Really odd: EA function gets called before OnInit()...

Samuel Beer 2017.02.07 15:21

So this is odd. I have a function that is called before even OnInit() in my EA script. Of course this leads to problems...

Take a look. This is my initialize function:

[...]
double pips;

double BottomLevelPrice;
int LongTicketsStartLevel;
int ShortTicketsStartLevel;

int LongTickets[];
int ShortTickets[];

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
   {
   Print("OnInit = ");
   //---
   double ticksize = MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKSIZE);

   if (ticksize == 0.00001 || ticksize == 0.001)
      pips = ticksize*10;
   else
      pips = ticksize;
   //---
   // init first level
   Print("ontick!");
   BottomLevelPrice = MathFloor((Close[0]-((double)InpLevelDistance/2*pips)) / pips) * pips; // to the nearest full pip
   LongTicketsStartLevel = 0;
   ShortTicketsStartLevel = 0;

   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
   }

And here is the one function that is (out of nowhere?) called even before OnInit():

int GetPriceLevel(double price)
   {
   Print("the pips is: ", pips, " bottom level price = ", BottomLevelPrice);
   return (int)MathFloor((price-BottomLevelPrice) / (InpLevelDistance*pips));
   }

So subsequently, the strategy tester journal looks like this:

PROBLEM:

When GetPriceLevel() is called (again, why??), obviously the local variables such as "pips" isn't initialized yet so it is zero, which results in an error. But why is this function even called before OnInit() in the first place? What am I missing? I'm really confused!

Thanks for your help!

Marco vd Heijden 2017.02.07 15:39 #1

It's probably in here:

[...]

honest_knave 2017.02.07 16:16 #2

Try opening the Journal (right-click > view). Sometimes all the messages aren't printed in the tester window.

It is also not a good idea to access Close[0] in OnInit()... that information might not be available yet.

about information which is How to get "error" Debugger: how to debug

Samuel Beer 2017.02.08 08:09 #3

Marco vd Heijden:

It's probably in here:

[...]

Well it's just names and declerations. Here you go:

[...]

honest_knave:

Try opening the Journal (right-click > view). Sometimes all the messages aren't printed in the tester window.

It is also not a good idea to access Close[0] in OnInit()... that information might not be available yet.

Well I did that but it's exactly the same information as in the tester window as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks for your tipp about Close[0]. I'll change that. Can I use Ask/Bid instead?

Requests & Ideas, the Questions from Beginners MQL4 [WARNING CLOSED!] Any newbie

Alain Verleyen 2017.02.08 08:28 #4

Post ALL the code if you want help. Otherwise it's just a waste of time.

Marco vd Heijden 2017.02.08 08:44 #5

It must be broken check { }

William Roeder 2017.02.08 15:06 #6

RichPiano: When GetPriceLevel() is called	You haven't posted any code that calls that, so we can't possibly help. There are no mind readers here - we can't see your code. The order of initialization is global and static variables, then OnInit. Do you have a class with a constructor that calls things?

EA auto decrease Lot EA exhibits strange behaviour Issue with input parameters

Samuel Beer 2017.02.08 15:14 #7

Alain Verleyen:

Post ALL the code if you want help. Otherwise it's just a waste of time.

I guess you're right so here we go:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                             Leveled Hedge EA.mq4 |
//| Max |
//|                                             https://www.mql5.com |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Max"
#property link      "https://www.mql5.com"
#property version   "1.00"
#property strict

extern int InpLevels=2; // Number of levels long / short
extern int InpTakeProfitLevels=2; // levels for take profit

extern int InpLevelDistance=30; // Level distance in pips

extern double LotSize = 0.01;
//---
extern int MagicNumber=3;

double pips;

double BottomLevelPrice;
int LongTicketsStartLevel;
int ShortTicketsStartLevel;

int LongTickets[];
int ShortTickets[];

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
   {
   Print("OnInit = ");
   //---
   double ticksize = MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKSIZE);

   if (ticksize == 0.00001 || ticksize == 0.001)
      pips = ticksize*10;
   else
      pips = ticksize;
   //---
   // init first level
   Print("ontick!");
   BottomLevelPrice = MathFloor((Close[0]-((double)InpLevelDistance/2*pips)) / pips) * pips; // to the nearest full pip
   LongTicketsStartLevel = 0;
   ShortTicketsStartLevel = 0;

