Found my own answer, it looks its not quite possible in MT4.
I did however find a useful automated way to do https://www.mql5.com/en/forum/73391, which can be called on init. Left here as follows:
#import "user32.dll" int RegisterWindowMessageW(string MessageName); int PostMessageW(int hwnd,int msg,int wparam,uchar &Name[]); int FindWindowW(string lpszClass,string lpszWindow); #import #define VK_RETURN 13 //ENTER key void StartCustomIndicator(int hWnd,string IndicatorName, string shortName, bool AutomaticallyAcceptDefaults=true) { Sleep(100); uchar name2[]; StringToCharArray(IndicatorName,name2,0,StringLen(IndicatorName)); int MessageNumber=RegisterWindowMessageW("MetaTrader4_Internal_Message"); int r=PostMessageW(hWnd,MessageNumber,15,name2); Sleep(100); if(AutomaticallyAcceptDefaults) { int ind_settings = FindWindowW(NULL, "Custom Indicator - "+shortName); PostMessageW(ind_settings,0x100,VK_RETURN,name2); } }
Hi there,
I created a simple Grid indicator (different from the standard grid pattern of course), which compiled perfectly, and I can drag it onto the chart, but it shows NOTHING! I have changed the color and the width of the lines but still nothing.
Anyone with an idea what this is about? I'm using MQL5
regards, Frank

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I am a somewhat newbie, been programming Mt4 for about 2 months.
Anyways, I developed this Custom indicator, not sure if its relevant but calculates everything from BAR 1 to +, basically always ignores BAR , calculation is only relevant on closed bar.
I have a developed an Expert Advisor that uses this indicator.
When I put the Advisor on a chart, it gets all the right values from the Indicator, but nothing is drawn on the chart. I manually have to add the custom indicator to visually see the lines that it creates.
What do I need to do to not have to add this manually? To have the Advisor reflect the indicator being used? I tried WIndowRefresh to no avail.
Thank you!