The JForex platform is recommended for traders seeking manual or automated trading. The main functionality and interface of the system allows interested users to develop and test trading strategies based on the Java programming language. In addition, a built-in cross-platform interface for the execution of custom strategies and programming code are provided. Integrated technical analysis tools also allow traders to follow positions directly from charts.
Highlights of the JForex Platform
Functionality makes the JForex platform one of the best for automated trading. Below are some of the main features:
Operational compatibility JForex is available for all operating systems. (Windows, Linux, Mac, etc.)
Automated strategy visualization See results of executed strategies during real-time trading and in historical back tests.
Automated strategies based on multiple currency pairs Strategies can be developed based on multiple currency pairs and historical back tests run for the selected multiple pairs, all within one trading strategy.
Historical back tests using real tick data Real tick data is available for historical back tests, improving the tests' accuracy.
Up to 180 trading indicators There are up to 180 trading indicators implemented in to JForex, and all are available to automated FX strategies.
Java IDEs (Integrated Development Environment) support JForex professional traders can take full advantage of the different Java IDEs (Integrated Development Environment) available for JForex strategies implementation.
Full market depth option JForex market depth allows users to see prices and liquidity taken from many different liquidity providers, providing additional information about the current market.
Place bids and offers in the market This special option allows traders to act as liquidity providers by placing individual bids and offers directly to the market. As bids and offers are placed, they can be matched by other liquidity consumers, thus minimizing your spread costs.
Users of the JForex trading platform can access the market several ways: through the market overview window, the full and basic trading panes, and via the order charting. The JForex platform offers the most extended configuration features of the three different systems. Every operational pane can be detached and managed as a stand-alone window.
2 Login
JForex is the most advanced trading platform available. The panel below shows the Live login section, which explains the platform's salient characteristics and the technical requirements. JForex is a Java-based software program. Before launching JForex, verify that the proper version of Java is properly installed. The correct version can be found through the link under Requirements on the start-up screen. The link will redirect users to the Sun website where instructions for downloading and installing the Java software are further explained.
Once the application starts, the login window appears. Below, on the left, is the current Live login window, and the one on the right is the current Demo login window. The platform version is found at the bottom right side of the login window. From this point, users must enter their login credentials. The login and passwords are case-sensitive. Once the login and passwords are entered, the secure code input must be entered. For users of the Live product, if the secure code was entered unsuccessfully, users can click "reload" for another attempt without having to retype their login and password.
The main features of the JForex platform are the integration of charting capabilities, API programming and strategy management.
3 Preferences
The system is designed to allow maximum flexibility for users to configure and prepare the platform according to their own needs and circumstances. Users can manage their trading experience by creating windows and workspaces to define their preferred mode of trading. Establishing default values and predefined settings can increase the efficiency and accelerate access to relevant information and facilities. In preferences, users are able to define the basic, or default, parameters of the trading platform. The panel is accessible under the main window command tab Tools > Preferences
Here users can define default values for a wide range of parameters, including order management, charting facilities, trading mode and other variables. These may eventually improve trading efficiency.
3.1 General
The general tab of the preferences sets the order management default parameters. Once preferences are set, click the OK button to confirm and save changes. Clicking the Cancel button will cause the workspace to revert to the previous settings.
3.1.1 Default Values for Manual Trading
For order management, the amount established here will be the default value appearing wherever an amount must be entered. The default value must be used in conjunction with the lot amount setting, which defines the amount unit, explained further below. A reminder of the size of the default amount unit is in parenthesis.
Example: Using the default amount of 0.5 million lots as set in the preferences window above, and the market price of 1.33802, the following values appear in the Conditional Orders window:
Entry: 1.33902 (Market price +/- Entry Pips)
Slippage: 0.0 (Slippage)
Stop Loss: 1.33802 (Entry +/- Stop Loss Pips)
Take Profit: 1.34002 (Entry +/- Take profit Pips)
3.1.2 Lot Amount Settings
The lot amount settings define the unit of the amount to be traded. Users will choose what is most appropriate, depending on their typical order or trade size. The three examples below show how the same order can be expressed in different formats through changes in the lot amount settings.