   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
   }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
   {
   //---

   }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
   {
   if (IsNewCandle())
      CheckForTrade();
   }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

bool IsNewCandle()
   {
   static int BarsOnChart = 0;
   if (BarsOnChart == Bars)
      return (false);
   BarsOnChart = Bars;
   return (true);
   }

void CheckForTrade()
   {
   Print("checkfortrade");
   static int prev_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   int curr_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   if (curr_level != prev_level)
      {
      // there must be hedged positions for each level
      if (GetLongTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenLongPosition();
      if (GetShortTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenShortPosition();

      // buy low sell high
      if (curr_level < prev_level) // buy low when price dropped
         {
         int pos = curr_level - ShortTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos+InpTakeProfitLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away below
         for (int i = pos-InpLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         }
      else if (curr_level > prev_level) // sell high when price rises
         {
         int pos = curr_level - LongTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos-InpTakeProfitLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away above
         for (int i = pos+InpLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         }
      }
   prev_level = curr_level;
   }

//--- OP_BUY

int OpenLongPosition()
   {
   Print("OpenLongPosition ");
   double price = Ask; // always open at current price
   int level = GetPriceLevel(price);

   int ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_BUY, LotSize, price, 3, 0, 0, NULL, MagicNumber, 0, clrGreen);
   if(ticket < 0)
      {
      Print("OrderSend failed with error #", GetLastError());
      return -1;
      }

   // put in array
   int size = ArraySize(LongTickets);
   int pos = level - LongTicketsStartLevel;
   if (pos < 0)
      {
      ArrayResize(LongTickets, size-pos, 10); // since pos is negative
      for (int i=size-pos-1; i >= 0; i--)
         {
         if (i+pos < 0)
            LongTickets[i] = -1; // fill front with -1
         else
            LongTickets[i] = LongTickets[i+pos];
         }
      LongTicketsStartLevel = level; // new ground zero
      }
   else if (pos >= size)
      {
      ArrayResize(LongTickets, pos+1, 10);
      // fill back with -1 (no ticket)
      for (int i=size; i < pos+1; i++)
         LongTickets[i] = -1;
      }
   LongTickets[pos] = ticket;
   return true;
   }

//--- OP_SELL

int OpenShortPosition()
   {
   Print("OpenShortPosition ");
   double price = Bid; // always open at current price
   int level = GetPriceLevel(price);

   int ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_SELL, LotSize, price, 3, 0, 0, NULL, MagicNumber, 0, clrRed);
   if(ticket < 0)
      {
      Print("OrderSend failed with error #", GetLastError());
      return -1;
      }

   // put in array
   int size = ArraySize(ShortTickets);
   int pos = level - ShortTicketsStartLevel;
   if (pos < 0)
      {
      ArrayResize(ShortTickets, size-pos, 10); // since pos is negative
      for (int i=size-pos-1; i >= 0; i--)
         {
         if (i+pos < 0)
            ShortTickets[i] = -1; // fill front with -1
         else
            ShortTickets[i] = ShortTickets[i+pos];
         }
      ShortTicketsStartLevel = level; // new ground zero
      }
   else if (pos >= size)
      {
      ArrayResize(ShortTickets, pos+1, 10);
      // fill back with -1 (no ticket)
      for (int i=size; i < pos+1; i++)
         ShortTickets[i] = -1;
      }
   ShortTickets[pos] = ticket;
   return true;
   }

//--- ticket

int GetLongTicket(int level)
   {
   int pos = level - LongTicketsStartLevel;
   if (pos < 0 || pos > ArraySize(LongTickets)-1)
      return -1;
   else
      return LongTickets[pos];
   }

int GetShortTicket(int level)
   {
   int pos = level - ShortTicketsStartLevel;
   if (pos < 0 || pos > ArraySize(ShortTickets)-1)
      return -1;
   else
      return ShortTickets[pos];
   }

