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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Using cloud storage services for data exchange between terminals
Using cloud storage services for data exchange between terminals

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.
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DoEasy. Controls (Part 25): Tooltip WinForms object

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.
MQL5 Cookbook: Position Properties on the Custom Info Panel
MQL5 Cookbook: Position Properties on the Custom Info Panel

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".
Drawing Dial Gauges Using the CCanvas Class
Drawing Dial Gauges Using the CCanvas Class

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.
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How to create a custom indicator (Heiken Ashi) using MQL5

How to create a custom indicator (Heiken Ashi) using MQL5

In this article, we will learn how to create a custom indicator using MQL5 based on our preferences, to be used in MetaTrader 5 to help us read charts or to be used in automated Expert Advisors.
How to Prepare MetaTrader 5 Quotes for Other Applications
How to Prepare MetaTrader 5 Quotes for Other Applications

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.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Parabolic SAR

Learn how to design a trading system by Parabolic SAR

In this article, we will continue our series about how to design a trading system using the most popular indicators. In this article, we will learn about the Parabolic SAR indicator in detail and how we can design a trading system to be used in MetaTrader 5 using some simple strategies.
Connecting NeuroSolutions Neuronets
Connecting NeuroSolutions Neuronets

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.
Statistical Probability Distributions in MQL5
Statistical Probability Distributions in MQL5

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.
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Gradient Boosting (CatBoost) in the development of trading systems. A naive approach

Gradient Boosting (CatBoost) in the development of trading systems. A naive approach

Training the CatBoost classifier in Python and exporting the model to mql5, as well as parsing the model parameters and a custom strategy tester. The Python language and the MetaTrader 5 library are used for preparing the data and for training the model.
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 8): Building an Expert Advisor with Butterfly Harmonic Patterns

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 8): Building an Expert Advisor with Butterfly Harmonic Patterns

In this article, we build an MQL5 Expert Advisor to detect Butterfly harmonic patterns. We identify pivot points and validate Fibonacci levels to confirm the pattern. We then visualize the pattern on the chart and automatically execute trades when confirmed.
Freelance Jobs on MQL5.com - Developer's Favorite Place
Freelance Jobs on MQL5.com - Developer's Favorite Place

Freelance Jobs on MQL5.com - Developer's Favorite Place

Developers of trading robots no longer need to market their services to traders that require Expert Advisors - as now they will find you. Already, thousands of traders place orders to MQL5 freelance developers, and pay for work in on MQL5.com. For 4 years, this service facilitated three thousand traders to pay for more than 10 000 jobs performed. And the activity of traders and developers is constantly growing!
Developing multi-module Expert Advisors
Developing multi-module Expert Advisors

Developing multi-module Expert Advisors

MQL programming language allows implementing the concept of modular development of trading strategies. The article shows an example of developing a multi-module Expert Advisor consisting of separately compiled file modules.
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Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 11): Developing a Multi-Level Grid Trading System

Automating Trading Strategies in MQL5 (Part 11): Developing a Multi-Level Grid Trading System

In this article, we develop a multi-level grid trading system EA using MQL5, focusing on the architecture and algorithm design behind grid trading strategies. We explore the implementation of multi-layered grid logic and risk management techniques to handle varying market conditions. Finally, we provide detailed explanations and practical tips to guide you through building, testing, and refining the automated trading system.
Separate optimization of a strategy on trend and flat conditions
Separate optimization of a strategy on trend and flat conditions

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.
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly

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.
MQL5 Wizard: How to Create a Module of Trailing of Open Positions
MQL5 Wizard: How to Create a Module of Trailing of Open Positions

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.
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Brute force approach to pattern search (Part IV): Minimal functionality

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.
Econometric Approach to Analysis of Charts
Econometric Approach to Analysis of Charts

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.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 3): Convolutional networks

Neural networks made easy (Part 3): Convolutional networks

As a continuation of the neural network topic, I propose considering convolutional neural networks. This type of neural network are usually applied to analyzing visual imagery. In this article, we will consider the application of these networks in the financial markets.
Here Comes the New MetaTrader 5 and MQL5
Here Comes the New MetaTrader 5 and MQL5

