Coding help..How do I get indicator to filter instead of alert? - page 3

 
elihayun:
I think the best way to do it is NOT using the indicator. It is just the simplest way. For a start it is good enough.

U are looking at the changes that I made to the indicator. If u want to use this one make sure u are writing the correct name inside your code.

as long as u know in what buffer lies the information u want, it dosen't matter haw many indicators there in the code

ok so you are saying that simpest isn't necessarily best...and that the better way would be to write the indicator inside the EA...but to do that following the examples of the lessons the only part it said to copy into the EA was the iteration function part and the buffers are in the initialization function part of the code...so do I copy the WHOLE indicator code into the EA? How do I do it to do it the best way?..with the indicator in the EA? Could you show me please? I think I am learning. I like it!

 
Aaragorn:
ok so you are saying that simpest isn't necessarily best...and that the better way would be to write the indicator inside the EA...but to do that following the examples of the lessons the only part it said to copy into the EA was the iteration function part and the buffers are in the initialization function part of the code...so do I copy the WHOLE indicator code into the EA? How do I do it to do it the best way?..with the indicator in the EA? Could you show me please?

Of course not. Just the logic part. Actually I have an example that do just that ( I tried to write that myself, but I am working now on a new way of looking at the price, and it taking all my time)

U can have it here. (it is not woking good, need time to fix it, but u can see how to combine code together)

In this EA u can set the TF that u want to reach the edge at the same time, or use just one TF

Files:
ytt2_ea.mq4  6 kb
 
elihayun:
Great!!! You got the idea!!!!

It will work perfect. and if u want to check that 5M and 15M reach the edge at the same time u can get the values from each TF and test it together.

But leave that for latter....

I have a good teacher.

Now that I have 'that' idea enlighten me the rest of the way about doing this the 'best' way and writing the indicator inside the EA...I have done that to some extent already....but I didn't get the buffers copied into the EA...guess that has to be inserted eh?

how much of this actually has to be copied in the EA?

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| Custom indicator initialization function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

#property indicator_chart_window

#property indicator_buffers 5

#property indicator_color1 Red

#property indicator_color2 Black

#property indicator_color3 Blue

#property indicator_color4 Red

#property indicator_color5 Blue

double upper[], middle1[], middle2, lower[];

double Xup[], Xdown[];

extern int period = 34;

int init()

{

SetIndexStyle(0,DRAW_LINE,EMPTY,2);

SetIndexShift(0,0);

SetIndexDrawBegin(0,0);

SetIndexBuffer(0,upper);

SetIndexStyle(1,DRAW_LINE,EMPTY,2);

SetIndexShift(1,0);

SetIndexDrawBegin(1,0);

SetIndexBuffer(1,middle1);

SetIndexStyle(2,DRAW_LINE,EMPTY,2);

SetIndexShift(2,0);

SetIndexDrawBegin(2,0);

SetIndexBuffer(2,lower);

SetIndexStyle(3,DRAW_ARROW,EMPTY,2);

SetIndexArrow(3, 162);

SetIndexShift(3,0);

SetIndexDrawBegin(3,0);

SetIndexBuffer(3,Xdown);

SetIndexStyle(4,DRAW_ARROW,EMPTY,2);

SetIndexArrow(4, 162);

SetIndexShift(4,0);

SetIndexDrawBegin(4,0);

SetIndexBuffer(4,Xup);

//---- indicators

//----

return(0);

}

maybe I should just do it the way you showed me for now and call the indicator....it is simpler.

 
Aaragorn:
I have a good teacher.

Now that I have 'that' idea enlighten me the rest of the way about doing this the 'best' way and writing the indicator inside the EA...I have done that to some extent already....but I didn't get the buffers copied into the EA...guess that has to be inserted eh?

how much of this actually has to be copied in the EA?

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| Custom indicator initialization function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

.......

//---- indicators

//----

return(0);

}
maybe I should just do it the way you showed me for now and call the indicator....it is simpler.

None. This is not the logic, this is the visual part of the indicator

 

It will take two posts to show the whole thing I've done so far....site won't accept the whole thing at once...don't let me overlaod you with information...I just want to show you what I've done so far...

first half...

