MQL4 and MQL5 Programming Articles
Study the MQL5 language for programming trading strategies in numerous published articles mostly written by you - the community members. The articles are grouped into categories to help you quicker find answers to any questions related to programming: Integration, Tester, Trading Strategies, etc.
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Graphical Interfaces V: The Vertical and Horizontal Scrollbar (Chapter 1)
We are still discussing the development of the library for creating graphical interfaces in the MetaTrader environment. In the first article of the fifth part of the series, we will write classes for creating vertical and horizontal scrollbars.
Learn how to design a trading system by Relative Vigor Index
A new article in our series about how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicator. In this article, we will learn how to do that by the Relative Vigor Index indicator.
A Pause between Trades
The article deals with the problem of how to arrange pauses between trade operations when a number of experts work on one МТ 4 Client Terminal. It is intended for users who have basic skills in both working with the terminal and programming in MQL 4.
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part XII): Account object class and collection of account objects
In the previous article, we defined position closure events for MQL4 in the library and got rid of the unused order properties. Here we will consider the creation of the Account object, develop the collection of account objects and prepare the functionality for tracking account events.
Interaction between MetaTrader 4 and Matlab via CSV Files
Step-by-step instructions of how to organize data arrays exchange between MetaTrader 4 and Matlab via CSV files.
Graphical Interfaces IX: The Progress Bar and Line Chart Controls (Chapter 2)
The second chapter of the part nine is dedicated to the progress bar and line chart controls. As always, there will be detailed examples provided to reveal how these controls can be used in custom MQL applications.
The market and the physics of its global patterns
In this article, I will try to test the assumption that any system with even a small understanding of the market can operate on a global scale. I will not invent any theories or patterns, but I will only use known facts, gradually translating these facts into the language of mathematical analysis.
Implementation of Indicators as Classes by Examples of Zigzag and ATR
Debate about an optimal way of calculating indicators is endless. Where should we calculate the indicator values - in the indicator itself or embed the entire logic in a Expert Advisor that uses it? The article describes one of the variants of moving the source code of a custom indicator iCustom right in the code of an Expert Advisor or script with optimization of calculations and modeling the prev_calculated value.
Creating Non-Lagging Digital Filters
The article describes one of the approaches to determining a useful signal (trend) in stream data. Small filtering (smoothing) tests applied to market quotes demonstrate the potential for creating non-lagging digital filters (indicators) that are not redrawn on the last bars.
Developing a cross-platform grider EA (part III): Correction-based grid with martingale
In this article, we will make an attempt to develop the best possible grid-based EA. As usual, this will be a cross-platform EA capable of working both with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. The first EA was good enough, except that it could not make a profit over a long period of time. The second EA could work at intervals of more than several years. Unfortunately, it was unable to yield more than 50% of profit per year with a maximum drawdown of less than 50%.
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part X): Compatibility with MQL4 - Events of opening a position and activating pending orders
In the previous articles, we started creating a large cross-platform library simplifying the development of programs for MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4 platforms. In the ninth part, we started improving the library classes for working with MQL4. Here we will continue improving the library to ensure its full compatibility with MQL4.
Testing Performance of Moving Averages Calculation in MQL5
A number of indicators have appeared since the time of first Moving Average indicator creation. Many of them use the similar smoothing methods, but the performances of different moving averages algorithms have not been studied. In this article, we will consider possible ways of use the Moving Averages in MQL5 and compare their performance.
Building a Social Technology Startup, Part II: Programming an MQL5 REST Client
Let's now shape the PHP-based Twitter idea which was introduced in the first part of this article. We are assembling the different parts of the SDSS. Regarding the client side of the system architecture, we are relying on the new MQL5 WebRequest() function for sending trading signals via HTTP.
Interview with Alexey Masterov (ATC 2012)
We do our best to introduce all the leading Championship Participants to our audience in reasonable time. To achieve that, we closely monitor the most promising contestants in our TOP-10 and arrange interviews with them. However, the sharp rise of Alexey Masterov (reinhard) up to the third place has become a real surprise!
