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7. Verify IB Connection

After connecting XeroLite to Interactive Brokers, it's important to verify that the connection is working properly before placing real trades.

7.1: Check Account Information​

View Account Details​

  1. Navigate to Account Section:
    • In XeroLite, look for Account, Portfolio, or Broker Info section
    • This displays information from your Interactive Brokers account
  2. Verify Account Data:
    • Check that your account number is displayed correctly
    • Confirm account type (Paper Trading or Live) matches your TWS login
    • Verify account balance or equity is shown (if available)
  3. Check Connection Status:
    • Look for connection status indicators
    • Green status typically means connected and receiving data
    • Account information should update in real-time

Expected Information​

  • Account number
  • Account type (Paper/Live)
  • Account balance or equity
  • Connection timestamp
  • Broker name (Interactive Brokers)

7.2: Test Market Data​

Verify Market Data Reception​

  1. Check Market Data Feed:
    • XeroLite should be receiving market data from Interactive Brokers
    • Look for real-time price updates or market data indicators
  2. Test Symbol Lookup:
    • Try searching for a symbol (e.g., AAPL, TSLA)
    • Verify that symbol information is retrieved from IB
    • Confirm contract details are displayed correctly
  3. Monitor Data Updates:
    • Watch for real-time updates in price or market data
    • Data should update automatically when connected

Market Data Indicators​

  • Active: Market data is flowing from IB
  • Inactive: No market data being received
  • Error: Issue with market data subscription

Troubleshooting Market Data​

If market data is not updating:

  • Check TWS Connection: Ensure TWS is connected to IB servers
  • Verify Market Data Subscription: Some data requires IB market data subscriptions
  • Check Symbol Format: Ensure symbols match IB's format (e.g., AAPL for stocks)
  • Restart Connection: Try disconnecting and reconnecting XeroLite to IB

Connection Health Check​

Overall Connection Status​

A healthy connection should show:

  • ✅ Broker Status: Connected (green indicator)
  • ✅ Account Information: Displayed and updating
  • ✅ Market Data: Active and receiving updates
  • ✅ API Communication: No error messages

Warning Signs​

Watch out for these issues:

  • ⚠️ Intermittent Connection: Connection drops frequently
  • ⚠️ No Account Data: Account information not loading
  • ⚠️ Stale Market Data: Prices not updating
  • ⚠️ Error Messages: API errors or connection failures

Next Steps​

After verifying the connection is working properly, proceed to: