What is happening in this code from MA Cross EA?

New comment
 

I was wondering what exactly is happening in the following block of code: 

   Sym = Symbol();
   TimeFrame = Period();   
   SymPoints = MarketInfo( Sym, MODE_POINT  );
   SymDigits = MarketInfo( Sym, MODE_DIGITS );
   //---
        if( SymPoints == 0.001   ) { SymPoints = 0.01;   SymDigits = 3; }
   else if( SymPoints == 0.00001 ) { SymPoints = 0.0001; SymDigits = 5; }

I understand the first 4 lines, I only want to know what exactly are the 'if' and 'else if' statements doing? And why? Are they saying: "If the position of the pip is 0.001, then change it to 0.01"? (Same thing with the 0.00001, changing it to 0.0001).

.

Then does that mean we are ignoring the 'sub pips' in this situation (what was the 0.00001 and the 0.001) ? ... and only using the 0.0001 and 0.01 instead, like back when when the rates were quoted with just 2 or 4 decimals instead of the newer 3 or 5 decimals. Or do I have this wrong? I have taken a couple years off from FX and a few things have changed with IBFX.

.

I have gone through the reference in the MQL4 book, as well as the dictionary in MetaEditor, and searched the forums here, but I am still unclear about this little section of code.

.

So, if somebody could explain this, I'd REALLY appreciate it. I know this is a basic question, but I'm just starting to learn MQL. TIA.

 

i c u can't sleep so 

Sym = Symbol();                             // declare the var Sym as Symbol()
TimeFrame = Period();                       // declare the var TimeFrame as Period()
SymPoints = MarketInfo( Sym, MODE_POINT  ); // declare the var SymPoints what is the Point size in the quote currency
SymDigits = MarketInfo( Sym, MODE_DIGITS ); // declare the var SymDigits how many digits after decimal point in the symbol prices
//---
if( SymPoints == 0.001)                     // checking: if the Point size = 0.001 then
   { SymPoints = 0.01;   SymDigits = 3; }   // changing var SymPoints to 0.01 & SymDigits to 3
else if( SymPoints == 0.00001 )             // if the Point size = 0.00001 then
   { SymPoints = 0.0001; SymDigits = 5; }   // changing var SymPoints to 0.0001 & SymDigits to 5
 
qjol:

i c u can't sleep so

"i c u can't sleep so" ... LOL ... that's a true statement!

BTW, wrote that last night, but now it's the afternoon now where I'm am. I am still a little foggy on this part.

A couple quick questions:

You said: "// declare the var SymDigits how many digits after decimal point in the symbol prices"\

1) The statement: 

if( SymPoints == 0.001)

checks to see if the double variable 'SymPoints' (the points size) is equal to 0.001. If true, then these statements: 

{ SymPoints = 0.01;   SymDigits = 3; }

are executed, which change the double variable 'SymPoints' to 0.01, and the int variable ' SymDigits' to 3. This I understand 100%

.

2) What I don't understand is: what exactly is the purpose of this? Is it because the rates are now quoted with 3 digits (JPY) to the right of the decimals,

and 5 decimals (EUR, GBP, etc...) ?

.

3) If so, then does that mean these statements are telling the program to ignore the last digits to the right (the 3rd or 5th or sub-pips)

and read only the 2nd and 4th? (the 'traditional pip' from the older style rates that were quoted with 2 or 4 digits to the right of the decimal) ... I'm still a bit confused.

 
outofdebt:

2) What I don't understand is: what exactly is the purpose of this? Is it because the rates are now quoted with 3 digits (JPY) to the right of the decimals,

and 5 decimals (EUR, GBP, etc...) ?

.

3) If so, then does that mean these statements are telling the program to ignore the last digits to the right (the 3rd or 5th or sub-pips)

and read only the 2nd and 4th? (the 'traditional pip' from the older style rates that were quoted with 2 or 4 digits to the right of the decimal) ... I'm still a bit confused.

A) Don't assume everyone now uses 3 & 5 DP - some brokers still use 2 & 4 DP.

B) Some people/EAs still think in terms of 'old' pips & need to convert to the 'old way', as "slippage of 3 pips" say is fine for '2 & 4 DP' but not for '3 & 5 DP'

Personally, I write code that works with any number of DP, but I can't force my run-anywhere-even-furlongs-a-fortnight methodology on the rest of the world

 

If you want a trailing stop of say 10 pips, the value passed to the broker must be adjusted to a double. On a 4 digit broker you just multiply by Point, but on a 5 digit you multiply by 10*Point.

The problem with the above code is it does NOT adjust slippage.

//++++ These are adjusted for 5 digit brokers.
double  pips2points,    // slippage  3 pips    3=points    30=points
        pips2dbl;       // Stoploss 15 pips    0.0015      0.00150
int     Digits.pips;    // DoubleToStr(dbl/pips2dbl, Digits.pips)
int     init(){
    if (Digits == 5 || Digits == 3){    // Adjust for five (5) digit brokers.
                pips2dbl    = Point*10; pips2points = 10;   Digits.pips = 1;
    } else {    pips2dbl    = Point;    pips2points =  1;   Digits.pips = 0; }
    // OrderSend(... Slippage.Pips * pips2points, Bid - StopLossPips * pips2dbl
 
WHRoeder:

If you want a trailing stop of say 10 pips, the value passed to the broker must be adjusted to a double. On a 4 digit broker you just multiply by Point, but on a 5 digit you multiply by 10*Point.

The problem with the above code is it does NOT adjust slippage.


OK, now I get it thanks to everyone's help here, I really appreciate it. I am working on my own EA and I was "borrowing" a section of code out of the MA Cross EA (the one that comes with MT4 platform). I had an idea but could not quite get what it was actually for. BTW, I just stumbled on a good article that deals with EAs and IBFX's new 5 dec rates. Here's the link for anyone who may need ther info:

https://www.mql5.com/go?link=https://www.automatedtradingsoftware.com/blog/mql-programming/some-eas-could-stop-working-when-ibfx-upgrades/

New comment