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I looked at the release notes, and had to make a double take because I was expecting some ground breaking features for a brand new version, but was sadly mistaken, as I did not see much I cared about.
Most of the changes I saw were new EasyLanguage features. Wonder if MultiCharts will implement those.
The following is the summary of the changes:
What's New in TradeStation 9.0
Below is the release history for TradeStation 9.0. Click on a release name or What's New link to access additional information. The most recent releases appear at the top of the list.
Release What's New Online Seminar Release Date
Update 8521
* Matrix Auto-centering-Related Fixes
* Addressed user and internally reported issues
11/12/2010
Base
* A Message from the TradeStation Development Team
* New TradeStation Quick Start
* Enhancements to the TradeStation Development
Environment(TDE)
* Enhancements to EasyLanguage
* EasyLanguage Class Library (ECL)
* New TradeStation Analysis Techniques and Functions
* OptionStation Enhancements
10/20/2010
Hi, I am a total FOREX newby and have not started trading yet but am in the process of trying every single domo platform I can.
It is amazing what I have learnt in 1 week but one of the things that frustrate me most is the fact that I cannot seem to find a platform I am comfortable with. I know millions of traders use all the generic platforms such as MT4 and such but I like to think I am different (don't we all???....LOL) One of the things that seem to frustrate me most is that we look at charts and make our decisions based on those chart indicators then we have to manually type or set a trade unless you set templates for 1 click trade.
To me this methodology seems crazy, why not be able to effectively open, close, set and adjust trades directly from the chart and that is how I eventually came across Tradestation. I have viewed the demo and to me this system makes a whole lot of sense.
My problem is I can find very little information on the web re this platform and the 2 or 3 threads I have found have been negative towards the brokes greed but nowhere does anyone seem to give feedback on the actual platform.
Can anyone currently using this platform or has in the past used this platform, please tell me the good, the bad and the ugly about this system?
The biggest disadvantage to TradeStation is that you have to use them as a broker. So you may pay more for commissions, have less desirable margins, etc. But if you are trying to simplify things, then those could also be viewed as positives.
TradeStation is a solid platform with a lot of features and functionality. But if you don't want to use them as a broker, then there are likely better platforms out there and you can also find a better broker.
Good. Easy Language is fairly intuitive, easy to learn.
Good. Trade virtually any instrument you decide to pay for data feed.
Good. Competitive brokerage fees, especially for higher volumes.
Good. Customer service (at least in my experience) has always been helpful.
Bad. No demo. You have to open an account, which means you're eating data and platform fees while you sim. Your platform fees get waived if you make at least 10 trades (roundturn) a month.
Bad. Exclusive brokerage (unlike Ninja where you can choose any number of brokerages).
Bad. Backtesting. Still cannot backtest with tick/tick the way you can with Ninja...
Bad. Platform is pretty complicated, takes quite awhile/effort just to learn how to do simple things like bracket orders and setup charts to your liking.
Bad. Cannot sim and trade live at the same time...must open a separate account and pay for a second data feed. (not sure if anyone offers this capability, but it's a real PITA)
Hi Big Mike. thanks for the feedback.......it sucks that Tradestation mainly deal with professional, traders because as I see it their charting program is quite brilliant. Pity they are so greedy but maybe that could change if they opened their software to ammateurs.
I really do like the fact that you can manipulate stop losses and positions directly on the chart with the new chart trader ability.
Do you know of any other software that has this feature or are Trademaster the only one with this brilliant feature. I have searched high and low and cannot seem to find any other program that has this????
Sierra is good chart-based trading; I like their 'from the chart' trading the best. Though I have to use Esignal and Ninja for some other stuff; if I could--I would use Sierra Charts for all my trading needs.
When I first started trading, I used ThinkOrSwim and I thought the chart trading features was a must have. I eventually moved to TS and, initially, I was upset that it did not have a chart trading feature. I felt like I was having a withdrawal depression without chart trading.
There is a third party chart trading tool that's very nice but it's a bit pricy (see another post on this site about that). Then I started using the matrix in TS and realized that this is a much better way to manage trades, at least for the short term day trading type of trades. The matrix provides a more granular control over where to place entries and stops. Whereas ToS chart trading made it approximate based on the size of the chart and how steady my hand was on placing the stop line. The pro of the TS matrix, if you can call it that, is that I can watch the bid and ask volume on the matrix. I've used this as a way to place stops around big volume bid or ask prices. The downside is that I have another window open and something else that could be considered a distraction. I tried using the equivalent in ToS (called the Active Trader) and it did not compare with TS' matrix. I don't think I would ever go back to using a chart trader.
I don't use the strategy or back testing features of TS, but there are definitely some other lacking features of TS that are overdue for updates. One issue I don't like about TS as a broker is that you have to have different accounts for futures, equities and forex trading. There is no "all in one" account. So if you don't want to get caught in the "pattern day trader" net for each of those accounts, you have to fund them with US$25k each.
The other plus of TS is that it's extremely stable. In the past year, I've have 3 experiences where it hung or had to be restarted.
Regards,
-C
“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” - Sun Tzu
