MQL4 and MQL5 Programming Articles

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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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Indicator for Spindles Charting
Indicator for Spindles Charting

Indicator for Spindles Charting

The article regards spindle chart plotting and its usage in trading strategies and experts. First let's discuss the chart's appearance, plotting and connection with japanese candlestick chart. Next we analyze the indicator's implementation in the source code in the MQL5 language. Let's test the expert based on indicator and formulate the trading strategy.
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Using JSON Data API in your MQL projects

Using JSON Data API in your MQL projects

Imagine that you can use data that is not found in MetaTrader, you only get data from indicators by price analysis and technical analysis. Now imagine that you can access data that will take your trading power steps higher. You can multiply the power of the MetaTrader software if you mix the output of other software, macro analysis methods, and ultra-advanced tools through the ​​API data. In this article, we will teach you how to use APIs and introduce useful and valuable API data services.
Price series discretization, random component and noise
Price series discretization, random component and noise

Price series discretization, random component and noise

We usually analyze the market using candlesticks or bars that slice the price series into regular intervals. Doesn't such discretization method distort the real structure of market movements? Discretization of an audio signal at regular intervals is an acceptable solution because an audio signal is a function that changes over time. The signal itself is an amplitude which depends on time. This signal property is fundamental.
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Making a dashboard to display data in indicators and EAs

Making a dashboard to display data in indicators and EAs

In this article, we will create a dashboard class to be used in indicators and EAs. This is an introductory article in a small series of articles with templates for including and using standard indicators in Expert Advisors. I will start by creating a panel similar to the MetaTrader 5 data window.
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 45): Multi-period indicator buffers
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 45): Multi-period indicator buffers

Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 45): Multi-period indicator buffers

In this article, I will start the improvement of the indicator buffer objects and collection class for working in multi-period and multi-symbol modes. I am going to consider the operation of buffer objects for receiving and displaying data from any timeframe on the current symbol chart.
Creating Documentation Based on MQL5 Source Code
Creating Documentation Based on MQL5 Source Code

Creating Documentation Based on MQL5 Source Code

This article considers creation of documentation for MQL5 code starting with the automated markup of required tags. It also provides the description of how to use the Doxygen software, how to properly configure it and how to receive results in different formats, including html, HtmlHelp and PDF.
How to Write Fast Non-Redrawing ZigZags
How to Write Fast Non-Redrawing ZigZags

How to Write Fast Non-Redrawing ZigZags

A rather universal approach to writing indicators of the ZigZag type is proposed. The method includes a significant part of ZigZags already described and allows you to create new ones relatively easily.
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Modified Grid-Hedge EA in MQL5 (Part I): Making a Simple Hedge EA

Modified Grid-Hedge EA in MQL5 (Part I): Making a Simple Hedge EA

We will be creating a simple hedge EA as a base for our more advanced Grid-Hedge EA, which will be a mixture of classic grid and classic hedge strategies. By the end of this article, you will know how to create a simple hedge strategy, and you will also get to know what people say about whether this strategy is truly 100% profitable.
EA Status SMS Notifications
EA Status SMS Notifications

EA Status SMS Notifications

Developing a system of SMS notifications that informs you of the status of your EA so that you are always aware of any critical situation, wherever you may be.
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Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 04): Advancing to an Expert Advisor

Multiple indicators on one chart (Part 04): Advancing to an Expert Advisor

In my previous articles, I have explained how to create an indicator with multiple subwindows, which becomes interesting when using custom indicators. This time we will see how to add multiple windows to an Expert Advisor.
MetaTrader 4 Working under Antiviruses and Firewalls
MetaTrader 4 Working under Antiviruses and Firewalls

MetaTrader 4 Working under Antiviruses and Firewalls

The most of traders use special programs to protect their PCs. Unfortunately, these programs don't only protect computers against intrusions, viruses and Trojans, but also consume a significant amount of resources. This relates to network traffic, first of all, which is wholly controlled by various intelligent antiviruses and firewalls. The reason for writing this article was that traders complained of slowed MetaTrader 4 Client Terminal when working with Outpost Firewall. We decided to make our own research using Kaspersky Antivirus 6.0 and Outpost Firewall Pro 4.0.
Building a Spectrum Analyzer
Building a Spectrum Analyzer

Building a Spectrum Analyzer

This article is intended to get its readers acquainted with a possible variant of using graphical objects of the MQL5 language. It analyses an indicator, which implements a panel of managing a simple spectrum analyzer using the graphical objects. The article is meant for readers acquianted with basics of MQL5.
MVC design pattern and its application (Part 2): Diagram of interaction between the three components
MVC design pattern and its application (Part 2): Diagram of interaction between the three components

MVC design pattern and its application (Part 2): Diagram of interaction between the three components

This article is a continuation and completion of the topic discussed in the previous article: the MVC pattern in MQL programs. In this article, we will consider a diagram of possible interaction between the three components of the pattern.
Transferring an Indicator Code into an Expert Advisor Code. Conclusion
Transferring an Indicator Code into an Expert Advisor Code. Conclusion

