If your automated strategy in NinjaTrader 8 isn’t taking trades or won’t enable, the cause is usually simple: data series settings, template mismatch, insufficient history, or license/activation. This guide shows you exactly what to check and how to fix it fast.

Table of Contents 🔗

• Typical Symptoms
• 1) Fix Your Data Series Settings
• 2) Verify the Correct Strategy Template
• 3) Load Enough Historical Data
• 4) Other Common Causes (Account, Hours, License)
• Quick Diagnostic Checklist
• Step-by-Step: From “No Trades” to Working
• Activation & Support
• FAQ

Typical Symptoms 🔗

• Strategy enables but never places orders in real time.
• Strategy won’t enable or disables immediately after you click Enable.
• Historical plots appear, but live trades never trigger.
• Log shows warnings about data, session, or license.

1) Fix Your Data Series Settings 🔗

Incorrect Data Series settings are the #1 reason strategies don’t work. Each template defines a market and timeframe you must match on the chart or in the Strategies tab.

Example (for the Reversal Automated Trading Strategy):

• Price is based on: Last
• Type: Minute (Reversal uses Minute bars)
• Value: 5–60 (we do not recommend below 5; signals can be unreliable)
• Load data based on: Days
• Days to load: 30 (minimum 10–15 to initialize correctly)

2) Verify the Correct Strategy Template 🔗

Using the wrong template is another frequent culprit. The template name tells you the exact instrument and timeframe you should run. For example:

• MNQ 15 MIN BARS (#112) → Instrument: MNQ, Bar Type: Minute, Value: 15.

Load the template from the strategy settings and make sure your chart/strategy Data Series matches those details.

3) Load Enough Historical Data 🔗

Strategies need a minimum data window to calculate indicators and filters. If you don’t load enough history, the strategy may not initialize or fire entries.

• Set Days to load to at least 15 (we recommend 30).
• Confirm data connection is live and historical data is available for your instrument.

4) Other Common Causes (Account, Hours, License) 🔗

• Wrong account selected: Start in Sim and confirm orders route to the intended account.
• Trading Hours mismatch: If your strategy/template expects RTH or ETH, use the matching Session template. A mismatch can prevent signals.
• Commissions & slippage: For realistic performance (and some filters), set them in Tools → Options → Commissions.
• License/activation: If NT8 shows the add‑on isn’t licensed, activate it first (see Support).

Quick Diagnostic Checklist 🔗

• Template and chart instrument & timeframe match exactly.
• Minute bar type (for Reversal) and recommended Value (≥5).
• Days to load ≥ 15 (prefer 30).
• Session template fits the template notes (RTH/ETH).
• Strategy is Enabled; data feed is Connected.
• No license errors in Control Center → Log.

Step‑by‑Step: From “No Trades” to Working 🔗

1. Disable the strategy.
2. Load the correct template for your instrument/timeframe.
3. Open Data Series → set Type: Minute, Value per template, Days to load: 30, Price based on: Last.
4. Confirm Trading Hours session matches the template (RTH/ETH).
5. Re‑enable the strategy on a Sim account and allow several bars for signals to form.

Activation & Support 🔗

If your strategy still won’t enable or shows a license error, contact us and we’ll activate your license or help diagnose the issue.

• Email: [email protected]
• Product page (example): Reversal Automated Trading Strategy
• Related how‑to: Install an Automated Strategy in NT8

FAQ 🔗

Why isn’t my strategy taking trades right after I enable it?
Entries are rule‑based. Even if historical signals show, live trades only occur when the setup happens in real time. Ensure instrument/timeframe and session match the template.

How many days of data do I need?
At least 15 days; we recommend 30 to initialize indicators and filters correctly.

Can I use Tick or Range bars instead of Minute?
Not for templates that specify Minute (e.g., Reversal). Use the bar type defined by the template.

Will the wrong instrument or timeframe break the strategy?
It won’t break NT8, but it can invalidate logic and prevent signals. Always mirror the template name (e.g., MNQ 15 MIN).

I see a license error—what now?
Contact [email protected]. We’ll activate or reissue your license and check your Machine ID if needed.

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