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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What you can do with Moving Averages

What you can do with Moving Averages

The article considers several methods of applying the Moving Average indicator. Each method involving a curve analysis is accompanied by indicators visualizing the idea. In most cases, the ideas shown here belong to their respected authors. My sole task was to bring them together to let you see the main approaches and, hopefully, make more reasonable trading decisions. MQL5 proficiency level — basic.
Modeling time series using custom symbols according to specified distribution laws
Modeling time series using custom symbols according to specified distribution laws

Modeling time series using custom symbols according to specified distribution laws

The article provides an overview of the terminal's capabilities for creating and working with custom symbols, offers options for simulating a trading history using custom symbols, trend and various chart patterns.
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Custom Stops, Breakeven and Trailing
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Custom Stops, Breakeven and Trailing

Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Custom Stops, Breakeven and Trailing

This article discusses how custom stop levels can be set up in a cross-platform expert advisor. It also discusses a closely-related method by which the evolution of a stop level over time can be defined.
A Few Tips for First-Time Customers
A Few Tips for First-Time Customers

A Few Tips for First-Time Customers

A proverbial wisdom often attributed to various famous people says: "He who makes no mistakes never makes anything." Unless you consider idleness itself a mistake, this statement is hard to argue with. But you can always analyze the past mistakes (your own and of others) to minimize the number of your future mistakes. We are going to attempt to review possible situations arising when executing jobs in the same-name service.
Self-adapting algorithm (Part IV): Additional functionality and tests
Self-adapting algorithm (Part IV): Additional functionality and tests

Self-adapting algorithm (Part IV): Additional functionality and tests

I continue filling the algorithm with the minimum necessary functionality and testing the results. The profitability is quite low but the articles demonstrate the model of the fully automated profitable trading on completely different instruments traded on fundamentally different markets.
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Money management in trading

Money management in trading

We will look at several new ways of building money management systems and define their main features. Today, there are quite a few money management strategies to fit every taste. We will try to consider several ways to manage money based on different mathematical growth models.
Studying candlestick analysis techniques (Part II): Auto search for new patterns
Studying candlestick analysis techniques (Part II): Auto search for new patterns

Studying candlestick analysis techniques (Part II): Auto search for new patterns

In the previous article, we analyzed 14 patterns selected from a large variety of existing candlestick formations. It is impossible to analyze all the patterns one by one, therefore another solution was found. The new system searches and tests new candlestick patterns based on known candlestick types.
Better Programmer (Part 06): 9 habits that lead to effective coding
Better Programmer (Part 06): 9 habits that lead to effective coding

Better Programmer (Part 06): 9 habits that lead to effective coding

It's not always all about writing the code that leads to effective coding. There are certain habits that I have found in my experience that lead to effective coding. We are going to discuss some of them in detail in this article. This is a must-read article for every programmer who wants to improve their ability to write complex algorithms with less hassle.
Multicurrency monitoring of trading signals (Part 5): Composite signals
Multicurrency monitoring of trading signals (Part 5): Composite signals

Multicurrency monitoring of trading signals (Part 5): Composite signals

In the fifth article related to the creation of a trading signal monitor, we will consider composite signals and will implement the necessary functionality. In earlier versions, we used simple signals, such as RSI, WPR and CCI, and we also introduced the possibility to use custom indicators.
MQL5 Cookbook: How to Avoid Errors When Setting/Modifying Trade Levels
MQL5 Cookbook: How to Avoid Errors When Setting/Modifying Trade Levels

MQL5 Cookbook: How to Avoid Errors When Setting/Modifying Trade Levels

In continuation of our work on the Expert Advisor from the previous article of the series called "MQL5 Cookbook: Analyzing Position Properties in the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester", we will enhance it with a whole lot of useful functions, as well as improve and optimize the existing ones. The Expert Advisor will this time have external parameters that can be optimized in the MetaTrader 5 Strategy Tester and will in some ways resemble a simple trading system.
Building interactive semi-automatic drag-and-drop Expert Advisor based on predefined risk and R/R ratio
Building interactive semi-automatic drag-and-drop Expert Advisor based on predefined risk and R/R ratio

Building interactive semi-automatic drag-and-drop Expert Advisor based on predefined risk and R/R ratio

