I'm troubleshooting why a strategy is backtesting fine in SW but not opening positions when run in the SM. I found that when running in the SM, the % Equity PosSizer is referencing the Starting Capital instead of the Broker Equity, even though "Use Broker Account Value...." in Trading Preferences is checked. Is that preference designed to work only for live trades, not backtest?
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Is that preference designed to work only for live trades, not backtest?
Yes, this preference applies only to live trades, but is inactive if Reduce size and/or Always set Exit Order Quantity isn't selected, the strategy assigns Transaction.Quantity, or the starting capital is considerably less than the broker-reported value (more detail in the Help).
It appears what you wrote applies to running in the SM but not the SW, where it seems Broker Equiry is used for backtest.. Is that correct?
No.
1. Backtests always use Backtester Starting Capital and Equity.
2. Backtests are always hypothetical.
(Live positions can be injected into backtests, but please ignore that for the sake of this argument.)
Broker Account Value is used to Size Signals ONLY.
If you don't read it closely, I can see how you might have interpreted the documentation differently. But it very specifically states for this Preference that it, "replaces the backtest Equity value with the actual brokerage account equity when a Position Sizer requires an equity value to size Signals (Alerts).
If you want to use the Live Broker Equity Value within the Strategy for live trading, then you should access it yourself.
1. Backtests always use Backtester Starting Capital and Equity.
2. Backtests are always hypothetical.
(Live positions can be injected into backtests, but please ignore that for the sake of this argument.)
Broker Account Value is used to Size Signals ONLY.
If you don't read it closely, I can see how you might have interpreted the documentation differently. But it very specifically states for this Preference that it, "replaces the backtest Equity value with the actual brokerage account equity when a Position Sizer requires an equity value to size Signals (Alerts).
If you want to use the Live Broker Equity Value within the Strategy for live trading, then you should access it yourself.
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Yes, this preference applies only to live trades, but is inactive if Reduce size and/or Always set Exit Order Quantity isn't selected, the strategy assigns Transaction.Quantity, or the starting capital is considerably less than the broker-reported value (more detail in the Help).
Yes, the detail in the Help explains what I'm seeing. I've been chasing ghosts in my code for a while but it's working fine now. Thanks for the clarification and reference.
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If you don't read it closely, I can see how you might have interpreted the documentation differently.
Yes. I suggest that this option has a link to this critical info in the Help. The current description is not sufficient without that reference detail.
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If you want to use the Live Broker Equity Value within the Strategy for live trading, then you should access it yourself.
This is a case where the built-in PosSizer works just fine. That is, as long as you know that Starting Capital setting can affect your backtest results and your live trading signals as a result.
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I suggest that this option has a link to this critical info in the Help.
Every WealthLab window is linked to the Help - you can hit F1 or click the "?" in the upper right corner.
Good reminder. Thanks.
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