Guidance for users who run TWS every day.

Connection hygiene

• Enable API in TWS: File -> Global Configuration -> API -> Settings.
• Use the correct port: 4002 (IB Gateway paper), 7497 (TWS paper), 4001 (IB Gateway live), 7496 (TWS live).
• Read-only mode is recommended for testing.

Market data entitlements

• Missing quotes often mean no entitlement or snapshot access.
• Backtests fall back to sample data when TWS data is unavailable.

Sessions and time filters

• Time filters use market time in 24-hour format.
• Verify system clock and TWS session settings if results look off.

Pacing and throttling

• Historical requests can be throttled by TWS.
• If you hit pacing limits, retry after a short pause.

Common errors

• Could not connect to TWS: not running, wrong port, or API disabled.
• Connection timeout: API enabled but blocked by firewall or settings.

Paper vs live

• Double-check account and port before deploying live.
• Keep client IDs consistent to avoid session conflicts.