Category: NinjaTrader Platform | Last Updated: April 2026
When you sign up through QuantVPS with the VECTOR code, your VPS comes pre-loaded with our latest strategies and default settings — so you generally don't need to create charts or import strategies manually during onboarding. However, there are two moments when this article matters:
Before you start: Make sure your data feed is live. If the Connections indicator isn't green or charts aren't updating, resolve the connection issue before continuing — charts loaded on a dead feed won't reflect correct data.
In the Control Center toolbar, click New Chart. A blank chart window will open.
Two rules for organizing strategies on charts: - Same strategy, same chart — even when you're applying that strategy to multiple accounts. Attach it multiple times to the same chart, once per account. This is the right way, especially for clients with many prop accounts (some run 50+) — opening one chart per account would overwhelm your VPS. - Different strategy = different chart — even if two strategies share the same timeframe. Different entry logic on the same chart can potentially cause data-reading inconsistencies (we don't have hard technical confirmation, but we've seen enough cases to treat it as a firm rule).
Always use the instrument specified in the Settings Spreadsheet for the strategy you're running. Each Vector strategy is designed against a specific contract — using a different one will change how signals fire and can cause unexpected behavior.
👉 Settings Spreadsheet: Click here to open
Don't have access to the Settings Spreadsheet? Open a support ticket and our team will grant you permission.
How to load the instrument:
1. Click the instrument input at the top-left of the chart window
2. Type the symbol listed in the Settings Spreadsheet (e.g., ES, NQ)
3. The dropdown will show several matches — stocks, CFDs, futures, etc.
4. Double-click the row marked as Future — the full instrument name will read something like E-mini S&P 500 Futures for ES or E-mini NASDAQ-100 Futures for NQ
Note: The Settings Spreadsheet only lists the base symbol (
ES,NQ) — not the current contract month. NinjaTrader will automatically pick the active front-month contract once you select the correctFutureentry from the dropdown. Do not select the Stock or CFD rows with similar names.
If data doesn't appear after 10–15 seconds of loading the instrument, your data feed isn't flowing — resolve the connection before continuing.
Don't change the timeframe to what feels intuitive — always match what the Settings Spreadsheet specifies for your strategy. Most of our core strategies run on 15-minute charts, but NinjaTrader's default for any new chart is 1-minute, so you will need to change it every time you create a new chart.
How to change the timeframe: - Locate the timeframe dropdown at the top of the chart (shows "1 min" by default on a new chart) - Click it and select the timeframe specified for your strategy in the Settings Spreadsheet - The chart will redraw with the correct candle interval
Important: A strategy designed for 15-minute candles will not fire correctly on a 1-minute chart. Timeframe mismatch is one of the most common reasons a strategy doesn't take trades as expected.
Vector strategies ship with the correct default settings already loaded — you usually won't need to modify anything except the contract size (if applicable to your account size or risk profile).
Why we attach strategies to charts instead of using the Strategies tab. NinjaTrader allows you to run strategies directly from the Strategies tab in the Control Center, but doing it that way can generate data-reading errors and inconsistent behavior. That's why we always attach strategies to a chart, one account at a time. It's a more tedious process — especially if you have many accounts — but it's the only reliable method. Don't shortcut this step.
To attach the strategy: 1. Right-click on the chart → Strategies 2. In the left panel, find the Vector strategy you want to run 3. Click Add to move it to the right panel 4. Select the correct account in the Account field — this tells NinjaTrader which account will actually place the trades. If you have multiple accounts, this is the most common point of error. 5. Review the parameters — they should already match the Settings Spreadsheet defaults; adjust the contract size if needed 6. Check the Enabled box 7. Click Apply → OK
You should see a confirmation on the chart that the strategy is active. If you're running the same strategy across multiple accounts, attach it multiple times to the same chart — one instance per account. Don't create a separate chart per account; that will unnecessarily load your VPS and isn't needed.
When we launch a new strategy version, it's published to our Whop directory. Only clients with an active maintenance fee have access to download updates.
How to find the latest strategy files on Whop: 1. Log in to Whop and open the Vector Algorithmics hub 2. In the left-hand menu, scroll to the Learn section 3. Click Vector Strategy Files 4. Download the latest ZIP for the strategy you're updating
For a direct link (while it's current): Vector Strategy Files on Whop — but the path above is the safer way to find it, as direct links can change over time.
Once downloaded, re-attach the updated strategy to the chart using the steps above. For any questions about updates, access, or installation — open a support ticket.
Before you walk away from the chart, confirm:
Future entry from the dropdown, not Stock or CFD)If any of the above is off, the strategy won't behave as designed.
Build the habit of saving your workspace after every layout change. NinjaTrader does not save anything automatically — if the platform closes unexpectedly, your VPS reboots, or any error occurs, every chart, indicator, strategy attachment, and layout tweak you made in that session will be lost.
How to save: - Control Center → Workspaces → Save - This writes your changes to the current workspace — which is what you want in most cases. You don't need to create a new workspace unless that's specifically your intention (e.g., separating a test layout from your live setup). - Only use Save As if you're deliberately creating a new, separate workspace.
Make this your rule: any time you add a chart, attach a strategy, move a panel, or change a setting — save the workspace before you walk away.
Chart shows "Historical" instead of live data → Data feed disconnected. Reconnect from the Connections window.
Candles aren't moving → Either the market is closed, or the broker connection is down.
Strategy won't enable / stays greyed out → Most often caused by (a) a mismatched timeframe vs. what the strategy expects, (b) the wrong instrument type selected (Stock or CFD instead of Future), or (c) the data feed not being live.
Strategy enabled but no trades firing → Double-check the account selected in the strategy properties. It's a frequent mistake to run a strategy under the wrong account, especially when managing several.
"Can't find my Vector strategy file or the latest update" → Make sure your maintenance fee is active, then navigate in Whop to Vector Algorithmics → Learn → Vector Strategy Files. If something's still missing, open a support ticket and our team will help.
Creating a chart is a four-step routine: new chart → correct instrument (the Future entry from the Settings Spreadsheet) → correct timeframe (from the Settings Spreadsheet) → attach the strategy with the correct account. Always cross-check with the Settings Spreadsheet — it's the source of truth for every strategy's instrument and timeframe. Keep the same strategy on one chart (attached per account), and different strategies on separate charts. And always save your workspace after any change — nothing is saved automatically.
For anything you're unsure about — no access to the Settings Spreadsheet, a missing strategy file, a strategy update, or unexpected behavior — open a ticket with Vector support and one of our team members will assist you directly.