> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.hydravision.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.hydravision.ai/ea-configuration/getting-started/getting-started-checklist.md).

# Getting started checklist

Everything you need to do to go from sign-up to trading.

New here? Follow these steps to get up and running as quickly as possible.

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### Educate yourself

As with any software, learning about the concepts, terminology and options is the perfect way to set yourself up for success. Take some time to learn before jumping in to avoid costly errors and time wasting later on.

We have taken the time to build out, document and create tutorials to ensure you have the best experience possible. There is no fast track path to building a successful trading system. Automation is challenging and requires discipline and patience.
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#### Download the software

From your Downloads section on the dashboard you can get access to our latest software. To start with you should download the Hydra Vision zip file, which includes both the EA and Asset Profiler.

Hydra Agent is available here too, however this is only required if you are going to live trade and would like the analytics feed. Please note the data generated by Analytics is completely private to yourself, and should be used to help optimise your trading and compare against expected results generated from back testing.
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#### Install Hydra Vision EA

We advise initially installing to your local machine on your broker's latest version of MT5. If you are unsure how to install an EA, watch our video on this subject. Once you've gone through the process once, subsequent installations are just a rinse and repeat process.
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### Create your Private API Key

From your dashboard home page

Navigate to Manage -> Account Settings -> API Key

Click `Generate Token`

Your API Key is only displayed this once, after that we encrypt it and keep it safe for you. Please copy this Private Key into a safe place as you will need it to connect your EA to our licence system.
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#### Connect your MT5 account to Hydra Vision

Open an MT5 account with your selected broker (we suggest using a demo account to start out with). We advise an account with tight spreads, competitive commission and reasonable leverage. When testing you can adjust some of the parameters such as starting capital, so don't worry too much about the detail at this stage.

Log in to this account on your MT5 terminal to make sure you can connect.

Navigate to Manage -> MT Accounts on the portal (having a Private Key is mandatory before adding a new account)

Click `Add Account`. Enter the details of your MT5 broker account in the form (Note your licence limitations on the number of accounts you can have active at any one time)

Once added you are ready to connect your EA to the system. Head back to your MT5 terminal.

Attach Hydra Vision to any open chart window, and navigate to Inputs in the pop up. Copy your API key into the Private Key input and below that set 'Generate a Backtest Token for this account' to true. Click `OK`

Your EA will connect to the licence server and generate an encrypted entitlement token which is saved into your MT5 Common Files folder. From here on you will not be required to re-authenticate during backtesting. When the Strategy Tester asks for a new token, generate one the same way.

You will need to do this for every MT5 account you add to your licence.
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#### Download a base setfile from Online Setfile Builder (OSB)

We have provided a set of basic setfiles in the portal, which can be accessed from Online Setfile Builder.

Navigate to Setfile Manager -> Start from Template

Click `Select` on one of the templates, give it a name and click `Create`

The setfile will generate and appear in the left hand navigation under 'General Use'.

Select the setfile to load it. You can browse through the configuration tabs to get a feel for the different settings. For more information on OSB, we recommend viewing the [product help](broken://spaces/NMJBnhRzy3MQ5iapEcCx).

You can click `Export` in the top navigation, and a .set file will be generated and saved to your Downloads folder.

Go to your MT5 Terminal and open the Strategy Tester (View -> Strategy Tester)

Select Hydra Vision from the Expert Advisors dropdown menu in the Settings Tab

Open the Inputs tab, right click and select Load. Browse to the downloaded .set file and open the file.

You will now have a basic configuration loaded, and ready to run a test on.
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#### Run a back test

Back testing is part science, part art, and if you are new to this it can be a little overwhelming. We suggest taking it slowly and testing short timeframes on markets that you understand well. The setfile you downloaded is likely going to be set up as a forex example. We suggest choosing EURUSD as a starting point.

Select 1-3 months' worth of data, click the Visual checkbox so you can see how the EA trades and give yourself a reasonable deposit. All of these inputs can be adjusted as you build up knowledge in testing.

Hydra Vision is a data heavy EA, meaning it can be slower at times especially on pairs with dense tick data. We recommend using Every tick based on real ticks when back testing.

Click the green Start button.

The Strategy Tester terminal will open, and Hydra Vision will load onto the selected market. You should see the chart format adjust to the template, and the trade panel open in the upper left corner of the chart.

At first we suggest just watching a test run end to end, regardless of what happens. We are not attempting to optimise anything here, we just need a complete end to end test of the given timeframe.

Once the test completes, a performance report is generated and printed to the Journal of the Strategy Tester. You can browse through these results and correlate them with the results shown in the MT5 terminal Backtest tab.

Later on, you can turn on **Export Backtest Report** (under **Backtesting** in the EA inputs) so the EA writes a JSON report at the end of each test, and load this into the Backtest Manager in the portal for a visual view of the test.

For now, you have successfully got yourself up and running and are ready to jump into learning about Hydra Vision and how to design, configure and test different strategies.
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#### Keep learning before live trading with a real account

Well done on getting to this point. Keep reading, watching our video demonstrations and testing on your own. Don't be in a rush, it takes time to build confidence to live trade using automation. Your journey has just begun and we will be with you every step of the way.
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Done all of the above? You're all set. Check out the rest of the help centre if you run into anything, or use the **Ask** button to chat with the assistant.
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