ADX TRADING STRATEGIES EA MT4/MT5 Settings/Inputs Guide
Trading Systems

ADX TRADING STRATEGIES EA MT4/MT5 Settings/Inputs Guide

16 November 2024, 10:23
Biswarup Banerjee
Biswarup Banerjee
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2 033

Complete User Documentation — MT4 & MT5

1. OVERVIEW

This EA automates trading across multiple currency pairs from a single chart, using the Stochastic Oscillator as its core signal engine. It doesn't just generate raw signals — it lets you pick from eight distinct entry and exit strategies, apply divergence analysis, and layer on trend filters to keep you out of bad trades. The real problem it solves is the manual grind: instead of flipping between charts and timeframes, you get a single dashboard that shows you exactly where the opportunities are, and the EA can execute trades automatically based on your rules.

Who Should Use It: Retail forex traders who want to run a systematic stochastic-based strategy across multiple pairs without babysitting each chart, and who need the flexibility to fine-tune entry/exit logic, risk controls, and trend confirmation.

Main Benefit: You get a fully automated, multi-pair stochastic trading system that handles everything from signal generation to position management, with enough customization to match your specific trading style.

2. INPUT PARAMETERS & SETTINGS

This product shares a common set of general input settings with all Multi-Currency Scanner Dashboard products in this series. The following sections are covered in the common guide: General Settings (pairs list, dashboard colors, panel size), Timeframe Signal Settings (individual TF scan per symbol), Timeframe Confluence Settings (multi-TF confluence scan), and Alert Settings (popup, push notification, email). For full details refer to the Common Multi-Currency Scanner Dashboard Settings Guide. The sections below cover only the product-specific inputs unique to this product.

General Settings

These settings control how the EA displays virtual stop-loss and take-profit lines, manages group-level risk across all open positions, and handles swap charges and backtest history recording.

Setting Name Type Default Value Description Example
Chart lines for virtual SL/TP (never drawn during optimization) bool false When enabled, the EA draws horizontal lines on the chart showing where your virtual stop-loss and take-profit levels sit. Useful for visual confirmation during live trading, but the EA skips drawing during optimization runs to keep things fast. true — Turn this on when running a forward test so you can see exactly where your stops are placed.
Group Stoploss Amount double 0 Sets a maximum total loss in account currency for all positions opened by this EA. Once the combined loss hits this value, the EA closes all trades. Handy for limiting drawdown when trading multiple pairs at once. 50 — If you have a $500 account, set this to 50 to cap total loss at $50 across all pairs.
Include Swap charges in Profit bool true When true, the EA factors swap (overnight interest) into the profit calculation for breakeven and trailing stop logic. If you hold positions overnight, this gives a more accurate picture of your real P&L. true — Keep this on if you trade pairs like AUD/JPY with high swap rates and hold for days.
Enable history for backtests or optimization bool false When enabled, the EA records trade history during backtests and optimization runs, allowing you to analyze performance after the run. Leave it off during live trading to reduce resource usage. true — Enable this when running a genetic optimization so you can review the trade log afterward.

Atr Trailingstop Settings

These settings let you activate an ATR-based trailing stop that dynamically adjusts the stop-loss level based on market volatility, with separate controls for activation threshold, trail distance, and increment.

