This guide covers everything you need to connect your Tradeify account to Sierra Chart and start trading — from subscription requirements and CME market data agreements to configuring the Rithmic data service and troubleshooting common issues.
⚠️ Third-Party Software Notice
Sierra Chart is a third-party platform not owned or operated by Tradeify. Tradeify does not provide technical support for Sierra Chart. For platform-specific issues (bugs, UI problems, feature questions), visit the Sierra Chart Support Board or email Sierra Chart support. For account or billing questions, contact Tradeify support.
What is Sierra Chart?
Sierra Chart is a professional-grade charting and trading platform for Windows, known for its speed, reliability, and deep customization. It connects to Rithmic for real-time market data and order execution, and is popular among futures traders who want institutional-level charting and analysis tools.
Key features:
Advanced charting — Hundreds of built-in technical studies, multiple chart types, real-time streaming, and minimal latency
Spreadsheet-based customization — Build custom studies and calculations using built-in spreadsheet formulas, no coding required
DOM (Depth of Market) — Real-time order book with price ladder trading and configurable columns
Order flow and volume analysis — Volume-at-price, footprint charts, market depth historical graph, and Numbers Bars
Chart replay — Replay historical market data tick-by-tick for practice and strategy backtesting
Automated trading (ACSIL) — Build custom automated trading systems using C++ via the Advanced Custom Study Interface and Language
Multi-monitor support — Detach and arrange chartbooks across multiple screens
How to access Sierra Chart:
Desktop (Windows): Download from sierrachart.com (Windows only — no native Mac or Linux versions)
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Sierra Chart main interface overview showing charts, DOM, and toolbar]
Prerequisites
Before connecting to Sierra Chart, make sure you have:
A Tradeify account purchased with Rithmic as your broker. Sierra Chart connects using Rithmic credentials. If you purchased with Tradovate or WealthCharts, you cannot use Sierra Chart.
Your Rithmic credentials. Find your Rithmic username and password in your Tradeify dashboard under your account details.
A Sierra Chart subscription (Package 10 or higher). Sierra Chart requires a paid "Integrated" subscription to connect to Rithmic. Package 10 ("Integrated Standard") is the minimum at $36/month ($23.40/month with prepaid annual). Packages 3 and 5 do NOT support external data feeds like Rithmic. Subscribe at sierrachart.com.
A Windows computer. Sierra Chart is a Windows desktop application. Mac and Linux users can run it via a virtual machine or compatibility layer (e.g., Parallels, Wine), but this is not officially supported by Sierra Chart.
CME market data agreements signed. You must log in to R|Trader Pro at least once and accept the CME Non-Professional Market Data Agreement before Sierra Chart can receive market data. See Step 1 below.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Tradeify dashboard showing Rithmic credentials]
Connecting Your Tradeify Account
Follow these steps to configure Sierra Chart to connect to your Tradeify trading account using Rithmic. For a visual reference of the settings windows, see Sierra Chart's official Rithmic setup documentation.
Step 1: Sign CME Market Data Agreements
Before connecting Sierra Chart, you must sign the CME Non-Professional Market Data Agreement through R|Trader Pro. If you have already done this (e.g., when setting up another Rithmic platform), you can skip to Step 2.
Go to rtraderpro.rithmic.com/rtraderpro-web (the R|Trader Pro web version)
Log in with your Rithmic credentials from your Tradeify dashboard
Select System Name: "Tradeify"
Accept any CME Non-Professional Market Data Agreements that appear
Once signed, you can close R|Trader Pro — you only need to do this once
Important: If you skip this step, Sierra Chart will show "Permission Denied" errors when trying to load market data.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: R|Trader Pro CME market data agreement screen]
Step 2: Open Data/Trade Service Settings
Open Sierra Chart and go to Global Settings → Data/Trade Service Settings from the menu bar at the top of the window.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Sierra Chart Global Settings menu with Data/Trade Service Settings highlighted]
Step 3: Select Rithmic Data Feed
In the Data/Trade Service Settings window, find the "Current Selected Service (List)" dropdown and select "Rithmic Direct - DTC [Trading]". Then click OK to save.
Important: After clicking OK, Sierra Chart needs a moment to load the available server list from Rithmic. Wait about 5–10 seconds, then reopen Global Settings → Data/Trade Service Settings before proceeding to the next step.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Data/Trade Service Settings with "Rithmic Direct - DTC [Trading]" selected in the service dropdown]
Step 4: Select Your Server
After reopening Data/Trade Service Settings, the Server (List) dropdown will now be populated with available Rithmic servers. Select the correct server for your account type:
Evaluation and Sim Funded accounts: Select "Tradeify" (you may see variations like "Tradeify-Chicago Area-Non-Aggregated" — any "Tradeify" option will work)
Live Funded accounts: Select "Rithmic 01" (you may see "Rithmic 01 - US" or similar)
Important: Using the wrong server will prevent you from connecting. Evaluation and Sim Funded accounts must use a "Paper Trading" server. If the Server dropdown is empty, close and reopen the settings window — the list loads asynchronously after selecting the Rithmic service.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Server dropdown showing Tradeify options]
Step 5: Enter Your Rithmic Credentials
Enter your Rithmic credentials from your Tradeify dashboard in the following fields. All three credential pairs use the same Rithmic username and password:
Trading Username — your Rithmic username
Trading Password — your Rithmic password
Market Data Username — same Rithmic username
Market Data Password — same Rithmic password
Historical Data Username — same Rithmic username
Historical Data Password — same Rithmic password
Click OK to save the settings.