Transferring an Indicator Code into an Expert Advisor Code. Conclusion

This is the final article, devoted to transferring an indicator code into an Expert Advisor code. Here the author transforms on a certain example a code of an Expert Advisor so, that this EA is presented in a single file without calling custom indicators.
Graphical Interfaces XI: Refactoring the Library code (build 14.1)
Graphical Interfaces XI: Refactoring the Library code (build 14.1)

Graphical Interfaces XI: Refactoring the Library code (build 14.1)

As the library grows, its code must be optimized again in order to reduce its size. The version of the library described in this article has become even more object-oriented. This made the code easier to learn. A detailed description of the latest changes will allow the readers to develop the library independently based on their own needs.
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 12): Automation (IV)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 12): Automation (IV)

If you think automated systems are simple, then you probably don't fully understand what it takes to create them. In this article, we will talk about the problem that kills a lot of Expert Advisors. The indiscriminate triggering of orders is a possible solution to this problem.
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Creating an MQL5-Telegram Integrated Expert Advisor (Part 1): Sending Messages from MQL5 to Telegram

Creating an MQL5-Telegram Integrated Expert Advisor (Part 1): Sending Messages from MQL5 to Telegram

In this article, we create an Expert Advisor (EA) in MQL5 to send messages to Telegram using a bot. We set up the necessary parameters, including the bot's API token and chat ID, and then perform an HTTP POST request to deliver the messages. Later, we handle the response to ensure successful delivery and troubleshoot any issues that arise in case of failure. This ensures we send messages from MQL5 to Telegram via the created bot.
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Building and testing Keltner Channel trading systems

Building and testing Keltner Channel trading systems

In this article, we will try to provide trading systems using a very important concept in the financial market which is volatility. We will provide a trading system based on the Keltner Channel indicator after understanding it and how we can code it and how we can create a trading system based on a simple trading strategy and then test it on different assets.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 27): Deep Q-Learning (DQN)

Neural networks made easy (Part 27): Deep Q-Learning (DQN)

We continue to study reinforcement learning. In this article, we will get acquainted with the Deep Q-Learning method. The use of this method has enabled the DeepMind team to create a model that can outperform a human when playing Atari computer games. I think it will be useful to evaluate the possibilities of the technology for solving trading problems.
Statistical Estimations
Statistical Estimations

Statistical Estimations

Estimation of statistical parameters of a sequence is very important, since most of mathematical models and methods are based on different assumptions. For example, normality of distribution law or dispersion value, or other parameters. Thus, when analyzing and forecasting of time series we need a simple and convenient tool that allows quickly and clearly estimating the main statistical parameters. The article shortly describes the simplest statistical parameters of a random sequence and several methods of its visual analysis. It offers the implementation of these methods in MQL5 and the methods of visualization of the result of calculations using the Gnuplot application.
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Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 11): Naïve Bayes, Probability theory in Trading

Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 11): Naïve Bayes, Probability theory in Trading

Trading with probability is like walking on a tightrope - it requires precision, balance, and a keen understanding of risk. In the world of trading, the probability is everything. It's the difference between success and failure, profit and loss. By leveraging the power of probability, traders can make informed decisions, manage risk effectively, and achieve their financial goals. So, whether you're a seasoned investor or a novice trader, understanding probability is the key to unlocking your trading potential. In this article, we'll explore the exciting world of trading with probability and show you how to take your trading game to the next level.
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Revisiting an Old Trend Trading Strategy: Two Stochastic oscillators, a MA and Fibonacci

Revisiting an Old Trend Trading Strategy: Two Stochastic oscillators, a MA and Fibonacci

Old trading strategies. This article presents one of the strategies used to follow the trend in a purely technical way. The strategy is purely technical and uses a few technical indicators and tools to deliver signals and targets. The components of the strategy are as follows: A 14-period stochastic oscillator. A 5-period stochastic oscillator. A 200-period moving average. A Fibonacci projection tool (for target setting).
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Magic of time trading intervals with Frames Analyzer tool

Magic of time trading intervals with Frames Analyzer tool

What is Frames Analyzer? This is a plug-in module for any Expert Advisor for analyzing optimization frames during parameter optimization in the strategy tester, as well as outside the tester, by reading an MQD file or a database that is created immediately after parameter optimization. You will be able to share these optimization results with other users who have the Frames Analyzer tool to discuss the results together.
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 81): Integrating graphics into library objects
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 81): Integrating graphics into library objects

Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 81): Integrating graphics into library objects

It is time to start the integration of the already created objects into the previously created library objects. This will ultimately endow each library object with its own graphical object allowing users to interact with the program.
Tracing, Debugging and Structural Analysis of Source Code
Tracing, Debugging and Structural Analysis of Source Code

Tracing, Debugging and Structural Analysis of Source Code

The entire complex of problems of creating a structure of an executed code and its tracing can be solved without serious difficulties. This possibility has appeared in MetaTrader 5 due to the new feature of the MQL5 language - automatic creation of variables of complex type of data (structures and classes) and their elimination when going out of local scope. The article contains the description of the methodology and the ready-made tool.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 31): Towards the future (IV)

