MQL4 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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How we developed the MetaTrader Signals service and Social Trading
We continue to enhance the Signals service, improve the mechanisms, add new functions and fix flaws. The MetaTrader Signals Service of 2012 and the current MetaTrader Signals Service are like two...
Why Is It Important to Update MetaTrader 4 to the Latest Build by August 1?
From August 1, 2014, MetaTrader 4 desktop terminals older than build 600 will no longer be supported. However, many traders still work with outdated versions and are unaware of the updated platform's...
Common Errors in MQL4 Programs and How to Avoid Them
To avoid critical completion of programs, the previous version compiler handled many errors in the runtime environment. For example, division by zero or array out of range are critical errors and...
Upgrade to MetaTrader 4 Build 600 and Higher
The new version of the MetaTrader 4 terminal features the updated structure of user data storage. In earlier versions all programs, templates, profiles etc. were stored directly in terminal...
Data Structure in MetaTrader 4 Build 600 and Higher
MetaTarder 4 build 600 features the new structure and location of the client terminal files. Now, MQL4 applications are placed in separate directories according to the program type (Expert Advisors,...
Offline Charts in the New MQL4
Updated MQL4 has the new format for storing historical data and provides the appropriate MqlRates structure for convenient storage of Time, Open, Low, High, Close and Volume values. For many years,...
Testing and Optimization of Expert Advisors
The article provides a detailed description of the process of testing and optimizing Expert Advisors in the MetaTrader 4 Strategy Tester. The importance of such information and the need for this...
Lite_EXPERT2.mqh: Expert Advisor Implementation Examples
In this article, the author continues to familiarize the readers with the Lite_EXPERT2.mqh functions using real Expert Advisor implementation examples. The article deals with the idea of using...
Advanced Analysis of a Trading Account
The article deals with the automatic system for analyzing any trading account in MetaTrader 4 terminal. Technical aspects of a generated report and interpretation of the obtained results are...
Visual Optimization of Indicator and Signal Profitability
This article is a continuation and development of my previous article "Visual Testing of Profitability of Indicators and Alerts". Having added some interactivity to the parameter changing process and...
Lite_EXPERT2.mqh: Functional Kit for Developers of Expert Advisors
This article continues the series of articles "Expert Advisors Based on Popular Trading Systems and Alchemy of Trading Robot Optimization". It familiarizes the readers with a more universal function...
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.
Expert Advisor for Trading in the Channel
The Expert Advisor plots the channel lines. The upper and lower channel lines act as support and resistance levels. The Expert Advisor marks datum points, provides sound notification every time the...
Simple Methods of Forecasting Directions of the Japanese Candlesticks
Knowing the direction of the price movement is sufficient for getting positive results from trading operations. Some information on the possible direction of the price can be obtained from the...
How Reliable is Night Trading?
The article covers the peculiarities of night flat trading on cross currency pairs. It explains where you can expect profits and why great losses are not unlikely. The article also features an example...
Money Management Revisited
The article deals with some issues arising when traders apply various money management systems to Forex trading. Experimental data obtained from performing trading deals using different money...
Alert and Comment for External Indicators (Part Two)
Since I published the article "Alert and Comment for External Indicators", I have been receiving requests and questions regarding the possibility of developing an external informer operating based on...
Alert and Comment for External Indicators. Multi-Currency Analysis Through External Scanning
Alert for multi-currency and multiple time frame analysis of external indicators. The article deals with a method of getting event information in respect of events in external indicators, without...
Graphical Control of External Parameters of Indicators
External variables of indicators are controlled using a special window where parameters can be changed and the indicator is then run again. The obvious inconvenience of these manipulations has given...
Testing Expert Advisors on Non-Standard Time Frames
It's not just simple; it's super simple. Testing Expert Advisors on non-standard time frames is possible! All we need to do is to replace standard time frame data with non-standard time frame data....
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...
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.
Mechanical Trading System "Chuvashov's Triangle"
Let me offer you an overview and the program code of the mechanical trading system based on ideas of Stanislav Chuvashov. Triangle's construction is based on the intersection of two trend lines built...
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...
The Random Sandbox
The article includes an interactive "sandbox" as an Excel file which simulates randomized Expert Advisor backtest data. Readers can use this to help explore and more deeply understand the EA...
MetaTrader 4 Expert Advisor exchanges information with the outside world
A simple, universal and reliable solution of information exchange between МetaТrader 4 Expert Advisor and the outside world. Suppliers and consumers of the information can be located on different...
MetaTrader 4 on Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. Many home PC users prefer it to MS Windows series. Linux systems...
An Insight Into Accumulation/Distribution And Where It Can Get You
The Accumulation/Distribution (A/D) Indicator has one interesting feature - a breakout of the trend line plotted in this indicator chart suggests, with a certain degree of probability, a forthcoming...
MetaTrader 4 on Mac OS
Apple products have become very popular. MetaQuotes Software Corp. attentively follows the progress of the IT industry and has already released the special mobile applications for iOS-based devices -...
The Golden Rule of Traders
In order to make profits based on high expectations, we must understand three basic principles of good trading: 1) know your risk when entering the market; 2) cut your losses early and allow your...
Trader's Kit: Drag Trade Library
The article describes Drag Trade Library that provides functionality for visual trading. The library can easily be integrated into virtually any Expert Advisor. Your Expert Advisor can be transformed...
Synthetic Bars - A New Dimension to Displaying Graphical Information on Prices
The main drawback of traditional methods for displaying price information using bars and Japanese candlesticks is that they are bound to the time period. It was perhaps optimal at the time when these...
Mechanical Trading System "Chuvashov's Fork"
This article draws your attention to the brief review of the method and program code of the mechanical trading system based on the technique proposed by Stanislav Chuvashov. The market analysis...
Econometrics EURUSD One-Step-Ahead Forecast
The article focuses on one-step-ahead forecasting for EURUSD using EViews software and a further evaluation of forecasting results using the programs in EViews. The forecast involves regression models...
Fractal Analysis of Joint Currency Movements
How independent are currency quotes? Are their movements coordinated or does the movement of one currency suggest nothing of the movement of another? The article describes an effort to tackle this...
On Methods of Technical Analysis and Market Forecasting
The article demonstrates the capabilities and potential of a well-known mathematical method coupled with visual thinking and an "out of the box" market outlook. On the one hand, it serves to attract...
Testing (Optimization) Technique and Some Criteria for Selection of the Expert Advisor Parameters
There is no trouble finding the Holy Grail of testing, it is however much more difficult to get rid of it. This article addresses the selection of the Expert Advisor operating parameters with...
Enhancing the Quality of the Code with the Help of Unit Test
Even simple programs may often have errors that seem to be unbelievable. "How could I create that?" is our first thought when such an error is revealed. "How can I avoid that?" is the second question...
Protect Yourselves, Developers!
Protection of intellectual property is still a big problem. This article describes the basic principles of MQL4-programs protection. Using these principles you can ensure that results of your...
Contest of Expert Advisors inside an Expert Advisor
Using virtual trading, you can create an adaptive Expert Advisor, which will turn on and off trades at the real market. Combine several strategies in a single Expert Advisor! Your multisystem Expert...