Setting Name Type Default Value Description Example
Use ATR Trailing Stop bool false Master switch for the ATR trailing stop feature. When enabled, the EA replaces the standard breakeven/trailing logic with a volatility-adjusted trailing stop that widens during high volatility and tightens during low volatility. true — Turn this on for pairs like GBP/JPY that have erratic volatility spikes.
ATR Timeframe ENUM PERIOD_CURRENT Selects the timeframe used to calculate the ATR value for the trailing stop. Using a higher timeframe (like H4) gives a smoother, more stable ATR, while a lower timeframe (M15) reacts faster to sudden volatility changes. PERIOD_H1 — Use H1 for a balance between responsiveness and stability on most major pairs.
ATR Period int 14 Number of bars used to calculate the ATR. A shorter period (like 7) makes the trailing stop more sensitive to recent price action, while a longer period (like 21) smooths out noise and reduces false adjustments. 10 — Use a shorter period for scalping strategies where quick reactions matter.
Activation (ATR multiplier) double 2.0 The profit level (in ATR units) that must be reached before the trailing stop activates. A value of 2.0 means the trade must be 2 ATRs in profit before the stop starts moving. Higher values give the trade more room to breathe. 3.0 — Use a higher multiplier for trend-following strategies to avoid being stopped out by minor pullbacks.
Trail distance (ATR multiplier) double 1.0 The fixed distance (in ATR units) that the trailing stop trails behind the current price. A value of 1.0 means the stop is placed 1 ATR away from the price. Smaller values lock in profit faster but risk early exits. 0.8 — Use a tighter trail for volatile pairs to protect profits without getting stopped out by normal fluctuations.
Trail increment (ATR multiplier) double 0.5 The step size (in ATR units) that the trailing stop moves each time the price advances. A value of 0.5 means the stop moves up by 0.5 ATR for every 0.5 ATR of favorable price movement. Smaller increments create a smoother trail. 0.3 — Use a smaller increment for a tighter, more responsive trailing stop on fast-moving pairs.

Grid Settings

This setting controls whether the EA attempts to recover losses from all grid trades by closing them at a combined profit target.

Setting Name Type Default Value Description Example
Recover profit from all grid trades bool false When enabled, the EA calculates the total net profit across all open positions and closes the entire grid when that combined profit reaches a positive value. Useful for grid strategies that accumulate losing positions and need a recovery mechanism. true — Enable this if you're running a martingale or grid strategy and want to exit all trades at breakeven or small profit.

Safeguard Settings

These settings protect your account by limiting maximum loss, setting minimum performance thresholds for backtesting, and preventing the EA from trading after extended inactivity.

Setting Name Type Default Value Description Example
Max Loss from initial balance [0: disable] double 0.0 Sets a maximum drawdown percentage from the initial account balance. If the account drops below this level, the EA stops opening new trades. A value of 20 means the EA stops trading if the account loses 20% of its starting balance. 15 — Set to 15 to stop trading after a 15% drawdown, preserving capital for manual intervention.
Minimum Profit Percent [backtesting only] [0: disable] double 0 Only used during backtesting: if the total profit percentage at the end of the test is below this value, the EA marks the run as a failure. Helps you quickly filter out underperforming parameter sets during optimization. 5 — Set to 5 to reject any optimization result that doesn't achieve at least 5% profit over the test period.
Minimum Trades [backtesting only] [0: disable] double 0 Sets a minimum number of trades that must be executed during a backtest for the run to be considered valid. Useful for avoiding parameter sets that produce too few trades to be statistically meaningful. 20 — Set to 20 to discard optimization results with fewer than 20 trades, ensuring statistical relevance.
Max inactive days [backtesting only] [0: disable] int 0 During backtesting, if the EA goes without opening a trade for more than this many days, it stops the test and marks the run as failed. Helps you avoid strategies that go dormant for long periods. 30 — Set to 30 to reject strategies that don't trade for a month or more during the test period.

Stochastic Settings

These settings define the core Stochastic Oscillator parameters — timeframe, K/D periods, slowing factor, moving average method, price field, calculation mode, overbought/oversold levels, and the entry and exit strategies that determine when the EA opens and closes positions.

