What is the difference between a "Scanner” and a "Monitor?"

Scanner automations look for opportunities to enter new positions based on the decision recipes you create. Scanners filter through market criteria and work through a decision tree with the goal of opening a new position.

Monitor automations manage open positions inside a bot. Monitors actively manage different strategy types and only trigger once a position is opened. Monitors typically end with a close position action to exit or adjust a trade when your decision criteria is met.

How many automations of each type can I have in my bot?

A bot can have five scanner automations, five monitor automations, ten date and repeating triggers, five market open/close triggers, five position opened/closed triggers, and ten buttons.

Can different automations trade different symbols or position types in the same bot?

Yes, you can have different automations in the same bot that not only trade different symbols, but different position types as well.

How should I name my automations?

You can name your automations however you like, but we suggest naming them in a descriptive way that makes them easily identifiable (think files on your computer).

What can I do with a Button inside a bot?

Buttons instantly run an automation when clicked. You can create custom buttons for running any automation you want. Buttons, once created and saved, are located in the bot dashboard for easier access.

How do triggers work for scheduling automations?

You can run an automation on a specific date and time in the future or on a repeating schedule.

Do I have to use custom inputs for my automations?

You do not have to use custom inputs. However, custom inputs are one of the most dynamic and efficient tools available in the autotrading platform. Custom inputs can be created, edited, and added to any automation in your portfolio to give you added flexibility when building a bot. 

How is an automation different than a bot?

An automation is a component of a bot. Bots consist of one or multiple automations. Automations follow specific decision recipes to execute a strategy.

What does the "Add to My Automations" checkbox do?

Checking this box will save your automation to your "Library" of automations so that you can re-use it in other bots. It also helps save your work to your Library so that if you delete a bot you won't lose the automations that you worked on for other bots.

What is the "Inputs" window that shows up to the left of my automation?

This window shows the inputs being used in your automation and how many times each input is used in the automation. Unused inputs should be removed from your bot.

When should I build a new automation and when should I use a saved automation?

New automations should be used if you are creating a new strategy. If you want to use the same strategy in a different bot, you should use a saved automation. Remember, if you make changes to an automation, the changes will transfer anywhere the automation is used. You can copy an automation and modify its components without affecting the original.

Can I have a bot with only a Scanner or only a Monitor?

You can have a bot with only a scanner automation but you would need to ensure that you have setup Exit Options for your new positions or manage any open positions manually. Likewise, Monitor automations only run when a position is opened inside the bot, so it will not run unless you have open positions in the bot.

Can I re-use automations I've already created in other bots?

Yes. You can re-use any automation at any time. Note that any changes to an automation will transfer anywhere the automation is used. You can always copy an automation and modify its components without affecting the original.

Do edits and changes to an automation impact other bots running with the same automation?

Yes, the changes will transfer anywhere the automation is used. This means that if you make a change to a shared automation, any changes you make will be instantly reflected in other bots running that same automation.

Can I create a copy of an automation?

Yes, you can copy any automation as a new version. Then, you can modify the criteria of a copied automation without affecting the original automation.

How do I use the same bot for trading multiple tickers?

You can use custom inputs to trade multiple tickers in the same bot. Simply add additional automations and change the input’s ticker symbol.

How often do scanner automations run during the trading day?

Scanner automations run every 15 minutes beginning at 9:45 EST and stop running at 3:45 PM EST.

Do scanner automations run on the hour or can I set the schedule?

Scanner automations run every 15 minutes. You can use an event to schedule scanner automatons.

Do scanner automations run if I already have positions inside the bot?

Scanners will run until you turn the bot off or until your maximum position or allocation limit is met. If a limit is met, your scanner will not open new positions until there is room in the bot.

Can scanner automations run on shorter timeframes?

Scanners will eventually run on shorter time frames, but that feature is not available yet. Stay tuned for updates.

How is a scanner different than a monitor automation?

Scanner automations look for opportunities to enter new positions based on the decision recipes you create. Scanners filter through market criteria and work through a decision tree to open a position.

Monitor automations manage open positions inside a bot. Monitors actively manage different strategy types and only trigger once a position is opened with a scanner or event automation. Bot monitors typically end with a close position action and exit or adjust a trade when your decision criteria are met.

How many scanners can I set up inside a bot?

You can have up to five scanners in a single bot.

Do scanner automations run only during the normal trading session hours?

Scanners are active from 9:45 EST until 3:45 PM EST.

How can I see what symbols or custom inputs my scanner automations are using?

