ATM strategy parameters
Practice setting stops, targets, quantity, and target groups; use the parameter window on desktop or edit directly on mobile.
JASON TRADING LAB / LOCAL TEACHING SIMULATION
Jason ATM Teaching Lab
Learn how stop, target, breakeven, and trailing rules are configured through bilingual lessons and a browser-local simulator.
ATM is semi-automated order management based on rules a user defines. It manages order behavior; it does not predict market direction or make a complete trading decision.
Browser-local sample dataNo account connectionNo live orders
Practice mode
Both modes use the same local sample bars and simulated order state.
GUIDED WALKTHROUGH · STEP 1 OF 8
What ATM does
ATM is semi-automated order management that applies user-defined stop and target rules; it does not predict direction.
LOCAL RULE SETTINGS
Protective stop rule
Applies only to local sample practice. OHLC bars cannot establish exact event order within a bar.
Estimated amount at the configured stop distance: $250.00 (based on NQ tick value; actual execution may differ).
Simplified practice mode
Chart, parameters, and order state are arranged for smaller screens; the simulation logic matches desktop.
Local sample chart
NQ · Generated for education; not live market data.
Local sample · Not live
Step through bars to study OCO brackets. If one OHLC sample touches both stop and target, the sequence is unknown and playback pauses for review.
Strategy and simulated orders
Changes affect only this page's local state; no orders are sent.
Order state: Ready for local practice
Set parameters, then create a local simulated order.
Strategy settings, sample bars, and order state stay in this page's local runtime state; refreshing starts over.
Stop and target visualization
A simulated entry marks the entry and protective levels on the chart to illustrate the OCO relationship.
Order-state feedback
Review working, simulated stop or target, and manual-review states. This is not an execution or performance tool.
Independently developed educational simulator; not an official NinjaTrader product. It uses browser-local sample data only, does not connect to live accounts or read credentials, and does not send orders.
Hypothetical Performance Disclosure
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown; in fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk of actual trading. for example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all which can adversely affect trading results.
CFTC Rule 4.41 wording (where applicable)
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
CFTC Rule 4.41 applies to the persons and presentations described in the rule; showing this wording does not determine whether a particular person or material is covered.
17 CFR 4.41 (opens in a new tab)This independent teaching simulator uses fictional browser-local sample data. It does not connect to a trading account or submit orders, and its simulated states are not actual performance or evidence of real fills. The model does not fully simulate latency, slippage, partial fills, liquidity, or other execution conditions; no stop, target, fill price, or result is guaranteed.
Disclosure wording source: NinjaTrader Vendor Professional and Compliance Guidelines, Appendix A (rev. 2.11.2025).
01 · THE IDEA
What does an ATM Strategy do?
It is a set of user-defined rules for managing protective stops and profit targets associated with an order. Parameters can be configured as a Custom strategy or recalled from a saved template. The rules describe order management, not a market forecast.
The settings below use fictional teaching values. The simulator is independent of NinjaTrader and cannot connect to any account or place an order.
02 · PARAMETER GUIDE
Read each field before changing it
The official interface describes these fields as order-management inputs. Names and placement may differ slightly by platform version.
Order Quantity
- Meaning
- The initial quantity associated with the entry interface. The target rows define how that total is distributed.
- How to study it
- For the static lab, compare a total of three units with three target rows of one unit each. Reconcile the row quantities before saving a template.
- Common misunderstanding
- Quantity is not a risk budget. Dollar exposure also depends on instrument specifications and price movement.
Stop Loss
- Meaning
- A protective order distance or price, interpreted using the selected Parameter Type. With Ticks, the distance is measured from the average entry price.
- How to study it
- Read the selected unit first, then compare the stop's calculated location with the example entry. The local simulator uses fixed sample values.
- Common misunderstanding
- A configured stop does not guarantee a specific fill price or final loss.
Profit Target
- Meaning
- A target order level. With Ticks selected, the value is a Tick distance from the average entry price.
- How to study it
- Keep the unit and direction explicit: the teaching diagram shows a target above a hypothetical long entry and below a hypothetical short entry.
- Common misunderstanding
- A target is an order parameter, not a forecast or an expected result.
ATM Strategy Template
- Meaning
- A named saved collection of ATM parameters that can populate the ATM control list later.
- How to study it
- Configure the fields in Custom, save the parameter set with Save as Template, then confirm that the saved name appears in the strategy control list.
- Common misunderstanding
- A template stores settings; it does not establish that those settings are appropriate or effective.
Auto Breakeven
- Meaning
- A Stop Strategy rule that moves the protective stop to the average entry price after a Profit Trigger. Plus offsets the resulting stop from that price.
