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Importing Trades

Learn how to import your trades from various brokers into TradeTally.

Supported Brokers

TradeTally supports importing trades from the following brokers:

Broker Format FIFO Matching Commission Tracking
Lightspeed CSV Yes Yes
Charles Schwab CSV No (uses broker P&L) Yes
ThinkorSwim CSV Yes Yes
Interactive Brokers CSV Yes Yes
E*TRADE CSV Yes Yes
ProjectX (Futures) CSV Yes Yes
Generic CSV No Optional

Import Process

Supported File Format

TradeTally only supports CSV files. If your broker offers multiple export formats (like XML, Excel, or PDF), always select CSV format.

Step 1: Export from Your Broker

Web Portal Export

  1. Log into Lightspeed.com website
  2. Navigate to My Account → Reports
  3. From the Reports dropdown, select Account List
  4. From the STATEMENTS dropdown, select your account number
  5. From the reports menu, select Blotter
  6. Select your desired date range
  7. Click Apply to display trades
  8. Click the CSV button to download
  9. Extract the ZIP file (downloads as ZIP format)

Alternative Navigation

My View → Reports from top menu → Click Confirm (top right) → Select your account → Choose Blotter from submenu

Important

  • Export is from Lightspeed website, not desktop application
  • File downloads as ZIP - must extract before importing
  • Depending on browser, you may need to right-click and "Save As"

Required Columns: - Symbol - Trade Date - Execution Time - Price - Qty (Quantity) - Side (Buy/Sell) - Commission Amount

Method 1: Export Realized Gains/Losses (For Closed Positions)

  1. Log into Schwab.com
  2. Click Accounts tab (upper left)
  3. Select History from dropdown
  4. Click the Realized Gain/Loss tab
  5. Select specific account from dropdown (if multiple accounts)
  6. Choose appropriate date range/tax year
  7. Click Export button (upper right)
  8. Save the CSV file to your computer

Method 2: Export Transaction History

  1. Log into Schwab.com
  2. Click Accounts → Transaction History
  3. Select desired account from dropdown (if multiple)
  4. Select date range or choose Custom for specific dates
  5. Click Search
  6. Click Export (top right)
  7. Select CSV as export type
  8. Click Export again to download

Critical Limitations

  • Maximum 10,000 records per download - for larger datasets, export smaller time periods separately
  • Schwab does not include trade times - options data may be incomplete
  • Consider using ThinkorSwim instead for complete options information

Required Columns: - Symbol - Opened Date - Closed Date - Quantity - Cost Per Share - Proceeds Per Share - Gain/Loss ($)

Desktop Platform Export

  1. Open ThinkorSwim desktop platform
  2. Go to Monitor tab
  3. Open Account Statement page
  4. Adjust time frame selector at top of page (default shows past day)
  5. Verify correct account is selected
  6. Click the menu icon (three lines) in upper right corner
  7. Select "Export to file" from dropdown
  8. CSV file saves to your computer as AccountStatement.csv

Export Limitation

Maximum 365 days (1 year) per export - for multi-year data, export separate files for each year

Alternative Method

Via TD Ameritrade website: My Account → History & Statements → Transactions → Set Type to "All transaction types" → Select date range → Click Download

Required Columns (Account Statement export includes these): - DESCRIPTION or Description - Contains trade details (e.g., "BOT +1,000 AAPL @150.00") - TYPE or Type - Must be "TRD" for trade rows - DATE or Date - Trade date - TIME or Time - Trade time - Misc Fees - Optional fees - Commissions & Fees - Optional commission

How ThinkorSwim Format Works

ThinkorSwim Account Statement exports include trade details in the DESCRIPTION field. The parser extracts:

  • Action (BOT/SOLD) from description
  • Quantity from description
  • Symbol from description
  • Price from description

Example: "BOT +1,000 AAPL @150.00" is parsed as Buy 1000 shares of AAPL at $150.00

Creating an Activity Flex Query

Step 1: Access Flex Queries

  1. Log into IBKR Client Portal
  2. Navigate to Performance & Reports → Flex Queries
  3. Alternative: Menu (top-left) → Reporting → Flex Queries

