1. To run IBpnl for a different account or year(s), use a different configuration file and supply the file to IBpnl commands. Examples:

    • download account_2004.txt
    • process account_2004.txt
  2. All output files are tab delimited.
  3. The starting positions file can be generated by running IBpnl on last year's trades.
  4. You can download IB statements yourself. If so, you do not have to supply your account information to IBpnl. On IB download page, pick "HTML/Web" as format and save the result. Name your files "ibs_yyyymm.html" (e.g. ibs_200503.html) and put them in the sub-folder "html" in the output folder. Be sure to start the file names with "ibs". Be sure to use 2 digits for months in the file names, e.g. 02 for Feb. Please don't use spaces in file names.
  5. If download stalls for more than a minute, you may want to stop and restart it. The time depends on your trading volume for the month and your internet speed. To stop a command, press the key "C" while holding down the key "Ctrl". When you get the question, "Terminate batch job (Y/N)?", press the key "Y" and then the key "Enter".
  6. Make sure your IB account was open at the start year and month. For example, if your account was opened in Mar 2005, use 3 as start month, not 1. For some reason, the download will not work with a wrong start month.
  7. You can set the date format for the pnl file in the file output.txt in folder "def".