- How to study it
- Study Profit Trigger and Plus separately. In the case lab, the stop remains unchanged before the trigger and moves to the example entry when the trigger is reached.
- Common misunderstanding
- Breakeven is a reference level. Execution, slippage, and other market conditions can still affect an outcome.
Auto Trail
- Meaning
- A Stop Strategy rule that adjusts a stop using Stop Loss, Profit Trigger, and Frequency. The official guide describes up to three steps.
- How to study it
- Read one step at a time: at the trigger, place the stop the configured number of Ticks behind price; then update it for each configured favorable move in Frequency.
- Common misunderstanding
- It is not a prediction rule. Gaps, price movement, and execution conditions can affect how an order behaves.
Multiple Profit Targets
- Meaning
- Additional target rows let a strategy define more than one target. Each row has a quantity and its own target parameters.
- How to study it
- Add target rows in the Custom parameters window and check that the row quantities reconcile to the total quantity. Study each row and its protective-order relationship.
- Common misunderstanding
- Multiple targets do not imply that a market will reach any particular level. The lab shows a fixed, fictional allocation.
| Parameter | What it means | How to study it | Common misunderstanding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Quantity | The initial quantity associated with the entry interface. The target rows define how that total is distributed. | For the static lab, compare a total of three units with three target rows of one unit each. Reconcile the row quantities before saving a template. | Quantity is not a risk budget. Dollar exposure also depends on instrument specifications and price movement. |
| Stop Loss | A protective order distance or price, interpreted using the selected Parameter Type. With Ticks, the distance is measured from the average entry price. | Read the selected unit first, then compare the stop's calculated location with the example entry. The local simulator uses fixed sample values. | A configured stop does not guarantee a specific fill price or final loss. |
| Profit Target | A target order level. With Ticks selected, the value is a Tick distance from the average entry price. | Keep the unit and direction explicit: the teaching diagram shows a target above a hypothetical long entry and below a hypothetical short entry. | A target is an order parameter, not a forecast or an expected result. |
| ATM Strategy Template | A named saved collection of ATM parameters that can populate the ATM control list later. | Configure the fields in Custom, save the parameter set with Save as Template, then confirm that the saved name appears in the strategy control list. | A template stores settings; it does not establish that those settings are appropriate or effective. |
| Auto Breakeven | A Stop Strategy rule that moves the protective stop to the average entry price after a Profit Trigger. Plus offsets the resulting stop from that price. | Study Profit Trigger and Plus separately. In the case lab, the stop remains unchanged before the trigger and moves to the example entry when the trigger is reached. | Breakeven is a reference level. Execution, slippage, and other market conditions can still affect an outcome. |
| Auto Trail | A Stop Strategy rule that adjusts a stop using Stop Loss, Profit Trigger, and Frequency. The official guide describes up to three steps. | Read one step at a time: at the trigger, place the stop the configured number of Ticks behind price; then update it for each configured favorable move in Frequency. | It is not a prediction rule. Gaps, price movement, and execution conditions can affect how an order behaves. |
| Multiple Profit Targets | Additional target rows let a strategy define more than one target. Each row has a quantity and its own target parameters. | Add target rows in the Custom parameters window and check that the row quantities reconcile to the total quantity. Study each row and its protective-order relationship. | Multiple targets do not imply that a market will reach any particular level. The lab shows a fixed, fictional allocation. |
The 50-Tick stop / 100-Tick target preset in the simulator is an example only; it is not a recommended setting.
PLATFORM DETAILS
What this local simulator does not reproduce
These notes distinguish verified platform concepts from the smaller teaching model above. Follow the official version-specific guide for exact behavior.
- Custom, Template, and Active ATM
- Custom opens editable parameters; a saved Template recalls a parameter set; Active ATM refers to managing an existing strategy. Selection mode changes how the platform presents these choices. The lab only demonstrates static configuration and local rule state.
- Partial fills
- An entry may fill in more than one part. NinjaTrader documents ATM activation around partial or complete entry fills; the details depend on platform configuration. This simulator does not model partial-fill sequencing or order amendments.
- Multi-step Auto Trail
- The official Auto Trail guide describes up to three configured steps. Each step has its own trigger and trailing settings. This lab demonstrates one fixed step rule and does not simulate the full multi-step platform lifecycle.
- Local vs Server Side ATM
- These describe different places where ATM order management can be maintained. Availability and behavior depend on the current NinjaTrader version and connection conditions; verify the official page before relying on a particular mode. This browser simulator supports neither mode.
- Simulation vs execution
- This page uses fictional browser-local bars and calculations. It does not model queue position, partial fills, latency, slippage, rejected orders, or a live execution venue, so its states are not evidence of real execution behavior.