Here Comes the New MetaTrader 5 and MQL5

This is just a brief review of MetaTrader 5. I can't describe all the system's new features for such a short time period - the testing started on 2009.09.09. This is a symbolical date, and I am sure it will be a lucky number. A few days have passed since I got the beta version of the MetaTrader 5 terminal and MQL5. I haven't managed to try all its features, but I am already impressed.
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How to create a simple Multi-Currency Expert Advisor using MQL5 (Part 1): Indicator Signals based on ADX in combination with Parabolic SAR

How to create a simple Multi-Currency Expert Advisor using MQL5 (Part 1): Indicator Signals based on ADX in combination with Parabolic SAR

The Multi-Currency Expert Advisor in this article is Expert Advisor or trading robot that can trade (open orders, close orders and manage orders an more) for more than 1 symbol pair only from one symbol chart.
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Multilayer perceptron and backpropagation algorithm

Multilayer perceptron and backpropagation algorithm

The popularity of these two methods grows, so a lot of libraries have been developed in Matlab, R, Python, C++ and others, which receive a training set as input and automatically create an appropriate network for the problem. Let us try to understand how the basic neural network type works (including single-neuron perceptron and multilayer perceptron). We will consider an exciting algorithm which is responsible for network training - gradient descent and backpropagation. Existing complex models are often based on such simple network models.
Graphical Interfaces II: the Separation Line and Context Menu Elements (Chapter 2)
Graphical Interfaces II: the Separation Line and Context Menu Elements (Chapter 2)

Graphical Interfaces II: the Separation Line and Context Menu Elements (Chapter 2)

In this article we will create the separation line element. It will be possible to use it not only as an independent interface element but also as a part of many other elements. After that, we will have everything required for the development of the context menu class, which will be also considered in this article in detail. Added to that, we will introduce all necessary additions to the class, which is the base for storing pointers to all the elements of the graphical interface of the application.
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part VIII): Order and position modification events
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part VIII): Order and position modification events

Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part VIII): Order and position modification events

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 seventh part, we added tracking StopLimit orders activation and prepared the functionality for tracking other events involving orders and positions. In this article, we will develop the class for tracking order and position modification events.
MVC design pattern and its possible application
MVC design pattern and its possible application

MVC design pattern and its possible application

The article discusses a popular MVC pattern, as well as the possibilities, pros and cons of its usage in MQL programs. The idea is to split an existing code into three separate components: Model, View and Controller.
Combinatorics and probability for trading (Part IV): Bernoulli Logic
Combinatorics and probability for trading (Part IV): Bernoulli Logic

Combinatorics and probability for trading (Part IV): Bernoulli Logic

In this article, I decided to highlight the well-known Bernoulli scheme and to show how it can be used to describe trading-related data arrays. All this will then be used to create a self-adapting trading system. We will also look for a more generic algorithm, a special case of which is the Bernoulli formula, and will find an application for it.
Other classes in DoEasy library (Part 66): MQL5.com Signals collection class
Other classes in DoEasy library (Part 66): MQL5.com Signals collection class

Other classes in DoEasy library (Part 66): MQL5.com Signals collection class

In this article, I will create the signal collection class of the MQL5.com Signals service with the functions for managing signals. Besides, I will improve the Depth of Market snapshot object class for displaying the total DOM buy and sell volumes.
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part XI). Compatibility with MQL4 - Position closure events
Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part XI). Compatibility with MQL4 - Position closure events

Library for easy and quick development of MetaTrader programs (part XI). Compatibility with MQL4 - Position closure events

We continue the development of a large cross-platform library simplifying the development of programs for MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4 platforms. In the tenth part, we resumed our work on the library compatibility with MQL4 and defined the events of opening positions and activating pending orders. In this article, we will define the events of closing positions and get rid of the unused order properties.
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Mastering Market Dynamics: Creating a Support and Resistance Strategy Expert Advisor (EA)

