Orders will not send, or fills look unrealistic in Sierra Chart

What is causing it

Trading is not enabled on that chart, the chart has no trade account selected, or the platform is in trade simulation mode.

Why this happens

Sierra Chart deliberately makes live trading something you must switch on, per chart, with an account explicitly selected. That prevents accidental orders, but it also means a chart you have just created will not trade until you have enabled it.

Trade simulation mode is a separate switch again, and it is the usual explanation for orders that fill flawlessly but never appear on a broker statement.

The fix, step by step

1. Check whether trade simulation mode is on, because in that mode orders are simulated locally and never reach a broker, which is why fills look perfect.
2. Check that trading is enabled on the specific chart you are trading from, as this is a per-chart state rather than a global one.
3. Check which trade account the chart is set to, and confirm it is your real account rather than a simulated one.
4. Confirm you are connected to a service that provides order routing, since a data-only connection can chart but cannot trade.
5. Read the message log after a refused order, as it records what the platform or the broker reported.
6. Confirm your account is permitted to trade that instrument, and for a funded account confirm the firm's rules allow it.

How to confirm it is fixed

A small live order appears in your broker's own records, not only in Sierra Chart.

Stopping it happening again

Check the trading state and the selected account on any new chart before your first order, and keep simulation work in a separate chartbook.