How to export trades from NinjaTrader and import them into Tradezella

NinjaTrader stores your completed trades in its database, but Tradezella doesn't connect directly to NinjaTrader's system. You'll need to export your trade data as a file from NinjaTrader first, then upload it into Tradezella. The process takes about 10 to 15 minutes and works best if you export trades in CSV format, which both platforms recognize.

The exact steps depend on which version of NinjaTrader you use and what data Tradezella needs from you. Most traders find the export works smoothly, but a few formatting issues can trip you up — mainly date formats and missing fields that Tradezella requires.

Key Takeaways

  • NinjaTrader exports trades through the Cbi (Control Center) interface, and you'll save the file as CSV to move it to Tradezella.
  • Tradezella needs specific columns in your CSV file: entry date, exit date, entry price, exit price, quantity, and instrument name at minimum.
  • Date formatting matters — Tradezella typically expects MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD, so check your export before uploading.
  • You can export all trades at once or filter by date range in NinjaTrader to send only recent trades to Tradezella.

Exporting trades from NinjaTrader 8

Open NinjaTrader and go to the Control Center window. Click the Cbi tab at the bottom, then select Trades from the left menu. You'll see a list of all your closed trades with columns for entry time, exit time, profit/loss, and other details.

Right-click anywhere in the trades list and select Export. A dialog box will open asking where to save the file. Choose a location you can find easily, name the file something clear like "NinjaTrader_Trades_2024", and make sure the file type is set to CSV (Comma Separated Values). Click Save. NinjaTrader will export every trade shown in the current view, so if you want only trades from a specific date range, filter the list first using the date controls at the top of the Trades window.

Checking your CSV file before uploading to Tradezella

Open the CSV file you just exported in a text editor or spreadsheet program like Excel or Google Sheets. Look at the column headers in the first row. Tradezella needs at least these columns: entry date, exit date, entry price, exit price, quantity, and the instrument or symbol name. Your NinjaTrader export should include all of these, but the column names might be different — for example, NinjaTrader might label them "Time" and "Close" instead of "Entry Date" and "Exit Price".

Check the date format in your file. If the dates look like "01/15/2024" or "2024-01-15", you're fine. If they show as "1/15/24 09:30:00 AM", Tradezella may have trouble reading them. You can edit the dates in your spreadsheet program to match the MM/DD/YYYY format before uploading. Also scan for any blank cells in critical columns — Tradezella will reject rows with missing entry prices, exit prices, or quantities.

Delete any columns you don't need, like commission amounts or strategy names, if they're cluttering the file. Tradezella will ignore extra columns, but a cleaner file is easier to troubleshoot if something goes wrong.

Uploading your trades into Tradezella

Log into your Tradezella account and navigate to the Import or Upload Trades section — the exact location depends on which version of Tradezella you're using, but it's usually in the settings or portfolio menu. Click the button to upload a file and select your CSV file from your computer.

Tradezella will preview the data and ask you to map the columns. This means telling Tradezella which column in your file corresponds to which field in Tradezella's system. For example, you'll tell it "the 'Time' column is my entry date" and "the 'Close' column is my exit price". If your CSV headers match Tradezella's expected names, this mapping often happens automatically. If not, use the dropdown menus to match each column correctly.

Review the preview one more time to make sure the trades look right — prices should be numbers, dates should be readable, and quantities should make sense. Then click Import or Confirm. Tradezella will upload your trades and add them to your portfolio. You should see them appear in your trade history within a few seconds.

Troubleshooting common import problems

If Tradezella rejects your file, the most common reason is a date format mismatch. NinjaTrader sometimes exports dates with timestamps (like "01/15/2024 09:30:15 AM"), and Tradezella may not parse the time portion correctly. Open your CSV in Excel or Google Sheets, select the date columns, and reformat them to MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD without the time. Save the file and try uploading again.

Another frequent issue is missing or misnamed columns. Tradezella needs to know your entry price, exit price, entry date, and exit date at minimum. If your NinjaTrader export uses different column names, rename them in the spreadsheet to match what Tradezella expects, or use the column mapping tool during import to tell Tradezella where each piece of data lives.

If only some of your trades import and others fail silently, check for blank cells or unusual characters in the rejected rows. Tradezella will skip rows with missing critical data. You can also try importing a smaller batch of trades first — export just your last 10 trades from NinjaTrader and test the upload process before moving your entire history.

Exporting trades from NinjaTrader 7 or earlier versions

Older versions of NinjaTrader use a slightly different export path. Open the Control Center, click the Account tab, and look for a Trades or Trade History section. Right-click the list and select Export to File. The process is the same as NinjaTrader 8 — choose CSV format and save the file to your computer.

The data structure in older exports is usually the same, so the steps for checking your CSV and uploading to Tradezella remain unchanged. If you're unsure which version you have, look at the NinjaTrader window title bar or go to Help > About to confirm.

Keeping your trade data in sync between platforms

Tradezella and NinjaTrader don't sync automatically, so if you add new trades in NinjaTrader, you'll need to export and import them again to see them in Tradezella. Many traders export their trades once a month or at the end of each quarter to keep their Tradezella portfolio current. You can export only new trades by filtering NinjaTrader's trade list to show only trades from the last 30 days, then import just those into Tradezella.

If you're worried about duplicates, Tradezella usually detects when you're uploading the same trade twice (based on entry date, exit date, and price) and skips it. But to be safe, keep track of which date range you last imported, then export only trades after that date the next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import trades from multiple NinjaTrader accounts into one Tradezella account?

Yes. Export trades from each NinjaTrader account separately, then upload each CSV file to Tradezella one at a time. Tradezella will add all the trades to your portfolio. Just make sure the instrument names and symbols match across files so Tradezella groups them correctly.

What if my NinjaTrader export is missing some trades?

Check the date range filter at the top of the Trades window in NinjaTrader's Control Center. If a filter is active, it may be hiding older trades. Clear the filter or adjust the date range to include all trades you want to export, then export again.

Does Tradezella accept other file formats besides CSV?

Most versions of Tradezella accept CSV files. Some versions may also support Excel (.xlsx) files. Check Tradezella's import page or help documentation to see which formats your account supports. If you have an Excel file, you can always save it as CSV from Excel before uploading.

Will importing trades into Tradezella affect my NinjaTrader data?

No. Importing into Tradezella only adds data to Tradezella's system. Your trades remain in NinjaTrader unchanged. The two platforms don't communicate with each other, so changes in one won't affect the other.

How long does the import process take?

The upload itself is usually instant, but Tradezella may take a few seconds to process and display the trades, especially if you're importing hundreds of trades at once. If the import seems stuck, refresh your browser or try uploading a smaller batch first.