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FVG Trader

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User Guide: FVG Chart Trader for NinjaTrader

Welcome to the FVG Chart Trader! This guide will walk you through the setup, features, and trading workflows for this powerful execution tool. Please read it carefully to get the most out of its capabilities.

1. Introduction

The FVG Trader is a specialized indicator for NinjaTrader that integrates directly into your Chart Trader panel. It is designed for traders who use Inner Circle Trader (ICT) concepts, specifically Fair Value Gaps (FVGs), to make trading decisions.

Its purpose is to allow for rapid, precise, and disciplined execution of FVG-based trading strategies, eliminating manual order entry and reducing the chance of human error.

2. Installation and Initial Setup

Follow these steps to get the FVG Trader running on your charts.

Step 1: Installation

  1. Ensure NinjaTrader 8 is closed.

  2. Download the TradersAllyFVGTrader.zip file.

  3. Open NinjaTrader 8.

  4. From the Control Center, navigate to Tools > Import > NinjaScript Add-On...

  5. Select the downloaded .zip file and click Open.

  6. Acknowledge any prompts. The platform will confirm a successful import.

Step 2: Adding to Your Chart

  1. Open the chart you wish to trade on.

  2. Ensure the Chart Trader is enabled (click the icon that looks like a bar chart with a dollar sign at the top of your chart window).

  3. Right-click on the chart and select Indicators.

  4. Find "TradersAllyFVGTrader" in the list of available indicators, select it, and click "add" below.

CRITICAL PREREQUISITE: For the FVG Trader to function, you must also have the base TradersAllyFVG indicator (the one that identifies and draws the FVGs) added to the same chart. The trader panel reads the data directly from that indicator.

Step 3: Configuration (Indicator Settings) In the indicator settings window on the right, you can configure the following parameters:

  • Pending Entry Level: Determines where a pending limit order will be placed within an FVG.

    • Top: At the top edge of the FVG.

    • Middle: At the 50% equilibrium point of the FVG.

    • Bottom: At the bottom edge of the FVG.

  • Entry Offset Ticks: A buffer added to your pending orders. For a Pending Buy, the limit order will be placed at the selected FVG level plus this offset. For a Pending Sell, it will be the FVG level minus this offset.

  • Button Height: Adjusts the vertical size of the buttons on the panel for better visibility.

  • Max ATR Filter: A powerful risk management tool. This uses an ATR (Average True Range) with a period of 1. If the ATR value on the last closed bar is higher than the number you set here, all trade execution buttons will be disabled to prevent trading in overly volatile conditions. Set to 0 to disable this filter entirely.

Once configured, click OK. The FVG Trader panel will appear at the bottom of your Chart Trader.

3. The FVG Trader Panel: Anatomy and Functions

Before trading, you must select your desired Account, ATM Strategy, and Quantity from the standard NinjaTrader Chart Trader dropdowns. The FVG Trader uses these selections for all orders.

These buttons "arm" the system to enter a trade based on specific FVG conditions.

  • Next Buy / Next Sell

    • Purpose: To enter a trade on the formation of the very next FVG. This is a momentum-based entry.

    • Action: Clicking Next Buy arms the system. When a brand new Bullish FVG appears on your chart, a market buy order is instantly executed with your selected ATM. Next Sell works identically for a new Bearish FVG.

  • Pending Buy / Pending Sell

    • Purpose: To enter on a retracement into an existing FVG.

    • Action: When an FVG is already present on the chart, click Pending Buy (for Bullish FVGs) or Pending Sell (for Bearish FVGs). A limit order will be placed at the level you specified in the settings (Top, Middle, or Bottom).

    • Condition: For a Pending Buy, the current price must be above the target entry level. For a Pending Sell, the price must be below it. If not, you will see a "Conditions Not Met" message.

  • Rev Buy / Rev Sell

    • Purpose: To enter on a potential market reversal.

    • Action: Rev Buy is used after a downtrend. It arms the system to place a market buy order on the formation of the first Bullish FVG that appears after a series of Bearish FVGs. Rev Sell is for entering short on the first Bearish FVG after an uptrend.

    • Condition: The system checks that the most recent FVG was of the opposite type before arming. If you click Rev Buy but the last FVG was also bullish, it will not arm.

These buttons are used to manage your position after an entry has been filled.

  • Breakeven

    • Purpose: To eliminate risk once a trade is profitable.

    • Action: When your open position is profitable by at least one tick, clicking this button will automatically modify your ATM strategy's stop-loss order, moving it to your exact entry price.

  • CLOSE POSITION

    • Purpose: To exit your current trade immediately.

    • Action: Instantly closes your open position at the market price and terminates the active ATM strategy.

  • Cancel

    • Purpose: Your universal "stop" button for anything that is not yet a filled position.

    • Action: This button does two things:

      1. It cancels any armed state (e.g., if you armed Next Buy but it hasn't triggered).

      2. It cancels any working limit orders (e.g., a Pending Buy order that has not been filled).

4. Trading Workflows: Step-by-Step Examples

Scenario 1: Trading with Momentum (Next Buy)

  1. The market is showing strong upward movement.

  2. Select your Account, ATM Strategy, and Quantity in the Chart Trader.

  3. Click the Next Buy button. It will begin to pulse, indicating it is armed.

  4. Continue watching the chart. As soon as the TradersAllyFVG indicator draws a new Bullish FVG, your buy order will be executed, and your ATM strategy will take over managing the stop-loss and profit targets.

Scenario 2: Trading a Retracement (Pending Sell)

  1. A large Bearish FVG has formed, and the price has since moved lower. You expect a retracement back up into the gap.

  2. Set your Pending Entry Level to Middle in the indicator settings.

  3. Select your Account, ATM, and Quantity.

  4. Click the Pending Sell button.

  5. A sell limit order will immediately be placed at the 50% level of the FVG (minus your offset). A message like "Pending Sell @ 4521.50" will appear.

  6. If the price moves up and fills your order, your ATM will become active. If you want to cancel the order before it's filled, click the Cancel button.

Scenario 3: Managing an Open Trade

  1. Your Next Buy trade has triggered, and you are now in a long position. The price has moved in your favor.

  2. Click the Breakeven button. The trader will find your stop-loss and move it to your entry price. You will receive a status message like "Breakeven Applied @ 4550.00".

  3. When you are ready to exit the trade, click the CLOSE POSITION button. Your position will be flattened at the market.

5. Important Notes & Troubleshooting

  • Always Select ATM First: The most common error is forgetting to select an Account and ATM strategy before clicking a trade button. The panel will display a "ATM Strategy/Account Not Selected!" warning.

  • One ATM at a Time: The FVG Trader is designed to manage a single trade/ATM at a time. Once a position is open, you cannot arm another entry until that position is closed.

  • "Trade Blocked: High ATR": If you see this message, it means the market volatility is higher than your Max ATR Filter setting. Either wait for volatility to decrease or disable the filter by setting it to 0.

  • Panel Disappears: The FVG Trader panel is part of the NinjaTrader Chart Trader. If you hide the Chart Trader, the FVG panel will also be hidden.

  • Practice in Simulation: Always get comfortable with the workflows and button functions in a sim account before using this tool with real capital.

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