MQL5: Create Your Own Indicator
MQL5: Create Your Own Indicator
What is an indicator? It is a set of calculated values that we want to be displayed on the screen in a convenient way. Sets of values are represented in programs as arrays. Thus, creation of an indicator means writing an algorithm that handles some arrays (price arrays) and records results of handling to other arrays (indicator values). By describing creation of True Strength Index, the author shows how to write indicators in MQL5.
Drawing Channels - Inside and Outside View
Drawing Channels - Inside and Outside View
I guess it won't be an exaggeration, if I say the channels are the most popular tool for the analysis of market and making trade decisions after the moving averages. Without diving deeply into the mass of trade strategies that use channels and their components, we are going to discuss the mathematical basis and the practical implementation of an indicator, which draws a channel determined by three extremums on the screen of the client terminal.
Testing Performance of Moving Averages Calculation in MQL5
Testing Performance of Moving Averages Calculation in MQL5
A number of indicators have appeared since the time of first Moving Average indicator creation. Many of them use the similar smoothing methods, but the performances of different moving averages algorithms have not been studied. In this article, we will consider possible ways of use the Moving Averages in MQL5 and compare their performance.
The ZigZag Indicator: Fresh Approach and New Solutions
The ZigZag Indicator: Fresh Approach and New Solutions
The article examines the possibility of creating an advanced ZigZag indicator. The idea of identifying nodes is based on the use of the Envelopes indicator. We assume that we can find a certain combination of input parameters for a series of Envelopes, whereby all ZigZag nodes lie within the confines of the Envelopes bands. Consequently, we can try to predict the coordinates of the new node.
MQL5 for Newbies: Guide to Using Technical Indicators in Expert Advisors
MQL5 for Newbies: Guide to Using Technical Indicators in Expert Advisors
In order to obtain values of a built-in or custom indicator in an Expert Advisor, first its handle should be created using the corresponding function. Examples in the article show how to use this or that technical indicator while creating your own programs. The article describes indicators that are built n the MQL5 language. It is intended for those who don't have much experience in the development of trading strategies and offers simple and clear ways of working with indicators using the offered library of functions.
Creating a Multi-Currency Indicator, Using a Number of Intermediate Indicator Buffers
Creating a Multi-Currency Indicator, Using a Number of Intermediate Indicator Buffers
There has been a recent rise of interest in the cluster analyses of the FOREX market. MQL5 opens up new possibilities of researching the trends of the movement of currency pairs. A key feature of MQL5, differentiating it from MQL4, is the possibility of using an unlimited amount of indicator buffers. This article describes an example of the creation of a multi-currency indicator.
DiNapoli trading system
DiNapoli trading system
The article describes the Fibo levels-based trading system developed by Joe DiNapoli. The idea behind the system and the main concepts are explained, as well as a simple indicator is provided as an example for more clarity.
An example of an indicator drawing Support and Resistance lines
An example of an indicator drawing Support and Resistance lines
The article provides an example of how to implement an indicator for drawing support and resistance lines based on formalized conditions. In addition to having a ready-to-use indicator, you will see how simple the indicator creation process is. You will also learn how to formulate conditions for drawing any desired line by changing the indicator code.
Continuous futures contracts in MetaTrader 5
Continuous futures contracts in MetaTrader 5
A short life span of futures contracts complicates their technical analysis. It is difficult to technically analyze short charts. For example, number of bars on the day chart of the UX-9.13 Ukrainian Stock index future is more than 100. Therefore, trader creates synthetic long futures contracts. This article explains how to splice futures contracts with different dates in the MetaTrader 5 terminal.
The Implementation of a Multi-currency Mode in MetaTrader 5
The Implementation of a Multi-currency Mode in MetaTrader 5
For a long time multi-currency analysis and multi-currency trading has been of interest to people. The opportunity to implement a full fledged multi-currency regime became possible only with the public release of MetaTrader 5 and the MQL5 programming language. In this article we propose a way to analyze and process all incoming ticks for several symbols. As an illustration, let's consider a multi-currency RSI indicator of the USDx dollar index.
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly
Event handling in MQL5: Changing MA period on-the-fly
Suppose that simple MA (Moving Average) indicator with period 13 is applied to a chart. And we want to change the period to 20, but we do not want to go to indicator properties dialog box and edit the number 13 to 20: simply tired of these tedious actions with mouse and keyboard. And especially we don't want to open indicator code and modify it. We want to do all this with a single press of a button - "up arrows" next to the numeric keypad. In this article I'll describe how to do it.
Thomas DeMark's Sequential (TD SEQUENTIAL) using artificial intelligence
Thomas DeMark's Sequential (TD SEQUENTIAL) using artificial intelligence
In this article, I will tell you how to successfully trade by merging a very well-known strategy and a neural network. It will be about the Thomas DeMark's Sequential strategy with the use of an artificial intelligence system. Only the first part of the strategy will be applied, using the Setup and Intersection signals.
