If you've already created a backtesting session, you’ll see it listed in the My Sessions tab. If not, follow this support article to learn how to create a backtesting session.
Once your session is created, clicking on it will take you to the Backtesting Window where you can play through the market action and test your strategy.
Video Overview:
Navigating the Backtesting Chart
Main Chart: This chart represents the symbol defined during the session creation. Candles will start from the session’s predefined start date.
Play Button: Click Play to simulate market conditions, with the candles generating as if you were trading live, showing price action in real-time or minute-by-minute intervals.
Pause Button: Use Pause to stop the simulation.
Forward/Back Buttons: Skip forward or backward by one candle for smooth navigation.
Speed Control (1x Sliding Bar): Adjust the speed of the backtesting session. Increase the speed (e.g., 2x or 10x) to review faster.
Time Drop-Down: Choose increments (e.g., 1 hour, 1 minute) and click Play to jump ahead by that period.
Calendar: Select specific dates within your session to navigate forward or backward on the chart.
Note: This doesn't actually change the backtesting session’s time. It helps scroll through the chart more easily. For example, if data is loaded until June 30 and you want to view a specific date in February, you can use this feature to jump to that date.
Slider Bar: This allows you to move across the full session timeline. Sliding forward or backward updates the chart accordingly.
Timeframes: Select specific timeframes (e.g., 1 minute, 1 hour) to view the chart in detail.
Placing an Order in the Backtesting Window
1. Click Order in the right-hand side navigation.
2. Toggle Advanced Order on or off, depending on your preference.
Advanced Order On
With Advanced Orders, you can place trades based on your current balance or the initial account balance.
Select either Current Balance or Initial Balance, then input the Max Risk Percentage or Amount.
TradeZella will automatically calculate the position size for you based on the max risk.
You will still need to manually input your Stop Loss (SL) and Profit Target (PT).
Advanced Order Off
With Advanced Orders off, you need to input the Position Size, Stop Loss (SL), and Profit Target (PT).
⚠️ Note: Inputting incorrect SL values could result in inaccurate order placement. For example, if you are placing a buy order, ensure the SL is below the entry price.
3. Select the Order Type: Market, Stop, or Limit.
4. Click Buy or Sell to execute the trade.
5. View your entry, Profit Target, and Stop Loss on the chart.
Details Tab
Displays your realized P&L, linked playbook, and current balance.
Shows any playbook linked to your backtesting session.
Current Balance: This is your balance after realized P&L. For example, if you started with $10,000 and closed a session with a loss of $795, your current balance will be $9,205.
Using the Economic Calendar
Click the Calendar in the right-hand navigation. This shows upcoming economic events that could impact your trading strategy.
Filter events by country and other parameters as needed.
Settings Tab
The Settings Tab allows you to customize the visibility of price and order details on the chart for trades you’ve taken.
Hide Order: Toggle this option on to hide the entry and exit arrows from the chart.
Hide Price: Toggle this option on to hide price levels from the chart, displaying only the orders on top of the candle.
These options provide flexibility, giving you control over how much detail is shown while reviewing your backtesting session.
Keyboard Shortcuts
To view all keyboard shortcuts, click the keyboard icon in the right-hand sidebar. A pop-up will appear, displaying the available shortcuts.
Currently, the following shortcuts are available:
Play/Pause: Press Space to toggle between playing and pausing the session.
Forward: Press the Right Arrow (→) to move forward by one candle.
Backward: Press the Left Arrow (←) to move backward by one candle.
These shortcuts make navigating through your backtesting session more efficient and seamless.
Position Section
At the bottom of the screen, you’ll find the Position Section. This section gives you full control over your trades, allowing you to manage them with ease. Here's a breakdown of what you can do:
Edit Open Positions: Adjust stop loss or profit target any open trade.
Delete Trades: Remove any trades that you no longer want in your backtesting session.
Close Open Positions: Fully close any open trades.
Partially Close Positions: You can partially close a position to secure some profit while leaving the rest open.
The Position Section provides the flexibility to fine-tune your backtesting trades to fit your strategy.
Need further assistance?
Our goal is to make your backtesting experience as seamless as possible.
If you have any questions, encounter any issues, or need further clarification, don’t hesitate to reach out. Our dedicated support team is ready to help you at support@tradezella.com.
Happy backtesting, and we wish you success in refining your trading strategies!