Mastering Market Dynamics: Creating a Support and Resistance Strategy Expert Advisor (EA)

A comprehensive guide to developing an automated trading algorithm based on the Support and Resistance strategy. Detailed information on all aspects of creating an expert advisor in MQL5 and testing it in MetaTrader 5 – from analyzing price range behaviors to risk management.
Technical Indicators and Digital Filters
Technical Indicators and Digital Filters

Technical Indicators and Digital Filters

In this article, technical indicators are treated as digital filters. Operation principles and basic characteristics of digital filters are explained. Also, some practical ways of receiving the filter kernel in MetaTrader 5 terminal and integration with a ready-made spectrum analyzer proposed in the article "Building a Spectrum Analyzer" are considered. Pulse and spectrum characteristics of the typical digital filters are used as examples.
Self-organizing feature maps (Kohonen maps) - revisiting the subject
Self-organizing feature maps (Kohonen maps) - revisiting the subject

Self-organizing feature maps (Kohonen maps) - revisiting the subject

This article describes techniques of operating with Kohonen maps. The subject will be of interest to both market researchers with basic level of programing in MQL4 and MQL5 and experienced programmers that face difficulties with connecting Kohonen maps to their projects.
Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Calendar Control (Chapter 1)
Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Calendar Control (Chapter 1)

Graphical Interfaces VIII: The Calendar Control (Chapter 1)

In the part VIII of the series of articles dedicated to creating graphical interfaces in MetaTrader, we will consider complex composite controls like calendars, tree view, and file navigator. Due to the large amount of information, there are separate articles written for every subject. The first chapter of this part describes the calendar control and its expanded version — a drop down calendar.
A system of voice notifications for trade events and signals
A system of voice notifications for trade events and signals

A system of voice notifications for trade events and signals

Nowadays, voice assistants play a prominent role in human life, as we often use navigators, voice search and translators. In this article, I will try to develop a simple and user friendly system of voice notifications for various trade events, market states or signals generated by trading signals.
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Learn how to design a trading system by Standard Deviation

Learn how to design a trading system by Standard Deviation

Here is a new article in our series about how to design a trading system by the most popular technical indicators in MetaTrader 5 trading platform. In this new article, we will learn how to design a trading system by Standard Deviation indicator.
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Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 19): New order system (II)

Developing a trading Expert Advisor from scratch (Part 19): New order system (II)

In this article, we will develop a graphical order system of the "look what happens" type. Please note that we are not starting from scratch this time, but we will modify the existing system by adding more objects and events on the chart of the asset we are trading.
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MQL5 Integration: Python

MQL5 Integration: Python

Python is a well-known and popular programming language with many features, especially in the fields of finance, data science, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning. Python is a powerful tool that can be useful in trading as well. MQL5 allows us to use this powerful language as an integration to get our objectives done effectively. In this article, we will share how we can use Python as an integration in MQL5 after learning some basic information about Python.
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Brute force approach to pattern search

Brute force approach to pattern search

In this article, we will search for market patterns, create Expert Advisors based on the identified patterns, and check how long these patterns remain valid, if they ever retain their validity.
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Neural networks made easy (Part 9): Documenting the work

Neural networks made easy (Part 9): Documenting the work

We have already passed a long way and the code in our library is becoming bigger and bigger. This makes it difficult to keep track of all connections and dependencies. Therefore, I suggest creating documentation for the earlier created code and to keep it updating with each new step. Properly prepared documentation will help us see the integrity of our work.
MQL5 Cookbook: Using Different Print Modes
MQL5 Cookbook: Using Different Print Modes

MQL5 Cookbook: Using Different Print Modes

This is the first article of the MQL5 Cookbook series. I will start with simple examples to allow those who are taking their first steps in programming to gradually become familiar with the new language. I remember my first efforts at designing and programming trading systems which I may say was quite difficult, given the fact that it was the first programming language in my life. However, it turned out to be easier than I thought and it only took me a few months before I could develop a fairly complex program.