How To Guides

Exploring the CrossTrade Command Editor: A Guide to Optimizing Your NinjaTrader Connection

The Command Editor (previously Test Sandbox) is the perfect place to test sample payloads and verify that your orders flow correctly from TradingView to NinjaTrader.

CrossTrade Team

• 3 min read
Graphic of man sitting at desk editing something with text Command Editor above
Welcome to the Command Editor How to Guide

Whether you’re new to CrossTrade or simply want to ensure everything is running smoothly with NinjaTrader, the Command Editor is the perfect place to test sample payloads and verify that your orders flow correctly.

image of the user dashboard showing the command editor
example command added to the editor

What is the CrossTrade Command Editor?

The Command Editor is a dedicated space where users can simulate and test how their trade commands interact with NinjaTrader. It allows you to check if your orders are flowing from CrossTrade to NinjaTrader as expected. Essentially, the sandbox serves as a quality check to ensure your integration works exactly as it should, saving you from unwanted surprises when it’s time to go live.

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The Editors purpose is strictly for testing predefined commands between CrossTrade and NinjaTrader.

How Does the Editor Work?

When using the Command Editor, users have access to basic and advanced commands (options) tabs, which provide the specific commands that can be tested within the editor. Here’s how it works:

  • Predefined Commands Only: The editor accepts only the commands provided within the basic and advanced tabs in your dashboard. These commands include the Basic commands supported by NinjaTrader and Advanced options which include specific CrossTrade enhancements.
  • No API Functionality: It’s important to remember that the sandbox does not support dynamic variables or API testing. This means that while you can test the flow of orders using the provided commands, the editor isn’t designed to interact with platforms like TradingView or to process dynamic data from external sources.
  • No Dynamic Variables: The Editor does not support dynamic variables from your TradingView strategies or indicators. You will need to test those from TradingView directly.

By limiting the editor to static commands, we ensure that the testing process remains straightforward and reliable.

How to Get Started

Getting started with the Command Editor is easy. Once logged into your CrossTrade account, follow these simple steps:

  1. Navigate to the Command Editor: Find it within the user dashboard, under the testing section.
  2. Select Basic or Advanced Commands: Depending on what you want to test, you can choose from the available command sets to simulate different scenarios.
  3. Submit a Sample Payload: Use the predefined commands to test the flow of orders to NinjaTrader.
  4. Verify the Results: Confirm that the orders are flowing through as expected, ensuring that everything is functioning correctly.

Adding your Webhook URL

Now that you're familiar with the process of sending test alerts through the sandbox, its important to note that when you want to send your first alert from an outside platform, like TradingView, you'll need to supply the Webhook URL found in your user Account page to the notification window here:

Final Thoughts

The CrossTrade Command Editor is your go-to tool for testing and troubleshooting your NinjaTrader integration. By offering a safe and reliable environment for testing predefined commands, it ensures that your orders are flowing correctly before establishing webhook alerts on TradingView.

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Remember, the Editor is not designed for API testing or dynamic data, but it serves as an invaluable tool for verifying and navigating the process of sending orders through the NinjaTrader API system.

Happy testing, and as always, thank you for choosing CrossTrade!

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