In the Automations tab, hover the mouse over the “i” icon to view the list of custom inputs and ticker symbols.

Where can I verify the decisions and actions my "Scanner" automation is making?

The Bot Log displays an automation’s activity.

Do scanner automations always with an open position action?

No. An automation could end with a notification to alert you if certain criteria are met. Additionally, one part of the decision tree may not end with an action.

Can scanner automations filter for new trading opportunities but avoid entering positions that fail to meet my criteria?

Yes, a bot can look for certain market conditions. If the conditions you have defined do not exist, the bot will not enter a trade at that time, and will check again at the next interval.

Is there a limit to the number of scanner automations I can have in "My Automations"?

No, you can have as many automations as you want. A bot is limited to five scanner automatons.

What is the difference between a monitor automation and a scanner automation?

Monitor automations manage open positions inside a bot. Monitors actively manage different strategy types and only trigger once a position is opened with a scanner or event automation. Bot monitors typically end with a close position action and exit or adjust a trade when your decision criteria are met.

Scanner automations look for opportunities to enter new positions based on the decision recipes you create. Scanners filter through market criteria and work through a decision tree to open a position.

Do monitor automations run even if I do not have a position opened?

No, monitor automations only run when there are open positions to manage. Monitors will automatically trigger when a position is opened in a bot.

How many monitor automations can I add to each bot?

Currently, you can add five automations to a bot.

How simple or complex can my monitor automations be?

You can make monitor automations as simple or complex as you like.

If a monitor automation triggers a close position action and the order is not filled, what happens?

If the order isn't filled, the monitor automation will attempt to close the position again at the next interval.

Can I make adjustments to existing positions using monitor automations?

Yes, you can build adjustments into your monitor automations, but keep in mind that the monitor will no longer evaluate a position as a whole. It can only manage the separate parts as individual positions.

Do I have to set up a monitor automation for each type of trading strategy I'm using?

Not necessarily. You can re-use monitors if the automation applies to different strategies with the same position type. You can always create new monitors.

Will monitor automations still run if I turn off all automations in the bot?

No, if you turn your bot off, none of your automations will run.

Why are monitor and scanner automations separated inside a bot?

Scanner automations look to open positions while monitor automations manage the open positions scanners entered.

Can I reuse a monitor"automation that I've already created for use in another bot?

Yes. You can re-use any automation. You can also create a copy of an automation.

Do event automations show up in the bot log?

Yes. Events are arranged in chronological order, with the most recent automation appearing at the top of the list.

Why don't events run using the "Now" function show in the list of automations?

If you use the lightning bolt to run an automation "now," you can select any type of automation to run, and it will be displayed in the bot log.

How do I create a button to add to my bot?

Select the “+” symbol in the Events section of the Automations tab. Select button click from the list of event automations and assign an automation to the button from your library.

Can I schedule a bot to run an automation one time on a specific date and time in the future?

Yes. You can use an event to schedule an automation for a specific date and time or on a repeating schedule.

If I use a "Now" event, does it run the automation immediately?

Yes, it runs when you select the button.

Can I schedule event automations to run on a recurring schedule?

Yes, you can run an automation on a repeating schedule. Repeating events enable you to input the details of the schedule, including the start date, the frequency, the time, and the end date (not required). You can always modify the variable of the schedule at any time.

Can I schedule multiple recurring schedules within the same bot for different days and times?

Yes.

If I set an automation to run at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays and it is currently 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, will it run in 15 minutes?

Yes. Keep in mind bots run on EST.

Do event automations scheduled to run at 10:00 a.m. run if it's after 10:00 a.m.?

No. Automations only run at the scheduled time in EST.

What time zone do bots use?

Bots run on EST, so factor this into your decision when you schedule the automation.

Do event automations scheduled to run every month on the same day still run if that day falls on a weekend or holiday?

No. If the markets are closed, your automation will not run.

What happens if an event automation runs but the criteria inside the automation are not met?

If the automation scheduled runs but the criteria are not met, your position will not be opened. You can see where the error occurred in the Bot Log.

Do event automations continue to run automations until an action is taken?

Event automations run on a schedule or a specific time. If specific criteria are not met to trigger an action, the automation will end. You can reschedule the event or run the automation instantly by selecting the lightning bolt icon in the Automations tab.

Can I click the button I created to run an automation anytime I want?

Yes. The automation will run instantly when you use a button click.

How many buttons can I add to a bot?

You can create as many buttons as you like.

