I'm super new to the NT8 platform. I think I have most of the setup in check. However, I encounter the following issue when I use the simulated data feed connection. I'd like to trade and backtest in simulation using a tick chart for /ES and /CL.

Can anyone advise me on why the chart displays this way? What settings do I need to modify to fix it? When I zoom in to earlier candles, it displays correctly but when scrolled to the right to the latest candle, I get the attached view.

A couple of additional questions:
1) what's the "Trend" vertical window highlighted in yellow on the left for?
2) how does one live trade on simulation in NT8?

Thank you

Note: I've also posted this on the NT forum.

You may try to change the SIM feed start price under Tools -> Instruments -> ES.

The trend slider controls the direction of the SIM feed, whether it goes up or down.

Personally, I have never used the SIM feed, as I do not believe that it correctly replicates the characteristics of an instrument. I have only performed SIM trading with a genuine live datafeed.

The prices displayed by the simulation feed are not related to real prices in any way. The feed produces a series of artificial prices with trend direction and speed controlled by the slider.
It can be very useful for checking the logic of custom automated strategies and indicators but I don't think it is useful for much else.
There is a page in the Help Guide Configuration > Connecting > Simulated Data Feed Connection

For more realistic price action, I'd recommend you look into Playback instead. The simulated feed is more useful for debugging purposes. With Playback, you can download recorded past price action for various instruments and walk through it and trade it similar to live trading.

I'd start here:

https://ninjatrader.com/support/helpGuides/nt8/NT%20HelpGuide%20English.html?playback_connection.htm

Enjoy