Installation & Removal
Everything you need to install, activate, update, and completely remove the VCNZN ICT Drawing Tools from NinjaTrader 8.
VCNZN_ictTools.dll). If you purchased through the NinjaTrader Ecosystem vendor portal, you have the NT Ecosystem edition (VCNZN_ictTools_NT.dll).
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Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | NinjaTrader 8 (8.1.x or later) |
| Operating System | Windows 10 or later (64-bit) |
| .NET Framework | 4.8 (included with NinjaTrader 8) |
| Whop Edition | NT Ecosystem Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Active Whop subscription — obtain from your Whop dashboard | Vendor license purchased through the NinjaTrader Ecosystem portal, tied to your NinjaTrader account |
| DLL Name | VCNZN_ictTools.dll | VCNZN_ictTools_NT.dll |
Installation
Choose the method that matches your download. If you received a .zip file, use Zip Import. If you received a standalone .dll, use Manual DLL.
Close NinjaTrader
Fully exit NinjaTrader — make sure it is not running in the system tray.
Open NinjaTrader & Import
Launch NinjaTrader, then go to Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On…
Select the Zip File
Browse to the downloaded .zip file and click Open:
- Whop:
VCNZN_ictTools.zip - NT Ecosystem:
VCNZN_ictTools_NT.zip
Confirm & Restart
NinjaTrader will confirm the import succeeded. Restart NinjaTrader to load the tools.
Close NinjaTrader
Fully exit NinjaTrader — make sure it is not running in the system tray.
Open the Custom Folder
Press Win+R, paste the following path, and press Enter:
Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\
Copy the DLL
Place your edition’s DLL into this folder:
- Whop:
VCNZN_ictTools.dll - NT Ecosystem:
VCNZN_ictTools_NT.dll
Start NinjaTrader
Launch NinjaTrader. It will detect the new DLL automatically on startup.
Activation — Whop Edition
The Whop edition requires a manual license key activation on each machine.
Open Any Chart
Open a chart window in NinjaTrader.
Open the License Manager
Right-click anywhere on the chart and select License Manager from the context menu.
Enter Your License Key
Paste your license key from your Whop dashboard and click Activate.
Verify
The License Manager window shows your status: ✓ Licensed (green) when active. The VCNZN drawing tools will now appear in your chart’s Drawing Tools toolbar.
Activation — NT Ecosystem Edition
The NT Ecosystem edition uses NinjaTrader’s built-in vendor licensing — no manual activation is needed.
Purchase via NinjaTrader Ecosystem
Purchase the product through the official NinjaTrader Ecosystem vendor portal. The license is linked to your NinjaTrader account email.
Open a Chart
After installing the DLL, open any chart. NinjaTrader validates your license automatically in the background — there is no license key to enter and no License Manager window.
Done
If your NinjaTrader account has an active vendor license, the tools appear immediately in the Drawing Tools toolbar. No further setup required.
License Management — Whop Edition
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Revalidation | Your license re-validates automatically in the background every 4 hours while connected to the internet. No action needed. |
| Offline Grace Period | After a successful activation, tools continue to work offline for up to 7 days. If the grace period expires, reconnect to the internet and the next background check will restore access. |
| Moving to a New Machine | Activate your license key on the new machine via the License Manager. The key is tied to your machine ID — you may need to deactivate the old machine first if you hit the device limit. |
| Subscription Cancelled | If your Whop subscription lapses, tools will remain functional through the remainder of the 7-day grace period, then deactivate. Renew on Whop and re-activate via the License Manager. See our return policy for refund eligibility. |
| Viewing Status | Right-click any chart → License Manager to see your current license status at any time. |
License Management — NT Ecosystem Edition
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| How It Works | Licensing is handled entirely by NinjaTrader’s platform. There is no license key, no License Manager window, and no local license cache. |
| Viewing Status | Go to Help → About in NinjaTrader to confirm the vendor license is listed under your account. |
| Moving to a New Machine | Log into NinjaTrader with the same account. The vendor license follows your NinjaTrader account automatically — no re-activation needed. |
| Subscription Cancelled | If your vendor license expires, the tools will stop loading. Renew through your Stripe payment link to restore access. See our return policy for refund eligibility. |
Updating
Choose the method that matches your download.
