TATB Strategy Control Addon - User Manual

Version 4.2

UNDERSTANDING THE ADDON INTERFACE

The addon provides real-time control over your trading strategy without requiring reloads for most changes. It's divided into logical sections for different trade types and controls.


1. MASTER CONTROLS (Top Section)

1.1 Direction Controls

LONGS: ON/OFF Button

  • Green (ON): ALL automated long trades enabled

  • Gray (OFF): NO automated long trades will execute

  • Does NOT affect: Discretionary trades when armed

  • Use case: Disable longs in strong downtrend

SHORTS: ON/OFF Button

  • Red (ON): ALL automated short trades enabled

  • Gray (OFF): NO automated short trades will execute

  • Independence: Can run longs-only, shorts-only, or both

1.2 Strategy Enable Buttons

TB (Trendline Break)

  • Controls ONLY automated trendline break trades

  • Does NOT affect discretionary TB trades

  • Useful for focusing on other strategies

CB (Congestion Breakout)

  • Enables/disables automated congestion trades

  • Often combined with volume confirmation

FT (Flag Trading)

  • Controls automated flag pattern trades

  • High accuracy but lower frequency

VT (Volume Tipping)

  • Enables/disables volume tipping patterns

  • Requires two-part pattern completion


2. DISCRETIONARY TRADING CONTROLS

2.1 How Discretionary Trading Works

Key Concept: Discretionary trades BYPASS most filters but use your predetermined stop/target rules

Arming Process:

  1. Click relevant ARM button (turns blue/orange)

  2. Button shows "ARMED (Cancel)"

  3. Strategy waits for next valid signal

  4. On signal: Trade executes immediately

  5. Button automatically disarms after execution

What Gets Bypassed:

  • Time filter

  • HTF filters

  • Momentum filter

  • Volume filter

  • Most timing restrictions

What Still Applies:

  • Stop loss calculation

  • Target calculation

  • Max risk check

  • Basic signal validity

2.2 Trendline Break Discretionary

TB LONG Button

  • Arms for next downtrend line break

  • Executes at market on signal bar close

  • Uses your configured stop loss mode

TB SHORT Button

  • Arms for next uptrend line break

  • Independent from TB LONG

TA (Trendline Alerts) Button

  • Purple = ON: Audio alerts + visual trendlines + flag signals

  • Gray = OFF: All trendline features disabled

  • Note: Requires reload for visual changes

CF (Close Filter) Button

  • ON: Waits for confirming close above/below trendline

  • OFF: Enters immediately on break

  • Only affects discretionary TB trades

CT (Compound Trade) Button

  • ON: Requires trendline break + another signal type

  • Applies to BOTH automated and discretionary

  • Significantly reduces trade frequency

2.3 Flag Trading Discretionary

FLAG LONG/SHORT Buttons

  • Arms for next flag pattern

  • Pending orders update dynamically with flag boundaries

  • Auto-cancels after expiry bars

FA (Flag Alerts) Button

  • Controls flag audio alerts and visual markers

  • Reload required for visual changes

Flag Parameter Quickset:

  • FB (Flag Buffer): Ticks beyond flag for entry

  • FL (Lookback): Bars for pole identification (needs reload)

  • LS (Long Stoch): Bull flag stochastic level (needs reload)

  • SS (Short Stoch): Bear flag stochastic level (needs reload)

2.4 Volume Trading Discretionary

VOL LONG/SHORT Buttons

  • Arms for next volume spike signal

  • Single spike trigger (not two-part pattern)

  • Often combined with EMA filter

VA (Volume Alerts) Button

  • Audio alerts + arrow displays

  • Reload needed for arrow visibility

ES (EMA Signal) Filter

  • ON: Requires volume EMAs in correct position

  • Only affects discretionary volume trades

  • Ensures "healthy" volume environment

Volume Parameters:

  • LN (Length): ROC period (needs reload)

  • VD (VT Distance): Max points between VT signals

  • VL (VT Lookback): Bars for VT pattern

  • AS (Arrow Sensitivity): Live adjustment

2.5 Congestion Breakout Discretionary

CON L/S Buttons

  • Arms for congestion zone breakouts

  • Stop uses zone boundary (not bar extreme)

  • Visual zones help identify setups

CA (Congestion Alerts)

  • Audio + visual zone display

  • Reload for visual changes

CT (Compound) for Congestion

  • Independent from trendline compound mode

  • Requires congestion + another signal


3. STOP LOSS QUICK SELECTION

Why Two Buttons?

