---
title: Divine Engine Test Results
description: "Use Divine Engine Test Management to filter historical results, compare in-sample and out-of-sample fitness, review candidate strategies, and save a result. Includes current screenshots and Dan’s practical filter settings."
url: "https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-test-results/"
updated: "2026-11-06"
category: "Chapter 5 - The Divine Engine & The Boss"
---

# Divine Engine Test Results

**DIVINE ENGINE · RESULTS WORKFLOW**

**Turn a long list of tests into a shortlist worth reviewing.**

Filter your results, compare what the engine learned with what held up outside its training data, then open and save a candidate.

The **Divine Engine Test Management** page brings tests from your different strategy templates into one place. Use it to monitor the queue and review the strategies produced by those tests—including batches prepared with Strategy Mill. You do not need to open every template individually to find its results.

**Before you begin:** have a Divine Engine test queued, running, or completed. This walkthrough covers reviewing results. For setting up tests, see [Design Strategies from Scratch](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/design-strategies-from-scratch/) and the [Global Queue guide](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-global-queue-for-strategy-testing/).

 **In this guide**

[Find your way](#find-your-way) · [Filter results](#filter-results) · [Default thresholds](#default-filters) · [Dan’s refinements](#dans-filters) · [Queue progress](#queue-progress) · [Compare candidates](#compare-candidates) · [Read the chart](#fitness-chart) · [Open and save](#save-a-strategy) · [Troubleshooting](#common-questions)

## 1. Find your way around the results page

Open **Divine Engine Test Management** from the left navigation—the stacked play-button icon. The page is arranged in three working areas, with the queue summary at the upper right.

[![The test list, strategy results, and Fitness Series chart in Divine Engine Test Management.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/01-test-management-overview.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/01-test-management-overview.png)
**A quick visual map.** Tests at the top, candidate strategies in the middle, and the Fitness Series chart below. The top-right panel reports queue progress. Click to enlarge.

| Area | What to do here |
| --- | --- |
| Top: test list | Select a test run. Check its State, Results count, Date queued, Memo, and Backtest History. |
| Middle: strategy results | Compare the candidates produced by the selected test. Click a blue strategy name to inspect that result. |
| Bottom: Fitness Series | Check how fitness changed across generations and compare IS with OOS. |
| Upper right: queue summary | See the current test, current action, progress, and estimated remaining time. |

**IS** means *in sample*, the data used during strategy development. **OOS** means *out of sample*, the separate data used to check how the strategy behaved beyond that training sample. **AS** means *all sample*, the combined period. Keep these labels in view when comparing numbers.

## 2. Start with a filter set

Click **Manage Filters** near the upper left. Select **Default (read-only)** as your starting point. The dialog shows the metric, sample, comparison, and threshold for each filter.

[![Default read-only filter set with separate in-sample and out-of-sample thresholds.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/02-default-filter-settings.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/02-default-filter-settings.png)
**The built-in starting point.** Each row is a separate condition; the controls on the right decide which test records are visible. Click to enlarge.

1. **Choose a set.** The default set is read-only. To customize, use the copy icon beside a set or **Add Set** to create an editable set.
2. **Check the sample and operator.** “Greater than” excludes equality; “greater than or equal to” includes it. IS, OOS, and all-sample conditions are different checks.
3. **Set the visibility controls.** Use **Show uncompleted tests**, **Show favorites only**, and **Hide tests older than** to focus the list.
4. **Close the dialog and read the summary strip.** The line above the test list reports the active filters and history window.

**Two different kinds of history**

**Hide tests older than** controls how old a test record may be in the visible list. **Backtest History** measures how many years of market data a strategy was tested on. A test run created yesterday can still have 10 or more years of backtest history.

## 3. Understand the default thresholds

These are the exact comparisons visible in the **Default (read-only)** set in Dan’s November 6, 2026 recording. They are a starting screen for historical swing-trading results. Your installed version’s defaults may change.

| Metric | Sample | Passing value shown |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Avg. position gain (%) | IS / OOS | **> 0.90%** / **> 0.85%** |
| Backtest History | Test history | **≥ 10 years** |
| CAGR (%) | IS / OOS | **> 20%** / **> 20%** |
| Fitness | IS / OOS | **≥ 0.90** / **≥ 0.85** |
| Generation | Generation number | **> 30** |
| Max drawdown (%) | All samples | **< 50%** |
| Profit factor | IS / OOS | **> 1.90** / **> 1.80** |
| Total positions | IS | **> 300** |
| Winning years (%) | All samples | **> 80%** |

The default view also shows uncompleted tests, does not restrict the list to favorites, and hides tests older than **90 days**. Those visibility settings are separate from the performance filters.

