Set Up Trader Workstation (TWS)

Warning: We don't recommend using the Interactive Brokers paper trading mode. The Tickblaze platform offers a more robust implementation of simulated trading accounts. Our version is more stable and flexible, since it allows for unlimited user-created simulation accounts and allows the user instant addition, deletion, modification and resetting of simulated trading accounts.

In order to connect to Interactive Brokers, TWS or IB Gateway must be running and configured properly. If you are unable to use your Interactive Brokers connections, then make sure that TWS is configured as follows:

Open the TWS Global Configuration Window

Configure TWS API Settings

Note: The TWS API settings shown below are applicable to the live IB brokerage account only. The Tickblaze platform offers a more robust implementation of simulated trading accounts. Our version is more stable and flexible, since it allows for unlimited user-created simulation accounts and allows the user instant addition, deletion, modification and resetting of simulated trading accounts.

Set Up IB Gateway

As an alternative to TWS, you can choose to run IB Gateway, which has the benefits of consuming fewer resources than TWS and not forcing a disconnect every day, like TWS does. If you choose to use IB Gateway then you need to configure it as follows:

Prior to Login Select the IB API

Configure IB Gateway API Settings

Note: The IB Gateway API settings shown below are applicable to the live IB brokerage account only. The Tickblaze platform offers a more robust implementation of simulated trading accounts. Our version is more stable and flexible, since it allows for unlimited user-created simulation accounts and allows the user instant addition, deletion, modification and resetting of simulated trading accounts.

Create a Broker Connection

Note: The Tickblaze Broker Connection settings shown below are applicable to the live IB brokerage account only. The Tickblaze platform offers a more robust implementation of simulated trading accounts. Our version is more stable and flexible, since it allows for unlimited user-created simulation accounts and allows the user instant addition, deletion, modification and resetting of simulated trading accounts.

Create an IB Broker Connection in Tickblaze:

The following settings are used to connect to TWS or IB Gateway:

•Account Code - enter your Interactive Brokers account code here.

•IP / Host - the computer where TWS or IB Gateway are running. Usually this is 127.0.0.1, i.e. the same computer as the one where Tickblaze is running.

•Port - the port that TWS is listening for connections on (the default is 7496). If you've chosen to use IB Gateway then change this to IB Gateway's port (the default is 4001).

•Client ID - the default value of 0 is usually best. It's possible to enter other values, in order to isolate Tickblaze from orders that are created in other programs (such as TWS).

Create a Data Connection

Note: The Tickblaze Data Connection settings shown below are applicable to the live IB brokerage account only. The Tickblaze platform offers a more robust implementation of simulated trading accounts. Our version is more stable and flexible, since it allows for unlimited user-created simulation accounts and allows the user instant addition, deletion, modification and resetting of simulated trading accounts.

Create an IB Data Connection in Tickblaze:

The following settings are used to connect to TWS or IB Gateway:

•IP / Host - the computer where TWS or IB Gateway is running. Usually this is 127.0.0.1, i.e. the same computer as the one where Tickblaze is running.

•Port - the port that TWS is listening for connections on (the default is 7496). If you've chosen to use IB Gateway then change this to IB Gateway's port (the default is 4001).

•News Source 1 / 2 - if you have a subscription to a News provider (or to two providers) then select them here.