03 · STEP-BY-STEP PRACTICE
INTERACTIVE CASES
ATM rule lab
Four deterministic browser-local exercises. Each step uses fixed teaching values; no account, network quote, or order interface is connected.
CASE
Learn the distance relationship
Compare a six-Tick stop with an eight-Tick target.
Loading a case replaces the simulator's current practice settings.
Hypothetical Performance Disclosure
Hypothetical performance results have many inherent limitations, some of which are described below. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown; in fact, there are frequently sharp differences between hypothetical performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular trading program. One of the limitations of hypothetical performance results is that they are generally prepared with the benefit of hindsight. In addition, hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, and no hypothetical trading record can completely account for the impact of financial risk of actual trading. for example, the ability to withstand losses or to adhere to a particular trading program in spite of trading losses are material points which can also adversely affect actual trading results. There are numerous other factors related to the markets in general or to the implementation of any specific trading program which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of hypothetical performance results and all which can adversely affect trading results.
CFTC Rule 4.41 wording (where applicable)
These results are based on simulated or hypothetical performance results that have certain inherent limitations. Unlike the results shown in an actual performance record, these results do not represent actual trading. Also, because these trades have not actually been executed, these results may have under-or over-compensated for the impact, if any, of certain market factors, such as lack of liquidity. Simulated or hypothetical trading programs in general are also subject to the fact that they are designed with the benefit of hindsight. No representation is being made that any account will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to these being shown.
CFTC Rule 4.41 applies to the persons and presentations described in the rule; showing this wording does not determine whether a particular person or material is covered.
17 CFR 4.41 (opens in a new tab)This independent teaching simulator uses fictional browser-local sample data. It does not connect to a trading account or submit orders, and its simulated states are not actual performance or evidence of real fills. The model does not fully simulate latency, slippage, partial fills, liquidity, or other execution conditions; no stop, target, fill price, or result is guaranteed.
Disclosure wording source: NinjaTrader Vendor Professional and Compliance Guidelines, Appendix A (rev. 2.11.2025).
PLATFORM WALKTHROUGH
Configure and save an ATM template
This version teaches the settings workflow without submitting an order. Menu names can change between releases; compare each step with the official documentation and your installed version.
- 01
Start with a chart window
Open a chart for study and locate its Chart Trader panel. This walkthrough is for recognizing and saving settings only; do not submit an order.
Verify: Check the chart title and selected instrument before you read its controls.
- 02
Open the ATM control
Find the ATM Strategy control list in the order-entry panel and select Custom. The official guide says Custom opens the Custom Strategy Parameters window.
Verify: If the panel or label differs, check the Help Guide for your installed version.
- 03
Read the quantity and target fields
In the Custom parameters window, identify Order Quantity, Parameter Type, Target Quantity, Stop Loss, Profit, and Stop Strategy. For a static lesson, select Ticks and inspect sample values only.
Verify: Keep the total quantity and each target-row quantity visible in your notes.
- 04
Add target rows for study
Use the Add control to create another target row. Give each row a distinct illustrative Profit value and quantity, then reconcile the row quantities with the total.
Verify: The extra row describes another target; it does not predict a price path.
- 05
Inspect Stop Strategy rules
Open the relevant Stop Strategy settings and distinguish Auto Breakeven fields (Profit Trigger and Plus) from Auto Trail fields (Stop Loss, Profit Trigger, and Frequency). Review one Auto Trail step at a time.
Verify: Do not treat a trigger as a guarantee that an order will fill at that level.
- 06
Save and verify a template
Use Save as Template, enter a descriptive teaching name, and save. Reopen the ATM control list and verify the saved name and parameter values.
Verify: Saving a template does not activate an order. Stop after checking the settings.
ATM VIDEO LESSON
ATM Strategy lesson
Video unavailable? Read the written guide
The lesson is linked as a video resource. No transcript is provided unless a verified transcript is available.
OFFICIAL REFERENCES
Checked against the NinjaTrader 8 Help Guide
- ATM Strategy overview
- ATM Strategy Parameters
- ATM Strategy Selection Mode
- Auto Breakeven
- Auto Trail
- Manage ATM Strategy Templates
- Local and Server Side ATMs
This is an independent education page, not an official NinjaTrader product. No account, live market data, trading credentials, or order endpoint is connected.
Trademark and independence
NinjaTrader® is a registered trademark of NinjaTrader Group, LLC. No NinjaTrader company has any affiliation with the owner, developer, or provider of the products or services described herein, or any interest, ownership or otherwise, in any such product or service, or endorses, recommends or approves any such product or service.