’s historical performance on all S&P 500 stocks, then select the list name. It is not necessary to select them individually. Every stock in the list will be included in the analysis.
If this all sounds terribly confusing (Account Connection, Instrument Manager, etc), you’re right. It’s very confusing, which is why the learning curve for NinjaTrader is so steep. It takes a long time to figure out how all of these pieces fit together. Even my staff of professional programmers experienced an ugly few weeks when I started training them. If programmers have trouble figuring out how to use the software, you don’t have to feel bad about your own difficulties.
Strategy options
The right pane opens when the mouse appears over the word “Backtest” on the far right. Within it, the menu contains multiple sections that allows the user to define the strategy. Options near the top under “Parameters” are the inputs or variables that the strategy uses. Common examples include the number of shares to trade, the stop loss distance and others.
The Data series section controls the chart period. Say, for example, that you would live to backtest AAPL on 5 minute charts. The necessary steps are:
- Select APPL in the left pane
- Choose Last for Price Based on
- The type is Minute
- The value is 5, which here stands for 5 minute charts
Time Frame controls the period over which the backtest runs. Running an AAPL strategy for 2011 would cause a trade to enter 1/1/2011 for the Start Date and 12/31/2011 for the End Date.
The remaining sections largely do not apply. When they do cause problems, most stem from the Order Handling section. If you want to trade several signals in the same direction, then the option for Entries per direction must change from 1 to a predefined maximum.
Other sections
Anyone with trading experience in other platforms will find the middle pane intuitive, especially TradeStation users. Tabs at the top of the middle pane include the Summary and Graphs. Most of my personal trading analysis concentrates on these two tabs. The others are helpful for more detail oriented folks.
The Strategy Analyzer contains a number of buttons at the top left of the screen. There are four which I find to be useful.
The floppy disc icon stands for saving a file. When the backtest completes, and especially if it takes several minutes to run, then option to save results may save a significant amount of time. If you have multiple backtests and would like to share them, the only way to do so is to send someone all of your backtests. NT stores all of its saved results in a local database. The exact location is Documents\NinjaTrader 7\db\NinjaTrader.sdf. Sending your friends or colleagues this file includes all saved backtests to date. Make sure that the recipient backs up his own NinjaTrader.sdf file before using yours. Otherwise, the information will be lost.
Right clicking in the middle pane allows the user to export the summary grid to an Excel file. Although it does not look as convenient as the NinjaTrader format, the above problem highlights the need for sending and saving individual test results.
NinjaTrader doesn’t give the b, o and w enough visual importance in my opinion. The buttons are tiny, yet they control the most important feature of the backtest – the type of test to run. Do you want to run a backtest, optimization or a walk-forward optimization? These little buttons control the type of test run.
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