Backtesting: how to start?
Author: aroberts12
Creation Date: 4/29/2013 9:28 AM
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aroberts12

#1
I am trying to set up to run a backtest for my boss. I have no idea what I am doing. He's using another system for buy/sell signals and wants to take those 10 years and the strategies he set up and put them into your system to backtest. I feel like I am reading another language and can not figure out where or how to accomplish this!
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Eugene

#2
Well, putting a system coming from a different domain (language) to work in a different platform is not a piece of cake, and if you don't have an idea of what you're doing, for sure that's not going to simplify the job for you and us. As you probably have read in the Wealth-Lab User Guide > Introduction > "Who Should Use Wealth-Lab?":

QUOTE:
Wealth-Lab is a programming environment and is geared toward programmers. By offering a full-blown programming platform, there is no limit to the strategy ideas that can be transcribed, tested and traded. However, the product contains a number of Wizards and visual tools that allow non-programmers to create their own trading systems.


It will require an effort from you to analyze your boss' strategies, determine if it's possible to implement them in another platform (Wealth-Lab), and depending on their rules, find an optimal tool inside the program i.e. rule-based / code-based Strategy. A good place to start is the User/WealthScript Guides and later, the FAQ. If you have specific technical questions along this way, you're welcome to post them here.
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stefanpad

#3
Dear Sir or Madame,

Running my first baktests it seems as if there is an average fee / commission applied to each trade's calculated / backtested performance. Am I correct and if so where can I see & change it within WealthLab?

Additionally, where could I get an up-to-date guide / user book explaining the most important bits & pieces regarding building backtests using wizards?

Any help highly appreciated!
Stefan
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Eugene

#4
Hi Stefan,

Welcome to the forums.

QUOTE:
Running my first baktests it seems as if there is an average fee / commission applied to each trade's calculated / backtested performance. Am I correct and if so where can I see & change it within WealthLab?

Your understanding is correct. Strike shortcut key F12 to open up the Preferences dialog > Commissions (also Slippage).

QUOTE:
Additionally, where could I get an up-to-date guide / user book explaining the most important bits & pieces regarding building backtests using wizards?

Help menu. The User Guide is your one stop shop. Later on you'll need the WealthScript Programming Guide and the Wealth-Lab Wiki for answers to frequently asked questions, open issues etc.
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