Can I use an event automation to open and close a position?

Yes, events can be used to open and close positions.

What is the difference between a "Scanner,” a "Monitor,” and an "Event?"

Scanner automations look for opportunities to enter new positions based on the decision recipes you create. Scanners filter through market criteria and work through a decision tree to open a position.

Monitor automations manage open positions inside a bot. Monitors actively manage different strategy types and only trigger once a position is opened with a scanner or event automation. Bot monitors typically end with a close position action and exit or adjust a trade when your decision criteria is met.

Event automations are triggered on a schedule or when something occurs inside the bot. You can use events in conjunction with scanner and monitor automations. You can add multiple event automations to a bot and target specific strategies using multiple triggers.

How many automations of each type can I have in my bot?

A bot can have five scanner automations, five monitor automations, and five repeating schedule event automations of each type (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).

Can different automations trade different symbols or position types in the same bot?

Yes, you can have different automations in the same bot that not only trade different symbols but different position types as well.

How should I name my automations?

You can name your automations however you like, but we suggest naming them in a descriptive way that makes them easily identifiable (think files on your computer). 

What can I do with a Button inside a bot?

Button events run an automation instantly when clicked. Customized buttons can be created for any scanner or monitor automation and added to your bot dashboard.

How do bot events work for scheduling automations?

You can run an event on a specific date and time in the future or on a repeating schedule.

Do I have to use custom inputs for my automations?

You do not have to use custom inputs. However, custom inputs are one of the most dynamic and efficient tools available in the autotrading platform. 

Custom inputs can be created, edited, and added to any automation in your portfolio to give you added flexibility when building a bot. 

How is an automation different than a bot?

An automation is a component of a bot. Bots consist of one or multiple scanner and monitor automations. Automations follow specific decision recipes to execute a strategy.

What does the "Add to My Automations" checkbox do?

Checking this box will save your automation to your "Library" of automations so that you can re-use it in other bots.

What is the "Inputs" window that shows up to the left of my automation?

This window shows the inputs being used in your automation and how many times each input is used in the automation. Unused inputs should be removed from your bot.

When should I build a new automation and when should I use a saved automation?

New automations should be used if you are creating a new strategy. If you want to use the same strategy in a different bot, you should use a saved automation. Remember, if you make changes to an automation, the changes will transfer anywhere the automation is used. You can copy an automation and modify its components without affecting the original.

Can I have a bot with only a "Scanner", only a "Monitor" and/or only an "Even?t"

You could have a bot with only a scanner automation, but if a position is opened, you would have to manage the position manually in your brokerage account.

Monitor automations only activate once a position is opened inside the bot, so it would not have anything to manage unless you manually entered a position.

You could have a bot with only an event automation, but since events will be either a scanner or a monitor, the above statements would apply.

If I have a bot with only a "Scanner" to enter a trade and the bot enters a trade, how will that trade be exited?

The trade would have to be managed manually.

Can I re-use automations I've already created in other bots?

Yes. You can re-use any automation at any time. Remember, if you make changes to an automation, the changes will transfer anywhere the automation is used. You can copy an automation and modify its components without affecting the original.

Do edits and changes to an automation impact other bots running with the same automation?

Yes, the changes will transfer anywhere the automation is used

Can I create a copy of an automation?

Yes, you can copy any automation. You can modify the criteria of a copied automation without affecting the original automation.

What is the difference between Scanner, Monitor, and Event automations?

Scanner automations look for opportunities to enter new positions based on the decision recipes you create. Scanners filter through market criteria and work through a decision tree to open a position.

Monitor automations manage open positions inside a bot. Monitors actively manage different strategy types and only trigger once a position is opened with a scanner or event automation. Bot monitors typically end with a close position action and exit or adjust a trade when your decision criteria is met.

Event automations are triggered on a schedule or when something occurs inside the bot. You can use events in conjunction with scanner and monitor automations. You can add multiple event automations to a bot and target specific strategies using multiple triggers.

Can I save my automations to be re-used later in other bots?

Yes, automations can be saved to your library and re-used in any bot.

How simple or complex can I make my automations?

You can make your bot sas simple or complex as you like within the limitations of the bot platform.

Can automations trade different stocks or options within the same automation?

Yes, you can trade different symbols and different position types within a single automation.

How is an automation different than a bot?

An automation is a component of a bot. Bots consist of one or multiple automations. Automations follow specific decision recipes to execute a strategy.

How many automations can be built into a bot?

