Can I use Replikanto with my automated strategy?

Yes, Replikanto can be used with an automated strategy, algorithmic strategy, or automated trading strategy in NinjaTrader 8.

Key Requirements

When using Replikanto with an automated strategy, several important requirements must be met:

• The automated strategy will always run on one account. This account must be used as the leader account in a Replikanto window or tab.
• The same instrument must be selected in both the automated strategy and the Replikanto window or tab. This means matching the exact symbol (e.g., ES 12-24) in both places.
• If your strategy trades multiple instruments, a new Replikanto window or tab must be opened for each of them. Each instrument requires its own dedicated Replikanto instance for proper automated trade copying.
• Account type considerations: Any account can be used as a leader in Replikanto, whether it's a Sim, Live, or Funded account. However, it is recommended to use a leader account of the same type as the follower accounts to mitigate moments when they can get out of sync.

Best Practices for Automated Strategies

To ensure proper operation with automated strategies, follow these coding and configuration best practices:

Position Closing

Critical Requirement: When closing a position, always use the name 'Close' for the order name. You can use the constant NinjaTrader.Resource.GuiPositionClose.

This lets Replikanto know that the order is a position close order regardless of the number of contracts, so it will close the followers correctly. Without this naming convention, Replikanto may not recognize the order as a position close.

Exit Orders

Always use OCO (One-Cancels-Other) orders to define position exit orders, even if the strategy is responsible for managing exit orders. This way Replikanto will be able to tell whether it's time to close an exit order on the follower or not.

OCO orders are essential for automated strategies because they group related exit orders (stop loss and take profit) together. When one is filled, the other is automatically cancelled, which Replikanto needs to detect for proper follower management.

Handling Sync Issues

When using automated strategies with Replikanto, your followers may become out of sync more frequently, especially with scalper strategies that generate many rapid orders.

The Market Only feature is particularly useful in these scenarios. This mode helps maintain synchronization by focusing on market position state rather than individual order tracking.

Summary

By following these best practices—proper instrument matching, correct order naming conventions, OCO order usage, and appropriate account type selection—you can effectively use Replikanto with your automated strategies in NinjaTrader.