ChartApplyTemplate is not being applied until EA has been stopped

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Hi,

I have created an EA that I load into a chart (chart 1). The EA does the following...

  1. Creates a new chart, using ChartOpen (chart 2).
  2. I then add a new chart (chart 3) inside chart 2 using ObjectCreate - OBJ_CHART.
  3. I then set the chart properties for chart 3 using OBJPROP_....
  4. I then apply a template to chart 3 using ChartApplyTemplate.

Everything seems to be working, but the template is not being applied. If I stop the EA that is running, the template is then applied and everything looks and behaves as expected, apart from the fact that my EA is no longer running.

Is it not possible to apply a template to a chart created by ObjectCreate - OBJ_CHART?


 
metaRaider :

Hi,

I have created an EA that I load into a chart (chart 1). The EA does the following...

  1. Creates a new chart, using ChartOpen (chart 2).
  2. I then add a new chart (chart 3) inside chart 2 using ObjectCreate -  OBJ_CHART .
  3. I then set the chart properties for chart 3 using OBJPROP_....
  4. I then apply a template to chart 3 using ChartApplyTemplate.

Everything seems to be working, but the template is not being applied. If I stop the EA that is running, the template is then applied and everything looks and behaves as expected, apart from the fact that my EA is no longer running.

Is it not possible to apply a template to a chart created by  ObjectCreate - OBJ_CHART ?


Show your MQL5 code (using the button Code)

 

Here is a quick sample of the lines (hopefully I haven't missed anything)...

   // Create a new chart
   long chartID = ChartOpen(_symbol, period);
   // Create a sub chart
   ObjectCreate(chartID, chart_name, OBJ_CHART, 0, 0, 0);
   // Add a property
   ObjectSetInteger(chartID, chart_name, OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, x_pos);
   // Get the chart ID
   long id = -1;
   ObjectGetInteger(chartID, chart_name, OBJPROP_CHART_ID, 0, id))
   // Apply the template
   ChartApplyTemplate(id, "\\profiles\\Templates\\test_template.tpl");
 
metaRaider # :

Here is a quick sample of the lines (hopefully I haven't missed anything)...

No, show your complete MQl5 code - a code that can be run and tested.

 
OK, I'm going to have to create a sample project that demonstrates the issue I am having and then post that, as my project is very large, covering multiple files.
 
metaRaider # :
OK, I'm going to have to create a sample project that demonstrates the issue I am having and then post that, as my project is very large, covering multiple files.

Simplify your example.

Hint: as soon as you simplify the example, you will immediately find your mistake :)

 

Here is a complete EA that demonstrates the issue...

#property copyright "Copyright 2021, MetaQuotes Ltd."
#property link      "https://www.mql5.com"
#property version   "1.00"

int OnInit()
{
   long chartID = ChartOpen("GBPUSD", PERIOD_M1);

   ObjectCreate(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJ_CHART, 0, 0, 0);

   ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, 100);
   ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, 200);
   
   long id = -1;
   ObjectGetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_CHART_ID, 0, id);
   
   ChartApplyTemplate(id, "\\profiles\\Templates\\test.tpl");
   
   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
}

void OnDeinit(const int reason)
{
}

The template is not applied, but as soon as the EA is stopped, the template is applied.

 
In the indicator, the working function is OnCalculate, in the EA, the working function is OnTick. Correct your code.
 

The ChartRedraw command will help:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                                     Expert 1.mq5 |
//|                              Copyright © 2021, Vladimir Karputov |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright © 2021, Vladimir Karputov"
#property version   "1.00"
//---
bool  m_first_start=false;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {
//--- forced initialization of variables
   m_first_start=false;
//---
   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
  {
//---
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
  {
//---
   if(!m_first_start)
     {
      long chartID = ChartOpen("GBPUSD", PERIOD_M1);
      ObjectCreate(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJ_CHART, 0, 0, 0);
      ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, 100);
      ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, 200);
      long id = -1;
      ObjectGetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_CHART_ID, 0, id);
      bool res=ChartApplyTemplate(id, "Blue_Red_bars.tpl");
      ChartRedraw(id);
      //---
      m_first_start=true;
     }
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+


Result:


Files:
Expert_1.mq5  4 kb
 

Hi Vladimir,

Firstly, thank you for your prompt responses!

OK, I think I must been missing something here :-( I appreciate what the OnCalculate and OnTick functions are, but I am trying to configure the screen before anything is displayed. Is this not the way it should be done?

For instance, If I debug the above code, I can see the sub-chart move to the correct location when it gets to the commands...

   ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_XDISTANCE, 100);
   ObjectSetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_YDISTANCE, 200);

But If I then add the following code to change the candles to bars...

   long id = -1;
   ObjectGetInteger(chartID, "Sub-Chart", OBJPROP_CHART_ID, 0, id);
   
   // Set the chart mode, bars, candle or line
   ChartSetInteger(id, CHART_MODE, CHART_BARS);

Again, nothing happens, until I stop the EA. Once he EA is stopped, the template is applied and the candles change to bars. I am failing to see what the difference is :-(

If this is blindingly obvious to you, would you mind directing me to some documentation or a code sample, as I would really like to understand this.

 

Hi Vladimir,

Excellent, thank you.

In my original code (not the sample), I was calling ChartRedraw() and not ChartRedraw(long chart_id), and that was the issue :-(

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