Skip to main content

Troubleshooting Guide

This guide helps you resolve common issues when using XeroLite CE. If you encounter problems not covered here, please contact support at [email protected].

Table of Contents​

Quick Start​

Follow these questions in sequence to troubleshoot your issue:

Q1: Did TradingView send the alert signal?​

If No: Check your TradingView alert setup and ensure the alert is active and configured correctly.

If Yes: Proceed to Q2.

Q2: Did the XeroLite CE Alert page receive the signal?​

If No: Go to Alerts Not Being Received section.

If Yes: Proceed to Q3.

Q3: Is there an order record on the XeroLite CE Transaction page?​

If No: Check one of these sections:

If Yes: Proceed to Q4.

Q4: Was the order record submitted to IB successfully? (Check Order Status on XeroLite CE Transaction page)​

If No: Check one of these sections:

If Yes: Proceed to Q5.

Q5: Was the order accepted and filled by IB (Interactive Brokers)?​

If No:

  • If the order was rejected, proceed to Q6.
  • If the order was not executed, go to Order Execution Errors section.

If Yes: Your order was successful!

Q6: Was the order rejected in IB (Interactive Brokers)?​

If Yes: Go to Order Execution Errors section for common rejection reasons and solutions.

If No: Your order may still be pending. Check TWS for order status.

Alerts Not Being Received​

Symptoms​

  • TradingView shows alert triggered but nothing appears in XeroLite CE
  • No entries in Incoming Alerts log
  • Webhook test fails

Solutions​

  1. Verify Webhook URL

    • Check that the webhook URL in TradingView matches XeroLite CE
    • Ensure the URL includes the API key parameter
    • Copy the webhook URL directly from XeroLite CE's Webhook & Settings tab
    • See Webhook URL for details

  2. Check IP Whitelisting

    • If IP whitelisting is enabled, ensure TradingView's IP is whitelisted
    • TradingView uses multiple IP addresses – you may need to whitelist a range
    • Temporarily disable IP whitelisting to test if this is the issue
    • See IP Whitelisting for configuration

  3. Review Incoming Alerts Log

    • Check for "unauthorized access" errors
    • Look for API key validation failures
    • Review any error messages in the log

  4. Test Alert Configuration

    • Use the Alert Request Builder to create a test alert
    • Verify the alert message format is correct
    • Test with a simple alert first before using complex strategies

  5. Network and Firewall

    • Verify XeroLite CE is accessible from external networks
    • Test webhook URL accessibility using online tools

  6. TradingView Alert Settings

    • Verify the alert is active and not disabled
    • Check alert frequency settings
    • Ensure webhook is enabled in the alert configuration
    • Verify the alert message field contains valid JSON

Orders Not Being Placed​

Symptoms​

  • Alerts are received in XeroLite CE but orders don't appear in TWS
  • No error messages but no orders executed
  • Orders show as "pending" but never execute

Solutions​

  1. Check TWS Status

    • Ensure TWS (Trader Workstation) is running and connected
    • Verify TWS is not in "Read-Only" mode
    • Check TWS connection status in the bottom right corner
    • See Verify IB Connection for detailed steps

  2. Verify XeroLite CE Connection to IB

    • Check the connection status in XeroLite CE
    • Ensure the API port matches between TWS and XeroLite CE (default: 7497 for paper, 7496 for live)
    • Verify API access is enabled in TWS settings
    • See Connect XeroLite CE to IB TWS

  3. Check Incoming Alerts Log

    • Review the Incoming Alerts tab in XeroLite CE
    • Look for error messages or validation failures
    • Verify alerts are being received and parsed correctly

  4. Verify Alert Message Format

  5. Check Account Settings

    • Verify account number is correct (if using multiple accounts)
    • Ensure you have sufficient buying power for the order
    • Check if account restrictions are preventing order placement

  6. Market Hours

    • Some order types only execute during market hours
    • LIMIT orders wait for price, MARKET orders execute immediately
    • Verify market is open for your instrument

Alert Message Validation Errors​

Symptoms​

  • Alerts appear in log but show "validation error"
  • "Invalid JSON format" errors
  • Missing required field errors

Solutions​

  1. Validate JSON Format

    • Ensure alert message is valid JSON
    • Check for missing commas, quotes, or brackets
    • Use a JSON validator tool to check syntax
    • Use the Alert Request Builder to generate valid JSON

  2. Check Required Fields

    • Verify all mandatory fields are present:
      • name, symbol, currency, asset_class, exch, action, qty
    • See Alert Request Format for complete field list
    • Ensure field names match exactly (case-sensitive)