Ex: Amount (millions) 0.5 (=500,000. of the primary currency of any instrument)
Ex: Amount (thousand) 500 (=500,000. of the primary currency of any instrument)
Ex: Amount (units) 500,000 (=500,000. of the primary currency of any instrument)
In the order entry window, the preferred unit amount is shown (i.e. millions, thousands, units); however, the server messages are always disclosed in million. For example:
09:34:23 BID ACCEPTED: #38673200 PLACE BID 0.5 mil. EUR/GBP @ 0.83 EXPIRES: GTC - Position #9112769
09:34:23 Order sent: PLACE BID 0.5 mil. EUR/GBP @ 0.83 EXPIRES: GTC
09:34:23 Sending order: PLACE BID 0.5 mil. EUR/GBP @ 0.83 EXPIRES: GTC
09:33:59 BID ACCEPTED: #38673185 PLACE BID 0.5 mil. EUR/GBP @ 0.83 EXPIRES: GTC - Position #9112764
09:33:59 Order sent: PLACE BID 500 thousand EUR/GBP @ 0.83 EXPIRES: GTC
The one-click trading feature allows users to send orders immediately by clicking on a trading instrument window. Traders can view the status of this feature on the main front-end window. If the mode is enabled, one click will send an order with predefined parameters. If the mode is disabled, a window for order preview and validation pops up when sending an entry order, or when trading by clicking on a trading window.
The rates in the orders preview window are updated real-time, and the order to be sent is stated.
Please note: The one-click mode is not affected by the orders validation mode status.
Please note: Disabling the one-click mode does not preview bid/offer orders. Those orders will be sent without further review, unless the orders validation option is enabled, and if there is a chance the order will be immediate executed.
3.1.4 Chart Trading
The chart trading option allows traders to place orders directly from a chart. When enabled, traders can right-click on a chart zone and an order pop-up window will appear. The feature must be enabled to use the chart trading function.
Further explanation of the chart trading option is described in the corresponding section.
3.1.5 Orders Validation
The orders validation option alerts users that there is risk of immediate execution on sent orders based on set parameters. This feature does not depend on the one-click mode. The orders validation tool checks the consistency of an order's parameters between the current market and the purpose of the order. Trades for immediate execution are not checked by the orders validation feature, even when enabled.
The following examples are covered by the orders validation mode if checked, whether the one-click mode is enabled or not.
Stop-loss orders to sell with a trigger price set equal to, or above, the current market bid/ask price.
Stop-loss orders to buy with a trigger price set equal to, or below, the current market bid/ask price.
Take profit orders to sell with a limit price set equal to, or below, the current market bid price.
Take profit orders to buy with a limit price set equal to, or above, the current market ask price.
Stop entry orders to sell with a trigger price set equal to, or above, the current market bid/ask price.
Stop entry orders to buy with a trigger price set equal to, or below, the current market bid/ask price.
Entry limit orders to sell with a limit price set equal to, or below, the current market bid price.
Entry limit orders to buy with a limit price set equal to, or above, the current market ask price.
Entry MIT orders to sell with a trigger price set equal to, or below, the current market bid price.
Entry MIT orders to buy with a trigger price set equal to, or above, the current market ask price.
Bid orders placed with a limit set equal to, or above, the current market ask price.
Offer orders placed with a limit set equal to, or below, the current market bid price.
Please note: Orders can still be executed if confirmed, even if there is an orders validation alert. FXDD does not make any judgment or assessment over potential inconsistencies between the primary purpose of an order, its parameters and the current market. In any case, the best possible execution is attempted according to the parameters of the order and the constraints defined for its execution. Traders are encouraged to read the sections focusing on orders to discover that an order with a primary purpose can also be used in many different situations. Traders are left with freedom in the choice of the type of orders for taking and managing their exposures.
3.1.6 Apply default Slippage to All Market Orders
The apply default slippage to all market orders feature is used to place the slippage values defined in the preferences as a default to all market orders. Market orders are therefore conditional as they will have a user-defined slippage value by default. The slippage value will apply to close orders, unconditional and conditional. In the conditional close, the slippage value can be modified before order submission; in the unconditional close order, it cannot be modified prior to order submission.
