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AK FlowBook for NinjaTrader 8Getting startedAK FlowBook for NinjaTrader 8 (v5.6): OverviewRequirements: platform, data feed and market dataInstall AK FlowBook in NinjaTrader 8Quick start: your first 5 minutesThe FlowBook toolbar: every button explainedChart componentsDelta: aggressive buying minus selling per candleBig trades, Smart roles and BT2 single ordersIcebergs: hidden size that keeps refillingLevels: volume profile, naked levels and VWAPsSession levels: Asia, London, overnight and New YorkCandle volume filters: five tiers inside each candleMBO Price Map: the order book, order by orderMarket context panel: what each row meansOrder-flow event labels: what each code meansInfo line, banners and data healthAlerts: delta and candle volumeSettingsSettings referenceGuidesGuide: reading absorption with AK FlowBookGuide: watching price at HVN and LVN levelsGuide: session highs and lows as levels to watchGuide: using futures levels as a XAUUSD CFD traderHelpTroubleshootingFrequently asked questions
Docs › NinjaTrader 8 › Help

Troubleshooting

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The map shows REALTIME ONLYThe map shows WAITING_FOR_NATIVE_DEPTHThe map shows L2_FALLBACKThe map or panel shows STALEThe chart is slowThere is no XAU equivalent on the labelsNothing new appears on weekendsThe chart is empty after adding the indicatorAK FlowBook is not in the Indicators listNo delta labelsNo big trade boxesNo icebergsWeekly or monthly levels are missingWrong sizes on another instrumentStill stuck?

Find your symptom below. Most issues come from the data connection, market hours or a layer that is switched off.

The map shows REALTIME ONLY

The MBO Price Map draws from live depth only. REALTIME ONLY means the chart is not live yet, for example while it is still loading history.

  1. Check that you are connected to your data feed in the NinjaTrader Control Center.
  2. Check that the market is open. See "Nothing new appears on weekends" below.
  3. Wait until the chart has finished loading history. The map starts after the <- RECOMPUTED | LIVE -> separator.

The map shows WAITING_FOR_NATIVE_DEPTH

You are connected, but order book data has not arrived yet.

  1. Wait a few seconds after connecting or after the market opens.
  2. Check that your account and data subscription include market depth for CME gold futures.
  3. Open a NinjaTrader SuperDOM or Level II window for the same contract. If it is empty too, the issue is with the data feed, not AK FlowBook.
  4. Check that the chart is on the active GC contract.

The map shows L2_FALLBACK

AK FlowBook is receiving Level 2 depth (total size per price) but not order-by-order data. The map works, but without individual orders, queue rank or iceberg marks.

  • Order-by-order data comes through NinjaTrader's Rithmic connection. Connect through Rithmic to see NATIVE_MBO.
  • If you are on Rithmic and still see L2_FALLBACK, disconnect and reconnect, then reload the indicator (press F5 on the chart).

The map or panel shows STALE

The order book has not updated for longer than normal. The DATA row of the context panel can show STALE BOOK with the time.

  1. Check your internet connection and the connection status in the Control Center.
  2. Check your computer load. If the CPU is busy, NinjaTrader can fall behind. See "The chart is slow" below.
  3. During a very fast market, fast-market protection draws the map in light mode. This is normal and clears when the market calms down.

The chart is slow

  1. Set Performance Mode to 0 Fast (group 00A Instrument & Performance).
  2. Lower History Display Days (group 00 General), for example from 30 to 10.
  3. Switch off layers you do not use, or use the TRADE view instead of FULL.
  4. Set Depth display levels per side (0 = auto preset) to 0, so the number of book levels follows Performance Mode. The default is 500 levels per side.
  5. Close other charts that load tick data for the same instrument.
  6. If you use Tick Replay, try without it. Tick Replay makes loading slower.
Note: The first load can take several minutes, because AK FlowBook reads tick and volumetric history. This is normal and happens again when you reload the indicator.

There is no XAU equivalent on the labels

  • The XAU part appears only on session labels. Profile and VWAP labels show GC prices only.
  • It needs a fresh basis (less than 5 minutes old). If the basis is missing or older, AK FlowBook hides the XAU part. Turn on INFO (in the MORE list) and check whether BASIS shows a value or BASIS ?.
  • Check that Show XAUUSD equivalent on level labels is on (group 00 Chart View).

See Using futures levels as a CFD trader.

Nothing new appears on weekends

Gold futures do not trade on weekends or during the daily CME maintenance break. With no trades and no order book updates, AK FlowBook has nothing new to draw. The map shows REALTIME ONLY, WAITING_FOR_NATIVE_DEPTH or a STALE tag in its header, and the live layers wait. Historical layers, such as levels and past marks, are still drawn.

The chart is empty after adding the indicator

  1. Wait until the first load finishes.
  2. Click TRADE on the toolbar.
  3. If you do not see the toolbar, check that Toolbar buttons on chart is on in group 00 Chart View.

AK FlowBook is not in the Indicators list

  1. Check that the import finished with the success message. See Install.
  2. Restart NinjaTrader.
  3. Open the NinjaScript Editor and check for compile errors in other scripts. An error in any custom script can stop all custom indicators from loading. Fix or remove the script with the error.

No delta labels

  • Check that DELTA is on.
  • Only candles whose delta reaches Minimum Delta (GC default 50) get a label. Quiet candles have none.
  • Check the delta minimum in the FILTERS window. A value above Minimum Delta hides more labels.
  • For historical bars, check that Load Native Volumetric History is on and that you have NinjaTrader Order Flow+.

No big trade boxes

  • Big trade boxes are hidden in the TRADE view. Open MORE and click BT (burst).
  • Only bursts that reach Minimum BigTrade Lots (GC default 50) are drawn.
  • Check that BigTrade View (group 02 Big Trades) is not set to 0 Off.
  • For historical bars, check that Load 1-Tick History for Parent BigTrades is on and that your data provider supplies tick history.

No icebergs

  • Open MORE and check that ICE is on.
  • Icebergs need order-by-order data. The map header must show NATIVE_MBO.
  • Icebergs are detected live. They appear on the live side of the separator.

Weekly or monthly levels are missing

Load more days on the chart. Weekly and monthly levels need history from the whole week or month.

Wrong sizes on another instrument

Check Instrument Preset (group 00A). It must match your chart, for example MGC on an MGC chart. Gold is the instrument we test and support first.

Still stuck?

Note the map header text, the DATA row and your NinjaTrader version, and contact us through akorderflow.com.

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