Just to confirm, there's no way to handle tick updates during historical backtest?

[tradefaz]

I'm doing a chart based strategy backtest using InteractiveBrokers historical data. Am I right that the only way to test the strategy and see how it handles both tick data and the bar update is to run it against the live feed (with a paper trading account)? Or is there a way to get it to handle tick updates on the backtest with historical data?

[NinjaTrader_Josh]

That is correct. You can use the Market Replay feature for forward testing, but that requires you to record live market data for the instruments you wish to test.

[tradefaz]

Originally Posted by NinjaTrader_Josh

That is correct. You can use the Market Replay feature for forward testing, but that requires you to record live market data for the instruments you wish to test.

What's the best way to record multiple instruments? Is the only way to do this to open multiple charts and just let NT sit there recording?

Will NT support tick based backtesting in the next version?

Thx.

[NinjaTrader_Josh]

You can use the Market Analyzer to load more instruments for recording.

Tick backtesting doesn't exist because there is no way to know how a 1min bar looks during that 1min. Even with tick data you are still missing bid/ask spread throughout that duration. This is why many people use forward testing on top of their backtesting.

For backtesting at the tick level you could try creating a multi-time framed strategy with a 1tick bar series.

[tradefaz]

Originally Posted by NinjaTrader_Josh

You can use the Market Analyzer to load more instruments for recording.

Tick backtesting doesn't exist because there is no way to know how a 1min bar looks during that 1min. Even with tick data you are still missing bid/ask spread throughout that duration. This is why many people use forward testing on top of their backtesting.

For backtesting at the tick level you could try creating a multi-time framed strategy with a 1tick bar series.

A multi-time framed strategy, I think I recall reading about that on here a week or so ago, that is probably what I'm looking for. I basically want to run the strategy on the bar update, but to check the price on every tick in the event that I meet my profit target before the current bar is finished. Many times the bar completes below the profit target, but there is no reason why I wouldn't take the profit earlier in the intra-bar period and just exit the position.

Also, doesn't a tick include the bid and the ask?

[tradefaz]

Originally Posted by NinjaTrader_Josh

You can use the Market Analyzer to load more instruments for recording.

Tick backtesting doesn't exist because there is no way to know how a 1min bar looks during that 1min. Even with tick data you are still missing bid/ask spread throughout that duration. This is why many people use forward testing on top of their backtesting.

For backtesting at the tick level you could try creating a multi-time framed strategy with a 1tick bar series.

I think I see what you mean about the tick, its either going to be a bid or an ask, not both, so when checking Close[0] on the 1 tick bar series, you have no way of knowing if its the bid or ask? But during a live test you could do a call to GetCurrentBid()/Ask()? Is that sort of what you meant?

[NinjaTrader_Josh]

Your understanding is correct.

[tradefaz]

Originally Posted by NinjaTrader_Josh

Your understanding is correct.

I still don't quite get why if you are collecting tick data with OnMarketUpdate() you can't store whether its the bid or the ask and then provide that during historical replay? There are other tools out there that do tick based backtesting so what am I missing?

Also I tried a multi-time framed strategy and I didn't get that far.

[mrlogik]

tradefaz,

OnMarketUpdate doesn't store bid / ask data, its just a method you can use to get that data real-time. In terms of backtesting, the best bet is to use the replay recorder. If you want to record data for multiple pairs without having a chart open for each, reference my post #14 @ http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/v...ead.php?t=9727

NT 7 will allow for historic volume, bid, ask references, as well as other things.

hope this helps.

[Gains]

Originally Posted by mrlogik

...NT 7 will allow for historic volume, bid, ask references, as well as other things.

Will the External Data Feed Connection DLL Interface Functions have new functions to utilize these new data?
In other words will there be a new function VolumePlayback() added to the current bid, ask, last ...Playback() functions?

Thanks,
Gains

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

Gains, I'm not aware of changes to the External Feed data interface / DLL connection, but will check with development on this and update this thread then.

[NinjaTrader_Bertrand]

Gains, to follow up - this is already supported as the Bid / AskPlayback functions for the ATI support the 'size' parameter - http://www.ninjatrader-support.com/H...unctions2.html