Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about CandleLog, your comprehensive trading journal application.
Getting Started
What is CandleLog?
CandleLog is a trading journal application that helps you track trades, build strategies with detailed rules, analyze performance metrics, and learn from both executed and missed trades. It's designed for traders of all levels who want to improve through disciplined journaling.
What markets does CandleLog support?
CandleLog supports all tradeable markets including:
- Futures - ES, NQ, CL, GC, and more
- Stocks - All equities
- Options - Stock and index options
- Forex - All currency pairs
- Crypto - Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies
- Indices - SPX, NDX, and others
Do I need to connect my broker?
No broker connection is required. You can log trades manually or import them via CSV files exported from your broker. This gives you full control over your data while maintaining broker independence.
Trade Logging
How do I log a trade?
There are two ways to log trades:
- Manual Entry - Click "Add Trade" and fill in the trade details including symbol, direction, entry/exit prices, quantity, and timestamps
- CSV Import - Upload a CSV file exported from your broker for bulk import
What brokers are supported for CSV import?
CandleLog's smart CSV parser automatically detects and imports from:
- Tradovate
- ThinkOrSwim
- Interactive Brokers (IBKR)
- E*TRADE
- Generic CSV format (for other brokers)
Can I import trades from multiple accounts?
Yes. You can create multiple trading accounts in CandleLog and import trades to each one separately. The CSV importer auto-detects account numbers when available.
How do I handle partial fills and scaling?
CandleLog supports trade executions, allowing you to log multiple entries and exits for a single position. This is useful for scaling in/out of positions.
Strategies
What is a strategy in CandleLog?
A strategy is a structured trading plan with specific rules for:
- Market Criteria - Overall market conditions (trend, volatility, session)
- Entry Criteria - Conditions for entering trades
- Exit Criteria - Rules for taking profits and cutting losses
How do strategy templates work?
Strategy templates are pre-built strategies created by experienced traders. You can:
- Browse 24+ professional templates
- Preview all rules before importing
- Import with one click
- Modify any rules after importing
Templates serve as starting points - you should customize them to fit your trading style.
What are rule outcomes (ALWAYS, WINNER, LOSER, BREAKEVEN)?
Rule outcomes specify when a rule applies:
- ALWAYS - Rule applies to every trade
- WINNER - Rule only applies when reviewing winning trades
- LOSER - Rule only applies when reviewing losing trades
- BREAKEVEN - Rule only applies to breakeven trades
This helps you track different behaviors for different trade outcomes.
Can I share my strategies?
Yes. You can make strategies public and generate share links. Other users can view your strategy rules and optionally import them to their own account.
Performance Analytics
What metrics does CandleLog track?
CandleLog calculates comprehensive performance metrics including:
- Net P&L - Total profit/loss
- Win Rate - Percentage of winning trades
- Profit Factor - Gross profit divided by gross loss
- Rules Followed Rate - Percentage of rules followed across trades
- Expectancy - Average expected P&L per trade
- Average Winner/Loser - Mean profit on wins vs losses
- Largest Profit/Loss - Best and worst single trades
- Total R Multiple - Performance measured in risk units
How is Rules Followed Rate calculated?
When you assign a trade to a strategy, you mark which rules you followed. The Rules Followed Rate is the percentage of applicable rules that were followed across all trades for that strategy.
Can I filter analytics by date range?
Yes. You can filter performance metrics by date range, symbol, account, and strategy to analyze specific periods or market conditions.
Missed Trades
What are missed trades?
Missed trades are trading opportunities you identified but didn't execute. Logging these helps you:
- Understand patterns in your decision-making
- Track potential P&L left on the table
- Identify psychological barriers to execution
How do I log a missed trade?
Navigate to a strategy's detail page, go to the Missed Trades tab, and click "Log Missed Trade". Enter the trade details and reason you missed it.
Why should I track missed trades?
Tracking missed trades reveals patterns like:
- Fear of pulling the trigger on valid setups
- Being distracted during key trading windows
- Over-analyzing and missing entries
- Technical issues preventing execution
This awareness helps you improve execution over time.
Data & Security
Where is my data stored?
Your trading data is stored securely in CandleLog's database. We use industry-standard encryption and security practices to protect your information.
Can I export my data?
Yes. You can export your trades and analytics data at any time. Your data belongs to you.
Is my trading data private?
Yes. Your trades, strategies (unless you choose to share them), and analytics are private by default. We do not share your data with third parties.
Account & Billing
Is there a free version?
CandleLog offers a free tier with core functionality. Premium features may require a paid subscription.
How do I contact support?
For support inquiries, use the contact form in the application or reach out via the Contact page.
Troubleshooting
My CSV import failed
Common causes:
- Unsupported format - Ensure your CSV matches a supported broker format
- Missing required columns - Check that entry/exit prices and times are included
- Date format issues - Verify dates are in a standard format
Try downloading one of our broker-specific templates to see the expected format.
My trades aren't showing in a strategy
Make sure you've assigned the trades to the strategy. Go to the trade detail page and use the strategy assignment option to link it.
Performance metrics seem wrong
Verify that:
- All trades have accurate P&L values
- Trades are properly marked as CLOSED (not OPEN)
- The date range filter includes all relevant trades