//--- close

bool CloseLongPosition(int pos)
   {
   int ticket = LongTickets[pos];

   if (OrderClose(ticket, LotSize, Bid, 3, clrRed)) // sell
      {
      LongTickets[pos] = -1;
      return true;
      }
   return false;
   }

bool CloseShortPosition(int pos)
   {
   int ticket = ShortTickets[pos];

   if (OrderClose(ticket, LotSize, Ask, 3, clrGreen)) // buy back
      {
      ShortTickets[pos] = -1;
      return true;
      }
   return false;
   }



int GetPriceLevel(double price)
   {
   Print("the pips is: ", pips, " bottom level price = ", BottomLevelPrice);
   return (int)MathFloor((price-BottomLevelPrice) / (InpLevelDistance*pips));
   }

whroeder1:

	You haven't posted any code that calls that, so we can't possibly help. There are no mind readers here - we can't see your code. The order of initialization is global and static variables, then OnInit. Do you have a class with a constructor that calls things?

The function is only called on four occasions, but none of these happen before OnInit(). I checked it. This is what leaves me clueless. The script also doesn't use any classes.

-----------------------------OrderModify & OrderSelect should PROBLEM change in coding.

Alain Verleyen 2017.02.08 15:59 #8

RichPiano:

I guess you're right so here we go:

...

The function is only called on four occasions, but none of these happen before OnInit(). I checked it. This is what leaves me clueless. The script also doesn't use any classes.

void CheckForTrade()
   {
   Print("checkfortrade");
   static int prev_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   int curr_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
...
   }

A static is initialized BEFORE OnInit() so your GetPriceLevel() function is called, your message "the pips is..." is printed and you get a Zero Divide error as "pips" is 0.

Static variables exist from the moment of program execution and are initialized only once before the specialized functions OnInit() is called. If the initial values are not specified, variables of the static storage class are taking zero initial values.

Also you are using Close[0] before OnInit() so you will get sooner or later an Array Out of Range error too.

expert complain that"zero devide" Any error using Mt4 Errors, bugs, questions

Marco vd Heijden 2017.02.08 16:28 #9

void CheckForTrade()
   {
   Print("checkfortrade");
   static int prev_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   int curr_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   if (curr_level != prev_level)
      {
      // there must be hedged positions for each level
      if (GetLongTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenLongPosition();
      if (GetShortTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenShortPosition();

      // buy low sell high
      if (curr_level < prev_level) // buy low when price dropped
         {
         int pos = curr_level - ShortTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos+InpTakeProfitLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away below
         for (int i = pos-InpLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         }
      else if (curr_level > prev_level) // sell high when price rises
         {
         int pos = curr_level - LongTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos-InpTakeProfitLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away above
         for (int i = pos+InpLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         }
      }
   prev_level = curr_level;
   }

You can not declare a static integer and then further on try to adjust it's value.

Invalid Stops and Closing SAR Martingale MA price Selection criteria in the

Marco vd Heijden 2017.02.08 16:29 #10

Ah i was too late ;)

Anyway try this:

void CheckForTrade()
   {
   Print("checkfortrade");
   int prev_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   int curr_level = GetPriceLevel(Close[0]);
   if (curr_level != prev_level)
      {
      // there must be hedged positions for each level
      if (GetLongTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenLongPosition();
      if (GetShortTicket(curr_level) < 0) OpenShortPosition();

      // buy low sell high
      if (curr_level < prev_level) // buy low when price dropped
         {
         int pos = curr_level - ShortTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos+InpTakeProfitLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away below
         for (int i = pos-InpLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseShortPosition(i);
         }
      else if (curr_level > prev_level) // sell high when price rises
         {
         int pos = curr_level - LongTicketsStartLevel;
         // realize profits from positions that are in profit
         for (int i = pos-InpTakeProfitLevels; i >= 0; i--) // look below
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         // realize loss from positions that are too far away above
         for (int i = pos+InpLevels; i < ArraySize(ShortTickets); i++) // look above
            CloseLongPosition(i);
         }
      }
   prev_level = curr_level;
   }

SAR Martingale MA price Certainly MT5 was far Hi, I'm just finishing

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