Complex Order Help for TradeStation

[trbates]

Hi,

I posted this on the TradeStation Forums ... but they were less then helpful So I thought I would try you all ... and see if I couldnt get some help. Basically I'm looking for either how to do this order, or if you do something similar if I could use your order as a template that would be great as well. Below, I will copy/paste the original Post ...

<Begin Copy/Pasted Text>
I am new to TradeStation and was wondering if the platform was capable of handling this order ...

I scalp the YM and would like for my protective stop to move with profit.

What I was thinking is something along the lines of ...

Enter at Market
Once I have 5 points profit in the trade I would like to move my stop to break even.
Once I have 8 Points, then move the stop to 5 points profit.
Once I have 10 Points, then move the stop to 8 Points Profit.
Once I have 15 Points, then either trail the stop by 3 points (or if its easier ... put my stop to 10 points with a final target of 20 points)

This way, the trade doesnt end until I am stopped out.

Is this possible?

Thanks

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Any insights into how I might accomplish something like this would be greatly appreciated.

Travis

[brownsfan019]

	Quote:	trbates
	Enter at Market Once I have 5 points profit in the trade I would like to move my stop to break even. Once I have 8 Points, then move the stop to 5 points profit. Once I have 10 Points, then move the stop to 8 Points Profit. Once I have 15 Points, then either trail the stop by 3 points (or if its easier ... put my stop to 10 points with a final target of 20 points)

Travis - no idea how to do this on TS, but I will say this - you are going to get ticked out on that first stop movement alone, you mind as well take it all off at +5 or +8.

+5 on the YM and moving stop to BE is just asking for a tiny, tiny wiggle to take you out of the trade.

I can tell this is an extremely defensive, "I do not want to lose" strategy. And IMO will be a loser over time.

[forsearch]

	Quote:	trbates
	I scalp the YM and would like for my protective stop to move with profit. Is this possible?

Travis,

To answer your question...

The AT platform should be able to handle this easily. You can setup a trading account with several brokers to use it, including Transact and Infinity.

Ask Infinity Tom for more info on the software, including a tutorial.

-fs

P.S. Brownie has a point; you're not giving your trade enough wiggle room in case of a retracement.

[brownsfan019]

	Quote:	forsearch
	Travis, To answer your question... The AT platform should be able to handle this easily. You can setup a trading account with several brokers to use it, including Transact and Infinity. Ask Infinity Tom for more info on the software, including a tutorial. -fs P.S. Brownie has a point; you're not giving your trade enough wiggle room in case of a retracement.

Yeah, you could do the same thing in the Open ECry software as well, but not sure it's worth the time to configure it...

[thrunner]

	Quote:	trbates
	I posted this on the TradeStation Forums ... but they were less then helpful I am new to TradeStation and was wondering if the platform was capable of handling this order ... I scalp the YM and would like for my protective stop to move with profit. Enter at Market Once I have 5 points profit in the trade I would like to move my stop to break even. Once I have 8 Points, then move the stop to 5 points profit. Once I have 10 Points, then move the stop to 8 Points Profit. Once I have 15 Points, then either trail the stop by 3 points (or if its easier ... put my stop to 10 points with a final target of 20 points) This way, the trade doesnt end until I am stopped out. Is this possible? Travis

The TS DOM is not something built for the discretionary trader for complex orders, although you can create macros with the macro wizard and use the .PlaceOrder macro command and the PlaceOrder function to issue orders to the market.
https://www.tradestation.com/Discuss...Topic_ID=62739



If you do a lot of discretionary trading, you may want to try the various DOM add ons such as Ninjatrader, Brackettrader, Buttontrader, Zerolinetrader etc...

Brackettrader is free 5 contracts and under and the fixed 3 built in symbols (ES, NQ and ER2, I believe); works with IB (Interactivebroker).

[forsearch]

	Quote:	brownsfan019
	Yeah, you could do the same thing in the Open ECry software as well, but not sure it's worth the time to configure it...

True. And the brackets are held on your machine (client-side) instead on server-side at OEC. Plus the brackets disappear if you lose connectivity or log off.

Pretty clunky implementation, IMHO.

[stanlyd]

This strategy is clearly for scalping but I dont think one could tell if it was functional without the the question asked of how many points is your stop when you enter? In other words what is your risk/reward? If you got stopped 50% and hit your target 50% would you be negative profit or, break even, or positive?

[trbates]

Wow, thanks everyone for the input. The numbers I used are more for ease than anything else. Its more important that I learn how to set up an order like this, rather than the above being a functional strategy.

That said, I am really only looking for 5 pts per trade. The idea would be if the current (fast) trend were to continue, quickly and in a straight line, I might be able to take a bit more out of the trade ... though still with the initial 5 pt target being all that I am really after anyway.

As far as my initial stop, I've been experimenting with a stop just above whatever resistance area is nearest my entry. For example ... I go short (personally prefer going short, but thats besides the point) when a range is broken to the downside. I would then put my stop just above previous support, thinking that if new resistance gets broken I want to be out and try the next move.

My thought process being ... commission is pretty cheap. If the move doesnt really materialize then I dont mind breaking even, or coming close to it, and getting in again on the next move/wave. Though, if the move does follow through then, well ... gravy

Oh, also my time frame is within minutes ... I don't really like holding a trade for more than say 5 minutes. Hence, the small target size. This will probably change as I get more experience, but for now thats what I'm comfortable with.

Again, thanks everyone on the comments and I welcome any criticisms you might have

Travis

[brownsfan019]

If your goal is +5 per trade, take +5.

[Hlm]

I will not get into the discussion of scaling out since there are many valid strategies that use probabilities in choosing multiple targets. Also, your original question was about the broker, not the strategy.

However, I would STRONGLY suggest that you try both the Infinity and OEC demos. If you are an active futures day trader there are better options out there for execution than TS. I even know of several individuals that trade the minimum required a month at TS to keep the charting while using another broker for execution. In my opinion it's also always good to have more than one broker in case of technical issues.