Frequently asked questions

Product

What is AK FlowBook?

An order-flow indicator for NinjaTrader 8. It shows delta, big trades, icebergs, volume-profile levels, VWAPs, session levels and the order book order by order, on one chart. It is built and tested on gold futures. See the overview.

Does it give buy or sell signals?

No. AK FlowBook shows what traded, where it traded and how price responded. It does not tell you when to buy or sell, and it does not place orders. Decisions stay yours.

Is it an automated trading system?

No. It is an indicator. It draws on your chart and can play sound alerts. It does not trade.

When is it released, and what does it cost?

AK FlowBook is coming soon. Join the waitlist on the AK FlowBook page and we will tell you when it is available, with the price.

Is there a free version?

AK FlowBook Lite for TradingView is free and shows VWAPs, value areas and naked POCs on your own chart. TradingView has no order book data, so it does not show the order-flow layers. See /tradingview/.

Platform and data

Which NinjaTrader version do I need?

NinjaTrader 8, version 8.1.7 or later, on Windows. See Requirements.

Does it work on Mac?

NinjaTrader 8 is a Windows application. We do not test AK FlowBook on Mac or in virtual machines.

Do I need Rithmic?

For the full map, yes. Order-by-order data (individual orders, queue rank and icebergs) comes through NinjaTrader's Rithmic connection. With other feeds that provide market depth, AK FlowBook uses Level 2 data and the map shows L2_FALLBACK. Delta, big trades, levels, sessions and volume filters work without Rithmic.

Do I need Order Flow+?

It is recommended. AK FlowBook uses NinjaTrader volumetric data, which is part of Order Flow+, to build delta and candle volume for historical bars.

Do I need Tick Replay?

No. It is optional. AK FlowBook uses it when it is on, but it makes loading slower.

Why is the map empty on weekends?

The map draws from the live order book. When the market is closed, there is no book to draw. See Troubleshooting.

Instruments and charts

Which instruments does it support?

Presets are included for GC, MGC, ES, MES, NQ, MNQ and CL, plus Auto and Custom. Gold is the instrument we test and support first.

Which chart should I use?

A GC 1-minute chart. We design and test every layer on it.

Can I use it for XAUUSD?

AK FlowBook runs on gold futures in NinjaTrader. If you trade XAUUSD as a CFD, you can carry the futures levels over with the basis. Session labels show the XAU equivalent when a fresh basis is available. See Using futures levels as a CFD trader.

Using it

What is the difference between TRADE and FULL?

TRADE is the clean view we recommend, and the starting view. FULL also turns on big trade boxes and event labels, plus extra marks that are not part of these docs, so we recommend TRADE and switching single layers on with their buttons. See The toolbar.

What is the difference between BT (burst) and BT2?

BT (burst) shows big trades: a burst of same-side aggressive prints grouped into one box with its total size, with Smart roles. A burst can come from one large order or from several orders together. BT2 shows single aggressive orders as dots, at a lower minimum size, without roles. See Big trades.

Why do some marks start only at the separator?

The order book is live only. Marks that need it, such as icebergs and the map, start on the live side of the <- RECOMPUTED | LIVE -> separator. See Info line.

Why does the first load take so long?

AK FlowBook reads tick and volumetric history to rebuild delta and big trades. The first load can take several minutes. This is normal. If the chart stays slow after loading, see Troubleshooting.

Can I change the thresholds?

You can change the display minimums in the FILTERS window and the main settings in the Indicators window. Advanced users can tune detection thresholds. We recommend the defaults. See Settings.

Can I use it with a prop firm account?

AK FlowBook is an indicator and does not trade. Check your prop firm's rules on platforms, data feeds and third-party add-ons.

Education only. Not financial advice. Trading futures and CFDs carries a high risk of loss.