Current Release Notes - VT Trader 2.0.19

Important Notice:

• NFA rule 2-43(b) regarding the use of “First In First Out” (FIFO) position management goes into effect August 1st, 2009, VT Trader 1.9.4.2 will comply with this new rule by disabling the ability to attach a stoploss and/or limit profit order to an individual position ticket ID or order ID and by disabling all “Close Position”-related functionality if the client’s account is subject to the new NFA ruling. The only exception to this 2-43(b) FIFO rule is that the oldest position in a same-sized group of positions in a given currency pair may still be closed directly. To help our clients manage their risk after this change takes effect, VT Trader now includes 3 new order types and 1 improvement to an existing order type. Please continue reading below for more details.

New Features:

• Entry Stop Buy and Entry Stop Sell orders can now utilize the “Trailing” parameter to create “Trailing Entry Stop” orders; This feature allows an entry stop order to automatically change its rate to “follow” behind price by a client-specified number of pips (in much the same way a trailing stoploss order followed behind an open position’s price). The entry stop order will follow behind price by the predetermined number of pips (defined by the distance between the entry stop’s rate and the market price at the time the entry order is requested) as the price moves away from the entry order; however, the entry order will remain “fixed” as price approaches it. This process repeats until such time as the entry stop order is executed or canceled. This new functionality can be applied to single entry stop orders as well as entry stop orders used in an OCO order, the “Then” order of an If/Then order, and/or the “Then” order(s) of an If/Then OCO order.


• “One Cancels Other (OCO)” order type added; The OCO order type is two (2) separate entry orders “linked” together that are submitted (and managed) as a single order. When either of the two orders is executed, the other order is canceled (removed by the system). OCO orders must be submitted using the same account on the same instrument (i.e. EUR/USD). The most common form of an OCO order is an entry limit order and an entry stop order “linked” together. However, for more advanced order control VT Trader allows any types of entry orders to be linked together to form an OCO order pair; the only restriction is that each part of an OCO order pair must be on opposite sides of the current price. This new order type can be requested using the Quotes Board window’s contextual menu, Advanced Rates window’s contextual menu, the Chart window’s Quotes Panels’ contextual menu, and/or the Chart window’s contextual menu.


• “If/Then” order type added; The If/Then Single order type is two (2) separate entry orders “linked” together that are submitted (and managed) as a single order. Some people in the industry call this a “two-legged order”. When the first order (“IF” order) is executed, the second order (“THEN” order) becomes active as a live entry order. If/Then Single orders must be submitted using the same account on the same instrument (i.e. EUR/USD). The If/Then Single order can be a combination of any two single entry order types (i.e. Entry Stop Buy, Entry Stop Sell, Entry Limit Buy, and Entry Limit Sell). This new order type can be requested using the Quotes Board window’s contextual menu, Advanced Rates window’s contextual menu, the Chart window’s Quotes Panels’ contextual menu, and/or the Chart window’s contextual menu.


• “If/Then OCO” order type added; The If/Then OCO order type is three (3) separate entry orders “linked” together that are submitted (and managed) as a single order. When the first order (“IF” order) is executed, the OCO order (“THEN” order) becomes active as a live OCO order. If/Then OCO orders must be submitted using the same account on the same instrument (i.e. EUR/USD). The If/Then OCO order can be a combination of any three single entry order types (i.e. Entry Stop Buy, Entry Stop Sell, Entry Limit Buy, and Entry Limit Sell). The only restriction is that each part of the “Then” OCO order pair must be on opposite sides of the “If” entry order. This new order type can be requested using the Quotes Board window’s contextual menu, Advanced Rates window’s contextual menu, the Chart window’s Quotes Panels’ contextual menu, and/or the Chart window’s contextual menu.


• Chart Template feature added; A chart template is a predefined set of properties, indicators, and trading systems associated with a chart that can be saved to a file and then later assigned (loaded or applied) to one or more chart windows quickly and easily. Please refer to the “Chart Templates Management” page and “Chart Properties” page in the help manual for additional details. Chart templates are saved as .vtcharttpl files (short for "VT chart template") and stored in VT Trader's Data directory>ChartTemplates subdirectory.