Setting Name Type Default Value Description Example
Stochastic timeframe ENUM PERIOD_CURRENT Selects the timeframe on which the Stochastic Oscillator is calculated. Using a higher timeframe (like H4) generates fewer, more reliable signals, while lower timeframes (M15) produce more frequent but noisier signals. PERIOD_H1 — Use H1 for a solid balance between signal frequency and reliability on major pairs.
K period for Stochastic int 14 The number of periods used to calculate the %K line. A lower value (like 7) makes the indicator more sensitive to price changes, generating earlier signals but with more false positives. Higher values smooth the line. 10 — Use a shorter K period for a faster response in ranging markets where quick entries matter.
D period for Stochastic int 3 The smoothing period applied to the %D line (signal line). A higher value (like 5) produces a smoother signal line that reduces false crossovers, but it also delays the signal. Lower values react faster. 5 — Use a longer D period to filter out noise when trading on lower timeframes like M15.
Slowing factor for Stochastic int 3 An internal smoothing applied to the %K line before the %D is calculated. A higher value (like 5) makes the entire oscillator smoother and less prone to whipsaws, but it also makes it slower to react to price changes. 2 — Use a lower slowing factor for scalping strategies where you need quick reactions to price moves.
Moving Average method (0: Simple, 1: Exponential, etc.) ENUM MODE_SMA See options explained below. MODE_EMA — Use Exponential for a more responsive signal line that reacts faster to recent price action.
Price field (0: Close/Close, 1: High/Low, etc.) ENUM STO_LOWHIGH See options explained below. STO_CLOSE — Use Close/Close for a smoother oscillator that ignores intra-bar extremes.
Calculation Mode(Useful for backtesting) ENUM MANUAL 3. HOW IT WORKS

Core Calculation & Logic

The Stochastic Multi-Currency EA monitors up to 28 currency pairs simultaneously from a single chart, applying the Stochastic oscillator to each. It calculates the %K and %D lines using the K period, D period, and slowing factor you set — the same math behind the classic stochastic indicator you'd find in MetaTrader's navigator. The EA then compares these values against your upper and lower levels (default 80/20) to detect overbought and oversold conditions, crossovers, and divergences. What sets this apart from a simple indicator is the entry strategy logic: you pick one of eight distinct rules that define exactly when a signal becomes a trade. The EA doesn't just flash a dot — it waits for the precise condition you've chosen, then checks your filters (time, spread, volatility) before sending an order.

At its core, this is a multi-pair signal aggregator with automated execution. It scans every symbol in your list on every tick, evaluates the stochastic state, and if the entry strategy condition is met, it opens a position using your lot size, stop loss, and take profit settings. The "multi-currency" part means you can trade EURUSD, GBPUSD, USDJPY, and a dozen others without attaching the EA to each chart separately — it handles everything from one window. This is especially useful for traders who want to catch opportunities across the board without juggling multiple charts.

Entry Strategies Explained

Each strategy defines a unique pair of conditions for entering long and short. You'll pick one based on how you like to read the stochastic — some traders prefer classic overbought/oversold reversals, others want crossovers or divergence. Here's the full breakdown:

ENTRY_STRATEGY1 — Classic Reversal from Oversold/Overbought

BUY Signal: Stochastic enters oversold territory (crosses below the lower level).

SELL Signal: Stochastic enters overbought territory (crosses above the upper level).

Best For: Range-bound markets where price bounces between support and resistance. Works well on H1 and H4 when the pair is consolidating.

ENTRY_STRATEGY2 — Exit from Oversold/Overbought (Momentum Shift)

BUY Signal: Stochastic exits oversold territory (crosses back above the lower level).

SELL Signal: Stochastic exits overbought territory (crosses back below the upper level).

Best For: Catching the start of a new trend after a pullback. I prefer this on M15 for breakout moves.

ENTRY_STRATEGY3 — Overbought Buy, Oversold Sell (Contrarian)

BUY Signal: Stochastic enters overbought territory (crosses above the upper level).

SELL Signal: Stochastic enters oversold territory (crosses below the lower level).

Best For: Strong trending markets where you expect the trend to continue, not reverse. Use with a trend filter like a 200 EMA.

ENTRY_STRATEGY4 — Crossover Below/Above Lines

BUY Signal: Stochastic crosses below the oversold line.

SELL Signal: Stochastic crosses above the overbought line.

Best For: Scalping on M1-M5 where you want confirmation of extreme exhaustion before entering.

ENTRY_STRATEGY5 — 50-Level Crossover

BUY Signal: Stochastic %K crosses above the 50 level.