Some traders execute all their trades automatically, and some mix automatic and manual trades based on the output of several indicators. Being a member of the latter group I needed an interactive tool to asses dynamically risk and reward price levels directly from the chart. This article will present a way to implement an interactive semi-automatic Expert Advisor with predefined equity risk and R/R ratio. The Expert Advisor risk, R/R and lot size parameters can be changed during runtime on the EA panel.
Graphical Interfaces V: The Combobox Control (Chapter 3)
Graphical Interfaces V: The Combobox Control (Chapter 3)

Graphical Interfaces V: The Combobox Control (Chapter 3)

In the first two chapters of the fifth part of the series, we developed classes for creating a scrollbar and a view list. In this chapter, we will speak about creating a class for the combobox control. This is also a compound control containing, among others, elements considered in the previous chapters of the fifth part.
MQL5-RPC. Remote Procedure Calls from MQL5: Web Service Access and XML-RPC ATC Analyzer for Fun and Profit
MQL5-RPC. Remote Procedure Calls from MQL5: Web Service Access and XML-RPC ATC Analyzer for Fun and Profit

MQL5-RPC. Remote Procedure Calls from MQL5: Web Service Access and XML-RPC ATC Analyzer for Fun and Profit

This article describes MQL5-RPC framework that enables Remote Procedure Calls from MQL5. It starts with XML-RPC basics, MQL5 implementation and follows with two real usage examples. First example is using external web service and the second one is a client to simple XML-RPC ATC 2011 Analyzer service. If you are interested on how to implement and analyze different statistics from ATC 2011 in real time, this article is just for you.
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Manual charting and trading toolkit (Part III). Optimization and new tools

Manual charting and trading toolkit (Part III). Optimization and new tools

In this article, we will further develop the idea of drawing graphical objects on charts using keyboard shortcuts. New tools have been added to the library, including a straight line plotted through arbitrary vertices, and a set of rectangles that enable the evaluation of the reversal time and level. Also, the article shows the possibility to optimize code for improved performance. The implementation example has been rewritten, allowing the use of Shortcuts alongside other trading programs. Required code knowledge level: slightly higher than a beginner.
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Signals Widgets
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Signals Widgets

MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Trading Signals Widgets

Recently MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 user received an opportunity to become a Signals Provider and earn additional profit. Now, you can display your trading success on your web site, blog or social network page using the new widgets. The benefits of using widgets are obvious: they increase the Signals Providers' popularity, establish their reputation as successful traders, as well as attract new Subscribers. All traders placing widgets on other web sites can enjoy these benefits.
Probability theory and mathematical statistics with examples (part I): Fundamentals and elementary theory
Probability theory and mathematical statistics with examples (part I): Fundamentals and elementary theory

Probability theory and mathematical statistics with examples (part I): Fundamentals and elementary theory

Trading is always about making decisions in the face of uncertainty. This means that the results of the decisions are not quite obvious at the time these decisions are made. This entails the importance of theoretical approaches to the construction of mathematical models allowing us to describe such cases in meaningful manner.
Fundamentals of Statistics
Fundamentals of Statistics

Fundamentals of Statistics

Every trader works using certain statistical calculations, even if being a supporter of fundamental analysis. This article walks you through the fundamentals of statistics, its basic elements and shows the importance of statistics in decision making.
Tips for Selecting a Trading Signal to Subscribe. Step-By-Step Guide
Tips for Selecting a Trading Signal to Subscribe. Step-By-Step Guide

Tips for Selecting a Trading Signal to Subscribe. Step-By-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide is dedicated to the Signals service, examination of trading signals, a system approach to the search of a required signal which would satisfy criteria of profitability, risk, trading ambitions, working on various types of accounts and financial instruments.
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part II). Collection of historical orders and deals
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part II). Collection of historical orders and deals

Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part II). Collection of historical orders and deals

In the first part, we started creating a large cross-platform library simplifying the development of programs for MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4 platforms. We created the COrder abstract object which is a base object for storing data on history orders and deals, as well as on market orders and positions. Now we will develop all the necessary objects for storing account history data in collections.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Bear's Power

Learn how to design a trading system by Bear's Power

Welcome to a new article in our series about learning how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicator here is a new article about learning how to design a trading system by Bear's Power technical indicator.
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Using AutoIt With MQL5

