my advisor can not work?

 
I write a advisor program based on two-EMA-Crossing, but it can not work. The program can not give any signals and open any positions. There are some wrong with it , but I dont know what the problem is. Please help me check it, thanks!
int start()
  {
  double mapre1,mapre2,macur1,macur2;
  int total,cnt,ticket;
  
  if(Bars<100)
     {
      Print("bars less than 100");
      return(0);  
     }
  
  // Go to Trading, calculating MA
  mapre1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,-1);
  macur1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  macur2=iMA(NULL,0,PerLong,PerShiftLong,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  
  total=OrdersTotal();
  if (total < 1)
  {
   if (AccountFreeMargin()<(1000*Lots))
      {
       Print("We have no money. Free Margin = ", AccountFreeMargin());
       return(0);  
      }
   // check for long position (BUY) possibility
   if (mapre1<macur2 && macur1>macur2)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask,SlipPage,Ask-StopLoss*Point,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16384,0,Green);
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("BUY order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening BUY order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
        }
   // check for short position (SELL) possibility
   if (mapre1>macur2 && macur1<macur2)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,SlipPage,Bid+StopLoss*Point,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16384,0,Red);
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("SELL order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening SELL order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
      }
   }
   // it is important to enter the market correctly, 
   // but it is more important to exit it correctly...   
   for (cnt=0;cnt<total;cnt++)
      {
       OrderSelect(cnt, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);
       if(OrderType()<=OP_SELL &&   // check for opened position 
          OrderSymbol()==Symbol())  // check for symbol
        {
         if(OrderType()==OP_BUY)   // long position is opened
           {
            // should it be closed?
            if (mapre1>macur2 && macur1<macur2)
               {
                OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Bid,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
                return(0); // exit
               }
           }
         }
        else // go to short position
         {
          // should it be closed?
          if(mapre1<macur2 && macur1>macur2)
           {
            OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Ask,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
            return(0); // exit
           }
         }
       } 
  
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
 
well, for a start PerShort, etc are not defined. I guess some code is missing. can u complete?
 
Sorry, I didnt paste the definition of the extern variables. The complete program is following, thanks again.

#property copyright "Copyright&#65312;2005, wannale"
#property link      "http://www.metaquotes.net "

//---- input parameters
extern double    Lots = 0.1;
extern int       PerShort=5;
extern int       PerShiftShort=-2;
extern int       PerLong=13;
extern int       PerShiftLong=0;
extern int       SlipPage=3;
extern int       TakeProfit=30; 
extern int       StopLoss=20;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
  {
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
  {
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
  {
  double mapre1,mapre2,macur1,macur2;
  int total,cnt,ticket;
  
  if(Bars<100)
     {
      Print("bars less than 100");
      return(0);  
     }
  
  // Go to Trading, calculating MA
  mapre1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,-1);
  mapre2=iMA(NULL,0,PerLong,PerShiftLong,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,-1);
  macur1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  macur2=iMA(NULL,0,PerLong,PerShiftLong,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  
  total=OrdersTotal();
  if (total < 1)
  {
   //if (AccountFreeMargin()<(1000*Lots))
   //   {
   //    Print("We have no money. Free Margin = ", AccountFreeMargin());
   //    return(0);  
   //   }
   // check for long position (BUY) possibility
   if ( mapre1<mapre2 && macur1>macur2 && macur1>mapre1)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Close,SlipPage,Ask-StopLoss*Point,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16677,0,Green);
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("BUY order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening BUY order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
        }
   // check for short position (SELL) possibility
   if (mapre1>mapre2 && macur1<macur2 && macur1<mapre1)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Close,SlipPage,Bid+StopLoss*Point,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16677,0,Red);
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("SELL order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening SELL order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
      }
   }
   // it is important to enter the market correctly, 
   // but it is more important to exit it correctly...   
   for (cnt=0;cnt<total;cnt++)
      {
       OrderSelect(cnt, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);
       if(OrderType()<=1 &&   // check for opened position 
          OrderSymbol()==Symbol())  // check for symbol
        {
         if(OrderType()==0)   // long position is opened
           {
            // should it be closed?
            if (mapre1>mapre2 && macur1<macur2 && macur1<mapre1)
               {
                OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Close,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
                return(0); // exit
               }
           }
         }
        else // go to short position
         {
          // should it be closed?
          if(mapre1<mapre2 && macur1>macur2 && macur1>mapre1)
           {
            OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Close,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
            return(0); // exit
           }
         }
       } 
  
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
 
here u go...

