How to Ensure Your Futures Strategy is Properly Loaded

Introduction

When running a futures strategy, it's important to verify that it's properly connected and functioning to avoid any potential issues. Here’s a step-by-step guide to check if your futures strategy is correctly loaded on Rithmic rTrader and NinjaTrader.

1. Verify Connection in Rithmic rTrader

The first place to check for a successful connection is in rTrader:

• Open your Trader Dashboard in Rithmic's rTrader.
• Ensure that all four indicators in the dashboard are lit up green. These green indicators confirm that you are properly connected to the Rithmic trading platform.

If any of these indicators are not green, there might be a connection issue that needs to be resolved.

2. Verify Connection in NinjaTrader

Next, you'll want to ensure that NinjaTrader is connected:

• Check the connection status in NinjaTrader by looking for the green dot indicator. If it’s green, it means you are successfully connected.
• If the dot is not green, you are not connected to NinjaTrader. To connect, follow these steps:
1. Click on Connections in the menu.
2. Select Topstep (or the appropriate connection) to establish the connection.

Once connected, the dot will turn green, indicating a proper connection.

3. Check the Strategy Status in NinjaTrader

After confirming the connection, ensure that your futures strategy is enabled and running properly:

• Go to the Strategies tab in NinjaTrader.
• Verify that your strategy has a check mark in the enabled column.
• Additionally, make sure that the strategy itself is green. This indicates that the strategy is functioning as expected.
  
  

Chart Setup

For the strategies you're currently using, they should be set up on a chart.

• Ensure that the panel is also lit up green in the chart. This further confirms that everything is connected and functioning correctly.
  
  

Conclusion

To ensure that your futures strategy is properly loaded, confirm that:

1. All four indicators in rTrader are green.
2. The connection status in NinjaTrader is green.
3. The strategy is enabled and green in the Strategies tab and on the chart.

Following these steps ensures that your futures strategy is connected and ready to run successfully.