Using AutoIt With MQL5

Short description. In this article we will explore scripting the MetraTrader 5 terminal by integrating MQL5 with AutoIt. In it we will cover how to automate various tasks by manipulating the terminals' user interface and also present a class that uses the AutoItX library.
Prices and Signals in DoEasy library (Part 65): Depth of Market collection and the class for working with MQL5.com Signals
Prices and Signals in DoEasy library (Part 65): Depth of Market collection and the class for working with MQL5.com Signals

Prices and Signals in DoEasy library (Part 65): Depth of Market collection and the class for working with MQL5.com Signals

In this article, I will create the collection class of Depths of Market of all symbols and start developing the functionality for working with the MQL5.com Signals service by creating the signal object class.
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 35): Bar object and symbol timeseries list
Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 35): Bar object and symbol timeseries list

Timeseries in DoEasy library (part 35): Bar object and symbol timeseries list

This article starts a new series about the creation of the DoEasy library for easy and fast program development. In the current article, we will implement the library functionality for accessing and working with symbol timeseries data. We are going to create the Bar object storing the main and extended timeseries bar data, and place bar objects to the timeseries list for convenient search and sorting of the objects.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Alligator

Learn how to design a trading system by Alligator

In this article, we'll complete our series about how to design a trading system based on the most popular technical indicator. We'll learn how to create a trading system based on the Alligator indicator.
The Order of Object Creation and Destruction in MQL5
The Order of Object Creation and Destruction in MQL5

The Order of Object Creation and Destruction in MQL5

Every object, whether it is a custom object, a dynamic array or an array of objects, is created and deleted in MQL5-program in its particular way. Often, some objects are part of other objects, and the order of object deleting at deinitialization becomes especially important. This article provides some examples that cover the mechanisms of working with objects.
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Design Patterns in software development and MQL5 (Part 4): Behavioral Patterns 2

Design Patterns in software development and MQL5 (Part 4): Behavioral Patterns 2

In this article, we will complete our series about the Design Patterns topic, we mentioned that there are three types of design patterns creational, structural, and behavioral. We will complete the remaining patterns of the behavioral type which can help set the method of interaction between objects in a way that makes our code clean.
MQL5 Cookbook: Developing a Multi-Symbol Volatility Indicator in MQL5
MQL5 Cookbook: Developing a Multi-Symbol Volatility Indicator in MQL5

MQL5 Cookbook: Developing a Multi-Symbol Volatility Indicator in MQL5

In this article, we will consider the development of a multi-symbol volatility indicator. The development of multi-symbol indicators may present some difficulties for novice MQL5 developers which this article helps to clarify. The major issues arising in the course of development of a multi-symbol indicator have to do with the synchronization of other symbols' data with respect to the current symbol, the lack of some indicator data and the identification of the beginning of 'true' bars of a given time frame. All of these issues will be closely considered in the article.
Combination scalping: analyzing trades from the past to increase the performance of future trades
Combination scalping: analyzing trades from the past to increase the performance of future trades

Combination scalping: analyzing trades from the past to increase the performance of future trades

The article provides the description of the technology aimed at increasing the effectiveness of any automated trading system. It provides a brief explanation of the idea, as well as its underlying basics, possibilities and disadvantages.
Another MQL5 OOP Class
Another MQL5 OOP Class

Another MQL5 OOP Class

This article shows you how to build an Object-Oriented Expert Advisor from scratch, from conceiving a theoretical trading idea to programming a MQL5 EA that makes that idea real in the empirical world. Learning by doing is IMHO a solid approach to succeed, so I am showing a practical example in order for you to see how you can order your ideas to finally code your Forex robots. My goal is also to invite you to adhere the OO principles.
Applying OLAP in trading (part 3): Analyzing quotes for the development of trading strategies
Applying OLAP in trading (part 3): Analyzing quotes for the development of trading strategies

Applying OLAP in trading (part 3): Analyzing quotes for the development of trading strategies

