Import Guide

AlgoChef supports importing trade data from CSV, TXT, Excel, HTML, and TradeStation/Multicharts RINA XML files — one file at a time or many at once. This section covers supported formats, field mappings, and how to create reusable templates.

Supported Formats

The two auto-mapped formats are the easiest route in: AlgoChef reads the file's own structure, so you skip the column-mapping step entirely. If your platform can produce either one, prefer it.

Limits

Only a single .xml gets the larger allowance, because that format streams as it is read rather than being loaded whole. These are enforced when you upload and again on the server, so an oversized file fails immediately rather than part-way through.

Batch import: select multiple files in one go. The wizard detects each file, offers a per-file review step (approve or skip each), and can apply one saved template across the whole batch.

P&L Calculation Priority

AlgoChef determines trade P&L using a 2-step priority:

1. Dollar P&L column — If you map a column as ProfitLoss_Dollar, AlgoChef uses it directly
2. Price calculation — Otherwise, from the required entry/exit prices: (exitPrice - entryPrice) × size × bigPointValue (reversed for short trades). Size defaults to 100 shares for stocks and 1 contract for futures when no Contracts column is mapped.

A P&L column in points is stored but not used to calculate P&L.

Post-Import Processing

After mapping columns, AlgoChef automatically:

1. Orders trades by exit time (then entry time)
2. Calculates equity curve from sequential P&L
3. Computes all 200+ metrics
4. Generates the 5-score system ratings
5. Creates distribution analysis and drawdown data

Format Templates

If you import from the same platform regularly, save your column mapping as a template:

• System templates — Pre-built and ready to select from the template menu:
  • TradeStation Excel (listed as TS-excel) — TradeStation's Strategy Performance Report exported as Excel or CSV
  • MultiCharts / TradeStation — trade lists in the MultiCharts/TradeStation CSV layout
  • NinjaTrader — NinjaTrader 8's Trade Performance → Trades export
  • StrategyQuant X — SQX trade list CSV export
  • MetaTrader 5 CSV — MetaTrader 5 trade history saved as CSV
• User templates — Your custom mappings, reusable across imports

Detailed Guides

• CSV Format Reference — Column specifications and examples
• TradeStation/Multicharts RINA XML — Exporting from TradeStation
• NinjaTrader Import Guide — Exporting from NinjaTrader 8
• MetaTrader Import Guide — Exporting from MT4 and MT5
• Excel & Manual Trade Journal — Formatting spreadsheet data for import