Step 2: Create New Query

  1. Click the "+" icon in top-right corner of Activity Flex Query panel
  2. Enter descriptive Query Name (e.g., "Export" or "Trade History")

Step 3: Select Sections (Click each section, Select All, then Save)

  • ✅ Cash Transactions
  • ✅ Corporate Actions
  • ✅ Financial Instrument Information
  • ✅ Grant Activity
  • ✅ Incoming/Outgoing Trade Transfers
  • ✅ Option Exercises, Assignments and Expirations
  • ✅ Trades (most important)
  • ✅ Transaction Fees
  • ✅ Transfers

Step 4: Configure Delivery Settings

  • Accounts: Click Add/Edit Accounts (important if multiple/migrated accounts)
  • Format: Select CSV (TradeTally does not support XML)
  • Period: Choose from Last 365 Calendar Days, Custom Date Range, etc.

Step 5: Configure General Settings (OPTIONAL - default works fine)

TradeTally supports multiple IBKR date formats automatically. The default settings work for most users.

For Trade Confirmation format, you can optionally set: - Date Format: yyyyMMdd (e.g., 20241225) - Time Format: HHmmss (e.g., 093000) - Date/Time Separator: semicolon (;)

For Activity Statement format (most common), dates are in MM-DD-YY format (e.g., 12-25-24) and work automatically.

Step 6: Finalize and Run

  1. Click Continue to review
  2. Click Create, then OK
  3. Select all relevant accounts
  4. Click the arrow icon next to your query name
  5. Choose your time period (max 1 year)
  6. Select CSV format
  7. Click Run and download the file

Export Limitation

Maximum 365 days (1 year) per export - for older portfolios, create separate exports for each year using custom date ranges

Simpler Method

For quick exports: Account Management → Statements → Activity Statements → Choose CSV format → Select frequency (daily, monthly, annual, or custom)

Required Columns (Activity Statement): - Symbol - Ticker symbol - DateTime OR Date/Time - Both column names supported - Quantity - Signed value (positive = buy, negative = sell) - Price - Execution price - Commission - Optional (negative values in IBKR CSVs)

Expected Date Formats: - Activity Statement: MM-DD-YY (e.g., 12-25-24) or MM-DD-YY HH:MM - Trade Confirmation: YYYYMMDD;HHMMSS (e.g., 20241225;093000)

IBKR Uses Signed Quantities

Unlike other brokers, IBKR uses signed quantities instead of a separate Buy/Sell column:

  • Positive quantity = Buy transaction
  • Negative quantity = Sell transaction

Method 1: Power E*TRADE Platform

  1. Open Power E*TRADE platform
  2. Navigate to Account tab → Orders page
  3. Locate time frame selector at top:
  4. Predefined: "Today," "This Week," "This Month," "Year-to-Date"
  5. Custom: Use calendar icons for specific start/end dates
  6. Click download icon (upper right corner)
  7. CSV file automatically downloads as "DownloadTxnHistory.csv"

Method 2: E*TRADE Website

  1. Log into E*TRADE.com
  2. Click Accounts tab
  3. Select Transactions from dropdown
  4. Choose "Custom Time Period" from dropdown
  5. Enter From and To dates
  6. Click Search
  7. After report loads, click Download icon (upper right)
  8. Verify account and time frame are correct
  9. Select "Spreadsheet Format including Microsoft Excel Details"
  10. Click Download button (lower right)

Supported Formats

Both CSV and Excel formats (XLS/XLSX) are supported. No apparent maximum record or date limitation.