SELL Signal: Stochastic %K crosses below the 50 level.

Best For: Trend-following on H1 or higher. The 50 level acts as a momentum pivot — above is bullish, below is bearish.

ENTRY_STRATEGY6 — Extreme Zone Persistence

BUY Signal: Stochastic %K is above the upper level (overbought).

SELL Signal: Stochastic %K is below the lower level (oversold).

Best For: Strong trends where you want to join the move, not fight it. Combine with a volatility filter to avoid whipsaws.

ENTRY_STRATEGY7 — Divergence

BUY Signal: Bullish divergence — price makes a lower low while stochastic makes a higher low.

SELL Signal: Bearish divergence — price makes a higher high while stochastic makes a lower high.

Best For: Reversal trading on H4 or daily. Divergence is one of the most reliable signals when confirmed by price action.

ENTRY_STRATEGY8 — %K/%D Crossover

BUY Signal: Stochastic %K crosses above the %D line.

SELL Signal: Stochastic %K crosses below the %D line.

Best For: General-purpose momentum trading. This is the classic stochastic crossover strategy most traders start with.

Step-by-Step Workflow

Step 1: Attach the EA to a single chart. Any chart will do — the EA ignores the chart symbol and uses its own symbol list. Open MetaTrader, drag the EA onto a chart, and a dialog appears.

Step 2: Configure your symbol list. In the SYMBOLS input, enter the pairs you want to trade, separated by commas. Default is EURUSD,GBPUSD,USDCHF — you can add up to 28.

Step 3: Set your entry strategy. Choose one of the eight ENTRY_STRATEGY options. If you're unsure, start with ENTRY_STRATEGY1 for classic reversals.

Step 4: Define risk parameters. Set your lot size, stop loss, and take profit. For beginners, use SLTP_MODE = PIPS and set STOPLOSS to 30 and TAKEPROFIT to 60.

Step 5: Enable or disable filters. Turn on time filters, spread limits, or volatility checks if you want to avoid low-quality signals. Each filter is an input you can toggle.

Step 6: Click OK and monitor. The EA starts scanning immediately. Open the Journal tab to see which pairs are being checked and when signals trigger. You'll see "Signal detected on EURUSD" messages as they happen.

Step 7: Review trades manually. The EA manages entries and exits based on your SL/TP, but you should still check open positions daily. Don't let it run unattended for weeks without review.

4. RISK MANAGEMENT FEATURES

This EA includes several built-in risk controls that let you tailor exposure per trade, per pair, and across your entire portfolio. Here's what each one does:

Feature Description
Stop Loss & Take Profit Modes Choose from six calculation modes: PIPS, AMOUNT, PERCENT, GROUP_AMOUNT, GROUP_PERCENT, or NOSLTP. PIPS mode uses fixed pip values, while GROUP modes calculate SL/TP across all open positions for that symbol, preventing over-concentration.
Hidden SL/TP When enabled, the EA manages stop loss and take profit internally without sending them to the broker. This keeps your strategy hidden from the market and avoids broker-level restrictions on SL/TP placement.
Group Risk Limits Set a maximum loss or profit for a group of positions (e.g., all EUR pairs). If the group hits the limit, the EA closes all positions in that group. Useful for managing correlated pairs.
Risk-Reward Ratio The RISK_REWARD_RA input lets you set a fixed risk-reward ratio. For example, 2.0 means take profit is twice the stop loss distance. This overrides individual TP values when enabled.
Lot Size Control Fixed lot size via the LOTS input. No dynamic lot scaling is built in, so you'll need to adjust manually if you want to risk a percentage of your account per trade.

