Set Backtesting Properties

In this page, you will learn how to properly set up the 'Properties' of the StratBuilder to fit your trading goals.


How To Access The Settings


Once you have added the StratBuilder to your chart, you can click on the settings for it by hovering over the name and clicking the gear icon.


  • The 'Inputs' tab at the top of the settings is where all the StratBuilder conditions and inputs are set.
  • The 'Properties' tab at the top of the settings is going to determine how TradingView's Strategy Tester (their backtesting feature) is going to calculate trade size for our StratBuilder strategies.



How To Set Backtesting Properties

Click on the 'Properties' tab at the top of the settings. These are the settings that will affect the backtests. All settings should be looked at but the 3 most important are 'Initial capital', 'Order Size', and 'Commission'.

To learn more about all the settings in the 'Properties' tab,  you can find more information here. 


Initial Capital

Initial Capital represents the amount of funds initially available for the strategy to trade, in the currency defined in Base Currency.


Order Size

Order size requires a value and a calculation mode. The three calculation modes are:
  • Contracts - the strategy will enter with the specified number of contracts/shares/lots.
  • Amount in currency  - the strategy will enter the amount specified in base currency.
  • Percentage of equity - position sizes will be calculated as a percentage of the available equity when the trade opens.


Commission

Commission is the amount paid in trading fees for each trade. A value and calculation mode must be supplied. Note that commission is applied on both entries and exits, and that when a percentage is used, the calculated commission will vary with the value of the transaction:
  • Percentage of the transacted value - imposes a commission on each order equal to the specified percentage.
  • Currency per contract - imposes a commission on each contract.
  • Currency per order - imposes a commission on each order.


Examples

Trading cryptocurrency with an initial capital of $10,000, an order size of 8,000 USDT per trade, and a commission of 0.06%.


Trading futures with an initial capital of $300,000, an order size of 50 contracts per trade, and a commission of 0.35 USD per contract.



Trading forex with an initial capital of $200,000, an order size of 100,000 contracts per trade (standard lot), and a commission of 1%.