Required Columns: - Symbol - Transaction Date - Price - Quantity - Transaction Type - Commission

Export from Trades Tab

  1. Log into your ProjectX prop firm account
  2. Navigate to the "Trades" tab
  3. Locate "EXPORT" button in bottom right corner
  4. Click the EXPORT button
  5. Select desired date range for trades
  6. Click Export to confirm
  7. CSV file saves to your desktop

Troubleshooting Blank Files

If exported file appears blank, widen your date range:

  • Start one day before first trade
  • End a few days after last trade

Important

Only export from "Trades" tab for compatibility - files from other tabs may not import correctly

Required Columns (ProjectX CSV export includes): - Id - Trade ID (may have BOM character prefix) - ContractName - Futures contract name - EnteredAt - Entry timestamp (format: "10/01/2025 21:13:23 +02:00") - ExitedAt - Exit timestamp - EntryPrice - Entry price - ExitPrice - Exit price - Fees - Trading fees - PnL - Profit/Loss - Size - Position size - Type - Long/Short - TradeDay - Optional - TradeDuration - Optional - Commissions - Optional

Supported Prop Firms:

This works for all ProjectX-backed prop firms including:

  • Topstep
  • Alpha Futures
  • TickTickTrader
  • Bulenox
  • TradeDay
  • Blusky
  • Goat Futures
  • The Futures Desk
  • DayTraders
  • E8 Futures
  • Blue Guardian Futures
  • FuturesElite
  • FXIFY
  • Hola Prime
  • Top One Futures
  • Funding Futures
  • TX3 Funding

Step 2: Import into TradeTally

  1. Navigate to the Import tab in TradeTally
  2. Click Choose File and select your CSV
  3. Select your broker from the dropdown:
  4. If your broker matches exactly, select it
  5. If unsure, select Auto-detect (recommended)
  6. For custom formats, select Generic CSV
  7. Review the import preview
  8. Click Import to confirm

Step 3: Review Imported Trades

  1. Go to Trade List to view all imported trades
  2. Verify trade details are correct:
  3. Entry/exit dates and times
  4. Prices and quantities
  5. P&L calculations
  6. Commissions and fees
  7. Edit any trades that need corrections
  8. Add tags, notes, or attachments as needed

CSV Format Requirements

Generic CSV Format

If your broker is not listed, you can use the generic CSV format:

Symbol,Entry Date,Exit Date,Quantity,Entry Price,Exit Price,P&L,Commission
AAPL,2025-01-15,2025-01-16,100,150.00,155.00,500.00,2.00
MSFT,2025-01-15,2025-01-16,50,380.00,385.00,250.00,1.00

Required Columns: - Symbol or Ticker - Entry Date or Open Date - Exit Date or Close Date - Quantity or Qty or Size - Entry Price or Open Price - Exit Price or Close Price

Optional Columns: - P&L or Profit Loss - Commission or Fees - Side or Direction (Long/Short) - Currency (for multi-currency trades)

Date Formats Supported

TradeTally automatically detects and parses various date formats:

  • YYYY-MM-DD (ISO format)
  • MM/DD/YYYY (US format)
  • DD/MM/YYYY (European format)
  • YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS (with time)
  • MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS AM/PM

Options and Futures

TradeTally supports options and futures trading:

Options Format: 

Symbol,Entry Date,Exit Date,Quantity,Entry Price,Exit Price,P&L
QQQ 251001P00599000,2025-10-01,2025-10-01,10,0.59,0.47,-120.00

Futures Format: 

Symbol,Entry Date,Exit Date,Quantity,Entry Price,Exit Price,P&L
MNQZ5,2025-10-01,2025-10-01,8,25024.75,25027.25,-40.00

The system automatically detects instrument types and applies correct multipliers.

Multi-Currency Support

TradeTally supports importing trades in multiple currencies:

Adding Currency Column

Add a Currency column to your CSV:

Symbol,Entry Date,Exit Date,Quantity,Entry Price,Exit Price,P&L,Currency
AAPL,2025-01-15,2025-01-16,100,150.00,155.00,500.00,USD
HKD:2828,2025-01-15,2025-01-16,1000,50.00,52.00,2000.00,HKD

Supported Currencies

TradeTally uses Finnhub forex API for currency conversion:

  • USD (US Dollar)
  • EUR (Euro)
  • GBP (British Pound)
  • HKD (Hong Kong Dollar)
  • JPY (Japanese Yen)
  • CAD (Canadian Dollar)
  • AUD (Australian Dollar)
  • And many more...