Continuous Walk-Forward Optimization (Part 6): Auto optimizer's logical part and structure
We have previously considered the creation of automatic walk-forward optimization. This time, we will proceed to the internal structure of the auto optimizer tool. The article will be useful for all those who wish to further work with the created project and to modify it, as well as for those who wish to understand the program logic. The current article contains UML diagrams which present the internal structure of the project and the relationships between objects. It also describes the process of optimization start, but it does not contain the description of the optimizer implementation process.
Improve Your Trading Charts With Interactive GUI's in MQL5 (Part III): Simple Movable Trading GUI
Join us in Part III of the "Improve Your Trading Charts With Interactive GUIs in MQL5" series as we explore the integration of interactive GUIs into movable trading dashboards in MQL5. This article builds on the foundations set in Parts I and II, guiding readers to transform static trading dashboards into dynamic, movable ones.
Information Storage and View
The article deals with convenient and efficient methods of information storage and viewing. Alternatives to the terminal standard log file and the Comment() function are considered here.
The Last Crusade
Take a look at your trading terminal. What means of price presentation can you see? Bars, candlesticks, lines. We are chasing time and prices whereas we only profit from prices. Shall we only give attention to prices when analyzing the market? This article proposes an algorithm and a script for point and figure charting ("naughts and crosses") Consideration is given to various price patterns whose practical use is outlined in recommendations provided.
Tester in the Terminal MetaTrader 4: It Should Be Known
The elaborate interface of the terminal MetaTrader 4 is a forefront, but beside this the terminal includes a deep-laid tester of strategies. And while the worth of MetaTrader 4 as a trading terminal is obvious, the quality of the tester's strategy testing can be assessed only in practice. This article shows the advantages and conveniences of testing in MetaTrader 4.
How to Add New UI Languages to the MetaTrader 5 Platform
User interface of the MetaTrader 5 platform is translated into several languages. Don't worry if your native language is not among the supported ones. You can easily complete the translation using the special MetaTrader 5 MultiLanguage Pack utility, offered by MetaQuotes Software Corp. for free to all comers. In this article we will show some examples of how to add a new user interface languages to the MetaTrader 5 platform.
Graphical Interfaces IV: Informational Interface Elements (Chapter 1)
At the current stage of development, the library for creating graphical interfaces contains a form and several controls that can be attached to it. It was mentioned before that one of the future articles would be dedicated to the multi-window mode. Now, we have everything ready for that and we will deal with it in the following chapter. In this chapter, we will write classes for creating the status bar and tooltip informational interface elements.
Learn how to design a trading system by VIDYA
Welcome to a new article from our series about learning how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicators, in this article we will learn about a new technical tool and learn how to design a trading system by Variable Index Dynamic Average (VIDYA).
The Prototype of a Trading Robot
This article summarizes and systematizes the principles of creating algorithms and elements of trading systems. The article considers designing of expert algorithm. As an example the CExpertAdvisor class is considered, which can be used for quick and easy development of trading systems.
DoEasy. Controls (Part 25): Tooltip WinForms object
In this article, I will start developing the Tooltip control, as well as new graphical primitives for the library. Naturally, not every element has a tooltip, but every graphical object has the ability to set it.
Learn how to deal with date and time in MQL5
A new article about a new important topic which is dealing with date and time. As traders or programmers of trading tools, it is very crucial to understand how to deal with these two aspects date and time very well and effectively. So, I will share some important information about how we can deal with date and time to create effective trading tools smoothly and simply without any complicity as much as I can.
Using cloud storage services for data exchange between terminals
Cloud technologies are becoming more popular. Nowadays, we can choose between paid and free storage services. Is it possible to use them in trading? This article proposes a technology for exchanging data between terminals using cloud storage services.
Drawing Dial Gauges Using the CCanvas Class
We can find dial gauges in cars and airplanes, in industrial production and everyday life. They are used in all spheres which require quick response to behavior of a controlled value. This article describes the library of dial gauges for MetaTrader 5.