There were three errors...

1) a problem with the OrderSend instruction.. it gave an error in the journal.. I changed Close to Ask, Bid w/o slippage.. it works but if u want it to close,play around...

2) the MA bar parameters needs to be positive.. I changed -1 to 1

3) the PerShiftShort parameter was negative, I assume it needs to be zero or positive.. i have not checked.

All changes have // HDB ...

When u debug,
1) look at your journal for errors.. this gives good clues as to what is hapening
2) put in print() statements to CHECK that the values are what u think they should be.
The ma were zero so this told me where the problem was
3) Now u can use the backtester to see if the expert works.. u dont have to wait for a demo cahrt to do something!

Good coding,


#property copyright "Copyright&#65312;2005, wannale"
#property link      "http://www.metaquotes.net "

//---- input parameters
extern double    Lots = 0.1;
extern int       PerShort=5;
extern int       PerShiftShort=0;  // HDB CHANGED -2 to 0
extern int       PerLong=13;
extern int       PerShiftLong=0;
extern int       SlipPage=3;
extern int       TakeProfit=30; 
extern int       StopLoss=20;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
  {
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
  {
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
  {
  double mapre1,mapre2,macur1,macur2;
  int total,cnt,ticket;
  
  if(Bars<100)
     {
      Print("bars less than 100");
      return(0);  
     }
  
  // Go to Trading, calculating MA
  mapre1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,1);  // HDB CHANGED -1 to 1
  mapre2=iMA(NULL,0,PerLong,PerShiftLong,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,1);   // HDB CHANGED -1 to 1
  macur1=iMA(NULL,0,PerShort,PerShiftShort,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  macur2=iMA(NULL,0,PerLong,PerShiftLong,MODE_EMA,PRICE_CLOSE,0);
  
  total=OrdersTotal();
  if (total < 1)
  {
     //if (AccountFreeMargin()<(1000*Lots))
   //   {
   //    Print("We have no money. Free Margin = ", AccountFreeMargin());
   //    return(0);  
   //   }
   // check for long position (BUY) possibility

// Print("ma 1, 2: ",macur1, " ",macur2, "  ",mapre1," ",mapre2); // HDB ADDED for tests
   if ( mapre1<mapre2 && macur1>macur2 && macur1>mapre1)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask,0,Ask-StopLoss*Point,Ask+TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16677,0,Green);  // HDB CHANGED Close TO Ask and SlipPage to 0
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("BUY order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening BUY order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
        }
   // check for short position (SELL) possibility
   if (mapre1>mapre2 && macur1<macur2 && macur1<mapre1)
      {
       ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,0,Bid+StopLoss*Point,Bid-TakeProfit*Point,"am crossing",16677,0,Red);  // HDB CHANGED Close TO Bid and SlipPage to 0
         if(ticket>0)
           {
            if(OrderSelect(ticket,SELECT_BY_TICKET,MODE_TRADES)) Print("SELL order opened : ",OrderOpenPrice());
           }
         else Print("Error opening SELL order : ",GetLastError()); 
         return(0); 
      }
   }
   // it is important to enter the market correctly, 
   // but it is more important to exit it correctly...   
   for (cnt=0;cnt<total;cnt++)
      {
       OrderSelect(cnt, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);
       if(OrderType()<=1 &&   // check for opened position 
          OrderSymbol()==Symbol())  // check for symbol
        {
         if(OrderType()==0)   // long position is opened
           {
            // should it be closed?
            if (mapre1>mapre2 && macur1<macur2 && macur1<mapre1)
               {
                OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Close,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
                return(0); // exit
               }
           }
         }
        else // go to short position
         {
          // should it be closed?
          if(mapre1<mapre2 && macur1>macur2 && macur1>mapre1)
           {
            OrderClose(OrderTicket(),OrderLots(),Close,SlipPage,Violet); // close position
            return(0); // exit
           }
         }
       } 
  
//---- 
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
  

 
Thanks , hdb. Now I know where are the problems.
By the way, where can I get the backtester and how to use it?
 
yw... the back tester is part of MT 4.. under menu 'View' item 'Strategy Tester'

enjoy!
 
oh, it is. I had used it, Thanks.