Bar-close alerts versus intrabar IBKR execution

Quick answer

Check whether the script alerts during a bar or only after it closes. An intrabar signal can change before the candle finishes. Compare the actual alert event with the broker order, not only the final chart appearance.

Educational software guidance. Trading involves risk. Read the financial and information disclaimers.

Step by step

1 Inspect the script’s alert frequency and calculation behavior.
2 Confirm the chart timeframe and whether the condition waits for a confirmed bar.
3 Read the alert log timestamp for a specific signal.
4 Compare it with PickMyTrade receipt and TWS order request times in a common time zone.
5 Test the intended frequency in paper trading and document when entries are allowed.

A practical example

A price briefly meets a rule halfway through a bar, then moves back before the bar closes. An alert set to act during the bar may fire, while a rule that waits for the close may not. Neither result can be judged from the final candle alone. Check the alert’s timing rule and the actual event time. Use those facts to explain why the broker saw a signal.

Illustrative scenario, not a record of a trade placed during this review.

Screen reference

TradingView unsaved price-alert settings with Condition, Trigger, Message and Notifications — This is an unsaved example price alert. Every time is a price-alert trigger; it does not show a script bar-close setting. The example price is not a recommendation. The draft was canceled without creating an alert. Captured in TradingView web on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

TradingView Alerts sidebar with the Log tab selected — Open Alerts, then Log, to look for the event. Existing event rows, alert names and message details are excluded. The screenshot does not demonstrate webhook status or delivery. No log records were cleared. Captured in TradingView web on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

PickMyTrade IB Alerts page with date filters, columns and an empty alert list — Account Running and Automation Enabled appear even though this account has no IB connection. They do not prove broker readiness. No alert receipt or processing result is demonstrated by this empty list. Captured in PickMyTrade on 3 October 2026. Open the image for full size.

How to confirm the result The execution timing should match the chosen alert event rather than an assumption based on the finished candle.

Mistake to avoid

Changing alert frequency can change strategy behavior. Do not make it a generic latency fix.

Common questions

Why did an alert fire before the candle closed?

Inspect intrabar calculation and the selected alert frequency.

Does a historical marker prove an alert fired live?

No. Use the actual alert log.

TradingView to IBKR through PickMyTrade: setup checks TradingView alert fired but no IBKR order appeared TradingView webhook delivery failed: check the cause

Financial and information disclaimers

Financial disclaimer

These guides explain software. They are for education, not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. No example is a suggestion to buy or sell a product or use a trading strategy. Trading can lose money, including all funds you put at risk. With margin, futures, short sales, or some options, losses can exceed your starting funds. Automation can fail, send duplicate orders, or act late. Stops do not guarantee a fill or a price. Review your orders and positions, and seek advice from a qualified professional for your own needs. Paper trades, examples, and past results do not predict live results or promise a profit.

Information disclaimer

This is general help based on the sources and check date shown on the page. Screens, settings, fees, data access, and product support can change or differ by app version, account, country, and broker. The content may contain errors or become out of date; accuracy, completeness, and continuous service are not guaranteed. Check current broker and app instructions before acting. Screenshots show where controls are; they do not prove that an order test passed. This guide does not replace broker terms or risk notices. References to IBKR and TradingView identify their products and do not imply their endorsement of this guide.