--- title: User Guide Overview description: "A task-based route through the current Portfolio Boss guide, from the free Evo Engine Template to strategy research and account automation." url: "https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/user-guide-overview/" updated: "2026-11-07" category: "Chapter 1 - Introduction" --- # User Guide Overview Welcome to the Portfolio Boss user guide. Start with the task you want to complete, then open the focused article for the controls you need. The guide supports a simple progression: begin with a supplied template, review its tests and manage selected strategies through the Trading Dashboard. **On this page** - [Start here](#start-here) - [Chapter 1 — Introduction](#introduction) - [Chapter 2 — Portfolio Management](#portfolios) - [Chapter 3 — Strategy Management](#strategies) - [Chapter 4 — Strategy Builder](#builder-reference) - [Chapter 5 — Divine Engine and Boss](#divine-engine) - [Chapter 6 — Combine Strategies](#combine-strategies) - [Chapter 7 — Filters and Rules](#filters-rules) - [Chapter 8 — Settings](#settings) - [Chapter 9 — Help](#help) - [Chapter 10 — Trading Dashboard and APM](#trading-dashboard-chapter) - [Other application functions](#other-functions) ## Start here **Machine learning is available from the start** Every edition, including the free version, includes the **Evo Engine Template**. The [Quick Start Guide](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/quick-start-guide/) shows how to find it and make a working copy. | Your task | Start with | | --- | --- | | I am new to Portfolio Boss | [Quick Start Guide](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/quick-start-guide/) | | I want readable colors, text and controls | [Appearance Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/appearance-tab/) | | I want to protect or move my work | [Database Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/database-tab-guide/) | | I want to test a strategy | [Strategy Builder Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-strategy-page-overview/) | | I want to review machine-learning candidates | [Divine Engine Test Results](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-test-results/) | | I want to manage account automation | [Trading Dashboard Overview & APM](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/trading-dashboard-overview-apm/) | ## Chapter 1 — Introduction Start with the quick start, then consult installation requirements as needed. - [Quick Start Guide](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/quick-start-guide/) - [System Requirements & Installation](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/system-requirements-installation/) ## Chapter 2 — Portfolio Management Create and maintain the instrument collections used by strategies. - [Portfolio Management Page Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolio-management-page-overview/) - [Portfolios Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolios-panel-guide/) - [Portfolio Instruments Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolio-instruments-panel-guide/) - [Instrument Chart Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/instrument-chart-panel-guide/) - [Search and Sync Details](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/sync-details-search-results-panel/) ## Chapter 3 — Strategy Management Organize strategies, select a type and manage working copies and backups. - [Strategy Management Page Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/strategy-management-page-overview/) - [Types of Strategy](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/types-of-strategy/) - [Managing Your Strategies](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/managing-your-strategies/) ## Chapter 4 — Strategy Builder Configure a strategy and read its historical test reports. - [Strategy Builder Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-strategy-page-overview/) - [Strategy Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/strategy-panel-guide/) - [System Settings Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/system-settings-panel-guide/) - [Backtest Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-panel-guide/) - [Manual Results Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/manual-results-tab/) - [Backtest Parameterization Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-parameterization-panel/) - [Divine Engine Results Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/backtest-results-tab/) - [Overall Top Results Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/overall-top-results-tab/) - [History Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/history-tab/) - [Ranking Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/ranking-panel-guide/) - [A Strategy for Short Selling](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/a-strategy-for-short-selling/) - [Instrument Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/instrument-tab/) - [Instruments Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/instruments-panel-guide/) - [Metrics Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/metrics-panel-guide/) - [Chart Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/chart-tab/) - [Performance Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/monthly-performance-panel-guide/) - [Positions Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/positions-panel-guide/) - [Trade Signals Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/trade-signals-panel-guide/) - [Stats Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/stats-tab/) - [Sell Filters Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/sell-filters-panel-guide/) - [Buy Filters Panel](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/buy-filters-panel-guide/) - [Exporting the Backtest Results](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/exporting-the-backtest-result/) ## Chapter 5 — Divine Engine and Boss Learn engine concepts, manage tests and review candidate results. - [Introduction to The Divine Engine & The Boss](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/the-divine-engine-and-the-boss/) - [Design Strategies from Scratch](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/design-strategies-from-scratch/) - [Augmenting a Strategy with New Rules](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/augmenting-a-strategy-with-new-rules/) - [Fine-tune a Strategy for the Best Settings](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/fine-tune-a-strategy-for-the-best-settings/) - [Combining All the Features](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/combining-all-the-features/) - [Cyber Code Genetic Programming](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/cyber-code-genetic-programming/) - [Divine Engine Global Queue for Strategy Testing](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-global-queue-for-strategy-testing/) - [Divine Engine Test Results](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/divine-engine-test-results/) ## Chapter 6 — Combine Strategies Understand Multi and Meta strategy construction. - [Multi-Strategy](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/multi-strategy/) - [Meta-Strategy](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/meta-strategy/) ## Chapter 7 — Filters and Rules Use individual references when you need the definition of a specific rule. Browse the filter and rule references - [Rate of Change (ROC) Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/rate-of-change-index-filter/) - [Aroon Oscillator (ARO) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/aroon-oscillator-filter/) - [Rate of Change (ROC) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/rate-of-change-roc-position-filter/) - [Bollinger Bands (BBands) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/bollinger-bands-bbands-filter/) - [Chande Momentum Oscillator (CMO) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/chande-momentum-oscillator-cmo-filter/) - [Average True Range (ATR) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/average-true-range-atr-filter/) - [Fixed ATR Stop Loss Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/fixed-atr-stop-loss-filter/) - [Surprise Day Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/surprise-day-filter/) - [Average Percent Range (APR) Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/average-percent-range-apr-filter/) - [Moving Average Persistence Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/moving-average-persistence-filter/) - [Moving Average Persistence Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/moving-average-persistence-rule/) - [Day of the Week Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/day-of-the-week-filter/) - [Stochastic Oscillator Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/stochastic-oscillator-filter/) - [Chaikin Oscillator Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/chaikin-oscillator-filter/) - [MACD Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/macd-filter/) - [High / Low Over Time Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/hilo-over-time-filter/) - [All-Time High/Low Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/all-time-high-low-filter/) - [Cash Equivalent Score Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/cash-equivalent-score-filter/) - [About Filters & Rules](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/about-filters-rules/) - [Correlation Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/correlation-filter/) - [Discount Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/discount-filter-guide/) - [Retracement Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/retracement-filter/) - [Top N% Threshold Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/top-n-threshold-filter/) - [Beta Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/beta-filter/) - [Volatility Change Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-change-position-filter/) - [Volatility Range Percentile Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-range-percentile-position-filter/) - [Position Duration Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/position-duration-filter/) - [N ATR Above/Below SMA Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/n-atr-above-below-sma-filter/) - [Moving Average Cross Over Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/moving-average-cross-over-filter/) - [Index ATR Spread Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/index-atr-spread-filter/) - [Kaufman Efficiency Ratio Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/kaufman-efficiency-ratio-filter/) - [Lowest Close Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/lowest-close-index-filter/) - [Perfect Stop Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/perfect-stop-filter/) - [Price Range Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/price-range-filter/) - [Primitive Pattern Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/primitive-pattern-filter/) - [RSI Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/rsi-filter/) - [Simple Moving Average (SMA) Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/simple-moving-average-sma-index-filter/) - [Simple Moving Average (SMA) Position Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/simple-moving-average-sma-position-filter/) - [Volatility Change Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-change-index-filter/) - [Volatility Range Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-range-filter/) - [Volatility Range Percentile Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-range-percentile-index-filter/) - [ATR Distance Below SMA Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/atr-distance-below-sma-rule/) - [Correlation Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/correlation-rule/) - [Index ATR Spread Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/index-atr-spread-rule/) - [Lowest Close Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/lowest-close-rule/) - [PB Pattern Score Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/pb-pattern-score-rule/) - [Average Currency Volume Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/average-currency-volume-filter/) - [Goldilocks Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/goldilocks-filter-guide/) - [Instrument Public Age Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/instrument-public-age-filter/) - [Lowest Close Position Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/lowest-close-position-filter/) - [Octane Indicator Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/octane-indicator-filter-guide/) - [Portfolio Position Limit Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolio-position-limit-filter/) - [Portfolio Threshold Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolio-threshold-filter/) - [Price Range Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/price-range-index-filter/) - [Return Index Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/return-index-filter/) - [SMI Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/smi-filter/) - [Impulse Score Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/impulse-score-rule/) - [Volatility Rule](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/volatility-rule/) - [Strategy in Market Filter](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/strategy-in-market-filter/) ## Chapter 8 — Settings Five current tabs cover display, notifications, database maintenance, trading defaults and other preferences. - [Settings Page Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/settings-page-overview-guide/) - [Automation Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/automation-tab-guide/) - [Appearance Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/appearance-tab/) - [Database Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/database-tab-guide/) - [Trading Tab — Global Order Defaults](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/trading-tab-global-order-defaults/) - [Miscellaneous Tab](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/miscellaneous-tab-guide/) ## Chapter 9 — Help Find answers and help resources. - [Help Page Overview](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/help-page-overview-guide/) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/frequently_asked_questions/) - [Tutorials](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/video-tutorials-deprecated/) ## Chapter 10 — Trading Dashboard and APM Connect accounts, manage strategy allocations and review actual orders and holdings. - [Trading Dashboard Overview & APM](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/trading-dashboard-overview-apm/) - [Connect Accounts to the Trading Dashboard](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/connect-accounts-to-the-trading-dashboard/) - [Monitor Account Value and Allocation](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/monitor-account-value-and-allocation/) - [Add Strategies and Inspect Positions](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/add-strategies-and-inspect-positions/) - [Manage Strategy Funding and Rebalancing](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/manage-strategy-funding-and-rebalancing/) - [Configure Trading Order Settings](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/configure-trading-order-settings/) - [Review Orders and Reconcile Broker Positions](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/review-orders-and-reconcile-broker-positions/) - [Reset, Stop Trading, and Remove a Strategy](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/reset-stop-trading-and-remove-a-strategy/) ## Other application functions Version information, logs and community resources. - [Application Log Page](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/application-log-page/) - [Software Version and Updates](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/software-version-and-updates/) - [Portfolio Boss Forum](https://portfolioboss.com/documentation/portfolio-boss-forum/)