Meta Trader 4 Platform

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Charts show the dynamics of symbol price changes. Charts settings and history data parameters are grouped in this tab. Changing of parameters in this tab will not cause any global changes in operation of the terminal.

Trade Levels
Lines of open and pending orders placed directly in the chart visualize where exactly the position was opened, when the pending order, Stop Loss or Take Profit will trigger. This option saves traders' work and helps to avoid some mistakes caused by human emotions. For it to be enabled, the "Show trade levels" must be checked, and the "OK" button must be pressed. At that, the lines corresponding with open prices of positions and orders will appear in the chart. Of course, if no order or position are opened, no levels will be shown in the chart. This option is active for open positions or orders only. No closed position will come within its action.
Ask Line
Bars in the terminal are built and shown only for Bid prices. However, for opening of long positions and closing of short ones, Ask price is always used. But it is not shown in the chart in any way, it cannot be seen. To control over one's trading activities more attentively, one can enable the "Show Ask line" parameter. After this command has been executed, an additional horizontal line corresponding with Ask price of the last bar will appear in the chart.
OHLC Line
Charts show the price dynamics, but it is often very difficult to determine exact parameters of the bar by eye. The "Show OHLC" option is very helpful in such situations. It places an additional information line in the upper left corner of each chart. Here, besides the symbol name and chart period, prices of the last bar are listed. They are formatted as follows: OPEN, HIGH, LOW and CLOSE (OHLC) : open price of the bar, the highest price of the bar, the lowest price of the bar, and close price of the bar, respectively. Thus, the exact value of the last bar can always be seen.
Period Separators
Date and time of each bar are shown on the chart horizontal axis. The chosen timeframe is the value of this horizontal scale. The "Show period separators" option draws additional vertical lines in the chart that correspond with a larger timeframe. So, for charts having timeframe from M1 to H1, daily separators are built, for H4 : weekly, for D1 : monthly, and for W1 and MN1 : yearly ones.
Color Print
Terminal allows to print not only black-and-white, but also colored charts. The latter ones are more appropriate for analysis than black-and-white ones. This option can be enabled by setting of the "Color print" checkbox and then pressing the "OK" button. After that, if the printer allows it, all charts will be printed in color.
Saving of Deleted Charts Templates
Terminal allows to restore charts deleted from the workspace. If the "Save deleted charts to reopen" option is enabled, at deleting of a chart, its template will be saved in the /DELETED directory. Later on, any deleted chart can be restored with the " File / Open deleted " menu command. For example, it is possible to restore the four-hour chart of EURUSD after it has been deleted. The restored chart will also be a four-hour one, and all its settings with imposed objects (indicators, line studies) will be restored, as well.
Amounts of Bars in History and in Charts
Bars stored in history and those shown in charts differ from each other. This difference is determined by the fact that any amount of bars can be kept in the hard disk provided that it has enough space. But the amount of bars shown in the chart is limited by the computer resources. To calculate values of technical and custom indicators, bars shown in the chart are used, as well. When a great amount of indicators and data to be shown are used simultaneously, computer free resources (central processor load and free RAM) can exhaust very soon. To avoid such problems, one can specify the amount of data shown in the charts independently. To do so, one must choose the suitable value from the pop-up list or enter it manually in the "Max bars in chart" field. The amount of bars to be stored in the hard disk is specified in the "Max bars in history" field. In future, this value will be used for testing of expert advisors. Any amount of bars can be specified here.

Attention: At the closing of a chart, the amount of bars to be saved will not exceed that given in the "Max bars in history" field. At the opening of a chart, the amount of bars to be downloaded will not exceed that given in the "Max bars in chart" field. But the amount of bars in the chart can exceed this value during pumping of quotes. Values of "Show Ask line", " Show OHLC " and "Show period separators" specified in this window are default parameters. These parameters can be specified independently for each specific chart in the setup window. Values of "Show trade levels", "Color print" and "Save deleted charts to reopen" specified in this window influence all the charts and become active immediately after the "OK" button has been pressed.

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Settings for working with graphical objects are grouped in this tab. Graphical objects are all line studies placed in the toolbar having the same name and in the "Insert" menu. They consist of: technical indicators (including custom indicators), line studies, geometrical figures, texts, and icons. Parameters collected in this tab facilitate the work with graphical objects and cannot cause critical changes in the terminal operation.

Show Properties after Creation
All graphical objects possess certain properties. For example, it can be thickness and color of the trend line, period of the indicator signal line, etc. The most traders use standard settings of all graphical objects, but it is sometimes necessary to set them up individually. The "Show properties after creation" option allows to set up objects immediately after they have been imposed. It is suitable when there are many objects having individual settings on the chart.

Select Objects after Creation
Unlike indicators, such objects as line studies, text, icons, and geometrical figures are positioned in charts manually. After an object has been imposed, there can a need occur to move it, for example, to precise the position of the trend line. To do so, the necessary object must be selected first. The "Select object after creation" option allows to do it immediately after the object has been imposed in the chart.


Select Objects by a Single Mouse Click
Graphical objects in the terminal can be selected by single or double clicking of the left mouse button. This option allows to switch between methods of objects selection. If it is enabled, all objects will be selected by a single click. At that, the double click calls the window of the object properties. If this option is disabled, all objects will be selected by a double click.