A bot can have five scanner automations, five monitor automations, and five repeating schedule event automations of each type (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.).

Are automations automatically turned "On" when I create or clone a new bot?

No. Bots are off by default. You must turn them on manually.

Do I need to have my browser window open for the automations to be running?

No. Bots run on a cloud server. Once a bot is turned on, you do not need to log back into your computer or have your browser open. The bot will run automations at their scheduled intervals.

How often are automations run during the trading day?

Automations run every 15 minutes beginning at 9:45 EST and stop running at 3:45 PM EST.

Do I have to use Scanner and Monitor automations in all my bots?

No. You can use any combination of scanners, monitors, or event automations in your bots. You can also open and close positions manually.

Remember, if a bot has an open position, a monitor automation is needed to manage the position.

Can I schedule when I want an automation to run in the future?

Yes, you can use an event automation to run automations on a repeating schedule or a one-time calendar event.

Will automations still run if the bot doesn't have any capital to allocate?

Yes, the bot will still run, but no new positions will be added if there is not enough capital allocated to open a new position. However, monitor automations will still manage open positions.

How do I remove automations from the "My Automations" list?

You can remove automations in the Automations Library by hovering the mouse over the automation and select “X.”

What happens if I remove a decision from the automation editor?

Removing a decision deletes all actions that follow.

Is there an "undo button" if I accidentally make a change I did not want to make?

There is no "undo button," but you do have the option to precede decisions, which makes it easier to correct mistakes.

Can I insert new actions into an automation anywhere I wish?

Yes, you can hover over any action and a gear icon will appear in the upper right corner. This enables you to precede the action with another action so you can add additional decisions to an automation.

If I edit an automation will the updates be automatically reflected inside any bot using that automation?

Yes, any modifications made to an automation are transferred everywhere the automation is used in the platform. You can always copy an automation if you want to make edits and preserve the original.

How do I modify an automation without rebuilding the automation?

You can create a copy of any automation. Hover over the automation and select the copy icon.

How do I modify or update the custom inputs in an automation?

Hover your mouse over an automation and select the"i" icon to view and edit the different variable fields.

If variables are bot-level inputs, you can adjust them by selecting the gear icon in the top right corner of your bot and selecting settings.

Can I edit an automation even if I'm not currently inside the bot using the automation?

Yes. You can edit an automation from the bots homepage. Select the Automations tab under “My Library” to access your automations. Select an automation, and you will be redirected to the automation editor.

Do I have to use an automation inside a bot for it to be saved to "My Automations?”

No, you can build an automation and save it to your library for future use without assigning it to a bot.

Do I have to use all of the different actions inside the automation editor for it to work?

No.

Can I start an automation with any type of bot action?

Yes, you can start any automation with any type of bot action.

How do I reuse automations across multiple bots?

You can save automations to your library for future use. When adding an automation to a bot, you have the option to reuse a saved automation from your library.

Should I save every automation I build?

There is no limit to the number of automations you can save to your library, so feel free to save every automation. Remember to give your automations specific names to identify them in the future.

Why is an automation I built not showing up in my automations library?

You need to save automations to your library to access them in the “My Automations” folder. You can build an automation and not save it, in which case it would not show up in your automations library.

How can I remove an automation from the list of "My Automations"?

The easiest way to remove an automation is on the bots homepage. Select Automations from “My Library.” Hover over the automation you want to remove and select "X.” This removes the automation from your library and any bots that use it.

Can I change or update the name of an automation?

Yes. In the automation editor, simply click on the name in the top left of the page and then type whatever you would like the modified name to be. Make sure to hit "enter" or "return" to save.

How should I use the automation description field when adding automations to a bot?

Use it to help identify the automation provide a brief detailed description of the bot’s objective.

When would you copy an automation vs. edit an automation?

Automation copies are useful if you want to reuse an existing automation and modify part of the automation's actions. Remember, editing an automation applies the changes to every bot using that automation. Copying the automation preserves the original version and allows you to modify the strategy.

Can I copy a shared automation and use it inside my bots?

Yes. You can clone a shared bot template and save any of its automations to your library.

If I copy an automation is it automatically saved in "My Automations?”

No, you must save it to your automations library in the top right corner of the automation editor after making the copy.

Can I edit part of an automation without having to re-create the automation over again?

Yes, you can always edit and modify any part of an automation. However, editing an automation applies the changes to every bot using that automation. Copying the automation creates a new automation and preserves the original version, allowing you to modify only the new strategy.