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 31): Towards the future (IV)

We continue to remove separate parts from our EA. This is the last article within this series. And the last thing to be removed is the sound system. This can be a bit confusing if you haven't followed these article series.
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Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 28): Opening Range Breakout Tool

Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 28): Opening Range Breakout Tool

At the start of each trading session, the market’s directional bias often becomes clear only after price moves beyond the opening range. In this article, we explore how to build an MQL5 Expert Advisor that automatically detects and analyzes Opening Range Breakouts, providing you with timely, data‑driven signals for confident intraday entries.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Gator Oscillator

Learn how to design a trading system by Gator Oscillator

A new article in our series about learning how to design a trading system based on popular technical indicators will be about the Gator Oscillator technical indicator and how to create a trading system through simple strategies.
Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Tree View Control (Chapter 2)
Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Tree View Control (Chapter 2)

Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Tree View Control (Chapter 2)

The previous chapter of part VIII on graphical interfaces has focused on the elements of static and drop-down calendar. The second chapter will be dedicated to an equally complex element — a tree view, that is included in every complete library used for creating graphical interfaces. A tree view implemented in this article contains multiple flexible settings and modes, thus allowing to adjust this element of control to your needs.
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Building and testing Aroon Trading Systems

Building and testing Aroon Trading Systems

In this article, we will learn how we can build an Aroon trading system after learning the basics of the indicators and the needed steps to build a trading system based on the Aroon indicator. After building this trading system, we will test it to see if it can be profitable or needs more optimization.
Growing Neural Gas: Implementation in MQL5
Growing Neural Gas: Implementation in MQL5

Growing Neural Gas: Implementation in MQL5

The article shows an example of how to develop an MQL5-program implementing the adaptive algorithm of clustering called Growing neural gas (GNG). The article is intended for the users who have studied the language documentation and have certain programming skills and basic knowledge in the area of neuroinformatics.
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Indicators with on-chart interactive controls

Indicators with on-chart interactive controls

The article offers a new perspective on indicator interfaces. I am going to focus on convenience. Having tried dozens of different trading strategies over the years, as well as having tested hundreds of different indicators, I have come to some conclusions I want to share with you in this article.
Using Discriminant Analysis to Develop Trading Systems
Using Discriminant Analysis to Develop Trading Systems

Using Discriminant Analysis to Develop Trading Systems

When developing a trading system, there usually arises a problem of selecting the best combination of indicators and their signals. Discriminant analysis is one of the methods to find such combinations. The article gives an example of developing an EA for market data collection and illustrates the use of the discriminant analysis for building prognostic models for the FOREX market in Statistica software.
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 5): Developing the Adaptive Crossover RSI Trading Suite Strategy

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 5): Developing the Adaptive Crossover RSI Trading Suite Strategy

In this article, we develop the Adaptive Crossover RSI Trading Suite System, which uses 14- and 50-period moving average crossovers for signals, confirmed by a 14-period RSI filter. The system includes a trading day filter, signal arrows with annotations, and a real-time dashboard for monitoring. This approach ensures precision and adaptability in automated trading.
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Testing different Moving Average types to see how insightful they are

Testing different Moving Average types to see how insightful they are

We all know the importance of the Moving Average indicator for a lot of traders. There are other Moving average types that can be useful in trading, we will identify these types in this article and make a simple comparison between each one of them and the most popular simple Moving average type to see which one can show the best results.
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Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 09): The K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm (KNN)

Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 09): The K-Nearest Neighbors Algorithm (KNN)

This is a lazy algorithm that doesn't learn from the training dataset, it stores the dataset instead and acts immediately when it's given a new sample. As simple as it is, it is used in a variety of real-world applications.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Bill Williams' MFI

Learn how to design a trading system by Bill Williams' MFI

This is a new article in the series in which we learn how to design a trading system based on popular technical indicators. This time we will cover Bill Williams' Market Facilitation Index (BW MFI).
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Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 06): Account types (I)

Creating an EA that works automatically (Part 06): Account types (I)

Today we'll see how to create an Expert Advisor that simply and safely works in automatic mode. Our EA in its current state can work in any situation but it is not yet ready for automation. We still have to work on a few points.
LibMatrix: Library of Matrix Algebra (Part One)
LibMatrix: Library of Matrix Algebra (Part One)

LibMatrix: Library of Matrix Algebra (Part One)

The author familiarizes the readers with a simple library of matrix algebra and provides descriptions and peculiarities of the main functions.
Show Must Go On, or Once Again about ZigZag
Show Must Go On, or Once Again about ZigZag

Show Must Go On, or Once Again about ZigZag

About an obvious but still substandard method of ZigZag composition, and what it results in: the Multiframe Fractal ZigZag indicator that represents ZigZags built on three larger ons, on a single working timeframe (TF). In their turn, those larger TFs may be non-standard, too, and range from M5 to MN1.