(Paying) Discretionary Traders - Features missing

[Frankenstein]

Hello Ray, Dierk and the NT-development-crew,

in my view you should finally start adding the features
a lot of (paying!) discretionary traders are requesting
for several years now. A good example is the volume@
pricelevel-feature in the DOM, a general revision of the
DOM (why do you need third party parts there?) which
can be pretty slow in fast markets (i'm running 4,8GHz
Core i7 here and its definitely capable of more than
running 50-100 DOM's on the one core NT can utilize,
the DOM-code seems pretty slow) and a lot of other
DOM-related features requested on this forum.
In my eyes too much is done in adding features and
features, now its finally time to improve the CORE of
the software which the DOM always will be, we
have waited way too long.

Also i don't understand why i have to reopen NT
when i manually disconnect a TT-connection.
A 'unload'-functionality which fixes this should
be implemented pretty fast. I also don't under-
stand why sometimes connections can't be
reestablished automatically... but can when
i manually disconnect and connect again...
sorry, that should be done by the program
(as it is possible manually just proves that
its easily possible)... that are BASICS which
are especially interesting for people actually
trading with NT (the paying ones...), why
aren't the solved before adding new features?

Also, too much is done to keep all this non-paying
lurkes mute. SORRY, THE REQUESTS OF THE
PAYING CUSTOMERS COME FIRST! Paying customers
also seem to know what it takes to be successful
enough in the markets to pay your license and
that of several other trading softwares, so hear
their words and don't ignore them... of course
the kiddies want that and that, but who cares,
they won't buy a license anyways. Why don't you
'highlight' actual customers in the forum with
a simple bit, could also make your work easier.

Btw., i appreciate that you moved the Beta of NT 7
into Q2 and you have not released premature versions.
I hope you will not release any pre-betas (alphas)
(which especially the non-payer's are lurking for...)
and take your time to release a good product
WITH long-time requested features for the
discretionary traders (don't get me wrong, i'm
using automated systems also).

I hope others think the same way i do regarding NT.

A happy good friday from a long-time customer.

[velocity]

Well stated, thanks for speaking what's been on the minds for a lot us.

[NinjaTrader_Ben]

Hello,

Your first point: I can't speak to the exact features that will be included with NT 7, but I assure you, your suggestions are logged and considered. Thank you!

Your second point: This is a technical issue regarding the feed access. I will have someone follow up with more information for you on this.

Your third point: We feel that more ideas from more traders, paying or not, is best for all. We consider all suggestions and implement the ones that make the most sense for all customers. Paying customers, of course, are very important to us. Thank you for your support!

Your fourth point: Thank you for your support!

[Frankenstein]

RAY, don't forget the discretionary traders

RAY, will the discretionary traders finally get their
wanted updates and will the CORE of the software
(Connections, DOM, corrupt-free database) finally be
improved before adding new features?

---

Ben, most of the missing core features discretionary traders
are waiting for were already suggested first at times you
weren't even thinking of NT as an employee for you, way back
at NT Version 4.x & 5.x, but sadly there is no progress.

Holding a Phd. in software engineering believe me its not
a 'technical reason', its simply not coded (well) till now.
For example i already stated that a connection often can
not reconnect itself but a simple disconnent&connect solves
this issue, why can't this be done automatically? The TT-
issue (have to start NT again to make a connection after
once disconnecting manually) is simply because the 'old'
connection hasn't released the common used resources,
thats poor coding and no 'technical reason' at all.

Its also a shame that the database often corrupts itself
and your standard answer is a (from a software engineering
standpoint) poor 'reset database'... what do you think the
IT world would look alike when Oracle, IBM & Peers answers
that way to all database issues? Rarely i add a new
contract to the instruments list and it simply doesn't
work... (not receiving any quotes), also deleting and re-
adding the contract does not work, BUT starting NT again
with the SAME database justing adding the wanted contract
and THEN it works... yes, that just happens in rare
conditions (something like 0.01%-0.001% of all times),
but it leaves a poor impression of the database code
(corrupt items under specific timestamps?!)... when you
open a few dozen orders in the DOM in a power clicking
(call it simulating scalping) it slows considerably and
sometimes cracks down with a few dozen or hundred orders
open... sorry, that should happen NEVER... if the DOM
has not the resources to take any more orders it should
stop taking more, not cracking down or anything else.

As you have a deal with TT regarding the static DOM
and including currency trading i don't understand why
you don't offer the static DOM for currency trading for the
agreed fee (a dime per contract or something like that)?!
YES, a static DOM makes sense for currency trading
and it would be a nice feature.

Of course ideas regarding trading are always interesting,
but your paying customers subsidize all the free charting
and automated-system-development for all the non-paying
ones (yeah i know this is the American way, let others pay...)
so i think we have the right to finally see the features
we suggested back at times of NT 4.x & 5.x finally come
true, the free charters&automaters don't pay your bills,
never forget that. Its also a shame that the paying support
questions are not prioritized ahead of the non-paying ones...
but as this forum is quite well its not a real issue at the
moment.

Btw., charting works extremely well from a performance
point of view... no problem having 100 charts full of
indicators even on fed days... it can be done.

again:
RAY, will the discretionary traders finally get their
wanted updates and will the CORE of the software
(Connections, DOM, corrupt-free database) finally be
improved before adding new features?

Make a great day.

[NinjaTrader_Ray]

Frankenstein,

Thanks for taking the time to write with your candid remarks. I will return the favor in kind and be candid also.

- Most of our database issues have been due to corrupt database which is out of our hands. In NT7, we have moved to a different DB technology and hope that this resolves all of these related issues. We will know more once we get into public beta with NT7.
- Connection management is different for all of our technology providers. Most connection management is handled in the providers API. In other words, the API notifies NT of a disconnect and we then must wait for the API to report that there is a reconnect. Unfortunately, I can't tell you for what reasons an API may not be able to reconnect.
- A revision to our SuperDOM is slated for an upgrade after NT7. I am not sure at this time if it would be NT8 or a interim update on NT7. I can say that popular requests for volume by price and/or depth are features that are high on our list.

A lot of work has gone in under the hood in NT7 to optimize for memory and CPU load across all areas of our product. I consider this "CORE" work vs just adding new features. We take very seriously the quality of product and the feedback we receive on how our product can be improved.

[Frankenstein]

Ray,

thank you very much for your honest words,
i appreciate that very much.

- i see there is hope in a new db technology
- can you please drop the developers of the
TT api a line about the issues i provided?
When you manually disconnect TT and try to re-
connect, i have the impression that simply
common (='old' & 'new' connection's) resources
(files) were not released properly by the
disconnect-procedure, whether this is by
NT or the TT api, it surely can be solved
pretty easy i guess.
- i see NT 7.5.1000.1 with the revised SuperDOM,
let's hope there will be an 6.5.1000.9+x then
too which will include this revised SuperDOM,
an valuable final upgrade.
- optimization for more cores and less memory
is indeed working at the quality of the CORE.
- it would be nice when tickers/lines in the
market analyzer could be moved up or down.

Thanks for your time and make a great day.