5. IMPORTANT NOTES & WARNINGS

Known Limitations

Issue Explanation
No Dynamic Lot Sizing The EA uses a fixed lot size. If you want to risk a percentage of your account per trade, you'll need to calculate the lot size manually or use a separate risk calculator. This is a common limitation of builder-generated EAs.
Single Chart Dependency All trading logic runs from one chart. If you close that chart, the EA stops. You cannot run two instances with different settings on the same account without risking duplicate signals.
Backtesting Complexity Multi-pair EAs are tricky to backtest in MetaTrader. The tester only simulates one symbol at a time, so you'll see signals only for the chart's symbol. For accurate testing, you'd need a third-party multi-symbol backtester.
No Partial Close or Trailing Stop The EA does not include trailing stop logic or partial position closing. You'll need to manage those manually or add them via custom code if you want more advanced exit strategies.

Settings Beginners Should NOT Change

Setting Why to Leave Default
SLTP_MODE The default is AMOUNT, which uses fixed dollar values for SL/TP. Switching to PERCENT or GROUP modes without understanding the math can lead to unintended large losses or missed exits.
HIDDEN_SL_TP Default is true. Disabling this sends SL/TP to the broker, which some brokers restrict or reject. Hidden SL/TP also prevents others from seeing your exit levels.
RISK_REWARD_RA If you're not using a fixed risk-reward ratio, leave this at 0. Setting it to a value overrides your TP inputs, which can cause confusion when you expect a specific take profit level.
GROUP_STOPLOSS_AMOUNT / GROUP_TAKEPROFIT_AMOUNT These are advanced group risk controls. Setting them too low can close all positions prematurely during normal drawdown. Leave at 0 until you understand how they interact with your portfolio.

Dashboard Usage Tips

  1. Start with a demo account: Run the EA on a demo for at least two weeks before going live. This lets you see how it behaves in different market conditions without risking capital.
  2. Use the Journal tab for debugging: The EA prints signal detections and trade actions to the Experts tab. If you're not seeing trades, check there first — it'll tell you if filters are blocking signals.
  3. Limit your symbol list initially: Start with 3-5 pairs. Adding too many at once makes it hard to track which strategies work best for which pairs. Expand slowly.
  4. Match timeframe to strategy: Scalping strategies (ENTRY_STRATEGY4, ENTRY_STRATEGY8) work best on M1-M5. Swing strategies (ENTRY_STRATEGY7, ENTRY_STRATEGY1) need H4 or higher. Don't mix them.
  5. Check spread costs: The EA doesn't filter by spread by default. If you're trading during low-liquidity hours, spreads can eat your profits. Consider adding a spread filter or trading only during major sessions.
  6. Don't override risk settings mid-session: Changing SL/TP or lot size while the EA has open positions can cause unexpected behavior. Always stop the EA, adjust settings, then restart.

Quick Start Guide

Follow these steps to get started in under 5 minutes:

  1. Download and install: Purchase the EA from the MQL5 Market, then download and install it via the MetaTrader Navigator. Drag it onto any chart — the chart symbol doesn't matter.
  2. Set your symbols: In the EA's input dialog, find the SYMBOLS field. Enter the pairs you want to trade, separated by commas. Example: EURUSD,GBPUSD,USDJPY,AUDUSD
  3. Choose an entry strategy: Set ENTRY_STRATEGY to 1 for classic reversals. This is the safest starting point for beginners.
  4. Configure risk: Set LOTS to 0.01 for micro lots. Set SLTP_MODE to PIPS, then STOPLOSS to 30 and TAKEPROFIT to 60.
  5. Enable hidden SL/TP: Leave HIDDEN_SL_TP as true. This keeps your stops private and avoids broker restrictions.
  6. Set a time filter (optional): If you only want to trade during London or New York sessions, find the time filter inputs and set your preferred hours. Otherwise, leave them at default.
  7. Click OK and monitor: The EA starts immediately. Open the Experts tab in the Terminal window to see log messages. You'll see "Scanning EURUSD" and "Signal detected" messages as the EA works.
  8. Review after 24 hours: Check your trade history and open positions. Adjust lot size or stop loss if needed. Don't let it run for weeks without a review.

    Installation Guide for MQL Products | Updating Purchased MQL Products on MT4/MT5 | General Troubleshooting Guide | Backtest and Set Files

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