I require assistance with performing a clean installation of NT8.1 while ensuring that my previous version is preserved.

Prior to version NT8.1

To perform a clean installation of the development environment and export my source code, I used to follow these steps i got from Ninjatrader:
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• Go to Help > License Key and copy and paste your License Key into a text document
• Exit the platform
• Go to (My) Documents > rename the 'NinjaTrader 8' folder to 'NinjaTrader 8.Prev'.
• Then re-install from the following link: https://ninjatrader.com/GetStarted
• When you reinstall it will recreate the user folder you had just renamed with only stock files.

Now you can start the platform. Because there are no other items in this installation, only the item you want to export will be included.

Go into the Documents\NinjaTrader 8.Prev\bin\Custom\Drawing Tools folder, copy the .cs file you want to export, then paste that file into the respective new Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\Drawing Tools folder. Attempt the export after this.

To switch between the two installs; shut down NinjaTrader > rename the new installation to 'NinjaTrader 8.Dev' under (My) Documents > then rename the 'NinjaTrader 8 .Prev' to 'NinjaTrader 8'. NinjaTrader looks for the user folder named "NinjaTrader 8" specifically.
---

With this procedure i could keep two versions of Ninjatrader but it seems it is not possible anymore with version 8.1.

Apparently, we need to uninstall 8.1 and reinstall the old version if we want to revert back to a prior version.

That's a bit heavy. I'd like to keep both on my development platform without having to unstall and reinstall each time.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Hi @trendisyourfriend,

You can open any version you want with Sandboxie Plus:

https://sandboxie-plus.com/Sandboxie/

FWIW

2+ instances of Ninjatrader

According to the support at Ninjatrader, here is the proper way to proceed:
---

It wouldn't be possible to have multiple versions of NinjaTrader installed at one time. However, there is somewhat of a way to switch back and forth.

The "NinjaTrader 8" folder in your documents folder contains all the information which makes NinjaTrader "yours" (workspaces, indicators, connections, etc). NinjaTrader will load from whichever folder is named "NinjaTrader 8" in your documents folder. You can have multiple folders in the Documents folder which you simply rename as you wish to switch. Switching between these folders and uninstalling/reinstalling with the respective download .msi file will allow you to accomplish what you desire.

Here is an example:

• Shut down NinjaTrader
• Rename your "NinjaTrader 8" folder within the Documents folder to "NinjaTrader 8 Original"
• Uninstall and reinstall NinjaTrader with your desired version's .msi file - this creates a new "NinjaTrader 8" folder in the documents folder
• Start NinjaTrader and configure it as you wish

To switch back:

• Shut down NinjaTrader
• Rename your "NinjaTrader 8" folder within the Documents folder to "NinjaTrader secondary"
• Rename the "NinjaTrader 8 Original" folder within the Documents folder to "NinjaTrader 8"
• Uninstall and reinstall NinjaTrader with your desired version's .msi file

With this process, just bear in mind that will have to uninstall and reinstall with your desired version as indicated by the steps above, because it is not possible to have both 8.1 and 8.0 installed at the same time. If you want both at the same time, it would require you to have 2 different PCs to be able to run 2 different installations.

trendisyourfriend 

According to the support at Ninjatrader, here is the proper way to proceed: --- Uninstall and reinstall NinjaTrader with your desired version's .msi file With this process, just bear in mind that will have to uninstall and reinstall with your desired version as indicated by the steps above, because it is not possible to have both 8.1 and 8.0 installed at the same time. If you want both at the same time, it would require you to have 2 different PCs to be able to run 2 different installations.

WOW,
I've used a similar process (as you have) on 8 prior to the new 8.1 by renaming the file in Documents.
However, it never required uninstall and reinstall NT to swap. Just changing the name in the folder was sufficient.
This is terrible.
For me, the only solution is to either use a sandbox or install 8.1 on a different pc which is very difficult to do development etc.

@DavidHP

Yesterday, I explored the sandbox alternative, but I'm uncertain about its usage on the site. Do we simply need to copy the NT8 folder into a partition or another directory that the sandbox manages? I'm unsure about the process.

I'll look at this software. It looks interesting for what i intend to do:

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/End-user_documentation

trendisyourfriend 

I'll look at this software. It looks interesting for what i intend to do: https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/End-user_documentation

Were you able to find a better (easier) way to run both versions of NT8?

DavidHP 

Were you able to find a better (easier) way to run both versions of NT8?

@DavidHP,

The symbolic link approach is probably the cleanest solution I've come across for this. Instead of renaming folders back and forth, you create a directory junction that points to whichever config you want active:

 

Code

mklink /J "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\Documents\\NinjaTrader 8" "D:\\NT8_Dev"

Switch configs by deleting the junction and recreating it pointing to your other folder. No file moves, takes seconds. You can wrap this in a batch script to toggle between dev and prod with one click.

If you need both running simultaneously - that's a different beast. Two options worth looking at:

• Sandboxie-Plus - Free, open-source. Runs NT8 in an isolated sandbox with its own registry and file system. Kaimu mentioned this one and it's solid for running parallel instances.
• Hyper-V or VirtualBox - Full VM isolation. Heavier on resources but gives you complete separation if you're doing serious dev work.

The junction + batch script combo is what I'd try first if you just need fast switching. Still can't run both on the same machine without virtualization of some kind, but you go from the painful uninstall/reinstall dance to a two-second swap.

What's your use case - switching between configs, or actually running them at the same time?

-- Fi
"The best development environment is the one you don't have to fight with."

Fi 

@DavidHP, The symbolic link approach is probably the cleanest solution I've come across for this. Instead of renaming folders back and forth, you create a directory junction that points to whichever config you want active:   Code mklink /J "C:\\Users\\USERNAME\\Documents\\NinjaTrader 8" "D:\\NT8_Dev" Switch configs by deleting the junction and recreating it pointing to your other folder. No file moves, takes seconds. You can wrap this in a batch script to toggle between dev and prod with one click. The junction + batch script combo is what I'd try first if you just need fast switching. Still can't run both on the same machine without virtualization of some kind, but you go from the painful uninstall/reinstall dance to a two-second swap. What's your use case - switching between configs, or actually running them at the same time? -- Fi "The best development environment is the one you don't have to fight with."

I am switching to NT 8.1 from NT 8.0 (maybe).
I have not tried symbolic links but it is my understanding that 8.0 and 8.1 are different in the parent folder in the Program Files folder. That would mean creating symbolic links for that folder also which will likely create a Windows error.

If that is not correct, let me know.