Conversion Process

  1. System detects Currency column in CSV
  2. Fetches historical exchange rate for trade date
  3. Converts all values to USD
  4. Stores both original and converted values
  5. All analytics use USD for consistency

Pro Feature

Currency conversion requires a Pro subscription on SaaS platform or FINNHUB_API_KEY for self-hosted.

CUSIP Resolution

Some brokers use CUSIP codes instead of ticker symbols. TradeTally automatically resolves these.

Automatic Resolution

During import, TradeTally attempts to resolve CUSIPs using:

  1. Cache: Previously resolved mappings
  2. Finnhub: Symbol search API
  3. OpenFIGI: Bloomberg's CUSIP database
  4. AI Fallback: Optional (disabled by default)

Manual Resolution

If CUSIPs remain unresolved:

  1. Go to Import → Resolve Unresolved CUSIPs
  2. View list of unresolved CUSIPs
  3. Click Add Mapping for each CUSIP
  4. Enter the correct ticker symbol
  5. Click Save

Managing CUSIP Mappings

Add Custom Mapping: 

CUSIP: 037833100
Ticker: AAPL

Delete Incorrect Mapping: Click the trash icon next to the mapping

Export Mappings: Mappings are stored in backend/src/data/cusip_cache.json

Duplicate Detection

TradeTally prevents duplicate imports:

  • Checks for existing trades with same:
  • Symbol
  • Entry date/time
  • Quantity
  • Price
  • Skips duplicates automatically
  • Shows count of skipped trades

Import Validation

TradeTally validates imported data:

Errors Caught

  • Missing required columns
  • Invalid date formats
  • Invalid price or quantity values
  • Unsupported symbols
  • Malformed CSV structure

Warnings

  • CUSIP codes detected (will attempt resolution)
  • Missing optional columns
  • Unusual trade patterns
  • Large position sizes

Advanced Import Options

Filtering Trades

Before importing, you can filter trades:

  • Date range filters
  • Symbol filters
  • Minimum P&L filters
  • Side filters (long/short only)

Bulk Import

Import multiple CSV files:

  1. Select multiple files in file picker
  2. System processes each file sequentially
  3. Combined results shown in preview
  4. Single import confirmation

Re-import

To re-import corrected data:

  1. Delete existing trades (if needed)
  2. Import corrected CSV file
  3. Duplicate detection prevents re-importing unchanged trades

Troubleshooting

No Trades Imported

Common Causes: - All trades are duplicates - CSV format not recognized - Required columns missing - Invalid date formats

Solutions: - Check broker format selection - Verify CSV column names - Try Auto-detect broker format - Use generic CSV format with correct columns

Wrong P&L Calculations

Causes: - Options multiplier not applied - Commission not included - Wash sales not accounted for - Currency conversion issues

Solutions: - Verify instrument type is detected correctly - Check commission values in CSV - Edit trades manually to correct P&L - Ensure currency column is present

CUSIP Resolution Failing

Causes: - API keys not configured - Rate limits exceeded - Invalid CUSIP codes - Network connectivity issues

Solutions: - Configure FINNHUB_API_KEY and OPENFIGI_API_KEY - Wait a few minutes for rate limits to reset - Use manual CUSIP mapping - Check console logs for errors

Date Parsing Issues

Causes: - Unicode quotes in CSV (e.g., '' instead of '') - Unsupported date format - Timezone inconsistencies

Solutions: - Remove quotes from date fields - Use standard date formats (YYYY-MM-DD) - Check for Unicode characters in CSV

Best Practices

Before Importing

  1. Review your broker's CSV export format
  2. Verify all required columns are present
  3. Check for CUSIP codes vs. ticker symbols
  4. Note any special characters or formatting

During Import

  1. Use Auto-detect for broker format
  2. Review the import preview carefully
  3. Check for validation warnings
  4. Verify trade counts match expectations

After Import

  1. Review imported trades in Trade List
  2. Verify P&L calculations
  3. Add tags and notes for organization
  4. Check for unresolved CUSIPs
  5. Backup your data

Regular Imports

  1. Export trades regularly from broker
  2. Keep CSV files organized by date
  3. Import frequently to track real-time performance
  4. Use duplicate detection to avoid re-imports

Next Steps