3D Modeling in MQL5
3D Modeling in MQL5
A time series is a dynamic system, in which values of a random variable are received continuously or at successive equally spaced points in time. Transition from 2D to 3D market analysis provides a new look at complex processes and research objects. The article describes visualization methods providing 3D representation of two-dimensional data.
Auto detection of extreme points based on a specified price variation
Auto detection of extreme points based on a specified price variation
Automation of trading strategies involving graphical patterns requires the ability to search for extreme points on the charts for further processing and interpretation. Existing tools do not always provide such an ability. The algorithms described in the article allow finding all extreme points on charts. The tools discussed here are equally efficient both during trends and flat movements. The obtained results are not strongly affected by a selected timeframe and are only defined by a specified scale.
Third Generation Neural Networks: Deep Networks
Third Generation Neural Networks: Deep Networks
This article is dedicated to a new and perspective direction in machine learning - deep learning or, to be precise, deep neural networks. This is a brief review of second generation neural networks, the architecture of their connections and main types, methods and rules of learning and their main disadvantages followed by the history of the third generation neural network development, their main types, peculiarities and training methods. Conducted are practical experiments on building and training a deep neural network initiated by the weights of a stacked autoencoder with real data. All the stages from selecting input data to metric derivation are discussed in detail. The last part of the article contains a software implementation of a deep neural network in an Expert Advisor with a built-in indicator based on MQL4/R.
Tips for Purchasing a Product on the Market. Step-By-Step Guide
Tips for Purchasing a Product on the Market. Step-By-Step Guide
This step-by-step guide provides tips and tricks for better understanding and searching for a required product. The article makes an attempt to puzzle out different methods of searching for an appropriate product, sorting out unwanted products, determining product efficiency and essentiality for you.
Using Layouts and Containers for GUI Controls: The CGrid Class
Using Layouts and Containers for GUI Controls: The CGrid Class
This article presents an alternative method of GUI creation based on layouts and containers, using one layout manager — the CGrid class. The CGrid class is an auxiliary control that acts as a container for other containers and controls using a grid layout.
Rope Indicator by Erik Nayman
Rope Indicator by Erik Nayman
The article reveals how the "Rope" indicator is created based on "The Small Encyclopedia of Trader" by Erik L. Nayman. This indicator shows the direction of the trend using the calculated values of bulls and bears over a specified period of time. The article also contains principles of creating and calculating indicators along with the examples of codes. Other subjects covered include building an Expert Advisor based on the indicator, and the optimization of external parameters.
The Implementation of Automatic Analysis of the Elliott Waves in MQL5
The Implementation of Automatic Analysis of the Elliott Waves in MQL5
One of the most popular methods of market analysis is the Elliott Wave Principle. However, this process is quite complicated, which leads us to the use of additional tools. One of such instruments is the automatic marker. This article describes the creation of an automatic analyzer of Elliott Waves in MQL5 language.
The "New Bar" Event Handler
The "New Bar" Event Handler
MQL5 programming language is capable of solving problems on a brand new level. Even those tasks, that already have such solutions, thanks to object oriented programming can rise to a higher level. In this article we take a specially simple example of checking new bar on a chart, that was transformed into rather powerful and versatile tool. What tool? Find out in this article.
Freelance Jobs on MQL5.com - Developer's Favorite Place
Freelance Jobs on MQL5.com - Developer's Favorite Place
Developers of trading robots no longer need to market their services to traders that require Expert Advisors - as now they will find you. Already, thousands of traders place orders to MQL5 freelance developers, and pay for work in on MQL5.com. For 4 years, this service facilitated three thousand traders to pay for more than 10 000 jobs performed. And the activity of traders and developers is constantly growing!
MQL5.com Freelance: Developers' Source of Income (Infographic)
MQL5.com Freelance: Developers' Source of Income (Infographic)
On the occasion of the MQL5 Freelance Service fourth birthday, we have prepared an info-graphic demonstrating the service results for the entire time of its existence. The figures speak for themselves: more than 10 000 orders worth about $600,000 in total have been executed to date, while 3 000 customers and 300 developers have already used the service.
Do Traders Need Services From Developers?
Do Traders Need Services From Developers?
Algorithmic trading becomes more popular and needed, which naturally led to a demand for exotic algorithms and unusual tasks. To some extent, such complex applications are available in the Code Base or in the Market. Although traders have simple access to those apps in a couple of clicks, these apps may not satisfy all needs in full. In this case, traders look for developers who can write a desired application in the MQL5 Freelance section and assign an order.
Several Ways of Finding a Trend in MQL5
Several Ways of Finding a Trend in MQL5
Any trader would give a lot for opportunity to accurately detect a trend at any given time. Perhaps, this is the Holy Grail that everyone is looking for. In this article we will consider several ways to detect a trend. To be more precise - how to program several classical ways to detect a trend by means of MQL5.
Fast Testing of Trading Ideas on the Chart
Fast Testing of Trading Ideas on the Chart
The article describes the method of fast visual testing of trading ideas. The method is based on the combination of a price chart, a signal indicator and a balance calculation indicator. I would like to share my method of searching for trading ideas, as well as the method I use for fast testing of these ideas.