• Trend Line by Angle" drawing tool added; The "Trend Line by Angle" tool works in a similar fashion as the "Trend Line" tool, except there is MAJOR difference. The "Trend Line by Angle" is drawn relative to the computer screen. If you draw a line at 45 degrees using a protractor on the screen, the line should rise by one inch for each inch it extends (runs) to the right. This 45 degree angle also could be expressed as a slope of 1. We say it is relative to the computer screen because we are discussing inches, not prices, on the screen. Regardless of how many bars are displayed or what the x- and y-axes of the chart are set to, a 45 degree angle will slope up and to the right at 45 degrees relative to the computer screen. Please refer to the help manual for additional details.


• Close All Positions command added to the Open Positions window’s contextual menu; this command is only available when all of the positions shown in the window are selected.

Feature Improvements:

• VT Trader's "Request Order(s)" window used to submit orders has been completely redesigned and enhanced to support the additional "trailing" functionality for entry stop order types as well as the new OCO, If/Then, and If/Then OCO order types.


• The Pending Orders window's format has been expanded to display the new OCO, If/Then, and If/Then OCO order types. OCO order types are identified by a [ dotted line in the Order ID column linking the orders together along with 2 horizontal blue bars shown in the T (Type); If/Then and If/Then OCO order types are also identified by [ dotted lines linking them, but their "then" order ID is indented for better visual clarity of the orders If/Then relationship. The "If" order row includes a +/- to show/hide the "Then" order(s) linked to it.


• VT Trader Proxy setup now supports using ports from 50 to 65535


• "Import Environment" command now requires that VT Trader be restarted before the imported files will be made available to the client inside VT Trader; this was done to circumvent several various potential problem situations that could arise due to old importing logic


• "Renko" and "Point & Figure" Box Size parameter now requires a relative pip input value (i.e. "1" equals 1 pip) vs. the previously used absolute pip format (0.0001 = 1 pip for 4-decimal instruments; 0.01 = 1 pip for 2-decimal instruments


• "Configure Quick List" command has been added to the top of the Indicators Quick List and Trading Systems Quick List selection lists in the chart window's contextual menu


• Margin Use Level(s) window's "hint" window has been updated to include additional information: Account: [ACCT ID], Balance: [shown in Curr; i.e. USD], Equity: [shown in Curr; i.e. USD], Used Margin: [shown in %, i.e. 15.00%], [shown in Curr; i.e. USD], Usable Margin: [shown in %, i.e. 85.00%], [shown in Curr; i.e. USD], Warning Level: [shown in %, i.e. 30.00%], [shown in Curr; i.e. USD]


• Chart Properties section of the GUI has been updated to be more organized and inclusive of some chart elements and settings; please refer to the "Chart Properties" page in the help manual for additional details


• * All Color Selection controls and Font Selection controls throughout VT Trader’s GUI have been modernized


• “Close”-related commands in the Open Positions window are visible at all times, even if they are disabled; this is consistent with the other trading-related windows’ contextual menus


• Since VT Trader now supports a broker(server)-based trailing stoploss order type, the VT-Trailing Stoploss System has been removed from all future VT Trader builds


• All order confirmation windows’ text dialog has been improved and modernized


• The word “Duration” has been changed to “Expiry” throughout VT Trader; this word is often used when identifying when an entry order will expire (i.e. Good Till Canceled or End of Day)


• “New Version Found” dialog window’s text has been updated


• Indicator labels now show last “non-null” value of the indicator’s output variable if it is “shifted” ahead or behind price instead of showing “Null”


• “Enable Hedge Option by Default” option in General Properties is now shown/hidden depending on if the logged in account is NFA-regulated or not to allow hedging


• Improvements to messaging protocols between VT Trader and VT Server


• Improvements to information logging in VT Trader’s logs