MT4 & MT5 EA User Guide — Part 1: Start Here — Installation, Lot Sizing & Risk Controls
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MT4 & MT5 EA User Guide — Part 1: Start Here — Installation, Lot Sizing & Risk Controls

2 November 2026, 05:53
Duc Hoan Nguyen
Duc Hoan Nguyen
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About This User Guide

This guide explains the shared settings and trade management features of the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 robots listed below. It is organized into a series of articles covering installation, configuration, trade management, filters, testing, and troubleshooting.

Each robot uses its own built-in trading strategy. Signal settings, available options, and preset values may differ between products and platform editions. All numerical values in this guide are examples; refer to the individual product description for its entry logic and specific settings.

Robots Covered by This Guide

Robot MT5 Version MT4 Version
1. SuperTrend Order Block Robot MT5 MT4
2. RSI Kernel Optimized Robot MT5 MT4
3. Fibonacci Trend Continuation Robot MT5 MT4
4. Volumatic VIDyA Robot MT5 MT4
5. Zero Lag MA Trend Levels Robot MT5 MT4
6. Dual MA Cross Robot MT5 MT4

This list may be expanded in future updates to include additional robots that use the shared settings described in this guide.

MT4 & MT5 EA User Guide — Part 1: Start Here — Installation, Lot Sizing & Risk Controls

EA User Guide - all parts

Installation, key terms and groups 01-07: signals, entry lot sizing, stop loss, take profit, virtual SL/TP, trailing stop and daily drawdown.

Telegram support: @dh99trading

Example values: All values are examples. Presets, signal settings and available controls can differ by EA and platform edition. Use the settings supplied with your product.

Guide overview

  • Installation, terminology and EA operation.
  • Groups 01-14: signals, lot sizing, SL/TP, trade management and entry conditions.
  • Groups 15-20: sessions, weekdays and holiday dates.
  • Groups 21-29: technical filters and news.
  • Groups 30-32: panels, history and Magic Number.
  • Feature compatibility, setup paths, Strategy Tester, configuration messages and troubleshooting.

Installation and First Setup

This guide explains how to configure signals, trade volume, SL/TP, position management and filters. Start with installation, then review the setting groups for the features you want to use.

Values in the Example value column illustrate how settings and units work. Preset values can differ between EAs. Configure the settings shown in the product you are using.

MT4 and MT5 editions: Use the EA edition made for your platform. The setting groups below describe the shared controls. Names, available options and signal parameters can differ by product or platform build; configure only the controls supplied with your EA. All numbers remain examples.

Platform setup at a glance

Task MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5
EA file supplied directly .ex4 in MQL4\Experts .ex5 in MQL5\Experts
Market purchase Terminal > Market > Purchased Navigator > Market > My Purchases
Toolbar switch AutoTrading Algo Trading
EA permission EA Properties > Common > Allow live trading EA Properties > Common > Allow Algo Trading
Open trades and logs Terminal (Ctrl+T): Trade, Experts, Journal Toolbox (Ctrl+T): Trade, Experts, Journal
Separate Grid trades Broker must allow multiple independent order tickets. Use a Hedging account for independent positions.
Opposite hedge trades Broker must permit simultaneous Buy and Sell orders and the required closing sequence. Use a Hedging account; Netting cannot retain an independent opposite pair.
News source in this EA ForexFactory ForexFactory or MT5 economic calendar, where supplied
Detailed historical test Every tick Every tick based on real ticks, when available

Install from MQL5 Market

  1. In the MT4 or MT5 terminal you will use, open Tools > Options > Community and sign in to the MQL5 account used to purchase that platform edition.
  2. MT4: open Terminal > Market > Purchased. MT5: open Navigator > Market > My Purchases. Find the matching EA edition and select Install. Use the same purchases area for available updates; labels can vary slightly by terminal build.
  3. Drag the installed EA from Navigator > Expert Advisors onto the chart for the intended symbol and timeframe. Install the MT4 edition in MT4 and the MT5 edition in MT5.

MT4 installation help: Market purchases and downloads.

If you received the EA as a file

  1. Open File > Open Data Folder in the exact MT4 or MT5 terminal you intend to use.
  2. MT4: place the supplied .ex4 file in MQL4\Experts. MT5: place the supplied .ex5 file in MQL5\Experts. Refresh Navigator or restart that terminal. These compiled formats are not interchangeable.

