Oct
27

How To: Configuring Order Placement to Interactive Brokers

This article talks about how to configure NeoTicker® such that when you place an order, it is sent to IB for execution.

Prerequisite
None.

Goal
After you complete this tutorial, NeoTicker® can send orders to IB.

Step 1: Installing and Configuring Interactive Brokers Software

You need to install TWS before NeoTicker® can place orders to IB. Follow the article How To: Installing Interactive Brokers Software to have IB software installed and configured.

Step 2: Installing NT Order Server for IB

You can download NT Order Server for IB from one of the locations below:

Location 1: Full/lease version users can download NT Order Server in NeoTicker® Customer Area, under the section Download Order Server Plugins.

Location 2: All users can download NT Order Server in NeoTicker® Download Demo page, under the section Download Order Server Plugins.

After you download, run the program to install NT Order Server.

NT Order Server must reside in the OrderApp directory in NeoTicker® installation. If you installed NeoTicker® in a customized location, make sure NT Order Server is installed in the OrderApp directory.

Step 3: Configuring NeoTicker® to Place Orders to IB

This step configures NeoTicker® to send the orders to NT Order Server.

  1. Open TWS. Enter your IB account user name and password to log in.
  2. Open NeoTicker®.
  3. In NeoTicker® main window, choose Order>Order Interface Setup to open Order Interface Setup dialog.
  4. In Order Interface Setup dialog, under Connection tab, choose ActiveX Broker Interface.
  5. In the drop down menu, choose Interactive Brokers.
  6. Under Options, enable Auto Reconnect ActiveX Broker Interface.
  7. Press OK button.
  8. NeoTicker® will launch an agreement dialog on the terms of using NeoTicker® to place orders.
  9. Read the conditions carefully. If you agree, check the agreements and press Continue.
  10. NeoTicker® will launch NT Order Server. NT Order Server will connect to TWS.

NeoTicker® is now configured to send orders to TWS. All NeoTicker® orders will show up under the API tab in TWS.

Step 4: Setting Up Auto Launching and Auto Login Options

This step is optional.

By default, TWS is auto launched when NT Order Server for IB starts. You can disable this feature.

You can also set up NT Order Server for IB to auto login to TWS.

  1. Double click on the NT Order Server for IB icon to open NT Order Server for IB.

    NT Order Server Task Bar

    NT Order Server for IB

  2. In NT Order Server for IB, make sure you are under Auto Login tab.
  3. Choose options for Auto Launch TWS and Auto Login. For auto login, you need to fill in your IB user name and password.

Important: Do not turn on auto login if your computer is not in a secure area. Otherwise any one passing by can place orders using your IB account.

Step 5: Testing

This is a simple test of sending orders from NeoTicker® to TWS. You should always use the IB demo account for testing.

  1. If you are not using a demo account with TWS, exit NeoTicker®, exit TWS. Then restart TWS and login using a demo account. Then restart NeoTicker®. In TWS, accept connection from NeoTicker®.
  2. In NeoTicker®, choose Order>Simple Order Entry to open an order entry form.
    Simple Order Form
  3. Enter a symbol and number of shares/contracts you want to trade, then press BUY at Market.
  4. Account Manager will be open. Press Send under Confirm to send the order to IB.
    Account Manager Confirming Order
  5. If you catch it fast enough, you will see the order listed under the API tab in TWS. The order will be filled almost right away and it will disappear from the API tab, but you will observe a position change under US Stocks tab (or the tab corresponds to the instrument you trade).
    IB API Tab
  6. In NeoTicker®’s order entry form, you can see the status of the order returned at the bottom.
    Order Status
  7. Order status and position information is also available in Account Manager, under the Processed Orders and Positions tabs.
    Processed Orders in Account Manager

Go to Troubleshooting Broker Connections if you encounter problems.

Leave a Comment

Blog Developed
By ContentRobot