  • Instant switching between two most common modes

  • Fixed ticks requires strategy parameter change

CURRENT BAR Button

  • Uses signal bar extreme

  • Tighter stops, more aggressive

  • Higher win rate potential, more stops

PREVIOUS BAR Button

  • Uses prior bar extreme

  • More breathing room

  • Lower win rate, fewer stops

Visual Feedback:

  • Purple = Active mode

  • Gray = Inactive mode


4. REAL-TIME MARKET MONITORING

4.1 Momentum Panel

Display Format: MOM (14): XX.XX | ATR: XX.X | STOCH: XX.X

MOM Value Colors:

  • Green: Above long threshold (bullish)

  • Red: Below short threshold (bearish)

  • Orange: Neutral zone

ATR Colors:

  • Green: > 7 points (normal/high volatility)

  • Red: < 7 points (low volatility warning)

STOCH Colors:

  • Green: Extreme levels (>65 or <45)

  • Orange: Middle zone (45-65)

Border Color: Matches momentum state for quick reference

4.2 Trends & HTF Volume Panel

TRENDS Section:

  • Shows consecutive trendline count

  • ▼ 3 / ▲ 0 = Three consecutive downtrends

  • Color coding: Red (3+ down), Green (3+ up), Blue (mixed)

HTF VOL Section:

  • Histogram value + arrow indicator

  • States: Consolidating/Trending/Overextended

  • Arrows (▲/▼) show spike direction

4.3 Trendline Distance Monitor

Real-time Distance Display:

  • Updates every bar with current distance

  • Shows active trend type (UP/DOWN)

  • Indicates trade direction opportunity

Color Coding:

  • Green: Safe distance (≥ threshold)

  • Red: Too close (< threshold)

  • Gray: No active trendline

Example Display: "DOWN TREND | LONG DIST: 8.5pts | SAFE"

  • Means: Downtrend active, long opportunity, 8.5 points away, safe to consider

4.4 Price Structure Panel

VWAP/EMA/DIST Display:

  • Shows absolute values and distance

  • State: Trending or Consolidating

  • Border changes with state

How to Interpret:

  • Trending (Green): Expect continuation moves

  • Consolidating (Orange): Expect range-bound action

4.5 Volume Health Panel

Fast-Slow Difference:

  • Positive = Healthy (green)

  • Negative = Weak (red)

  • Threshold adjustable via FS parameter


5. QUICK PARAMETER ADJUSTMENTS

5.1 Live Changes (No Reload)

These apply immediately:

  • All thresholds (momentum, risk, etc.)

  • Arrow sensitivity

  • Buffer values

  • Alert toggles

  • Order quantities

5.2 Changes Requiring Reload

These need strategy restart:

  • Indicator periods (ROC, Momentum, Trendline Strength)

  • Lookback values

  • Stochastic levels

  • Visual display options

Settings Status Panel:

  • "Settings Synced": All good

  • "Changes Pending": Some changes not applied

  • "Reload Required": Must restart strategy


6. ORDER MANAGEMENT SECTION

Base Quantity Field

  • Adjusts primary position size

  • Updates immediately

  • Minimum: 1 contract

RUN Button (Runner Toggle)

  • RUN:ON: Runner position active

  • RUN:OFF: Base position only

  • Enables/disables runner quantity field

Runner Quantity Field

  • Only active when RUN:ON

  • Typically ≤ base quantity

  • Used for trending markets

TF Button (Time Filter)

  • Quick enable/disable of time restrictions

  • Useful for news events or session changes


7. PRACTICAL USAGE SCENARIOS

Scenario 1: Trending Market Day

  1. See "Trending" in price structure

  2. Enable TB + Runners

  3. Set compound mode OFF

  4. Increase position size

  5. Use previous bar stops for room

Scenario 2: Range-Bound Day

  1. See "Consolidating" state

  2. Enable CB strategy

  3. Disable trendline breaks

  4. Reduce position size

  5. Use current bar stops

Scenario 3: News Event Trading

  1. Disable all automated strategies

  2. Arm discretionary trades only

  3. Use close filters (CF:ON)

  4. Monitor HTF volume for spikes

  5. Quick manual exits

Scenario 4: Low Volatility

  1. ATR showing red (< 7)

  2. Enable compound modes

  3. Increase arrow sensitivity

  4. Focus on flag patterns

  5. Reduce max risk parameter


8. CRITICAL OPERATIONAL NOTES

Connection Status

  • Must see green "Connected" status

  • Gray = Strategy not running

  • Each instrument has separate addon window

Multiple Instruments

  • Run strategy on each chart

  • Separate addon window per symbol

  • Settings independent per instrument

Performance Considerations

  • Disable visual indicators not needed

  • Turn off Show History for speed

  • Close addon windows not actively monitored

Risk Management via Addon

  • Can disable all trades instantly (LONGS/SHORTS OFF)

  • Can reduce quantities on the fly

  • Can switch to safer stop modes quickly

  • Emergency flat through NinjaTrader DOM

Last updated