Designing and implementing new GUI widgets based on CChartObject class
Designing and implementing new GUI widgets based on CChartObject class
After I wrote a previous article on semi-automatic Expert Advisor with GUI interface it turned out that it would be desirable to enhance interface with some new functionalities for more complex indicators and Expert Advisors. After getting acquainted with MQL5 standard library classes I implemented new widgets. This article describes a process of designing and implementing new MQL5 GUI widgets that can be used in indicators and Expert Advisors. The widgets presented in the article are CChartObjectSpinner, CChartObjectProgressBar and CChartObjectEditTable.
Creating Multi-Colored Indicators in MQL5
Creating Multi-Colored Indicators in MQL5
In this article, we will consider how to create multi-colored indicators or convert the existing ones to multi-color. MQL5 allows to represent the information in the convenient form. Now it isn't necessary to look at a dozen of charts with indicators and perform analyses of the RSI or Stochastic levels, it's better just to paint the candles with different colors depending on the values of the indicators.
How to Create Your Own Trailing Stop
How to Create Your Own Trailing Stop
The basic rule of trader - let profit to grow, cut off losses! This article considers one of the basic techniques, allowing to follow this rule - moving the protective stop level (Stop loss level) after increasing position profit, i.e. - Trailing Stop level. You'll find the step by step procedure to create a class for trailing stop on SAR and NRTR indicators. Everyone will be able to insert this trailing stop into their experts or use it independently to control positions in their accounts.
20 Trade Signals in MQL5
20 Trade Signals in MQL5
This article will teach you how to receive trade signals that are necessary for a trade system to work. The examples of forming 20 trade signals are given here as separate custom functions that can be used while developing Expert Advisors. For your convenience, all the functions used in the article are combined in a single mqh include file that can be easily connected to a future Expert Advisor.
Creating Tick Indicators in MQL5
Creating Tick Indicators in MQL5
In this article, we will consider the creation of two indicators: the tick indicator, which plots the tick chart of the price and tick candle indicator, which plot candles with the specified number of ticks. Each of the indicators writes the incoming prices into a file, and uses the saved data after the restart of the indicator (these data also can be used by the other programs)
The Drawing Styles in MQL5
The Drawing Styles in MQL5
There are 6 drawing styles in MQL4 and 18 drawing styles in MQL5. Therefore, it may be worth writing an article to introduce MQL5's drawing styles. In this article, we will consider the details of drawing styles in MQL5. In addition, we will create an indicator to demonstrate how to use these drawing styles, and refine the plotting.
How to call indicators in MQL5
How to call indicators in MQL5
With new version of MQL programming language available not only the approach of dealing with indicators have changed, but there are also new ways of how to create indicators. Furthermore, you have additional flexibility working with indicator's buffers - now you can specify the desired direction of indexing and get exactly as many indicator's values as you want. This article explains the basic methods of calling indicators and retrieving data from the indicator's buffers.
Custom Indicators in MQL5 for Newbies
Custom Indicators in MQL5 for Newbies
Any new subject seems complicated and hard-to-learn for a newbie. Subjects that we know seem very simple and clear to us. But we simply do not remember, that everyone has to study something from scratch, and even our native language. The same is with the MQL5 programming language that offers wide possibilities of developing one's own trading strategies - you can start learning it from basic notions and simplest examples. Interaction of a technical indicator with the MetaTrader 5 client terminal is consider in this article on the example of the simple custom indicator SMA.
Applying One Indicator to Another
Applying One Indicator to Another
When writing an indicator that uses the short form of the OnCalculate() function call, you might miss the fact that an indicator can be calculated not only by price data, but also by data of some other indicator (no matter whether it is a built-in or custom one). Do you want to improve an indicator for its correct application to the other indicator's data? In this article we'll review all the steps required for such modification.
Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 46): Designing an Interactive Fibonacci Retracement EA with Smart Visualization in MQL5
Price Action Analysis Toolkit Development (Part 46): Designing an Interactive Fibonacci Retracement EA with Smart Visualization in MQL5
Fibonacci tools are among the most popular instruments used by technical analysts. In this article, we’ll build an Interactive Fibonacci EA that draws retracement and extension levels that react dynamically to price movement, delivering real‑time alerts, stylish lines, and a scrolling news‑style headline. Another key advantage of this EA is flexibility; you can manually type the high (A) and low (B) swing values directly on the chart, giving you exact control over the market range you want to analyze.
Developing Advanced ICT Trading Systems: Implementing Signals in the Order Blocks Indicator
Developing Advanced ICT Trading Systems: Implementing Signals in the Order Blocks Indicator
In this article, you will learn how to develop an Order Blocks indicator based on order book volume (market depth) and optimize it using buffers to improve accuracy. This concludes the current stage of the project and prepares for the next phase, which will include the implementation of a risk management class and a trading bot that uses signals generated by the indicator.