Are you still using Ameritrade with telecharts? I want to swing trade stocks only (no futures) and just started learning. Very frusted with Ameritrade as have to use multipe different softwares there to get best scanning, charting, backtesting, live-feed analysis, etc, and trying to use Ninja with their feed to simulate but having lots of bug problems and limitations. I don't think Ameritrade wants its new users to simulate at all so they can start collecting brokers fees right off. I am using mostly EMA indicators, so I just want a simple software with live feeds where I can adjust pretty basic trend indicators easily, get news, chart, backtest, and simulate easily, without having to use 5 different programs to do it. Ninja seems to require more programming than its worth, especially when trying to simulate with Ameritrade feed, and it, as is with most softwares I've looked at, all the best bells and whistles are geared towards daytrading futures, which I feel is way to dangerous for new traders. Sorry for posting in your journal, but having trouble finding info in other forums. Thanks.
Have you tried Strategy Desk?? It is a single Ameritrade platform that does most of what you are looking for... I use it every day.. occasionally lags but it's enough.
Strategy Desk is probably what I have used the most there since there are lots of strategies and indicators you can edit easily, but no live feed or simulation available, and I actually like the chart layout on commander much better but no scanning or backtesting there. I got a trial subsription to advanced analyzer hoping it might be best of both worlds, but very disappointed as it does not even have EMAs -- only MAs that I could tell. And this is supposed to be advanced? Pissed me off so much I have not really played with it much.
Strategy desk does all you except simulation... It's charts can be setup nicely.. Advanced analyzer is weak as most of the settings are fixed and scans are only eon of day. I rarely use it as Telechart is MUCH better.. Once I developed my lists I use Strategy desk only to scan those lists.. Remember Ameritrade bought Analyzer (BigEasy) and Strategy (Stockwatch Pro) desk from others.. They do "try" to improve them but very minimally.. There are lots of suggestions I have sent that go nowhere.. I don't think Analyzer has ever been updated since they bought it. A lot of these broker programs are there to promote trading... A good swing trader can do just fine with very simple charts though... Even free Stockcharts.com can go a long way once you have a small basket of stocks to trade.
Thanks again, retire. I will check out telechart. I have started a new forum for more feedback on my needs so as not to muck up your journal. Happy trading!