Automation FAQ

Frequently asked questions for the automation platform

I want to tell what happened with a trade. Is there a way for me to see what the automation platform did or did not do? How can I get more information?

Yes, you can answer most questions with the Activity Log. You can select the "Include Debug" at the bottom of the panel and get additional information, such as entry filters that were met or not met. This can also provide more information about fills, error messages, etc.

Note: if a user wants to see the log entries for a previous day's strategy, the easy way to do this is view the individual strategy's activity log, which can be accessed by selecting the webpage for the individual strategy, and "View Activity Log". As above, selecting "Include Debug" will give additional context.

Is there an easy to way to compare a backtest and a strategy?

Yes, if you are looking at a strategy, clicking on the lightbulb will bring up the backtest that you used to create the strategy.

Note, that if you change a backtest or strategy after creating a strategy from a backtest, the other item will NOT also change. I.E. If you used a 10:01 entry time on a backtest and created a strategy with it, then changed to 10:02 at a later date on the strategy, the backtest will remain at 10:01.

What happens to a backtest when I want to change a strategy?

The user can create a strategy two ways: from scratch, or using one of their own saved backtests. If a strategy is created from a backtest, the backtest will auto-fill conditions in the strategy. After the strategy is created, a change to the strategy will only impact the strategy. A change to the backtest after that will only impact the backtest.

Does the automation platform support delta exits? What about underlying exit when tested? What about short leg ratios? Can I set profit actions?

Yes, these all supported. They are checked at 1-minute intervals, like in the backtests.

In general, the choices for the backtest are available in the automation, with the obvious exceptions of backtest-specific choices (i.e. slippage, Punisher settings such as two hits, etc.) Additionally, SqueezeMetrics are not in the automation platform.

Is there a way to alert me?

You can configure email alerts in Settings⇒ Trading.

Additionally, the platform will display an error message (yellow triangle). When you click on it, it will give more details. Note, the platform will alert each minute that a conditions exits during a multipe minute entry. If the user has configured one of the entry time choices to allow for multiple minutes, it is possible for the software to send an alert, and then later enter the trade per the user's parameter. The alert is designed to alert for that minute.

Brokerage error

When does the automation platform start?

Like the backtester, the platform will begin automations at 9:32.

Note: if a user has a resting GTC order at the broker, on a multi-day trade these will remain open (i.e. at 9:30/9:31 these will be open).

What happens to a live trade if I adjust a strategy while it's on?

The live trade will continue based on the original parameters. Note there is an option to "Edit Exit Conditions", which is a choice to change a live trade, but not a strategy. More information here.

What if I have an existing position on and the automation tries to put on a conflicting position?

The automation platform's default behavior skips the trade if a conflicting position is detected. There is an option to "Move Conflicted Strikes" for the user to enable. If this option is selected by the user, the platform will move any conflicted strikes to the nearest available strikes based upon the strike selection criteria. If the user has selected the green padlock (use exact strike offset), the offset strikes will move in tandem.

In the main automation screen, I have an active strategy that has a negative in front of the percentage, but it's green, why?

This can happen when a strategy has partial exits. If the user has partially exited a live strategy, the user will see the open position percentage (which could be positive or negative), along with green or red (indicating overall profit and loss). It's totally possible to have a red strategy with a currently positive open position, or a green strategy with a currently negative open position.

I had an automation that reached an exit condition, but due to my exit execution settings, it didn't exit. The next minute, it didn't try to exit. I noticed the condition (S/L ratio exit) was triggered in the first minute, but then was not triggered. Is that why the platform didn't exit.

Correct, the platform checked the conditions in the "second" minute, and saw that they conditions for an exit were not met.

How does the automation platform deal with expiration and/or assignment?

The automation platform does not directly manage expiration or assignment—these are entirely determined by the user and their strategy. In the backtester, a trade is closed when any leg expires.

In the live automation platform, the user's strategy dictates what happens. For example, in multi-leg trades or time spreads, if no specific closing logic is defined, in-the-money (ITM) legs may be assigned, out-of-the-money (OTM) legs may expire worthless, and partial positions may remain open after assignment, etc. etc.

I want to switch from annual to monthly, how do I do that?

Users can change your subscription tier or timeframe at any time in settings⇒ billings⇒ manage subscription in the main OO website. If you need additional help, you can email [e-mail]. Here's a video detailing the process.