Complete the first setup

  1. Configure the strategy parameters and signal conditions in group 01.
  2. Select the lot-sizing method, SL and TP. Keep additional management modes OFF while checking the entry signal for the first time.
  3. Assign a suitable Magic Number to each independent configuration. Strategies that need separate management should not share the same symbol and Magic Number.
  4. MT4: enable AutoTrading on the toolbar and Allow live trading in EA Properties > Common. MT5: enable Algo Trading on the toolbar and Allow Algo Trading in EA Properties > Common. Check Tools > Options > Expert Advisors as well. For two-direction MT4 strategies, select Long & Short in Common.
  5. Read the panel and Experts/Journal messages: Terminal in MT4, Toolbox in MT5 (Ctrl+T). Correct invalid values and conflicting feature combinations.
  6. Check entries and exits in Strategy Tester, then verify news functions and operation on Demo. Keep the terminal and position management active when using virtual SL/TP.
  7. Record the settings you selected so you can compare results or provide them when requesting support.

Permission help: MT4 EA properties / MT5 EA setup.

The EA uses an integrated signal source. After configuration, monitor signal status, filters and open positions to check how the strategy is executed.

Key Terms and Operation

Term Meaning when configuring the EA
Point The Point unit specified for the symbol. Price distance = number of Points x Point value. One Point is not necessarily one pip or the minimum tradable price increment.
Account currency The account deposit currency, such as USD, EUR or JPY. A setting labeled Dollar does not necessarily convert amounts to USD.
Balance / Equity Balance records the account balance; Equity includes floating results. Do not treat them as interchangeable when checking daily limits.
Current timeframe The timeframe of the chart running the EA. A filter using a fixed timeframe keeps that timeframe when the chart timeframe changes.
Bar shift 0 / 1 Shift 0 reads the forming candle; shift 1 reads the most recently closed candle on the relevant timeframe. Closed-candle reading does not prevent an indicator from revising historical data.
Server time The broker server clock, used for sessions, trading days and the daily drawdown start time. It is not the timezone selected on your computer.
Basket Positions managed within the same symbol and Magic Number scope. This differs from account-level daily drawdown measurement.
MT5 Hedging / Netting A Hedging account can hold independent positions, including opposite directions on one symbol when permitted. Netting combines positions; an opposite trade may reduce or reverse the existing position.
MT4 orders / MT5 positions In this guide, an open trade means an open market-order ticket in MT4 or an open position in MT5. Pending orders are separate. For basket checks, inspect the actual open trades with the EA symbol and Magic Number.
MT4 trade accounting MT4 manages market orders by separate tickets. It has no MT5 Hedging/Netting account selector. Multiple orders and opposite Buy/Sell holdings remain subject to broker restrictions.

How the EA operates

  1. The signal source produces a Buy or Sell state.
  2. The EA checks trading permissions and entry conditions. An existing signal does not guarantee that an order will be opened.
  3. Enabled filters confirm each direction. When multiple filters apply, one rejecting filter can block that direction.
  4. The EA calculates lot size and SL/TP, then sends the order when the configuration and execution conditions are valid.
  5. After entry, exits, trailing, Grid, Hedging and daily limits operate according to the enabled modes. Additional orders have their own rules, separate from the initial entry.

A signal on the forming candle may change before the candle closes. Opening only at bar open and reading a closed-candle signal are separate choices. Check both entry timing and the relevant bar shifts.

Filter timeframes: MT4 standard online periods are M1, M5, M15, M30, H1, H4, D1, W1 and MN1. MT5 offers additional standard periods. Select a period supported by your EA and available history; an MT5 period such as H2 is not automatically an ordinary online MT4 period. In both platforms, Current means the chart running the EA.

01. Signal Settings

This group contains the settings for the signal source integrated into the EA. Buy/Sell conditions and strategy parameters are designed separately for each product.

How to configure the signal

  1. Read the strategy description supplied with the product to understand its Buy and Sell conditions.
  2. Adjust the signal parameters in group 01 according to the instructions for your EA.
  3. Check when the strategy confirms a signal: during the forming candle or after a candle closes, depending on the functions provided.
  4. Use Strategy Tester and Demo to inspect several signals, executed entries and entries blocked by filters.

The signal source determines the Buy/Sell direction to evaluate. The filters in later groups confirm that direction. An entry requires the relevant trading conditions to be valid.

