This page is to serve as a guide to setting up a FOREX.com demo account with the NinjaTrader trading platform. To accomplish this you will need to do the following:
Step 1: sign up for a free FOREX.com demo account– it’s free. Do so by going here: http://forex.com/open-account.html?type=practice
Step 2: download a free (keyword: free) demo of NinjaTrader 7 beta, do that by going here: http://www.ninjatrader.com/webnew/download_trading_software.htm After the download is complete be sure to install NinjaTrader.
Step 3: this step involves connecting your FOREX.com demo account with the NinjaTrader trading platform; after the NinjaTrader install is finished, open NinjaTrader 7. As soon as you open NinjaTrader you will be greeted with the Control Center– there is where you will manage the entire trading platform. You will need to click on “Tools” at the top of the NinjaTrader Control Center, and then “Account Connections”. From the “Account Connection Set Up” window you will need to click the “Add…” button. See the example image below:
Account Connection Set up
Step 4: follow the instructions provided by the Configuration Wizard, the settings should look like what you see in the image below:
Connection Options
Step 5: next you’ll need to fill out the “GAIN Capital account information”, this part is easy. The “GAIN Capital account information” screen show look exactly like the image below. The only thing you need to change on this is the “Mode:” drop down, it should be selected as “Demo”.
Gain Capital account information
Step 6: review the last screen, the name of the screen is called “You have successfully setup your new account connection”– it should look exactly like you see below if you did everything correct.
You have successfully set up your new account connection
Step 7: close out of NinjaTrader 7 completely and then re-open it. If all went according to plan NinjaTrader should open and connect to the FOREX.com servers automatically, you will know this because you will see a green highlight at the bottom of Control Center that says “Connected – Gain”. See an example below:
Connected - Gain
Going forward it’s important to realize that FOREX.com and NinjaTrader are two separate entities, and are considered partners. FOREX.com is a broker (they use a company called GAIN Capital for their feed, transactions, spreads, etc) and NinjaTrader is the trading platform. To open a live account with FOREX.com the minimum deposit is $250.00, and I’m currently paying $180 every three months for a NinjaTrader subscription. FOREX.com offers their own free platform but I’ve grown very fond of NinjaTrader and it’s the platform I know the best. Keep an eye on “The Strategy” page for a detailed description of the current strategy I’m using– I’ll be sure to include an exported zip file of my strategy and indicators.