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| EMA_CROSS_2.mq4 |

//| Coders Guru |

//| https://www.forex-tsd.com |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

// ultima versiune cu micro lots! H1 si D1

#property copyright "Coders Guru"

#property link "https://www.forex-tsd.com"

//---- Trades limits

extern double

TakeProfit = 10,

TrailingStop = 20,

StopLoss = 20;

extern bool

UseStopLoss = false;

//---- EMAs paris

extern int

ShortEma = 1,

LongEma = 5;

//---- Crossing options

extern bool

immediate_trade = true, //Open trades immediately or wait for cross.

reversal = false, //Use the originally reversal crossing method or not

ConfirmedOnEntry = false;

//---- Money Management

extern double

Lots = 1,

HedgePercent = 1; // Used to calcualte the what percent of the lots the user wants to be

// used in the hedged position

extern bool

MM = true, //Use Money Management or not

AccountIsMicro = true; //Use Micro-Account or not

extern int

StartHour = 0, //Indicates when the user wants the EA to start trading

StopHour = 23; //Indicates when the user wants the EA to stop trading

extern int

Risk = 10; //10%

extern int

MAGICMA = 20060301;

extern bool

Show_Settings = true;

//---- Global varaibles

static int

TimeFrame = 0;

datetime

CheckValueTime;

//---- Trend bands

double upper[], middle1[], middle2, lower[];

double Xup[], Xdown[];

extern int period = 34;

//---- Filter Parameters

extern double longrange = 25;

extern double shortrange = 20;

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| expert initialization function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int init()

{

if(Show_Settings) Print_Details();

else Comment("");

return(0);

}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| expert deinitialization function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int deinit()

{

TimeFrame=Period(); //Prevent counting the cross while the user changing the timeframe

return(0);

}

bool isNewSumbol(string current_symbol)

{

//loop through all the opened order and compare the symbols

int total = OrdersTotal();

for(int cnt = 0 ; cnt < total ; cnt++)

{

OrderSelect(cnt, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);

string selected_symbol = OrderSymbol();

if (current_symbol == selected_symbol)

return (False);

}

return (True);

}

int Crossed (double line1 , double line2)

{

static int last_direction = 0;

static int current_direction = 0;

if(TimeFrame!=Period())

{

TimeFrame=Period();

return (0);

}

if(line1>line2)current_direction = 1; //up

if(line1<line2)current_direction = 2; //down

if(immediate_trade==false)

{

if(last_direction == 0) //first use

{

last_direction = current_direction;

return(0);

}

}

if(current_direction != last_direction) //changed

{

last_direction = current_direction;

return (last_direction);

}

else

{

return (0); //not changed

}

}

//--- Bassed on Alex idea! More ideas are coming

double LotSize()

{

double lotMM = MathCeil(AccountFreeMargin() * Risk / 1000) / 100;

if(AccountIsMicro==false) //normal account

{

if (lotMM < 0.1) lotMM = Lots;

if ((lotMM > 0.5) && (lotMM < 1)) lotMM=0.5;

if (lotMM > 1.0) lotMM = MathCeil(lotMM);

if (lotMM > 100) lotMM = 100;

}

else //micro account

{

if (lotMM < 0.01) lotMM = Lots;

if (lotMM > 1.0) lotMM = MathCeil(lotMM);

if (lotMM > 100) lotMM = 100;

}

return (lotMM);

}

string BoolToStr ( bool value)

{

if(value) return ("True");

else return ("False");

}

void Print_Details()

{

string sComment = "";

string sp = "----------------------------------------\n";

string NL = "\n";

sComment = sp;

sComment = sComment + "TakeProfit=" + DoubleToStr(TakeProfit,0) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "TrailingStop=" + DoubleToStr(TrailingStop,0) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "StopLoss=" + DoubleToStr(StopLoss,0) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "UseStopLoss=" + BoolToStr(UseStopLoss) + NL;

sComment = sComment + sp;

sComment = sComment + "immediate_trade=" + BoolToStr(immediate_trade) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "reversal=" + BoolToStr(reversal) + NL;

sComment = sComment + sp;

sComment = sComment + "Lots=" + DoubleToStr(Lots,0) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "MM=" + BoolToStr(MM) + " | ";

sComment = sComment + "Risk=" + DoubleToStr(Risk,0) + "%" + NL;

sComment = sComment + sp;

Comment(sComment);

}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| expert start function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

 

second half...

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| expert start function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int start() {

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//| Custom indicator iteration function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int limit;

int counted_bars=IndicatorCounted();

if(counted_bars<0) return(-1);

if(counted_bars>0) counted_bars--;

limit=Bars-counted_bars;

double avg;

for(int x=0; x<limit; x++) {

Xdown[x] = 0; Xup[x] = 0;

middle1[x] = iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// drawn line

middle2= iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// only used to calculate outer bands

avg = findAvg(period, x);

upper[x] = middle2 + (3.5*avg);

lower[x] = middle2 - (3.5*avg);

if (MathAbs(upper[x] - High[x]) < 2*Point)

{

Xdown[x] = upper[x];

if (NewBar() && x == 0)

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach upper edge");

}

if (MathAbs(lower[x] - Low[x]) < 2*Point)

{

Xup[x] = lower[x];

if (NewBar() && x == 0)

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach lower edge");

}

}

return(0);