Connecting NeuroSolutions Neuronets
In addition to creation of neuronets, the NeuroSolutions software suite allows exporting them as DLLs. This article describes the process of creating a neuronet, generating a DLL and connecting it to an Expert Advisor for trading in MetaTrader 5.
MQL5 Cookbook: Position Properties on the Custom Info Panel
This time we will create a simple Expert Advisor that will get position properties on the current symbol and display them on the custom info panel during manual trading. The info panel will be created using graphical objects and displayed information will be refreshed at every tick. This is going to be much more convenient than all the time having to manually run the script described in the previous article of the series called "MQL5 Cookbook: Getting Position Properties".
How to Prepare MetaTrader 5 Quotes for Other Applications
The article describes the examples of creating directories, copying data, filing, working with the symbols in Market Watch or the common list, as well as the examples of handling errors, etc. All these elements can eventually be gathered in a single script for filing the data in a user-defined format.
Video: Simple automated trading – How to create a simple Expert Advisor with MQL5
The majority of students in my courses felt that MQL5 was really difficult to understand. In addition to this, they were searching for a straightforward method to automate a few processes. Find out how to begin working with MQL5 right now by reading the information contained in this article. Even if you have never done any form of programming before. And even in the event that you are unable to comprehend the previous illustrations that you have observed.
Brute force approach to pattern search (Part IV): Minimal functionality
The article presents an improved brute force version, based on the goals set in the previous article. I will try to cover this topic as broadly as possible using Expert Advisors with settings obtained using this method. A new program version is attached to this article.
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly
Suppose that simple MA (Moving Average) indicator with period 13 is applied to a chart. And we want to change the period to 20, but we do not want to go to indicator properties dialog box and edit the number 13 to 20: simply tired of these tedious actions with mouse and keyboard. And especially we don't want to open indicator code and modify it. We want to do all this with a single press of a button - "up arrows" next to the numeric keypad. In this article I'll describe how to do it.
Three Aspects of Manual Trading Automation. Part 1: Trading
This article is the first in a series of articles on manual trading automation in the МetaТrader 4 trading platform. Each of the articles will be devoted to one of the following aspects: automation of manual trading, current state of trade display automation and automation of reports on trade results. In this article, I will present an interesting approach to creating EA's controlled manually by a trader.
Reading RSS News Feeds by Means of MQL4
This article deals with an example of reading RSS markup by means of MQL4 using the functions for HTML tags analysis. We will try to make a work piece which can then be turned into a news indicator or just an RSS reader on MQL4 language.
Econometric Approach to Analysis of Charts
This article describes the econometric methods of analysis, the autocorrelation analysis and the analysis of conditional variance in particular. What is the benefit of the approach described here? Use of the non-linear GARCH models allows representing the analyzed series formally from the mathematical point of view and creating a forecast for a specified number of steps.
MQL5 Wizard: How to Create a Module of Trailing of Open Positions
The generator of trade strategies MQL5 Wizard greatly simplifies the testing of trading ideas. The article discusses how to write and connect to the generator of trade strategies MQL5 Wizard your own class of managing open positions by moving the Stop Loss level to a lossless zone when the price goes in the position direction, allowing to protect your profit decrease drawdowns when trading. It also tells about the structure and format of the description of the created class for the MQL5 Wizard.
Using the CCanvas class in MQL applications
The article considers the use of the CCanvas class in MQL applications. The theory is accompanied by detailed explanations and examples for thorough understanding of CCanvas basics.
Statistical Probability Distributions in MQL5
The article addresses probability distributions (normal, log-normal, binomial, logistic, exponential, Cauchy distribution, Student's t-distribution, Laplace distribution, Poisson distribution, Hyperbolic Secant distribution, Beta and Gamma distribution) of random variables used in Applied Statistics. It also features classes for handling these distributions.
Separate optimization of a strategy on trend and flat conditions
The article considers applying the separate optimization method during various market conditions. Separate optimization means defining trading system's optimal parameters by optimizing for an uptrend and downtrend separately. To reduce the effect of false signals and improve profitability, the systems are made flexible, meaning they have some specific set of settings or input data, which is justified because the market behavior is constantly changing.