Issues with NT DOM when using together with MultiCharts 8.8

To begin with, I'm using Interactive Brokers to trade futures. I'm using charting in both platforms, but sometimes use the SuperDOM in NT. On the connection setup I'm using the same port (7496) for both platforms, but using Client ID 0 for MC, and Client ID 1 for NT. Interactive Brokers claims that I can connect up to 8 different platforms to TWS, but in my case it's just 2.

So everything was working very nicely until I upgraded MultiCharts to Version 8.8. That's when I first noticed the problem with the NT SuperDOM. While scalping the ES, I noticed several things: 1. The display of the P&L was blank (as if there were no trade), 2. The red/green indicator showing that I was either long/short was as if there were no trade, and 3. the colored price marker on the SuperDOM ladder was not showing. However, the NT ATM strategy showing red and green prices on the ladder where my Stop Loss and Profit Target were there. I then checked TWS, and saw that I was indeed in a trade and the API screen on TWS showed the SL/TP orders pending. I then moved one of the ATM OCO orders manually down to take a small profit and it didn't execute. At that point I just went into TWS and manually closed the open trade there. I then noticed that the NT ATM orders (SL/TP) were still pending, both on the SuperDOM and in TWS. However, they were not OCO orders but now independent orders. I had to go in and manually remove the NT ATM orders. Needless to say, I was confused and concerned.

After a couple more days of this, I decided to stop trading using the SuperDOM. I then started using the MultiCharts DOM only. The first time I used the DOM on MultiCharts everything was working fine. Then I noticed the same sort of behavior there - but not consistently. The following day I decided to disconnect NT from Interactive Brokers, and just use it for charting (as I also have DTN/IQ data). Everything worked perfectly on the MultiCharts DOM after that. However, I now didn't have the ability to trade from NT on the same PC to IB.

So let's now fast forward a couple months to this past weekend where I upgraded NT to the latest version 7.0.1000.22. After the upgrade, I quickly started testing for all the issues noted, and had similar problems but now a little different. While having MultiCharts and NT open at the same time and entering the trade on NT SuperDOM, the trade executes okay, and the NT ATM OCO trades (SL/TP) show up on the ladder, but the trade entry described above still doesn't show up. I happened to also have the MultiCharts DOM open, and noticed the trade entry marker showing, the P&L, and position long or short over there. So, when executing a manual trade from NT SuperDOM, the trade entry information shows up on the MultiCharts DOM, but the ATM OCO component stays on the SuperDOM. I tested that the profit target on the SuperDOM exited the trade, and canceled the stop loss.

As another test, I shut down MultiCharts. and entered another trade. The trade entry information still didn't show up on the SuperDOM, and now noticed that the ATM lost control of exiting the trade. I ended up shutting down TWS and NT, and restarting both. At that point I noticed everything was working as normal on NT showing the trade entry, P&L, etc., and the ATM entries working normally.

Whenever MultiCharts 8.8 is open together with NT, it seems to have some sort of priority or control of displaying the trades together with the OCO orders. This wasn't the case, before on 8.5.

Sorry for the long winded explanation. A two minute video would have been easier... In any case, just seeking some sort of explanation for this new behavior on MultiCharts. I've also been in contact with NT Support, and reported the issue. However, I'm not sure what they can say since this started happening after I upgraded MultiCharts.

Thanks in advance!
-Harvester

Hello harvester,

There is a Master API Client ID setting in IB TWS configuration.
If an application is connected to TWS with a client ID different from the Master API Client then it will not be able to see all of the orders.
It will be able to see all of the open positions though.

If the connection was lost and restored then all clients will see all active orders (this is how TWS API works).

The order can be modified/cancelled only by the client that sent the order, unless it is not TWS itself or not the master client ID.

Please make sure your configuration is correct and let us know in case you still have any issues using MultiCharts with IB TWS.

Hi Henry,

I checked my Master API client ID, and that field is blank. According the help button:

"The API client with the specified client ID will receive all orders and trades, even those placed by other API clients. (Note this is different from client with ID zero which receives orders placed through the Trader Workstation GUI, but not orders placed by other API clients.) Enter a non-negative number to assign, leave empty to turn off"

According to this description, the Master API client ID field is turned off since mine is empty (and has always been that way by default).

As a further note, I also posted this issue on NT Support, and they suggested to make NT client ID 0 (zero), and MultiCharts 1. I tried this, and it had no difference. The other experiment was to make MultiCharts ID 1 and NT ID 2 (to eliminate the possible interaction with the Master Client ID 0 (zero) just in case). Once again, same problem.

I also called Interactive Brokers Support and spoke with an API specialist. He said that leaving the Master Client ID blank was the default, and that I should use a unique client ID number for each platform, and it didn't matter what number that was. He did say that client ID zero was associated with the TWS platform. In any case, I proved this to be true in my above experiments.

So this is still a mystery. I have a feeling that this is a simple setting issue, or maybe an obscure bug introduced in version 8.8 that's causing this.

Any further help still appreciated!
Thanks,
-Harvester

Harvester, please replicate this behavior, do not close MultiCharts and send me (support@multicharts.com) the following information for further analysis:
1) What exact version and build number of MultiCharts are you running? (in MultiCharts go to Help tab-> About)
2) What is the version of TWS you are running ? (TWS Help tab->About->Scroll it down so that we can see the version)
3) MultiCharts logs. In MultiCharts go to Help->Feedback->Send logs. Please let me know that you have uploaded the logs.
If you want to send the logs manually please follow this guide: https://www.multicharts.com/trading-sof ... harts_Logs
4) In MultiCharts go to File->New->Open Order and position tracker window-> Orders tab->make sure you are not filtering the information in columns, then go to File->Export to excel.
Highlight the orders in question in the excel file.
Please also export the information from the Logs tab.
5) Create a screenshot of all tabs in File->Broker profiles->Manage->IB->Edit.
6) Create a screenshot of TWS->Configure->API->Settings.
7) Attach description of your situation.

You can also come to our live chat Monday-Friday 6:30 am - 3 pm EST to demonstrate this behavior remotely and we will collect all required for analysis information.