How to Import EasyLanguage Indicators into TradeStation

Whether you purchased a custom indicator, downloaded one from a community, or received an ELD file from a developer, getting it into TradeStation is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide walks you through the entire process from file import to chart application.

What Is an ELD File?

An ELD file (EasyLanguage Document) is TradeStation's native format for sharing indicators, strategies, and other analysis tools. It is a compiled package that contains one or more EasyLanguage studies ready to be imported directly into your TradeStation platform.

When you purchase or download a custom indicator, you will almost always receive it as an .eld file. This format ensures the code is packaged correctly with all the inputs, plot definitions, and settings the developer configured.

ELD files are safe to import. They contain EasyLanguage code that runs inside TradeStation's sandboxed environment and cannot access your system files or account credentials.

Step 1: Download the ELD File

Save the .eld file somewhere easy to find, like your Downloads folder or Desktop. Do not rename the file or change its extension. TradeStation expects the .eld extension to recognize it during import.

Step 2: Open TradeStation and Import the File

1. Open TradeStation and make sure you are logged in
2. Go to File > Open from the top menu bar
3. In the file browser, navigate to the location where you saved the .eld file
4. Select the file and click Open

TradeStation will display an Import Wizard dialog. This shows every study contained in the ELD file with checkboxes next to each one.

Import Wizard Options

• Select All: Check this to import everything in the package. This is usually what you want.
• Individual selection: If the ELD contains multiple studies and you only want specific ones, check only those.
• Overwrite existing: If you already have a study with the same name, TradeStation will ask whether to overwrite it. Choose Yes if you are updating to a newer version.

Click OK to complete the import. You should see a confirmation message that the studies were imported successfully.

Step 3: Apply the Indicator to a Chart

Now that the indicator is in your TradeStation library, you need to add it to a chart:

1. Open a chart window with any symbol you want to analyze
2. Go to Insert > Indicator from the menu bar (or right-click the chart and select Insert Analysis Technique > Indicator)
3. In the indicator list, scroll to find the indicator you just imported, or type its name in the search box
4. Select the indicator and click OK

The indicator will appear on your chart. Depending on the indicator type, it may overlay on the price chart or appear in a separate subgraph below.

Step 4: Adjust Inputs and Settings

Most custom indicators come with configurable inputs that let you customize their behavior:

1. Right-click anywhere on the chart
2. Go to Studies > Edit Studies...
3. Select the indicator you want to configure
4. Click the Inputs tab to adjust parameters like period lengths, colors, and thresholds
5. Click the Style tab to change plot colors, line widths, and plot types
6. Click the Scaling tab if you need to adjust how the indicator scales on the chart
7. Click OK to apply your changes

If the indicator developer provided recommended settings, enter them in the Inputs tab. Otherwise, the default values are a good starting point.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The indicator does not appear in the Insert Indicator list

• Make sure you completed the import wizard and saw the success confirmation
• Try closing and reopening TradeStation
• Check if the study was imported as a Strategy instead of an Indicator (go to Insert > Strategy to look there)

"Unresolved references" error during import

This means the ELD depends on another study that is not installed. Contact the developer to get the missing dependency, or check if the ELD package includes multiple studies that need to be imported together.

The indicator appears but shows no data

• Verify your chart has enough historical bars loaded. Some indicators need a minimum number of bars (for example, a 200-period moving average needs at least 200 bars).
• Check that the indicator is designed for the chart type you are using (tick, minute, daily, etc.)
• Open the indicator settings and make sure the inputs are within valid ranges

The indicator plots in the wrong location

If a subgraph indicator is overlaying on the price chart (or vice versa), right-click the chart, go to Studies > Edit Studies..., select the indicator, go to the Scaling tab, and change the scaling options. Subgraph indicators should have their own scaling axis.

Import fails with a version error

This can happen if the ELD was created in a newer version of TradeStation than you are running. Update your TradeStation platform to the latest version through the TradeStation Updates section.

Summary

Importing an EasyLanguage indicator into TradeStation takes under a minute once you have done it once:

1. File > Open to import the ELD
2. Insert > Indicator to add it to a chart
3. Right-click chart > Studies > Edit Studies... to adjust settings

The process is the same whether you are importing a single indicator or a package of multiple studies.