Order Flow Strategy — setup & guide
Everything you need to install, run, and understand the Trading123 Order Flow Strategy on NinjaTrader 8 — an automated bot that trades the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) and Micro E-mini (MES) from Volume Delta.
Platform
NinjaTrader 8
Market
ES & MES futures
Type
Automated bot
Reads
Volume Delta
What it is
The Order Flow Strategy is a fully automated NinjaTrader 8 bot that trades the E-mini S&P 500 (ES) and Micro E-mini (MES). Instead of chart patterns, it reads Volume Delta — the imbalance between aggressive buyers hitting the ask and aggressive sellers hitting the bid. That imbalance is the real, moment-to-moment battle between buyers and sellers behind every price move.
When the order flow lines up, the strategy enters and then manages the whole trade for you — entries, exits, stops, trailing stops, and profit targets — without hesitation or emotion. It's prop-firm friendly and trade-copier compatible.
What you need
Before you run it, make sure you have:
- NinjaTrader 8 installed and updated (Windows 10 or 11).
- A data connection that provides real-time bid/ask (order-flow) tick data for the ES/MES — for example Rithmic or CQG Continuum. Volume Delta is calculated from whether each trade printed at the bid or the ask, so a delayed or aggregated feed can't drive the strategy correctly.
- An account to trade on — start on Sim101 (simulation) before going live.
Install it
The Order Flow Strategy installs like every Trading123 tool — as a NinjaScript add-on:
1. Download the .zip from the members portal. Don't unzip it.
2. In NinjaTrader 8 → Control Center → Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On… and choose the .zip.
3. Restart NinjaTrader 8 so it loads.
4. Add the strategy to an ES chart (or enable it from the Strategies tab).
How it works (the idea)
Every trade in the ES is either an aggressive buy (lifting the ask) or an aggressive sell (hitting the bid). Volume Delta keeps a running tally of that imbalance. When buyers are consistently more aggressive than sellers — or vice versa — it reveals which side is really in control, often before price makes a big move.
The strategy watches that flow and, when the conditions it's built around line up, it takes a position and manages it to its stop or target automatically. You don't have to read the order flow yourself — the bot does, and it acts the same way every time.
The exact conditions, thresholds, and settings that make it perform are covered in your members area below.
For owners: your settings & training
The parts that make it work — exact inputs, live setup, and videos — are included free with your purchase and live in the members portal.
Recommended settings
Members onlyThe exact input values, Volume Delta thresholds, stop/target settings, and how we tune them for the open, midday, and the close.
Running it live & on a prop account
Members onlyEnabling the strategy, pointing it at the right account, trade-copier setup, and the prop-firm-safe configuration.
Optimization & video walkthroughs
Members onlyBacktesting guidance, tuning for different volatility, and step-by-step training videos.
Unlock the full guide
Your settings, live setup, and training videos are in the members portal — free with your purchase.
Test first & trade responsibly
Always run the strategy on Sim101 (simulation) first until you're comfortable with how it behaves and how it's configured. Only move to a live or funded account once you've seen it run.
Trading futures carries substantial risk and isn't suitable for everyone. Automated strategies can lose money, and past or simulated performance does not guarantee future results. Nothing here is financial advice — see our Legal Disclaimer.
FAQ
What data feed do I need?
A NinjaTrader 8 connection with real-time bid/ask (order-flow) tick data, such as Rithmic or CQG Continuum. The strategy reads Volume Delta, which is calculated from bid/ask trade classification, so an aggregated or delayed feed won't drive it correctly.
Can I run it on a prop-firm account?
Yes — it runs on NinjaTrader 8 and is trade-copier compatible. Check each firm's automation policy first: some allow automated or semi-automated trading, others require manual execution during the evaluation. See our prop firms page.
Does it repaint?
No. It acts on completed order-flow data and manages its own entries, exits, stops, and targets in real time — it does not repaint past signals.
Where are the settings and training videos?
In the members portal, free with your purchase — including the exact inputs, session tuning, and step-by-step videos.
Where do I download the strategy?
From the members portal. Can't get in? Email info@trading123.net from the address you purchased with.