Important: Credentials are case-sensitive. Type them manually rather than copy-pasting to avoid hidden whitespace characters. If your username or password is longer than 31 characters, contact Tradeify support to have it shortened.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Data/Trade Service Settings showing all six credential fields filled in]
Step 6: Connect and Verify
Go to File → Connect to Data Feed (or press F11). Sierra Chart will connect to Rithmic and begin streaming market data.
To verify the connection is working:
The connection status bar at the top of the window should turn green
Open a chart (File → New Chart or Chart → Open) and select a futures symbol (e.g., ES) to confirm data is flowing
Check Trade → Trade Activity Log for connection status messages
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Sierra Chart connected with green status bar and data streaming on a chart]
Step 7: Disable Trade Simulation Mode
Sierra Chart may start in Trade Simulation Mode by default. When this mode is enabled, your orders are simulated locally and not sent to the exchange through Rithmic.
To disable it, go to Trade → Trade Simulation Mode On/Off and make sure it is unchecked (off). When Trade Simulation Mode is off, your orders will be sent through Rithmic to the exchange.
⚠️ Warning: If Trade Simulation Mode is on, you will see simulated fills but no actual orders will be placed. Your Tradeify account balance will not change. Always verify this setting before placing trades.
[IMAGE PLACEHOLDER: Trade menu showing Trade Simulation Mode On/Off option]
Optional: Denali Exchange Data Feed
Sierra Chart offers an optional alternative market data source called the Denali Exchange Data Feed, which is Sierra Chart's own exchange data service. If you configured the Rithmic data feed using the steps above, you do not need Denali — your market data is already provided through Rithmic.
Denali is a separate paid add-on ($6–$40.50/month depending on the exchanges you subscribe to) and has its own CME non-professional rate requirements. It is primarily designed for traders with personal live funded brokerage accounts.
For most Tradeify users, the Rithmic data feed configured above is the recommended approach. If you want to learn more about Denali, visit the Sierra Chart Denali Exchange Data Feed page.
Troubleshooting
"Permission Denied" or no market data
This usually means you have not signed the CME Non-Professional Market Data Agreements
Log in to R|Trader Pro (web) with your Rithmic credentials and System Name "Tradeify"
Accept any market data agreements that appear, then try Sierra Chart again
If you already signed, wait 15–30 minutes and try reconnecting — agreement propagation can be delayed
Login failed or connection refused
Make sure you are using your Rithmic credentials (not your Tradeify website login or your Sierra Chart subscription login — these are all different)
Verify all six credential fields (Trading, Market Data, Historical Data) have the same username and password
Credentials are case-sensitive — type them manually rather than copy-pasting to avoid hidden whitespace
If you recently reset your password, try the new password
Verify your account is active in your Tradeify dashboard
Wrong server or cannot find account
Evaluation and Sim Funded accounts must use a "Rithmic Paper Trading" server
Live Funded accounts must use "Rithmic 01"
If the Server dropdown is empty, close the Data/Trade Service Settings window, wait a few seconds, and reopen it — the server list loads asynchronously after selecting the Rithmic service
Session already in use (platform conflict)
Rithmic credentials can only maintain one active session per connection type at a time
If you are logged into another Rithmic platform (R|Trader Pro, Tradesea, or Quantower), close it before connecting Sierra Chart
If Sierra Chart says the session is already in use, log out of all other Rithmic-connected platforms and try again
Orders not appearing in Tradeify dashboard
Check that Trade Simulation Mode is off (Trade → Trade Simulation Mode On/Off should be unchecked)
When simulation mode is on, Sierra Chart processes orders locally without sending them to Rithmic
Verify by checking the Trade Activity Log — simulated orders will show "Sim" indicators
Platform lag or slow performance
Close unnecessary chartbooks and studies to reduce CPU and memory usage
Disable VPN if you are using one — VPNs add latency and can cause disconnections
Sierra Chart is designed for Windows — if running through a virtual machine or compatibility layer, performance may be reduced
Make sure Sierra Chart is up to date (File → Fast Update)
Need more help?
Platform issues (bugs, UI problems, features): Visit the Sierra Chart Support Board or email Sierra Chart support
Account or billing issues (credentials, account status, payments): Contact Tradeify support through the chat widget in your dashboard