Signal Buffer Inspector MT4
- Utilities
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Dasha Borisenko
MetaTrader developer: MQL4/MQL5 Expert Advisors, indicators and scripts since 2014.
My products on the MQL5 Market: - Version: 1.0
Signal Buffer Inspector shows what another indicator on the same chart actually outputs, including indicators you only have as an EX4 file. It answers the questions every automation project starts with: which buffer holds the BUY signals, which holds the SELL signals, what value means "no signal", on which bar new signals appear, and whether values on closed bars change later.
What it shows
A table lists every buffer of the inspected indicator with its type (BUY arrows, SELL arrows, mixed arrows, +1/-1 flags, lines or empty), direction and confidence, number of signals, empty value and signal shift. EMPTY_VALUE, 0 or a constant such as -1 are recognised as "no signal". Indicators that draw arrows as chart objects are detected as well, grouped by object name prefix.
The repaint check records the values of closed bars. If a value later changes or disappears, the buffer is marked REPAINTS with the number of changes and how many bars back they happened. Until enough new signals have been observed, the status stays PENDING. The verdict (READY, CHECKING, REPAINTS or NO SIGNALS) is shown together with the suggested settings.
Settings and export
The Settings view selects another indicator on the chart with the arrow buttons, or takes a file name from MQL4\Indicators such as ZigZag together with its inputs, for example 20;7;4. Apply restarts the analysis at once. The panel can be collapsed to one line and adapts its width to the chart.
Export .set saves the suggested settings (file name, inputs, buffers and shift) to the common Files folder of your terminals, Files\SignalBufferInspector. If that folder cannot be written, the file goes to MQL4\Files\SignalBufferInspector of this terminal. The file can be loaded in the Strategy Tester inputs or by an Expert Advisor that reads this format, such as Signal Buffer Trader.
Notes
- The inputs of an indicator on the chart are read from the chart. In file name mode you type them, separated by ";".
- MT4 can pass up to 12 inputs to another indicator (at most 2 text inputs) or up to 16 numeric inputs. The panel names any inputs that keep their defaults.
- Built-in indicators from the MT4 Indicators list cannot be read by programs. Use their file versions, for example Custom Moving Averages.
- Signals drawn only as pictures cannot be read.
- The inspector does not trade and uses no DLLs and no internet connection.
The repaint check reports only what it has observed, so run the inspector in the Strategy Tester visual mode before you rely on an indicator. A version for MetaTrader 5 is also available.