In this article we will continue dealing with the OLAP technology applied to trading. We will expand the functionality presented in the first two articles. This time we will consider the operational analysis of quotes. We will put forward and test the hypotheses on trading strategies based on aggregated historical data. The article presents Expert Advisors for studying bar patterns and adaptive trading.
Universal Expert Advisor: the Event Model and Trading Strategy Prototype (Part 2)
Universal Expert Advisor: the Event Model and Trading Strategy Prototype (Part 2)

Universal Expert Advisor: the Event Model and Trading Strategy Prototype (Part 2)

This article continues the series of publications on a universal Expert Advisor model. This part describes in detail the original event model based on centralized data processing, and considers the structure of the CStrategy base class of the engine.
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Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 01): Linear Regression

Data Science and Machine Learning (Part 01): Linear Regression

It's time for us as traders to train our systems and ourselves to make decisions based on what number says. Not on our eyes, and what our guts make us believe, this is where the world is heading so, let us move perpendicular to the direction of the wave.
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Introduction
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Introduction

Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: Introduction

This article details a method by which cross-platform expert advisors can be developed faster and easier. The proposed method consolidates the features shared by both versions into a single class, and splits the implementation on derived classes for incompatible features.
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Matrices and vectors in MQL5

Matrices and vectors in MQL5

By using special data types 'matrix' and 'vector', it is possible to create code which is very close to mathematical notation. With these methods, you can avoid the need to create nested loops or to mind correct indexing of arrays in calculations. Therefore, the use of matrix and vector methods increases the reliability and speed in developing complex programs.
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: The CExpertAdvisor and CExpertAdvisors Classes
Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: The CExpertAdvisor and CExpertAdvisors Classes

Cross-Platform Expert Advisor: The CExpertAdvisor and CExpertAdvisors Classes

This article deals primarily with the classes CExpertAdvisor and CExpertAdvisors, which serve as the container for all the other components described in this article-series regarding cross-platform expert advisors.
What is a trend and is the market structure based on trend or flat?
What is a trend and is the market structure based on trend or flat?

What is a trend and is the market structure based on trend or flat?

Traders often talk about trends and flats but very few of them really understand what a trend/flat really is and even fewer are able to clearly explain these concepts. Discussing these basic terms is often beset by a solid set of prejudices and misconceptions. However, if we want to make profit, we need to understand the mathematical and logical meaning of these concepts. In this article, I will take a closer look at the essence of trend and flat, as well as try to define whether the market structure is based on trend, flat or something else. I will also consider the most optimal strategies for making profit on trend and flat markets.
MQL5 Cookbook: Development of a Multi-Symbol Indicator to Analyze Price Divergence
MQL5 Cookbook: Development of a Multi-Symbol Indicator to Analyze Price Divergence

MQL5 Cookbook: Development of a Multi-Symbol Indicator to Analyze Price Divergence

In this article, we will consider the development of a multi-symbol indicator to analyze price divergence in a specified period of time. The core topics have been already discussed in the previous article on the programming of multi-currency indicators "MQL5 Cookbook: Developing a Multi-Symbol Volatility Indicator in MQL5". So this time we will dwell only on those new features and functions that have been changed dramatically. If you are new to the programming of multi-currency indicators, I recommend you to first read the previous article.
Neural Networks Cheap and Cheerful - Link NeuroPro with MetaTrader 5
Neural Networks Cheap and Cheerful - Link NeuroPro with MetaTrader 5

Neural Networks Cheap and Cheerful - Link NeuroPro with MetaTrader 5

If specific neural network programs for trading seem expensive and complex or, on the contrary, too simple, try NeuroPro. It is free and contains the optimal set of functionalities for amateurs. This article will tell you how to use it in conjunction with MetaTrader 5.
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 74): Basic graphical element powered by the CCanvas class
Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 74): Basic graphical element powered by the CCanvas class

Graphics in DoEasy library (Part 74): Basic graphical element powered by the CCanvas class

In this article, I will rework the concept of building graphical objects from the previous article and prepare the base class of all graphical objects of the library powered by the Standard Library CCanvas class.
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Finding seasonal patterns in the forex market using the CatBoost algorithm

Finding seasonal patterns in the forex market using the CatBoost algorithm

The article considers the creation of machine learning models with time filters and discusses the effectiveness of this approach. The human factor can be eliminated now by simply instructing the model to trade at a certain hour of a certain day of the week. Pattern search can be provided by a separate algorithm.