TradeStation Help

About Simulated Trading

In TradeStation, simulated trading involves using special simulated accounts to place trades and track simulated positions. The TradeStation simulator allows you to try out platform features other than those you might typically utilize such as strategy automation, advanced orders, and alternate market types.

Simulated trading may only be done on symbols associated with your real time data entitlements. In addition, TradeStation clients always have the option of choosing Live Trading to place real trades and establish actual positions in the marketplace using funded brokerage accounts.   

 Simulated trading accounts do not represent real money or real positions. The simulated environment is designed to let you practice using different trading approaches, platform tools, and markets. To perform Live Trading, you need to exit the simulator and logon by selecting Live Trading.

Logging into Simulated Trading

Refer to Logging into TradeStation for instructions on selecting simulated trading during the logon process.

Exiting Simulated Trading

You can exit from simulated trading in one of several ways, including:

• From the status bar, double-click on Trading: Sim to disconnect from the simulator.
• From the Menu Bar, click the File > Work Online sequence to disconnect from the data network which also stops the simulator.
• From the status bar, double-click on Data to disconnect from the data network which also stops the simulator.

Simulated Trading Status

There are several ways for you to know whether you are using the simulator for placing trades.

• The Order Execution Simulator information dialog appears the first time the TradeStation desktop loads after you logon.
• The status bar (at the bottom of the desktop) shows Trading: Sim.  
• All trading account numbers begin with 'SIM'.
• Order Bar status messages will be preceded by the phrase 'Simulated Acct'.
• TradeManager status messages will be preceded by the phrase 'Simulated Acct'.

Managing Simulated Accounts

From the Menu bar, click File > Manage Simulated Accounts... to access the Manage Your Simulated Trading Accounts page on the TradeStation support site where you can manage your simulated trading accounts.  Here you can add 'funds' to each of your simulated accounts or you can reset any of your accounts to a specific starting balance. For more information see Managing Simulated Accounts.