3.1.7 Apply default Stop Loss to All Market Orders
The apply default stop loss to all market orders feature is used to place a stop loss order. The stop loss order parameters must be defined in the preferences. When trading by clicking on trading window, a stop loss order is automatically created when the order is executed. The trigger price is set to the value of the current market plus or minus the number of pips defined in the preferences for stop loss orders, depending on order side. By using the conditional order panel, the stop loss is selected by default with its parameters defined the same way; however, the values can be modified, or the stop loss may be disabled before submitting the order.
3.1.8 Apply default Take Profit to All Market Orders
The apply default take profit to all market orders feature is used to place a take profit order. The take profit order parameters must be defined in the preferences. When trading by clicking on trading quarrels, a take profit order is automatically created when the order is executed. The limit price is set to the value of the current market plus or minus the number of pips defined in the preferences for take profit orders, depending on the order side. By using the conditional order panel, the take profit is selected by default with its parameters defined the same way; however, the values can be modified, or the take profit be disabled before submitting the order.
3.2 Chart
The chart tab of the preferences focuses on the default configuration of the charting feature.
3.2.1 Flats Filtration
This tool allows traders to filter out flat bars on trading charts. A flat bar (or candlestick) is defined as a bar which has its parameters all equal to each other, meaning that the open, high, low and closing prices are all the same. The filtering tool allows the traders to consider or ignore these bars as they create charts. A flat bar suggests that there was no trading activity for the period under scrutiny. However, there is a difference between a flat bar drawn on a chart when the market is closed, and a flat bar when the market is opened. The tool allows for filtering both or none. Examples of the flats filtration are shown below:
Please note: The time zone used as a reference for defining the time periods is the Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
3.2.1.1 Filter Flats on weekends
When the market is closed over the weekend the flats are filtered.
Filter is disabled
Filter is enabled
3.2.1.2 Filter all Flats
All flat bars are filtered, whether the market was closed or opened. The probability of having flat bars increases as the period step decreases. Users must remember that the candle and bar charts show the selected market side, bid or ask; therefore, a flat bar does not necessarily mean that the bar of the other market side is also flat.
Filter is disabled
Filter is enabled
3.2.1.3 Flats Filter is disabled
All bars are disclosed.
3.2.2 Sunday Daily Candles Filtration
The market usually opens on Sunday night around 21:00 GMT/22:00 GMT (depending on daylight savings time). At this time, the Pacific region markets are opening. Sunday trading sessions are shorter than other trading day sessions, and do not usually exhibit the average liquidity and spread characteristics compared to other sessions. As a result, it might be consistent either to ignore the trading activity during that period, or to include the trading activity into Monday's session.
3.2.2.1 Merge Sunday Daily Candles into Monday Daily Candles
This filter includes Sunday's trades as part of Monday's activity. There is no daily bar for Sunday, but the prices and liquidity reported on Sunday are included into Monday's daily activity.
3.2.2.2 Filter all Sunday Daily Candles
This filter ignores all trading activity done on Sundays.
3.2.2.3 Sunday Daily Candles Filter is disabled
Sunday trading activity is shown as any other full trading day session.
Please note: The filters are for visual purposes only. Although it is possible to apply similar filters to retrieve and work on historical prices in the API, it has no impact on the order processing, and other procedures are enabled as soon as the market opens for as long as the market is opened.
3.2.3 Orders Visualization
The orders visualization tool allows traders to select what kind of order-related data they want to show on the chart. This tool helps to distinguish between orders and positions.
3.2.3.1 Entry orders
Orders that could become open positions if executed are shown as entry orders. Pending bid/offer orders, stop entry and stop limit orders are shown on the chart if this feature is enabled. Entry orders are identified with their position identification number, except bid/offers which are identified with only their limit price and side tags. Colors are used to identify the different orders. The default color for sell entry orders is red, buy entry orders are in blue. The default color for bids is blue, offers are in red. The colors can be modified under the theme tab in preferences.
3.2.3.2 Stop orders
This option shows the take profit and stop loss orders. Stop orders are identified with their order identification number. The default color for stop orders is gray. The color can be modified under the theme tab in preferences.
3.2.3.3 Open positions
This option shows open positions. An upward-pointing blue triangle represents a long position, while a downward-pointing red triangle represents a short position. Open positions are identified with their position identification number. The colors can be modified under the theme tab in preferences.