  3. Verify Field Values

    • Check that field values are in correct format
    • Ensure numeric values are strings (e.g., "10" not 10)
    • Verify action is "BUY" or "SELL" (uppercase)
    • Check that order_type matches supported types

  4. Version Compatibility

    • Ensure you're using the correct alert format version
    • Check Release Notes for version-specific requirements
    • Verify your XeroLite CE version supports the fields you're using

Connection Issues with Interactive Brokers​

Symptoms​

  • XeroLite CE cannot connect to TWS
  • Connection status shows "Disconnected"
  • API connection errors

Solutions​

  1. Enable TWS API Access

    • Open TWS Settings → API → Settings
    • Enable "Enable ActiveX and Socket Clients"
    • Set "Socket port" (default: 7497 for paper, 7496 for live)
    • Ensure "Read-Only API" is unchecked if you want to place orders
    • See Configure IB TWS for API Access

  2. Verify TWS is Running

    • Ensure TWS is launched and logged in
    • Check that TWS is not frozen or crashed
    • Restart TWS if connection issues persist

  3. Check API Port Settings

    • Verify the port in XeroLite CE matches TWS API port
    • Default ports: 7497 (paper trading), 7496 (live trading)
    • Ensure no other applications are using the same port

  4. Firewall and Security Settings

    • Allow TWS through Windows/Mac firewall
    • Check if antivirus is blocking the connection
    • Ensure "Allow connections from localhost only" is unchecked in TWS API settings (if connecting from remote server)

  5. API Precautions

    • Check TWS API Precautions settings
    • Ensure "Bypass Order Precautions for API Orders" is enabled if needed
    • Review other API precaution settings that might block orders

  6. Network Connectivity

    • If XeroLite CE is on a remote server, ensure network connectivity
    • Check if VPN or proxy is interfering
    • Verify localhost/127.0.0.1 connectivity if running locally

Order Execution Errors​

Symptoms​

  • Orders fail with specific error messages
  • "Price does not conform to minimum price variation" error
  • Orders rejected by IB

Viewing rejection details: You can view specific rejection details by hovering over the exclamation icon (!) on rejected orders in the Transactions page.

Solutions​

  1. Price Rounding Issues

    • XeroLite CE automatically rounds prices based on IB market rules
    • Ensure prices are within valid increments for your instrument
    • See Price Rounding Rules for details
    • Use the Alert Request Builder which handles rounding automatically

  2. Invalid Order Parameters

    • Verify symbol format matches IB requirements
    • Check that asset class and exchange are correct
    • Ensure quantity is valid (not zero, within position limits)
    • Verify order type is supported (MARKET, LIMIT, TRAIL)

  3. Account Restrictions

    • Check if your account has trading permissions for the instrument
    • Verify you have sufficient buying power
    • Ensure account is not restricted or on margin call
    • Check if account type supports the order type (e.g., some accounts don't support TRAIL orders)

  4. Market Data Requirements

    • Some order types require real-time market data subscriptions
    • Verify you have market data for the instrument
    • Check if delayed data is causing issues

  5. Not Enough Margin

    • The account does not meet the margin requirements for the order
    • Verify you have sufficient buying power
    • Check account balance and margin requirements
    • Consider reducing order size or adding funds to the account

Performance Issues​

Symptoms​

  • Slow order execution
  • Delayed alert processing
  • System lag or freezing

Solutions​

  1. System Resources

    • Ensure adequate CPU and memory available
    • Close unnecessary applications
    • Check system resource usage

  2. Network Latency

    • Verify stable internet connection
    • Check network latency to IB servers

  3. TWS Performance

    • Ensure TWS is not overloaded with too many charts/indicators
    • Close unnecessary TWS windows
    • Restart TWS periodically if running for extended periods

  4. XeroLite CE Configuration

    • Review alert processing settings
    • Check if too many concurrent alerts are causing issues
    • Monitor Incoming Alerts log for bottlenecks

License and Activation Issues​

Symptoms​

  • "License expired" errors
  • Cannot activate license
  • License key not accepted

Solutions​

  1. Verify Subscription Status

    • Ensure your XeroLite CE subscription is active
    • Check for email notifications about subscription status
    • If you need to renew, visit XeroLite Cloud Edition

  2. Check Subscription Validity

    • Verify subscription is not expired
    • Ensure subscription is valid for your account
    • Contact support if subscription appears invalid

  3. Network Connectivity

    • Ensure XeroLite CE can reach validation servers
    • Check firewall isn't blocking validation
    • Verify internet connection is active

Need more help? Contact support at [email protected]

See also: