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Installing the CrossTrade Add-on

This page covers installing the CrossTrade NinjaTrader 8 add-on, importing the NinjaScript archive, upgrading to newer versions, enabling the Automated Trading Interface (ATI), and troubleshooting common install errors. For the official step-by-step guide with screenshots, see crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation.

Where do I download the CrossTrade add-on?​

Download the latest version at crosstrade.io/download. This page always points to the current release. Previous versions will no longer be supported after the May 1st cutover to v1.12+.

Does CrossTrade require NinjaTrader 8?​

Yes. CrossTrade works specifically as an add-on to the NT8 desktop platform. The CrossTrade website does not execute trades — NT8 does. The add-on contains the logic that receives signals from our server and submits orders into NT8. If your broker or prop account can connect to NT8, CrossTrade will work with it.

Do NT8 and the add-on need to be running for trades to execute?​

Yes. Both NT8 and the XT add-on must be running with data connected to receive and execute alerts. TradingView does not need to be open — alerts are stored and sent from TV's servers. Many traders use a VPS so NT8 stays online 24/7.

How do I install the add-on for the first time?​

  1. Download the CrossTrade NinjaScript archive from crosstrade.io/download.
  2. In NT8, go to Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On and select the downloaded file.
  3. Click Yes on the confirmation popup.
  4. Restart NT8.
  5. Open the add-on from the New menu and log in with your CrossTrade email and password.

Full visual instructions: crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation.

What credentials do I use to log into the add-on?​

The same email and password you use at app.crosstrade.io. There is no separate add-on password. If you need to reset it, use crosstrade.io/forgot-pass.

How do I upgrade the CrossTrade add-on to a newer version?​

Download the latest version from crosstrade.io/download and import it the same way you did the first install. When NT8 asks whether you want to overwrite, click Yes.

Starting with v1.12, upgrades require an extra step to remove the existing custom assembly first. Follow the full upgrade guide: crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation/upgrade-instructions.

Where is the add-on installed on disk?​

My Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom

That's the only place CrossTrade lives. If no file starting with CrossTrade exists in that folder, the add-on is not installed.

I get "Import failed. The NinjaScript Archive File may contain duplicate method names…" — how do I fix it?​

This is the most common upgrade error. Do the following:

  1. Close NT8 completely.
  2. Open My Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom.
  3. Delete any files starting with CrossTrade (including CrossTrade.dll).
  4. Start NT8.
  5. Import the new add-on archive (or drop the unzipped files directly into bin\Custom).

Full instructions: crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation/upgrade-instructions.

I get "Unhandled exception: Could not find a part of the path…" when installing. What's wrong?​

This is almost always caused by OneDrive interfering with the NT8 configuration directory. NT8 and OneDrive do not play well together.

Recommended fix: reinstall NT8 outside of OneDrive so its config lives in C:\Users\<you>\Documents\NinjaTrader 8 rather than a OneDrive-synced path.

Quick workaround: unzip the CrossTrade archive manually and drop the files directly into the NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom folder, then restart NT8. See the red callout at crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation#step-2-install-the-add-on.

I have OneDrive and installation keeps failing. What should I do?​

Move NT8 out of OneDrive entirely:

  1. Close NT8.
  2. Go to C:\Users\<you>\OneDrive\…\Documents\ and find the NinjaTrader 8 folder.
  3. Move it to C:\Users\<you>\Documents\.
  4. Start NT8 and install the add-on normally.

OneDrive's sync behavior causes the configuration directory to become unreachable from NT8, which produces path errors, frozen installs, and missing-file errors.

How do I manually install the add-on (drag-and-drop method)?​

  1. Unzip the CrossTrade download folder.
  2. Open Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\ in a separate window.
  3. Close NT8.
  4. Drag the unzipped files into the bin\Custom directory.
  5. Click Replace if prompted about existing files.
  6. Start NT8 and click Yes on the pop-up.

This is the only reliable way to install when OneDrive or other path issues block the normal import flow.

Import fails saying I have custom scripts with errors. What do I do?​

When a new add-on is installed, NT8 recompiles every NinjaScript on the machine — including your indicators and strategies. If any of those have compile errors, the CrossTrade import will fail until they're fixed or removed.

  1. Go to New → NinjaScript Editor.
  2. Click the Compile button.
  3. NT8 will list which scripts are broken.
  4. Fix or remove those scripts (right-click the script name to exclude it from compilation).
  5. Retry the CrossTrade import.

After installing I don't see CrossTrade in the New menu. Why?​

Make sure NT8 was fully restarted after the install completed. After restart, the add-on appears under New → CrossTrade. If it still does not appear, the archive likely didn't extract into bin\Custom — check that folder for CrossTrade.dll. Having a data feed connected or not does not affect whether the add-on shows up.

What does "Automated Trading Interface (ATI) is disabled. Please enable ATI before using CrossTrade." mean?​

ATI is required for CrossTrade to function. You'll see this warning when the add-on starts if ATI is off. Enable it in NT8 before placing orders. Some commands will still work without it, but most functionality depends on ATI being enabled.

Follow the install guide's ATI section: crosstrade.io/docs/getting-started/installation.

ATI was enabled and now it's off after a fresh install — why?​

Any time you log into a new NT8 install, unless you migrated your user settings, you start on a clean slate and ATI defaults to disabled. The add-on shows a warning on startup when it detects ATI is off. Re-enable ATI in NT8 settings. A fresh install due to a corrupted database is a common cause.

Is the latest CrossTrade add-on backwards compatible with older NT8 versions?​

Yes, the latest CrossTrade version is fully backwards compatible with older NT8 versions.

Notes:

  • NT8 v8.1.5 requires CrossTrade v1.8.3 or newer.
  • CrossTrade has only been formally tested through NT8 v8.1.5.2. Many users have reported connection instability on v8.1.6.0 — downgrading to v8.1.5.2 resolves those issues for most people. These issues are NT8-side, not CrossTrade-side.

Should I uninstall the old CrossTrade version before installing a new one?​

No. You can install right on top, or drop the new files into My Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom directly. You do not need to uninstall and reinstall.

The exception is when you get the "duplicate method names" import error — in that case, shut down NT8, delete all files named CrossTrade* from bin\Custom, restart NT8, and reinstall.

I got a Newtonsoft.Json warning during install — is that a problem?​

No. We use the Newtonsoft.Json version that is fully compatible with .NET 4.8 (the runtime NT8 targets). Some other NT8 add-ons (like certain trade copiers) ship a slightly newer version of Newtonsoft. Keeping the newer version on your machine is fine and will not cause any issues with CrossTrade.

Can I run the CrossTrade add-on on two machines at once?​

No. Only one add-on instance should be logged into your CrossTrade account at a time. If you're logged in from two places (e.g., local PC and a VPS), alerts go to both, and whichever responds first wins the race — often producing "account not found" or similar errors from whichever instance doesn't have the target account.

If you need the add-on running in two locations, purchase a second CrossTrade subscription — we offer a discount for a second license.

Correct setup for two machines with two accounts:

Computer 1 -> NT8 -> XT add-on -> Login with CrossTrade Account #1
Computer 2 -> NT8 -> XT add-on -> Login with CrossTrade Account #2

Does the VPS come with CrossTrade pre-installed?​

The QuantVPS image comes with NT8 and a recent CrossTrade version, but it may be a minor version behind. Verify the version against crosstrade.io/download and upgrade manually if needed — the CrossTrade team has no access to your VPS after you take ownership.

CrossTrade and the VPS are separate subscriptions. A VPS does not include a CrossTrade license.

Does my computer need to stay on for trades to execute?​

Yes. NT8 and the add-on must be running with a connected data feed. If the computer sleeps or shuts down, the data feed severs and no alerts can be processed. A VPS is the common solution for keeping NT8 online continuously. See crosstrade.io/vps.

How do I know the add-on is connected?​

Inside NT8, the CrossTrade add-on window shows Connected with a green indicator when it's authenticated and receiving signals. On the web dashboard, the top-right indicator mirrors this status. If the dashboard shows Disconnected while NT8 shows Connected, you're likely logged into a different CrossTrade account on one of the two.

How do I completely remove the CrossTrade add-on from NT8?​

  1. Close NT8.
  2. Open My Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom.
  3. Delete any file starting with CrossTrade (for example CrossTrade.dll).
  4. Start NT8.

That's the full uninstall — CrossTrade only writes to that bin\Custom directory.