3.2.3.4 Closed positions
This option shows closed positions. A downward-pointing gray triangle facing an upward-pointing blue triangle represents an original long position closed. An upward-pointing gray triangle facing a downward-pointing red triangle represents an original short position closed. Additionally, the difference between the open and close price is shown in pips. The colors can be modified under the theme tab in preferences.
3.2.4 Chart Options
The chart options feature allows users to visually configure charts and to include further details on the charts.
Show OHLC
Displays open-high-low-close, volume, date and time of the bar/candle selected.
Show Grid
Displays background grid and the unit of the grid, with pips, or pixels.
Show Last Candle Tracking
Displays the current bar, i.e. the bar in formation.
Show Period Separators
Displays period separators.
Show Candle Border
Displays a border to candles. (Applicable to candle charts only).
Shapes Random Color
Selects shape color randomly when a shape is added to a chart.
Line Construction Method
Defines a construction method for displaying bars as a line.
3.3 Period
Under preferences, the period option allows users to select predefined time steps/periods in the various units proposed. The periods defined and selected are then available in the charts. The available units are ticks, time, and range bars.
3.4 Themes
Under preferences, themes allow users to change the color patterns for charting. Several different themes can be created and saved accordingly, and nearly every chart visual parameter can be assigned a particular color.
Common color properties
Bars color properties
Axis color properties
Orders color properties
Miscellaneous color properties
Text color properties
Table color properties
Output color
3.5 Workspace
Under preferences, workspace contains the option to enable/disable the workspace auto saving feature with the desired period of auto saving in minutes. If enabled, the feature saves the workspace into the folder target specified in the advanced preferences section.
3.6 Disclaimers
The following disclaimers can be consulted at any time. Users are encouraged to study the contents and scope of these disclaimers.
3.6.1 Strategy Disclaimer
The disclaimer addresses the specific issues encountered when using strategy code within the JForex API.
3.6.2 Historical Tester Disclaimer
The disclaimer addresses the specific issues encountered when using the historical tester of JForex.
3.6.3 Full Access Disclaimer
The disclaimer addresses the issues encountered when using a strategy code authorized to access the files of the local computer where the strategy is run.
3.7 Advanced
The advanced preferences allow the definition of the path of the local files JForex has to use for various purposes. Also available are options about Java memory heap, strategy exception handling and connection.
3.7.1 Local cache path
The local cache path targets the cache folder where JForex will store the cached data, mainly the historical price data, for further use. The default location upon first launch is created usually under \Local Settings\JForex\.cache
3.7.2 Strategies path
The strategy path targets the strategy folder where JForex saves and/or retrieves strategy files, executables and parameter files. The default location upon first launch is created usually under \user\Documents\JForex\Strategies
3.7.3 Indicators path
The indicator path targets the indicator folder where JForex saves and/or retrieves indicator files and executables. The default location upon first launch is created usually under \user\Documents\JForex\Indicators
3.7.4 Workspaces path
The workspace path targets the workspace folder where JForex saves and/or retrieves workspace files. The default location upon first launch is created usually under \user\Documents\JForex\Workspaces
3.7.5 Chart Templates path
The chart template path targets the templates folder where JForex saves and/or retrieves workspace files. The default location upon first launch is created usually under \user\Documents\JForex\Templates
Please note: Depending on the local configuration, users will find the created folders under different paths than those indicated above.
Please note: Users are encouraged to make backup copies of their strategy, indicator, workspace, and template files and to store them in another folder/location than those dedicated to JForex. This will allow them to recover and restore such files in case of crash, fatal error or another technical malfunction that might delete, or corrupt the original files.
3.7.6 Show Java Memory Heap
This shows the memory heap on the platform main window.
3.7.7 Stop strategies on exception
If enabled, this option stops a running strategy in case of JForex and/or Java exception.
3.7.8 Force connection
If enabled, the option by-passes the timeout feature on connection loss, and will force attempts to connect indefinitely. However, it does not guarantee that the connection will be restored.
3.7.9 Delete saved cache files
If the option is selected, all historical price data cached will be deleted upon platform shutdown, or restart. This can be used when historical price data are corrupted or missing.
1 Overview
Why trade foreign currencies
