Frequently Asked Questions
General
Does FTJ require an internet connection?
Manual journaling and the local database work offline. Internet is needed for cTrader authentication/fetching, supported online exchange-rate requests, licence actions and Microsoft Store installation/updates. MT4 and MT5 use local terminal/bridge components.
Where is my data stored?
In the active local SQLite database. The current path is shown in Settings -> Database.
Can I back up or move my data?
Yes. Use Settings -> Database -> Backup, or copy the .db file when it is not being written to. Keep a separate backup before replacing or moving a database.
Can I use FTJ on Mac or Linux?
No. FTJ is a Windows desktop application.
Demo Mode
Can I import trades in Demo Mode?
Yes, while the current database contains fewer than 20 persisted trades. This applies to CSV/XLSX and supported cTrader, MT4 and MT5 imports.
Will FTJ import only enough rows to reach 20 trades?
No. An authorised import processes the complete selected file or broker selection and may take the journal above the limit.
What happens at exactly 20 trades?
New manual trades and imports are blocked. Existing core trade details remain editable.
What happens above 20 trades?
Core trade details and execution mutations become read-only. Viewing, Dashboard review, export, deletion, journal notes and self-reflections remain available.
Can I create multiple accounts in Demo Mode?
Yes. The 20-trade limit is global across all accounts in the current database.
Can I manage Rates in Demo Mode?
Yes. Eligible rates can be added, fetched, edited and deleted. Rates used by trades can retain normal destructive-edit/delete protection.
How do I re-enable editing or importing?
Delete down to exactly 20 trades to unlock core editing. Delete below 20 to also re-enable new manual trades and imports. Activating a subscription/trial removes the limits.
Can I disconnect a broker after reaching the limit?
Yes. Connection cleanup, sign-out and link removal remain available.
Trades and P/L
Why is a converted P/L value unavailable?
A missing exchange rate is a common cause. Open Rates and add or fetch the required date/currency conversion.
Why is a trade excluded from reporting-currency totals?
FTJ could not find a usable conversion path. It excludes affected monetary values instead of silently mixing currencies.
Why does an open trade not show Gross/Net P/L?
Gross/Net P/L is treated as realised performance. Open trades are excluded from closed-trade KPIs.
What does Derived from executions mean?
Entry, exit and quantity values are calculated from individual fills rather than entered manually.
What is Broker reported versus Calculated P/L?
Broker reported uses usable booked account-currency P/L from the broker. Calculated rebuilds Gross P/L from current executions and available conversion information.
What does Adjust Costs do?
It creates separate journal adjustments for fees and swap without overwriting the original broker-reported values.
Are quantities stored as Units or Lots?
FTJ stores quantity in units. Lots is a display and entry conversion based on Units per Lot configured for the selected account and symbol.
Where are Initial SL, Initial TP and Planned R?
They are part of the Entry/setup side of the current Trades workflow. Initial SL defines the original risk, Initial TP is the summary planned target and Planned R describes planned reward relative to that original risk.
How do multiple Planned Targets work?
Expand Planned Targets, add TP1/TP2/etc. and assign percentage allocations. A complete saved plan must total 100%. FTJ calculates weighted Planned R from those allocations. TP1 controls the summary Initial TP while the plan exists.
Why does Planned R show ‘-‘?
Required risk data may be missing, or the geometry may be invalid. For a Long, Initial SL must be below Entry and planned targets above Entry; for a Short the directions are reversed. FTJ leaves Planned R unavailable instead of showing a misleading extreme value.
What is Stop History?
When broker sync observes managed stop changes, History (n) beside Initial SL opens the Stop History subsection. It records broker states FTJ actually observed and keeps them separate from the original Initial SL. The displayed time is when FTJ observed the state, not a reconstructed exact broker modification time.
Why do some Trades sections stay collapsed after restart?
The top-level Strategy & Confluences, Images, Trade Notes, Executions & Stop History and Self-Reflection sections remember your workspace expand/collapse preference between app restarts. This layout preference does not change the journal data.
What is Break-Even tolerance?
Open Settings -> Break-even classification. Net P/L tolerance classifies small positive/negative results inside the configured ± amount as Break-even for review, using each trade account’s base currency. Actual P/L is unchanged. Excluding break-even from Win Rate is a separate option.
What happens if I import the same source twice?
FTJ uses source identifiers and fallback trade details to avoid intentional duplicates.
Broker Sync
Which platforms are supported?
cTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 through read-only import workflows.
Will FTJ place trades for me?
No. FTJ does not place, modify, copy or close broker trades.
Does FTJ store my broker password?
No. cTrader uses OAuth. MT4 and MT5 read from local terminal/bridge components.
Where is the MT4 bridge installed?
FTJ installs the bridge in MQL4/Experts/Forgalis MT4 Bridge inside the selected MT4 terminal’s data folder. Install MT4 Bridge and Update MT4 Bridge use this same folder.
What does Update MT4 Bridge do?
It replaces the existing ForgalisMt4Bridge.mq4 and ForgalisMt4Bridge.ex4 files in MQL4/Experts/Forgalis MT4 Bridge. It does not create a second bridge folder. Replacing the files does not update an EA that is already running on a chart, so restart or refresh MT4, remove the running bridge from the chart and attach it again before retrying.
Why does FTJ require an MT4/MT5 bridge update?
The bridge is older, reports no supported protocol or is newer than the app understands. For MT4, use Update MT4 Bridge, refresh/restart MT4 and reattach the EA. For MT5, replace the bridge executable with the version included in the current FTJ package and restart the platform.
Why do I see two Forgalis bridge folders in MT4?
The supported folder is Forgalis MT4 Bridge. Confirm that the current bridge files are in that folder and attach that copy. Do not delete another folder until you have confirmed that it contains no custom or separately compiled files.
Can FTJ keep an open broker position in the journal and update it when it closes?
Yes, where the supported broker/bridge exposes enough state. Close the broker-synced position at the broker, then Fetch/Sync so FTJ can reconcile the journal trade. FTJ does not send the close order.
What does Forget terminal delete?
Only FTJ’s saved local MT4/MT5 terminal reference. It does not delete MetaTrader files, bridge files, broker links or journal data.
How does cTrader Lots display work for XAGUSD or another non-standard symbol?
FTJ stores/imports position quantity in units. When cTrader exposes broker-authoritative contract size, FTJ persists and uses it for Lots display. Verified 1.1.25 XAGUSD behavior is 50 units = 0.01 lots with 1 lot = 5,000 units. If broker contract-size metadata is unavailable, the configured Units per Lot for the account/symbol is used as the fallback.
Does broker sync import fees, swap, stop loss and take profit?
Only when the broker/platform exposes those values historically.
Dashboard
Where is Analytics?
There is no separate Analytics or Calendar sidebar destination. Use Home / Dashboard for visible performance summaries and charts.
Why are some metrics empty?
Core metrics use closed trades and may also require loss data, Stop Loss values, exchange rates or enough valid observations.
Support
For broker support, include FTJ version, platform, account type, approximate execution time, symbol and a copied Status Log with secrets redacted.