Copy groups: run more than one leader at once
A copy group is one leader account, one instrument, and a roster of followers. Each group runs its own copy engine, and every group runs at the same time. That is how you copy two leaders at once (one account trading ES and another trading NQ) without the two setups touching each other.
What a group contains
- One leader account. The account whose fills the group mirrors.
- One instrument. The root this group copies (ES, NQ, CL, and so on), picked in the group's Instrument field. The group ignores the leader's fills on other instruments.
- A follower roster. Every discovered account, grouped under a thin header row per broker login that says how many of its accounts copy, for example "apex-main · 1 of 2 copying". Switch an account On to make it follow. Switch it off and the row keeps its settings as a paused follower, with a PAUSED tag.
The box at the start of a login's header row switches that login's accounts at once. It switches every one of them off, but switches on only the rows Start copying would accept: an account not discovered yet, or on a broker login that is switched off, has to be switched on by its own switch, and the header row says why ("switch the login on in Accounts" or "press Test in Accounts to find them"). An account claimed by another group wears a LEADS or IN tag naming that group, and cannot be switched on here at all.
While the account list is still loading, stored rows sit under a Loading accounts header. If it could not load, they sit under Accounts not loaded, and a note above the groups offers Retry.
Each group card folds with the chevron at its left. A folded card still shows its leader and how many followers it has.
Add a group
- Stop the copier. Structural edits are refused while it runs.
- Open Copy Rules and press Add group (top right). With no groups yet the page reads "No copy groups yet" and offers Add group in the middle too, or Open Accounts when no accounts have been found yet. With no broker login at all, it shows "Start by connecting a broker" and an Add connection button instead.
- Pick the leader account. Accounts already claimed by another group are left out of the list.
- Pick the instrument, then switch followers On and set each row's sizing and Max.
- Press Save copy rules. The page saves as one unit. Nothing changes until the save succeeds.
If the roster is empty, the page says: "No accounts yet: press Test on a connection to discover them."
Change the leader of an existing group
You change a group's leader on the Copy Rules page, and only there. The Trade Desk shows each group's leader but has no control to change it.
- Stop the copier. The leader is locked while copying runs.
- Open Copy Rules and find the group (unfold its card if it is folded).
- Pick the new account in the group's Leader account field. Accounts that already lead another group, or already follow in a group, are left out of the list.
- Press Save copy rules, then start copying again.
The group keeps its name, its instrument and its other followers. See editing rules while the copier runs for why there is no live leader swap.
The rules the app enforces
Cross-group clashes are refused at Save, with an error that names the account:
- An account can lead only one group: "already leads Group 1. An account can lead only one group."
- A leader cannot follow anywhere: "is the leader account of Group 1. It cannot also be a follower. Remove it from the follower rows."
- One account copies a given instrument in only one group: "already copies MES in Group 1. One account can copy an instrument in only one group."
- Duplicate rows are rejected: "Duplicate follower account(s) ... Each account can appear only once per leader instrument."
The editor greys most of this out before you ever see an error. Two engines must never fight over the same position. That is what these rules protect.
Renaming and deleting
Renaming is cosmetic and a saved group's new name saves at once, without Save copy rules: click the group's name, type the new one, and press Save next to the field (Escape cancels). A new group's name is saved with the rest of the page. Like every edit on this page it needs the copier stopped. Deleting is structural: press Delete group at the right of the group's header, and the dialog spells it out: the group's follower rules go with it, and "Nothing is deleted until you press Save." Deleting your last group shows "No copy groups yet" right away, but nothing is deleted until you press Save copy rules.
Groups and your plan cap
Your plan counts distinct leaders plus distinct enabled followers, across all groups. An account counts once, however many groups reference it. A save over the cap answers with: "Your plan covers 6 accounts in total, counting leaders and the followers that are switched on. This setup needs 7. Upgrade your plan to add more." Switching a follower Off frees its slot. See plans and account limits.
Quick answers
Can one account lead two groups?
No. The save is refused: "an account can lead only one group." Use one group per leader.
Can a leader in one group follow in another?
No. A leader cannot be a follower in any group. The roster shows a LEADS tag on that account and blocks the switch.
Where do I change my leader account?
On the Copy Rules page, in the group's Leader account field. Stop the copier first, pick the new leader, and press Save copy rules. There is no Change leader button on the Trade Desk.
Can I rename a group while copying?
No. Renaming happens on Copy Rules, and the whole editor is locked while copying runs. Stop the copier, rename the group, then start again.