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Has anyone been able to run a strategy backtest in MCDT yet? I have looked through the help file, but I can't seem to figure it out. I have gotten so far as adding a signal (MACD LE for simplicity) and configured it to give alerts in real time, but I can't find any way to have it backtest.
From the Comparison table on Multicharts.com, it looks like it should be able to do prebuilt strategies. MCDT is the first series of checkmarks:
Strategy Back-Testing
Ability to Create Strategies n y y y n
Strategy Performance Report Y Y Y Y Y
Strategy Optimization Y Y Y Y Y
Optimization Report Y Y Y Y Y
3D Optimization Chart n y y y n
Can't comment on MCDT specifically. But, when you add a signal to a chart then that effectively is the backtest, for the historical backfill of the chart you added it to.
Most likely, if you View -> Strategy Performance report, you will see (1) execution because you told it to take a Long Entry, but never told it to exit the market. I can't comment much on these built-in signals, but there is probably one that tells it to close positions at the end of the day, and also ones for setting stops and targets.
When you start to see the signals on your chart, check the performance report and they should be there.
I requested a demo of MC v6 from a broker who offers the Rithmic data feed. Thinking that I could use the data source login information from the MC v6 demo to DEMO MCDT, I tried it. I can only get one symbol to populate a chart - 6E. The other symbols that I have attemped to chart in MCDT are CL, ES & 6B - They will not populate the chart window.
I do get "connecting" messages in the chart window, but it never loads any bars (5 minutes or less). I suspect that I have settings, somewhere, that are wrong. It is becoming extremely frustrating.
By the way, MC v6 is the same way. So, again, I think it may be some setting somewhere that I have not changed correctly for the Rithmic data feed.
Got it, thanks. It didn't operate quite like Tradestation, NT or Metastock, so I was a little lost, the report seems to be auto-generated, and indeed, had one entry. When I added a profit taking / stop-loss signal, it adjusted accordingly.
I think maybe it was just TOO simple for me to see. (have a tendency to make simple things complicated!)
Since that was such a fast response, maybe I'll try another one :-)
MCDT has been crashing constantly since I downloaded it. It seems to have a problem with loading the workspace files. When I recreate everything from scratch each session it has not had a problem, but as soon as I open a default workspace, or a saved one, the system crashes and sends an error report.
I have repaired the installation, and when that didn't work, I removed it and reinstalled, all to no avail. Has anyone had a similar situation?
Have you asked your broker? Most likely the symbol mapping settings are wrong, that in combination with no backfill from Rithmic --- make sure you are adding during a live moving market, not after hours.
I am not sure if the Rithmic symbology is the same as Zen Fire, but most likely it is and if you go back a few posts or a few pages I think the CL and ES settings were recently posted.
Wow, I think MC has crashed on me a grand total of 1 time EVER, and that was purely my fault with some really bad EasyLanguage code.
I think if you go to their website tomorrow and open a Live Support issue, they will remote into your system and try to see what is going on and download the log files.
I have allowed it to send in the data each time. It has crashed on both of my systems, probably 15-20 times in 3 days. Both running Win7 64bit, one with Norton, and the other firewalled at the router. It has been disturbing to imagine this happening in live trading, but it IS an Alpha release, and I am open to it being an error on my part somewhere.
Tonight, I discovered that if I save a workspace and then close the workspace prior to closing MC, it seems to not crash the next time I open it. Hopefully, they'll find an obvious reason. I may try a demo full version and see if it has the same problem, but I was hoping to hold off on the demo until MC 7 is released.
Try to work with support and let them duplicate it so it can be fixed. I believe MC7 beta is due immediately, you could try it as you said but hopefully support can fix your issue with MCDT as well to help you (and others). I've reported a handful of bugs, usually fixed within hours of reporting with a new patch file they send me.
Thank you for posting a reply. Zenfire and Rithmic, as far as I can tell, are very close, depending on the platform you are using. And fortunately, I did read the earlier posts - till my eyes crossed - meaning I couldn't get it to work either.
I love MC - it is so easy on the eyes - it becomes almost enchanting. My broker though - well, they have attempted to help through email to no correct end.
I suspect that the issue lies with me alone, because I have had MC connect to my computer to help. They got the data to flow during live market hours, but could not get the scaling correct.
Not blaming anyone but me. Just frustrated at the moment because I would be more than willing to buy a lifetime license for MC 7 if I can get this issue worked out. If not, I may have to change data feeds, but I find that almost too much. I had rather trade than program, switch brokers, etc - at least that is what I feel like I am doing just trying to get the platform to run properly with my current data feed. But I could be wrong and I have been on numerous occassions.
Thanks again Mike and everyone. I will continue to plug away. Haven't given up yet. There ain't nothing to it but to do it!
