How to install the SharkIndicators software, license it, keep it up to date, and move it to another computer.
Before you start: NinjaTrader 8
Our software is an add-on for NinjaTrader Desktop (NinjaTrader 8), which is free to use for charting, backtesting and simulated trading. Install it first, if you haven’t: create a free NinjaTrader account (no brokerage account needed), then sign in and download NinjaTrader Desktop from your account dashboard. New to NinjaTrader? Its platform training is a good place to get comfortable first.
Install
One installer contains every SharkIndicators product. The free trial and the licensed software use the same installer: entering a License ID turns the trial into the licensed version.
For NinjaTrader 8. Current version: 8.4.4.35 (what’s new).
- Close NinjaTrader.
- Download the installer (above) and run it.
- Accept the license agreement and click Next.
- Uncheck any products you don’t want, and finish the installation.
- Open NinjaTrader. If it asks about loading the new components, click Yes to all.
Good to know
- There’s no .zip file to import; the installer does everything.
- The ProRenko bars and the BloodHound Compatibility Tester are in the Unsupported section at the bottom of the list.
- Since version 8.3.2.31 the installer no longer includes NinjaTrader developer code extensions.
License your software
Your License ID and password are in the email you received after your purchase. Each product has its own License ID.
- In the NinjaTrader Control Center » Help » SharkIndicators » License Manager.
- Select the product to license.
- Enter your License ID and password.
- Enter an Installation Name that describes this computer (for example: Main desktop, Backup laptop). It helps us recover the activation if this computer ever fails.
How activations work
Each License ID can be active on two computers at a time, for example your trading computer and a backup. Our licensing doesn’t use NinjaTrader’s Machine ID.
An activation is tied to the computer’s hardware and software. Reinstalling Windows or NinjaTrader, or changing major hardware (such as the hard drive or graphics card) or updating the BIOS, can invalidate it. Before doing any of those, deactivate the computer, then activate it again afterward.
Virtual machines and VPS
Virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox, Parallels and similar) start in Restricted Trial mode: there’s no 30-day full trial in a virtual environment, so an activation is needed. If you can only try the software in a virtual machine, contact us.
VPS: the license identifies the computer by its hardware serial numbers. A few VPS providers use virtual hardware that changes, which invalidates the activation. Providers that advertise to NinjaTrader users generally don’t. To test yours, activate on the VPS and check it’s still active a few days later. If it isn’t, tell us and we’ll free up that activation.
Both activations are for you
Both activations must be on computers you own (or, for a VPS, rent). Sharing an activation with anyone else violates the license terms, and we may block computers found sharing. The second activation is there so you always have a backup computer when trading real money.
Move to another computer
To use your license on a new computer, or before reinstalling Windows or NinjaTrader, deactivate the current computer first, then license the new one.
Deactivate a computer
Deactivating returns the activation to your license so you can use it again, whenever you like, without waiting for us.
- In the NinjaTrader Control Center » Help » SharkIndicators » License Manager.
- Select the product.
- Choose Deactivate this workstation and click Next.
- Repeat for each licensed product.
Each license allows 8 deactivations, to prevent sharing. If you run out, contact us.
Refresh a license
If your license isn’t recognized correctly:
- In the NinjaTrader Control Center » Help » SharkIndicators » License Manager.
- Select the product.
- Choose Refresh my license and click Next.
Still not right? Restart the computer and try again.
Recover a lost activation
If a computer failed or was reinstalled before you could deactivate it, its activation is still in use, and licensing another computer gives Error 5013: No Remaining Activations. Contact support with your License ID and we’ll free it up.
If your other computer is still licensed, include its Installation ID and Installation Name (in the License Manager, after selecting the product), so we don’t deactivate the wrong one.
Updates
BloodHound and BlackBird check for major updates every few days and tell you when one is available. Smaller updates aren’t announced in the software: see the changelog. To check yourself, open BloodHound or BlackBird and choose Help » Check For Update.
To update, install the new version over the current one: download the installer and follow the installation steps. Your license stays in place.
Errors after updating
If NinjaTrader shows deserialization errors after an update, delete these files, which only hold NinjaTrader’s saved default settings for each indicator or strategy:
| Folder (in Documents\NinjaTrader 8\templates) | File |
|---|---|
| Indicator | SiBloodHound.xml |
| Strategy | SiBlackBird.xml, SiRaven.xml |
Your updates period
- A license includes a period of updates; see Updates Period.
- About a month before it ends, you’ll get an email, and the software shows a reminder.
- When renewing, use the email address of your original purchase, to avoid licensing delays.
- After it ends, you can keep using, and reinstalling, the last version released during your period. The changelog has every version.
Restore an older version
See Restore an Older Software Version. Older versions of BloodHound may not open files saved by a newer version.
Uninstall
- If you’re removing the software for good, or deleting NinjaTrader, first deactivate all your SharkIndicators licenses. (Reinstalling straight away? Skip this.)
- Remove BloodHound and other SharkIndicators tools from all charts, and close NinjaTrader.
- In Windows Settings » Apps, select SharkIndicators Software and click Uninstall.
NinjaScript developers
Before uninstalling, delete any custom strategies or indicators that reference BloodHound (including the sample strategies such as SiBloodHoundStrategyExample.cs in Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\Strategy), or NinjaTrader will show compile errors. For manual removal, see Developing for BloodHound.
Troubleshooting
Error 5008: Invalid License ID and/or Password
The License ID or password was mistyped. Check both for missing or wrong characters.
Error 5010: Invalid ProductID
Each License ID only activates one product: a BloodHound License ID can’t license BlackBird, for example. Select the product that matches the License ID.
Error 5013: No Remaining Activations
Both activations are in use. On a new computer, deactivate one of the others first. If you can’t (the computer failed or was reinstalled), recover the lost activation.
Error 5016: Deactivated Installation
This computer was deactivated, usually at your request. Contact support with your License ID, the error, and the Installation ID, and we’ll enable it again. Only two computers can be active at once.
Error 5017: Invalid License Status
This License ID is no longer valid, usually because of an upgrade (for example, Pro to Ultimate): use the new License ID you were sent. Otherwise, contact support with your License ID, the error and the Installation ID.
Problem validating your license
Usually the software couldn’t reach the licensing server. Try these in order:
- Check your internet connection.
- Check that antivirus or firewall software isn’t blocking NinjaTrader.
- Restart the computer, then NinjaTrader. This fixes a surprising number of issues.
- Refresh the license.
- Contact support, and tell us which product shows the error.
Changelog and older versions
The changelog lists new features, improvements and fixes in each version, with downloads of older versions.