Forex Tester has two working modes: History Mode and Testing Mode. Diagram below shows the relationships between these modes. (see Working modes tutorial)

History Mode is designed for next purposes:

1. It stores complete historical data for all currency symbols.

2. In this mode you can edit Symbol list, add or delete new currency pairs, adjust their settings.

3. You can import/export historical quotes to/from database. By default, after installation of the program, you have 14 major currency pairs already preset and one month of history for each of them imported. Such a small amount of history was included into installation for demo purpose and to make installation package size not very big. You can download complete history on our site here from 01/01/2001 to current moment. We update this database every month.

4. Next important purpose of History Mode is to prepare data for Testing Mode. You can choose what symbol(s) from database you want to test and for what period of time. For example, you want to test some strategy for EURUSD for period from 2004 to 2006. In this case you need to prepare this data for Testing Mode by generating ticks for this currency for selected period of time.

5. And at the last, you can use this mode as a static mode to work with charts. You can not place orders and replay history in this mode, but all other functions to draw on charts and to analyze history are available.

Testing Mode is designed to emulate trading terminal to practice and test trading strategies. It allows to:

1. Replay historical data like in "real time" with regulated speed. So trader can see how market changes, can pause and analyze current situation or replay some period as many times as he needs.

2. Make trades on historical data, like in real life, see changes of margin, balance and equity (and other statistical information), make trading decisions.

3. Test automated strategies.

You can easily switch between these two modes, to import history or to test trading strategies.