}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

double findAvg(int period, int shift) {

double sum=0;

for (int x=shift;x<(shift+period);x++) {

sum += High[x]-Low[x];

}

sum = sum/period;

return (sum);

}

bool NewBar()

{

static datetime dt = 0;

if (dt != Time[0])

{

dt = Time[0];

return(true);

}

return(false);

//end of trend bands custom indicator

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

{

if(Hour() >= StartHour && Hour() <= StopHour){ //Nothing will happen unless the time is within the trading time

int cnt, ticket, total;

double SEma, LEma, SEmaLAST, LEmaLAST;

string comment = "";

if(reversal==true) comment = "EMA_CROSS_Counter-Trend";

if(reversal==false) comment = "EMA_CROSS_Trend-Following";

if(Bars<100)

{

Print("bars less than 100");

return(0);

}

if(TakeProfit<1)

{

Print("TakeProfit less than 1");

return(0); // check TakeProfit

}

static int isCrossed = 0;

if(ConfirmedOnEntry)

{

if(CheckValueTime==iTime(NULL,TimeFrame,0)) return(0); else CheckValueTime = iTime(NULL,TimeFrame,0);

SEma = iMA(NULL,0,ShortEma,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,1);

LEma = iMA(NULL,0,LongEma ,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,1);

SEmaLAST = iMA(NULL,0,ShortEma,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,2);

LEmaLAST = iMA(NULL,0,LongEma ,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,2);

if(SEmaLASTLEma) isCrossed = 1;

if(SEmaLAST>LEmaLAST && SEma<LEma) isCrossed = 2;

}

else

{

SEma = iMA(NULL,0,ShortEma,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);

LEma = iMA(NULL,0,LongEma ,0,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);

isCrossed = Crossed (LEma,SEma);

}

if(reversal==false)

{

if(isCrossed==1) isCrossed = 2;

else if(isCrossed==2) isCrossed = 1;

}

if(MM==true) Lots = LotSize(); //Adjust the lot size

total = OrdersTotal();

// TRAILING STOP

for(cnt=0;cnt<total;cnt++)

{

OrderSelect(cnt, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);

if(OrderType()<=OP_SELL && OrderSymbol()==Symbol())

{

if(OrderType()==OP_BUY) // long position is opened

{

// check for trailing stop

if(TrailingStop>0)

{

if(Bid-OrderOpenPrice()>Point*TrailingStop)

{

if(OrderStopLoss()<Bid-Point*TrailingStop)

{

OrderModify(OrderTicket(),OrderOpenPrice(),Bid-Point*TrailingStop,OrderTakeProfit(),0,Green);

return(0);

}

}

}

}

else // go to short position

{

// check for trailing stop

if(TrailingStop>0)

{

if((OrderOpenPrice()-Ask)>(Point*TrailingStop))

{

if((OrderStopLoss()>(Ask+Point*TrailingStop)) || (OrderStopLoss()==0))

{

OrderModify(OrderTicket(),OrderOpenPrice(),Ask+Point*TrailingStop,OrderTakeProfit(),0,Red);

return(0);

}

}

}

}

}

}

// ENTRY

if(total < 2 || isNewSumbol(Symbol())) //I have modified the if condition too: it was total<1 (orBanAway aka cucurucu)

{

double HedgeLots = (HedgePercent/100)*Lots; //calculates the Lots for the hedged position

if(isCrossed == 1 && Point < toplinevalue-longrange)

{

if(UseStopLoss)

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask,3,Ask-StopLoss*Point,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Green);

else

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask,3,0,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Green);

if(ticket>0)

{

if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("BUY order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());

}

else Print("Error opening BUY order : ",GetLastError());

//###################################################################### the added code starts here

if(UseStopLoss)

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,HedgeLots,Bid,3,Bid+StopLoss*Point,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Red);

else

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,HedgeLots,Bid,3,0,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Red);

if(ticket>0)

{

if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("SELL order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());

}

else Print("Error opening SELL order : ",GetLastError());

//###################################################################### ends here

return(0);

}

if(isCrossed == 2)

{

if(UseStopLoss)

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,3,Bid+StopLoss*Point,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Red);

else

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,3,0,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Red);

if(ticket>0)

{

if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("SELL order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());

}

else Print("Error opening SELL order : ",GetLastError());

//###################################################################### the added code starts here

if(UseStopLoss)

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,HedgeLots,Ask,3,Ask-StopLoss*Point,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Green);

else

ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,HedgeLots,Ask,3,0,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,comment,MAGICMA,0,Green);

if(ticket>0)

{

if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("BUY order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());

}

else Print("Error opening BUY order : ",GetLastError());

//###################################################################### ends here

return(0);

}

return(0);

}

return(0);

}

return(0);

}

}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

now when I get down to this line...

if(isCrossed == 1 && Point < toplinevalue-longrange)

this is where I want to put the value from the indicator for the current bar...

how do I call the information out of the code above for the current bar when it's inside the EA already? Actually I had done this much yesterday before you showed me how to call the indicator with the icustom(). Before I undo all that I've already done I wonder if it can be completed as it is and work better than undoing it all and then making it call the indicator?