02. Entry Lot Sizing

This group determines the base lot. Volume progression in group 08 and Grid sizing in group 11 have separate rules. Every submitted lot must satisfy the symbol specifications and available margin.

Setting label Example value How to use it
Entry lot sizing method Fixed per Balance Choose base-lot sizing: Fixed, Fixed per Balance, Minimum Volume per Balance, risk amount or risk percentage. Only values for the selected method apply.
Fixed lot size 0.01 Fixed lot for Fixed mode, or the base lot for Fixed per Balance. Fixed lots must satisfy the symbol minimum, maximum and lot step. The base lot must be positive.
Balance per fixed/minimum lot (account currency) 1000 Account balance allocated per base-lot or minimum-lot unit. Used only by the two balance-based methods; must be greater than 0.
Risk per trade (account currency) 100 Intended risk amount for one trade, in account currency. Must be positive. A valid SL distance is required to calculate volume.
Risk per trade (% of balance) 1 Intended risk as a percentage of balance. Must be greater than 0 and no higher than 100. A valid SL distance is required. A value of 1 means 1%, not 0.01%.

Choose the correct lot-sizing method

Method Meaning Main requirements
Fixed Use the fixed lot entered. The lot must comply with broker rules.
Fixed per Balance Scale the base lot according to account balance and the balance allocated per base-lot unit. Balance per lot > 0 and Fixed lot > 0.
Minimum Volume per Balance Use the symbol minimum lot as the unit for balance-based allocation. Balance per lot > 0. The minimum lot depends on the symbol and broker.
Risk amount Calculate volume from the intended risk amount and the SL distance. Amount > 0. SL cannot be None, money-based or percentage-based.
Risk percentage Risk amount = balance x percentage / 100, then convert the amount to lot size using the SL distance. Percentage > 0 and <= 100. SL cannot be None, money-based or percentage-based.

If calculated volume is below the minimum lot and the EA uses the minimum lot, actual risk may exceed the requested amount. Check volume messages and symbol specifications. A 0.01 lot does not represent the same risk on every instrument.

03. Stop Loss

This group sets protection for each position. Only the values belonging to the selected SL method apply. The resulting distance also depends on the broker price increment and minimum stop distance.

Setting label Example value How to use it
ATR period for stop-loss and take-profit 14 ATR period shared by ATR-based SL and TP. Must be positive if either function uses ATR.
Stop-loss calculation method ATR Choose individual SL calculation: None/OFF, Points, ATR, account currency, balance percentage or Auto when the signal provides a valid price level.
Stop-loss distance in points 1000 Distance from entry to SL in Points. Must be positive in Points mode. Price distance = Points x the symbol Point value.
Stop-loss ATR multiplier 3.0 ATR multiplier for the SL distance; must be positive. For example, ATR of 5 price units and multiplier 3 give about 15 price units before normalization.
Stop-loss amount (account currency) 10 Individual loss target in account currency; enter a positive amount. The EA converts it to a price distance using volume and symbol specifications.
Stop-loss amount (% of balance) 1 Individual loss target as a percentage of balance; enter a positive value. Do not combine with risk-amount or risk-percentage lot sizing.

Do not combine money-based or percentage-based SL with risk-amount or risk-percentage lot sizing. For risk-based sizing, choose an SL method that produces a price distance, such as Points, ATR or a valid Auto level.

When Hedging is enabled, see group 12. The initial SL may serve only as a hedge-distance reference because Hedging removes the original position broker SL/TP.

04. Take Profit

Take Profit in this group applies to individual positions. Reward-to-Risk TP requires a valid SL. For example, an SL distance of 10 price units and a TP/SL ratio of 2 produce a TP distance of 20 price units before normalization and execution.

Setting label Example value How to use it
Take-profit calculation method Reward-to-Risk Choose individual TP calculation: None/OFF, Points, ATR, account currency, balance percentage, Reward-to-Risk or Auto if available.
Take-profit distance in points 1000 TP distance in Points. Must be positive in Points mode.
Take-profit ATR multiplier 2.0 ATR multiplier for the TP distance; must be positive. Uses the ATR period in group 03.
Take-profit amount (account currency) 10 Individual profit target in account currency; enter a positive amount. This is a converted target, not a guarantee of the final executed result.
Take-profit amount (% of balance) 1 Individual profit target as a percentage of balance; enter a positive value.
Take-profit reward-to-risk ratio 1.0 TP-distance/SL-distance ratio. Must be positive and requires a valid SL. For example, 1.0 gives equal distances and 2.0 gives twice the SL distance.

Money or RR targets do not guarantee the exact requested net profit because costs and execution prices can differ. Recover requires an individual TP. For Basket TSL, check the compatibility rules later in this guide.

05. Virtual SL/TP

The EA monitors virtual SL/TP and sends closing requests when conditions are met. Chart lines are visual references. The broker does not hold virtual levels as ordinary server-side SL/TP.

Setting label Example value How to use it
Use virtual stop-loss and take-profit false / Off Enable EA-monitored virtual SL/TP instead of broker-held levels. The MT4/MT5 terminal, EA and position management must remain active to execute exits.
Show virtual SL/TP lines on chart false / Off Show virtual SL/TP lines on the chart. Hiding the lines does not disable the virtual exit conditions.
Virtual stop-loss line color Red Virtual SL line color when line display is enabled.
Virtual take-profit line color Green Virtual TP line color when line display is enabled.

The MT4 or MT5 terminal, the EA, the connection and trading-management permissions must remain active to execute virtual exits. Hiding a line changes only its display. When combining virtual levels with Hedging, check the behavior of your EA version: removing broker SL/TP does not automatically disable stored virtual levels.

06. Trailing Stop

Trailing moves protection when price or trade results meet the configured threshold. Per-position trailing manages individual positions; Basket TSL manages the basket from its aggregate breakeven level.

Setting label Example value How to use it
Trailing stop mode None / OFF Choose OFF, per-position trailing or basket trailing from aggregate breakeven. Grid and Hedging cannot use per-position trailing.
Trailing stop calculation basis Points Unit for activation, distance and step: Points, account currency or a TP-distance multiple. TP-based trailing requires per-position mode and a valid TP.
Activation threshold (points/account currency/TP multiple) 10 Activation threshold in the selected unit. Cannot be negative. Zero removes the need to wait for a positive threshold, but other conditions must still be valid.
Trail distance (points/account currency/TP multiple) 10 Protection distance from the reference used by the selected trailing mode. Must be positive when trailing is enabled.
Minimum step (points/account currency/TP multiple) 0 Minimum change before the next trailing update. Cannot be negative. Zero permits an update at every eligible check.
Update trailing stop only on a new bar false / Off true: update trailing only on a new candle; false: updates may occur on each Tick. This controls update timing and does not replace the signal bar shift.
Configuration Rule
Per-position trailing Do not use with Grid or Hedging enabled.
Trailing by a TP multiple Use per-position trailing and a valid individual TP.
Basket TSL Do not use the TP-distance multiple basis. Individual SL/TP must be OFF, except for the supported SL-based Hedging configuration.
SL-based Hedging exception The initial SL is the hedge reference. A permitted configuration does not mean individual SL/TP remains on the broker after Hedging processes the position.

Point example: Start = 100, Stop = 50 and Step = 10 mean waiting for a 100-Point threshold, using a 50-Point protection distance and updating after a sufficient 10-Point step. Check Bid/Ask prices and the actual conditions of the selected mode.

07. Daily Drawdown Limit

Set a daily limit and choose the action taken at the threshold. Drawdown measurement is account-level, rather than the profit/loss of only one chart or Magic Number.

Setting label Example value How to use it
Daily drawdown action None / OFF Action at the daily limit: OFF, block new entries, or close positions and stop new entries. Drawdown measurement and protection action are separate.
Daily drawdown calculation basis Percent (%) Choose an account-currency amount or percentage limit.
Daily drawdown limit (account currency/%; use positive value) 5 Enter a positive limit. Money mode requires a value above 0; percentage mode requires a value above 0 and no higher than 100.
Daily drawdown start hour (server time, 0-23) 0 Daily cycle start hour in broker server time, from 0 to 23. It is not your computer or local time if the server uses another timezone.
  • OFF disables the protection action, while measurement may continue to be calculated and displayed.
  • Blocking new entries and closing positions before stopping new entries are different actions. Select the intended option in the EA menu.
  • The daily start uses broker server time. A cycle beginning at 03:00 server time does not necessarily begin at 03:00 local time.
  • Floating results, realized results and costs may make this measurement differ from the profit of one position. It is not necessarily identical to Maximum Drawdown in every report.
  • Trades from other charts or EAs can affect the account measurement. Check the closing scope of the selected action. Account-level measurement alone does not mean every position on the account is closed.

EA User Guide - all parts

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