How to personalize the Cross Over instrument for the Cross Order feature?

The Cross Order feature in Replikanto allows you to copy orders from a leader account to a follower account while automatically converting between different but related instruments. For example, you can trade the mini E-mini S&P 500 (ES) on your leader account while your follower account automatically executes the same trade in the Micro E-mini (MES), scaling the quantity appropriately.

This customization is done by editing the ReplikantoCrossOrderRelationship.json configuration file, which defines which instrument pairs can be converted between each other.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Locate the configuration file
   The ReplikantoCrossOrderRelationship.json file is located at:
   \\Documents\\NinjaTrader 8\\bin\\Custom
2. Back up the original file
   Before making any changes, create a backup copy of the original file. You can always retrieve the original version from the Replikanto-1.X.X.X-xxxxx.zip installation file if needed.
3. Edit the file
   Open the JSON file in a text editor. The file contains a JSON structure that defines cross-order relationships between instrument pairs.
4. Add or modify instrument relationships
   You can add new relationships or edit existing ones. Each relationship defines a pair of instruments that can be converted between each other.
5. Save the file
   Save your changes to the same location: \\Documents\\NinjaTrader 8\\bin\\Custom. Do not change the file name.
6. Restart NinjaTrader
   Close and restart NinjaTrader, then reopen Replikanto for the changes to take effect.
7. Verify the configuration
   After restarting, access the Cross Order feature in Replikanto to confirm your custom relationships are available.

Example Configuration

A common use case is creating a relationship between Crude Oil (CL) and Micro Crude Oil (MCL). The JSON structure would include this pairing, allowing Replikanto to automatically convert orders between these instruments.

Replikanto version 1.4.5.4 and higher includes the CL <> MCL cross-order relationship pre-configured out of the box.

Two Crossed Instruments for the Same Leader Product

Note: Replikanto 1.7.0.0 has not been released yet. The second-crossed-instrument behavior described below is part of a planned/upcoming release and is not yet available in the current version of Replikanto.

Before Replikanto 1.7.0.0, a leader instrument could map to exactly one crossed instrument. As of 1.7.0.0, a leader product can have a second, smaller crossed instrument as well — so the Cross Order square cycles through off (red), the first crossed instrument (green), and the second one (amber) instead of being a simple on/off toggle.

This matters when you're customizing relationships for a family that has three size tiers, such as mini, micro, and one of CME's upcoming E-nano contracts (NES, NNQ, NDOW, N2K, expected 2026-08-24). Families with only two tiers keep the familiar red/green behavior. See Cross Order Now Has Three Instrument Tiers (1.7.0.0) for the full explanation.

Important Considerations

• File location: Ensure the modified file is saved in the correct directory: \\Documents\\NinjaTrader 8\\bin\\Custom. If the file is in the wrong location, Replikanto will not detect your customizations.
• No coded limitations: There is no hardcoded limit on the number of custom cross-order relationships you can define. You can add as many instrument pairs as needed.
• Supported instrument types: Cross orders work best when converting between micro, mini, and nano versions of the same underlying asset (e.g., ES to MES, NQ to MNQ, CL to MCL). The instruments must have equivalent price movements for the conversion to work correctly.
• Different price increments are handled for you: Replikanto 1.7.0.0 has not been released yet — the automatic price adjustment described here is not yet available. If the instrument you cross into moves in a different price increment than the leader's, Replikanto 1.7.0.0 adjusts the copied order's price so it lands on a valid price for the destination instrument, rather than letting the broker reject it. This already applies to pairs such as GC/1OZ, CL/QM, SI/SIC, and VX/VXM.
• Some pairs require a specific exchange: Crossing VIX (VX) with Micro VIX (VXM) only resolves on a broker connection that can reach Cboe CFE, such as Interactive Brokers. NinjaTrader Brokerage does not support that exchange.
• Pre-defined relationships: Replikanto includes several pre-configured cross-order instruments. You can customize these or add your own at any time.
• Multiple instrument trading: If you need to copy multiple symbols from a leader account to followers, open a separate tab for each symbol. Replikanto can run with multiple windows or tabs in parallel.
• Downloading the original file: You can download the original ReplikantoCrossOrderRelationship.json file from the downloads section of your FlowBots profile.
• JSON syntax validation: Ensure your JSON syntax is correct when editing the file. Invalid JSON will prevent Replikanto from loading the configuration. Consider using a JSON validator if you're unsure about the syntax.

Troubleshooting

• Changes don't appear after restart: Verify the file is saved in the correct directory and that the file name hasn't been changed. Check for JSON syntax errors.
• File not found: If the file doesn't exist in the Custom directory, extract it from the original Replikanto-1.X.X.X-xxxxx.zip installation file.
• Orders not converting: Confirm that the instrument pair is correctly defined in the JSON file and that both instruments are supported by your broker.
• Existing settings after updating: Saved workspaces and follower settings that already had Cross Order enabled keep working automatically after updating to 1.7.0.0. There is no migration step, and they continue resolving to the same instrument they already crossed into.