Download the Latest Zip
Get the latest version from your Whop dashboard or the NinjaTrader Ecosystem vendor portal, depending on your edition.
Import the Zip
In NinjaTrader, go to Tools → Import → NinjaScript Add-On… and select the new .zip file. It will overwrite the previous version automatically.
Restart NinjaTrader
Restart NinjaTrader to load the updated version. Your license and all existing drawings are preserved.
Download the Latest DLL
Get the latest version from your Whop dashboard or the NinjaTrader Ecosystem vendor portal, depending on your edition.
Replace the DLL
Close NinjaTrader, then copy the new DLL into Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\, overwriting the existing file.
Restart NinjaTrader
Start NinjaTrader to load the updated DLL. Your license and all existing drawings are preserved.
Removal
Close NinjaTrader
Fully exit NinjaTrader — make sure it is not running in the system tray. The DLL cannot be deleted while NT is running.
Delete the DLL
Navigate to Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\ and delete your edition’s DLL:
- Whop:
VCNZN_ictTools.dll - NT Ecosystem:
VCNZN_ictTools_NT.dll
Delete the License Cache (Whop Only)
If you have the Whop edition, remove the stored license credentials by deleting this folder:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\ICT_DrawingTools\
Press Win+R, paste the path above, and press Enter to open it. NT Ecosystem users can skip this step.
Clean Up References (Optional)
Open the NinjaScript Editor (Tools → NinjaScript Editor) and press F5 to recompile. If you see compile errors, check the Custom folder for any leftover .cs stub file and delete it.
Restart NinjaTrader
Start NinjaTrader again. The VCNZN tools will no longer appear in the Drawing Tools toolbar.
Troubleshooting — Whop Edition
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Tools don’t appear after install | Make sure you fully restarted NinjaTrader (not just closed and reopened a chart). Check that VCNZN_ictTools.dll exists in Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\. |
| License key not accepted | Verify your subscription is active on your Whop dashboard. Ensure you have an internet connection. Copy-paste the key to avoid typos. |
| Tools stopped working (yellow “Grace Period” warning) | Your license could not re-validate — usually a temporary internet issue. Tools will continue working for up to 7 days. Reconnect to the internet and the next background check (every 4 hours) will resolve it. |
| Tools show red “Expired” status | Your Whop subscription may have lapsed or the 7-day grace period expired. Renew your subscription on Whop, then right-click chart → License Manager → Activate again. |
| Moved to a new machine | Activate your license key on the new machine via the License Manager. The key is tied to your machine ID — you may need to deactivate the old machine first if you hit the device limit. |
| Cannot delete DLL — file is locked | NinjaTrader is still running. Check the system tray, fully exit NT, then delete the file. |
| Compile errors after removal | Check Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\ for any leftover .cs stub file referencing the DLL. Delete it and recompile with F5 in the NinjaScript Editor. |
Troubleshooting — NT Ecosystem Edition
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Tools don’t appear after install | Make sure you fully restarted NinjaTrader (not just closed and reopened a chart). Check that VCNZN_ictTools_NT.dll exists in Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\. |
| Tools not appearing despite active license | Make sure you are logged into NinjaTrader with the same account used to purchase. Check Help → About to confirm the vendor license is listed. |
| Cannot delete DLL — file is locked | NinjaTrader is still running. Check the system tray, fully exit NT, then delete the file. |
| Compile errors after removal | Check Documents\NinjaTrader 8\bin\Custom\ for any leftover .cs stub file referencing the DLL. Delete it and recompile with F5 in the NinjaScript Editor. |