- **Average position gain includes the losing positions.** Dan wants enough average movement per position to leave room for trading costs—his reminder is to avoid “making the broker rich.” Check the costs used in the backtest as part of your review.
- **History and position count provide context.** Dan prefers a long record and many positions over a handful of impressive trades. Neither a 10-year history nor 300 positions proves that a strategy will keep working.
- **Fitness combines the template’s objectives.** It summarizes the configured fitness functions, normalized around their targets. A score near 1 is not a probability of future success. See [Backtest Parameterization](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-parameterization-panel/) for how those objectives are defined.
- **Profit factor is a ratio, not a percentage.** A value of 2 means the historical winning-position gains were twice the losing-position losses. Enter 1.90 and 1.80 as ratios.

**Read the drawdown threshold correctly**

A historical maximum drawdown filter is a screening limit, not a stop-loss or a cap on future losses. Passing these filters does not guarantee future returns. Review the candidate’s full behavior before deciding how it fits your portfolio.

## 4. Add Dan’s refinements when you are ready

In part two, Dan switches to his editable **My filters** set. He narrows the test-age window to find recent runs and adds checks for simpler strategies. This personal set is different from the built-in default.

[![Dan’s personal filter set with rule-count limits, R-squared, a 40 percent drawdown ceiling, and a three-day test window.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/03-personal-filter-settings.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/03-personal-filter-settings.png)
**Dan’s personal set.** The lower rows add R² and buy/sell rule counts. The right side narrows the visible records to the last three days. Click to enlarge.

| Setting | Personal value shown |
| --- | --- |
| CAGR (%) — IS and OOS | **≥ 20%** in each sample; this set includes equality. |
| Max drawdown (%) — all samples | **< 40%** |
| Winning years (%) — all samples | **> 90%** |
| Total positions — all samples | **> 300**; note the change from IS to all samples. |
| R² (%) — all samples | **> 90%** |
| Buy rule count / Sell rule count | **≤ 1** / **≤ 4** |
| Hide tests older than | **3 days** in this walkthrough; widen it to find older runs. |

**R²** describes how closely the strategy’s equity curve follows a straight line on a logarithmic scale. It is a measure of fit, not a return percentage or a substitute for checking drawdown. See the [R² explanation](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/metrics-panel-guide/#rsquared).

**From Dan’s experience: give evolution time to simplify**

After three decades of trading, Dan pays close attention to unnecessary complexity. In his experience, strategies often become simpler after roughly 30 generations. He also finds that traders put enormous effort into choosing entries, while the evolved strategies he reviews frequently lean heavily on exits. That is why he looks at both the generation number and the rule counts.

A strategy with few or no explicit Buy Filters can still have entry restrictions. In the setup Dan demonstrates, an active sell signal prevents buying that instrument. Inspect the **System Settings** and **Sell Filters** together to understand the actual entry and exit behavior.

**Why Dan is willing to be selective**

Large batches give you more candidates to compare. Dan’s point is to let the computer do the repetitive searching while you focus on the small group worth investigating. He also recalls a lesson from a hedge fund manager: combining strategies that behave differently can smooth the combined experience—when one “zigs,” another may “zag.” That is a reason to examine how strategies work together, not to assume a large individual drawdown is harmless.

## 5. Monitor the queue without guessing its finish time

Click **Start queue** to begin the queued tests. While it runs, the control becomes **Stop queue**. The execution summary shows the current test and action, a current-test progress bar, and total queue progress.

[![Running test queue with Stop queue at the upper left and current-test and total-progress estimates on the right.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/04-queue-progress.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/04-queue-progress.png)
**Watch both progress levels.** The current-test estimate and the whole-queue estimate answer different questions. Click to enlarge.

Treat the remaining time as an estimate. It can change as Portfolio Boss sees how long the work takes, especially early in a batch. Dan notes that large Strategy Mill batches may run for days; the actual time depends on the tests and the computer. See the [Global Queue guide](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-global-queue-for-strategy-testing/) for queue setup and background operation.

Many templates include an exit condition that ends a run when improvement stalls. A plateau can therefore be the normal end of a test. The behavior depends on the template’s configured exit conditions.

## 6. Compare the candidates that remain

1. **Select a completed test in the upper list.** Its candidate strategies appear in the middle grid.
2. **Sort by a useful metric.** Dan clicks **Fitness (OOS)** to compare candidates on the verification sample. Check the sort direction.
3. **Read IS and OOS together.** Review fitness alongside drawdown, average position gain, profit factor, history, and the number of positions.
4. **Check the exact dates.** A recently created test can still end its market-data history years ago. The recording’s AAPL/TLT example ends in 2021.

[![A filtered strategy result with a generated name, generation, and separate IS and OOS metrics; the tooltip identifies the strategy link.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/05-candidate-result-detail.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/05-candidate-result-detail.png)
**Open the blue strategy name.** “Gen.” identifies the generation. The IS and OOS columns let you compare the two samples before opening the result. Click to enlarge.

The green check in the upper list accompanies the **Finished** state. It tells you the run has finished; it is not approval to trade. Use the active filters and the candidate’s metrics to judge what deserves a closer look.

To customize the grid, click the small **three-dot column control** at its upper-right edge. In **Manage columns**, search for a metric, check the IS, OOS, or AS versions you want, and click **OK**. Uncheck columns you do not need. Use the horizontal scrollbar to reach columns farther right.

