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Practical Example: A Trend-Following Strategy with SSA

This example demonstrates how to build a strategy using signals from the Smart Signals Assistant (SSA) indicator.

Strategy Goal:

• Entry: Enter a trade when a Normal or Strong "Smart Signal" appears.
• Exit: Close the trade if an opposing Smart Signal appears (a strategy "flip") or if the SSA built-in TP/SL levels are hit .

Configuration Steps:

1. Prepare Indicators:

   • Add the Smart Signals Assistant and Backtest - Strategy Builder to your chart.
   • In the SSA settings, ensure Smart Signals are enabled and Take-Profit/Stop-Loss Levels are enabled.

   

2. Disable Atlas Mode: In the Strategy Builder settings, uncheck Use Atlas in the "Atlas Strategy Conditions" group so the Manual Mode settings appear.

3. Configure Long Trigger:

We want the entry to trigger on a Normal OR a Strong Bullish signal. Both signals are built-in to the backtester's Condition dropdown — no External Signal wiring required.

• Condition 1: Enable, select Smart Signals ▲ Fires [Trigger] (SSA), assign to Step 1.
• Condition 2: Enable, set the Boolean to OR, select Smart Signals +▲ Fires [Trigger] (SSA), assign to Step 1.

A shortcut for the same logic is to use the combined trigger Smart Signals +▲/▲ Fires [Trigger] (SSA) in Condition 1 alone — it fires on either a normal or strong bullish signal in a single line.

4. Configure Short Trigger:

Mirror of the long trigger:

• Condition 1: Enable, select Smart Signals ▼ Fires [Trigger] (SSA), assign to Step 1.
• Condition 2: Enable, set the Boolean to OR, select Smart Signals +▼ Fires [Trigger] (SSA), assign to Step 1.

Or use the combined Smart Signals +▼/▼ Fires [Trigger] (SSA) in Condition 1.

5. Configure Exit Long Trigger:

We'll build a comprehensive exit rule. The position will close if the Take-Profit (TP) is hit, the Stop-Loss (SL) is hit, OR if an opposing short signal appears.

1. Set up the Flip Condition:
   • In the Exit Long Trigger section, enable Condition 1.
   • From the "Condition" dropdown, select Short Entry Trigger and assign it to Step 1.
2. Set up the Take-Profit and Stop-Loss:
   • In the same section, check the box to enable TP. Click the source input next to it and select the plot from the Smart Signals Assistant for your take-profit level (e.g., Take Profit 1 Level Export).
   • Check the box to enable SL. For its source, select the Stop Loss Level Export plot from the Smart Signals Assistant.

Configure Exit Short Trigger:

The logic is identical but reversed for short positions.

1. Set up the Flip Condition:

   • In the Exit Short Trigger section, enable Condition 1.
   • From the "Condition" dropdown, select Long Entry Trigger and assign it to Step 1.

2. Set up the Take-Profit and Stop-Loss:

   • Enable TP and SL, linking them to the same Take Profit 1 Level Export and Stop Loss Level Export plots from the SSA. The indicator automatically calculates the correct levels for short positions.

   

Your strategy now has a complete trade management plan. It will enter a long position on a bullish signal and will exit based on whichever of these three conditions occurs first: the take-profit is hit, the stop-loss is hit, or a bearish entry signal triggers a flip.

5. Understanding the Dashboard

The on-chart table provides a quick status check and performance summary.

• Trades Status:
  • ON: The strategy configuration is valid and running.
  • OFF: The strategy is paused due to an invalid setup.
• Longs/Shorts Status:
  • READY: The side is correctly configured with both entry and exit rules.
  • BLOCKED: The side is disabled. The reason (e.g., "No Exit") is shown in the Value column.
• Warnings:
  • !: Your setup has an error (e.g., an entry is enabled without an exit). The specific error is listed in the Value column.
  • OK: The configuration is valid.
• Performance Metrics: Displays key statistics like Net Profit, Win Rate, and Max Drawdown.

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