 

As I said, U dont have to deal with the history. u are filling the entire buffer just to get the last value

for(int x=0; x<limit; x++) {

Xdown[x] = 0; Xup[x] = 0;

middle1[x] = iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// drawn line

middle2= iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// only used to calculate outer bands

avg = findAvg(period, x);

upper[x] = middle2 + (3.5*avg);

lower[x] = middle2 - (3.5*avg);

if (MathAbs(upper[x] - High[x]) < 2*Point)

{

Xdown[x] = upper[x];

if (NewBar() && x == 0)

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach upper edge");

}

if (MathAbs(lower[x] - Low[x]) < 2*Point)

{

Xup[x] = lower[x];

if (NewBar() && x == 0)

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach lower edge");

}

}

[/PHP]

Why not just calculate the last bar

[PHP]

int x = 0;

//Xdown[x] = 0; Xup[x] = 0;

//

// we are not using middle line

//middle1[x] = iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// drawn line

double middle2= iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// only used to calculate outer bands

avg = findAvg(period, x);

double upper = middle2 + (3.5*avg);

double lower = middle2 - (3.5*avg);

if (MathAbs(upper - High) < 2*Point)

{

// no need just alert (or open a trade)

//Xdown[x] = upper[x];

if (NewBar())

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach upper edge");

}

if (MathAbs(lower - Low) < 2*Point)

{

//Xup[x] = lower[x];

if (NewBar()) // I remove " && x == 0" because we know that x == 0

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach lower edge");

}

}

 
int x = 0;

double middle2= iMA(NULL, 0, period, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, x);// only used to calculate outer bands

avg = findAvg(period, x);

double upper = middle2 + (3.5*avg);

double lower = middle2 - (3.5*avg); [/php]

ok that makes sense, I don't need the whole array just the current bar, so this (above code) is all that is required to calculate the top and bottom lines that needs to be in the EA?

this part (code below) confused me. I don't get the logic of it..I know it's sending alerts when the line is crossed but that's not what I need to use this for. I don't understand how it works to make the Xdown = upper , nor do I understand the logic of upper - high <2*point . To me it is a mass of confusion.

all I need to do with the top and bottom lines is know where they are in the current bar so I can determine how close to allow the point to approach them before it disallows the trade? that is the logic I want to create with the right code. I don't need alerts. Also I have not been able to find 'newbar()' in the metaeditor dictionary and the search function in metaeditor isn't working for me it's not responsive.

[php] if (MathAbs(upper - High) < 2*Point)

{

// no need just alert (or open a trade)

//Xdown[x] = upper[x];

if (NewBar())

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach upper edge");

}

if (MathAbs(lower - Low) < 2*Point)

{

//Xup[x] = lower[x];

if (NewBar()) // I remove " && x == 0" because we know that x == 0

Alert(Symbol()," ",Period()," reach lower edge");

}

}

I have been looking at the MEdictionary and and I see a 'bool IsTradeAllowed( )' is that what I could use to limit the trades from opening if it's too near?

 

If u want to know if the upper line is close to the price, one way to find out is if the difference between them is small (let say 2 points).

I don't care (which is not a good idea) if the price is under the line or above the line. For me 2 points distance its all it take. so the diff is

upper - High will give u the diff but not in points (its something like 0.0004 or -0.0004) . To make sure that the diff is positive we are using the finction MathAbs that returns the absolute (positive) value . Now we have to check if it is less then 2 points. the reserved word Point will return the value when the price go up with 1 pip. It is different with every pair.

Put it all together

if (MathAbs(upper - High) < 2*Point) means if the different is less then 2 pips, and for us is close enough

Actually to use High is not good, because the High maybe above, but the current price is far away. We have to use Ask instead of High (in the indicator we have to use Close[x])

To make sure that the price is above the line we can do this

if ((Ask > upper) && (Ask - upper < 2 * Point))

.....(alert or open a trade)

 

I boiled it down to this...but wait...

if this is just using the simple moving average of this one bar multiplied by 3.5 to find a high point. How is it possible that the point could ever reach this? isn't the line value being calculated from the same bar that would have to touch it to signal? As the bar goes up so does the edge line???

//----------channel filter

double middle2= iMA(NULL, 0, back, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_TYPICAL, 0);// only used to calculate outer bands

double avg;

avg = findAvg(back, x);

double upper = middle2 + (3.5*avg);

double lower = middle2 - (3.5*avg);
Reason: