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Before you start
Two quick checks. Tick them as you go.
Words you'll see. CSV = a plain text table your platform exports. Closed trade = a trade that has both an entry and an exit.
Guide · Journal and dashboard · about 15 minutes
Import trades from a CSV, or add them by hand.Review the rows before anything is saved.
Trades that don't come in automatically can arrive two ways: a CSV file from your platform, or typed in one at a time. The import shows you the rows and totals first, and nothing is saved until you confirm. Trades you typed in can be deleted later.
~15 minstart to finish
7 stepstick each one off
Review firstnothing saved until you confirm
Freefor the journal
✓
You can check everything before it counts.
The import shows each row and the totals before saving. A typed trade can be removed. If a step doesn't look like the picture, that's normal: open the "Not seeing it?" box under it.
1
Get the file from NinjaTrader 8
The export is in NinjaTrader's Trade Performance window.
- In NinjaTrader 8, go to New → Trade Performance.
- Pick your account and dates, then press Generate.
- On the Trades tab, right-click the grid and choose Export…. Save the CSV somewhere you can find it.
This is the NinjaTrader 8 export. Other platforms export a closed-trades file, which you map in step 4.
Not seeing it?
I can't find Trade Performance. Names can differ slightly between NinjaTrader versions. Look for Trade Performance under the New menu.
2
Open the import page
Choose the account the trades belong to.
- On the website, open Trades and find Import a CSV.
- The page is titled Import trades from CSV. Pick the account first.
Pick the right account now. Trades are saved to the account you choose.
Not seeing it?
The account I want isn't in the list. Add it with Add a trading account, then come back to the import page.
3
Upload the file and check the rows
The page reads it first. Nothing is saved yet.
- Choose the CSV file from your computer.
- Review the rows and the totals the page shows you.
- Only when they look right, confirm the import.
If the totals look wrong, don't confirm. Check the file, then import again.
Not seeing it?
The rows look wrong. Check you exported the right account and dates. A different range gives different rows.
4
Map a file from another platform
Only if the file is not from NinjaTrader 8.
- Choose Map another closed-trades CSV.
- Match each column to the trade field it holds: symbol, opened, closed, entry price, exit price, size and net P&L.
- Check the first rows before you confirm.
Not seeing it?
I'm not sure which column is which. Open the file in a text editor and read the header row. Match each header to the field it describes.
5
Add a single trade by hand
For a trade the file doesn't cover.
- Open Trades → Add a trade.
- Fill in the account, symbol, direction, opened and closed times, entry and exit price, and size.
- Add the net P&L after costs, and the commission and fees if you have them. Press save.
Stop price is optional. You can also attach a playbook and screenshots on the same page.
Not seeing it?
I can't save the trade. Check the closed time is after the opened time, and that the size is a number.
6
Check the totals against your statement
Your broker's statement is the reference.
- Compare the net P&L for the period with your broker's statement.
- If they differ, look for missing trades, duplicates, or a wrong date range.
- Trades you typed in can be deleted. Trades from MetaTrader 5 cannot, because they are your broker's record.
Differences often come from fees. Check the commission column first.
Not seeing it?
The totals are far off. Check the date range and the account. Then look for the same trade twice.
Your safety nets
Three ways to stay accurate.
1
Review before saving
The import shows the rows and totals before anything is saved.
2
Right account, right dates
Pick the account and the date range before you export or import.
3
Check against your statement
Your broker's statement is the reference for the totals.
Risk warning: Your journal records trades. It does not place orders. Figures depend on the data you import and are not a guide to future results. MetaTrader and MQL5 are trademarks of MetaQuotes Ltd.; PrecisionFX is not affiliated with or endorsed by MetaQuotes.