[![Manage columns dialog with checkboxes for the AS, IS, and OOS versions of available metrics.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/07-manage-columns.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/07-manage-columns.png)
**Choose the sample deliberately.** A metric may have separate All Sample, In Sample, and Out of Sample columns. Click to enlarge.

## 7. Read the Fitness Series chart in pairs

The horizontal axis is the generation number. The vertical axis is fitness. Start with the four lines below; the checkboxes in the legend let you show or hide a series.

[![Fitness Series chart: orange and brown show the best in-sample strategy and its corresponding out-of-sample fitness; blue and green show population averages.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/06-fitness-series.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/06-fitness-series.png)
**Compare matching pairs.** The orange/brown pair follows the best IS strategy and its OOS result. The blue/green pair follows the population averages. Click to enlarge.

| Series in the legend | What it shows |
| --- | --- |
| **Orange** — Population Best Fitness IS | The best in-sample fitness in each population. |
| **Brown** — Population Fitness OOS For Best Fitness IS | The out-of-sample fitness of that same best-IS strategy—not a separately selected OOS winner. |
| **Blue/cyan** — Population Avg. Fitness IS | The population’s average in-sample fitness. |
| **Green** — Population Avg. Fitness OOS | The population’s average out-of-sample fitness. |

Dan looks for improving population averages and a reasonably close relationship between the orange and brown lines, especially later in the run. If the best IS result improves while its OOS result falls away, investigate the gap. Read the vertical scale as well as the apparent distance between the lines.

**Dan’s visual shorthand: the “Pac-Man mouth”**

Imagine the orange and brown lines opening farther and farther apart like Pac-Man’s mouth. That widening gap is the pattern Dan wants you to notice. Similar IS and OOS behavior is more reassuring than a spectacular training result that fails to carry over—but it still needs review.

Right-click in the chart and move the pointer to inspect the values shown in the chart readout. Remember that this is a **fitness history across generations**, not the strategy’s account-value chart over calendar time.

## 8. Open, review, and save a strategy

Click a candidate’s blue **Strategy name** in the middle grid. Portfolio Boss opens **Strategy Builder** with the heading **Viewing test result**. This is a temporary working view: opening it has not yet saved a regular strategy.

[![Strategy Builder viewing a temporary test result, with Start and Save to strategy in the toolbar.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/08-temporary-strategy.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/08-temporary-strategy.png)
**Review first.** “Viewing test result” identifies the temporary view. Start runs the backtest; Save to strategy creates a regular saved strategy. Click to enlarge.

1. **Review the template description, rules, instruments, and dates.** Understand what the candidate actually does.
2. **Click Start** to run the backtest in Strategy Builder and inspect the Metrics, Performance, and Chart views. Keep IS and OOS results visible during review.
3. **Click Save to strategy.** In the dialog, choose the destination under **Create in** and review the **Name**.
4. **Click Save to strategy inside the dialog** to finish saving. Opening the dialog alone does not save it.

[![Save to strategy dialog with Create in, Name, Save to strategy, and Cancel controls.](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/09-save-to-strategy.png)](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/09-save-to-strategy.png)
**The final save step.** Choose the folder, confirm or edit the name, then use the blue Save to strategy button. Click to enlarge.

Templates can supply naming rules. In Dan’s example, the suggested name identifies the template, the AAPL/TLT instruments, and information from the test. These names depend on the template; you can edit the suggested name before saving.

Your browser does not support embedded video. [Open the short demonstration](https://portfolioboss.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/10-save-dialog-demo.mp4).
**Short silent demonstration:** opening Save to strategy and reviewing the suggested name. The clip stops at the dialog; follow step 4 above to complete the save.

## If something looks wrong

| What you see | What to check |
| --- | --- |
| No candidates, or fewer results than expected | Check the selected filter set, every sample/comparison, Show favorites only, and the age window. Select a completed test with results. |
| Older tests have disappeared | Increase Hide tests older than. This visibility setting does not shorten the market-data history used by a backtest. |
| Unfinished tests are missing | Check Show uncompleted tests in Manage Filters. |
| A metric is missing | Open Manage columns, select the desired sample version, and scroll the grid horizontally. |
| A strategy has no explicit Buy Filters | Inspect its System Settings and Sell Filters. The demonstrated setup prevents entry while a sell signal is active. |
| The result is not a regular saved strategy yet | A Viewing test result heading means you are reviewing a temporary result. Complete Save to strategy and its dialog. |

**Your review path**

**Filter → select a test → compare candidates → inspect the fitness pairs → open the result → review → save.** The aim is to spend your time on a manageable shortlist with clear reasons for each choice.

**Continue learning:** [Fitness functions and exit conditions](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-parameterization-panel/) · [Metric definitions](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/metrics-panel-guide/) · [Combining strategies](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/multi-strategy/).

Based on Dan’s two walkthrough recordings from November 6, 2026, using Portfolio Boss Unite 6.0.0.72. Screenshots show historical examples; names, results, and defaults may differ in your installation. [Back to the walkthrough](#find-your-way).