Magnet
The terminal allows to "magnet" (anchor) checkpoints of objects to different bar prices to locate them more precisely. In the "Magnet sensitivity" field, the sensitivity of this option in pixels can be defined. For example, if the value of 10 is specified, the object will automatically be anchored to the bar if a checkpoint of the object is located within a radius of 10 pixels the nearest bar price (OHLC). To disable this option, it is necessary to input parameter 0.

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Settings used for orders opening are grouped in this tab. Parameters input here facilitate opening of orders and cannot cause critical changes in the terminal operation.

Symbol by Default
The "Symbol by default" option allows to define the symbol value in the "Order" window automatically when a trading operation is performed. The "Automatic" parameter means that the active chart symbol will be set in this field, the "Last used" the symbol of the latest trade operation. For the same symbol to be set repeatedly, the "Default" parameter must be enabled, and the necessary symbol chosen from the list.

Lots by Default
In the similar way, the initial amount of lots can be defined ("Lots by default" option): "Last used" is a parameter used in the previous operation, and "by default" is a constant, manually set value.

Deviation
The symbol price can change within the ordering time. As a result, the price of the prepared order will not correspond with the market one, and position will not be opened. The "Deviation" option helps to avoid this. Maximum permissible deviation from the value given in the order can be specified in this field. If prices do not correspond, the program will modify the order by itself what allows to open a new position.

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Settings of working with Expert Advisors are grouped in this tab. Expert Advisors in the terminal are programs written in MetaQuotes Language 4 and allowing to analyze and trade in the automatic mode (auto trading). The description of how to create and use experts is given in the "Auto Trading" section. The given section describes only settings common for all experts:

Enable Expert Advisors
This option allows to enable or disable the use of all expert advisors. If it is disabled, the start() function will not run for all expert advisors when a new tick incomes. At that, daggers will appear instead of smileys opposite the names of experts in the upper right corner of the chart. To enable expert advisors, it must be enabled and the "OK" button must be pressed. As soon as a new tick incomes, expert advisors will start working, and daggers in the upper right corner of the chart will become smileys again.

Attention: This option is intended only for expert advisors, and it does not allow to disable custom indicators and scripts automatically. This option does not influence any experts already running, i.e., an expert will not be stopped during its execution of the start() function.

Disable experts when the account has been changed
This option represents a protective mechanism disabling expert advisors when the account is changed. It is useful, for example, when one changes demo account for a real one. For the mechanism to be enabled, it must be enabled and the "OK" button must be pressed.

Disable experts when the profile has been changed
A large amount of information about the current settings of all charts in the workspace is stored in profiles. Particularly, profiles contain information about experts attached. Experts included into the profile will start working when a new tick incomes. Having enabled this option, one can hinder the experts launching when the profile has been changed.

Allow live trading
Expert advisors are able to work independently, without any trader's participation. They can both analyze the price changes and trade. This option is intended for limitation of trading performed by experts. This limitation can be useful to test analytical capacity of an expert in the real-time mode (not to be confused with testing of expert advisors on history data).

Manual confirmation
The "Manual confirmation" option is enabled only if live trading is enabled for expert advisors. If manual confirmation is enabled and expert attempts to perform a trade operation, it will be possible to confirm it or to interrupt manually. In other words, manual confirmation allows to control the trading activity of the advisor. At that, the window of trade operations with all fields filled out appears. This can be useful for testing the expert advisor trading functions in the real-time mode (not to be confused with testing of expert advisors on history data).


Allow DLL imports
To enlarge their functionality, expert advisors can use DLLs (dynamic-links libraries). If it is enabled, such libraries can be used without any limitations. If this option is disabled, no expert can use external DLLs. It is recommended to disable import when working with unknown experts.

Confirm DLL function calls
This option will only be enabled if DLL imports have been allowed. It allows to perform manual control over execution of each function called. If it is disabled, import from external DLLs will not be controlled. It is recommended to enable this option when working with unknown libraries.

Allow external experts imports
If there is a need to import functions from other experts or MQL4 libraries during the expert advisor operation, this option must be enabled. If it is disabled, no one of the running experts will be able to request functions from other MQL4 programs. It is recommended to disable this option when working with unknown expert advisors.

Attention: Values of options named "Allow live trading", "Ask manual confirmation", "Allow DLL imports", "Confirm DLL function calls", and "Allow external experts imports" specified in this window are default parameters for MQL4 programs newly attached. They do not influence the operation of expert advisors, custom indicators and scripts already running.

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In this tab, the electronic mailbox is set up. Later on, these settings will be used to send message by the expert advisor command or by a triggered alert. To start setting up of email, the "Enable" must be enabled and the following fields must be filled out:

SMTP Server : address of the SMTP server and port used. This server will be utilized to send the message. The record must be made in the following format "[server web address] : [port number]". For example, "smtp.your_email_provider.com:25" where "smtp.your_email_provider.com" is the server web address, "25" is the port number.

Login : a login to be authorized on the trade server. Normally, it is an electronic mailbox. Example: your_name@your_email_provider.com

Password : a password to be authorized (mailbox access password).

From : the email address, from which the message will be sent. In this field, there must be name and emailing address on the mail server, the SMTP of which will be utilized. The name usually coincides with the first part of the electronic address, but the name can be omitted. Example: your_name, your_name@your_email_provider.com

To : the email address, to which the messages will be sent. The "Your Name" part of the address can be omitted. Generally, in the "To" field, any really existing email can be specified. Example: any_name, your_name@your_email_provider.com

Attention: Only one email address may be specified for either of fields "From" and "To". Several emails given with or without separators will not be accepted.

The "Test" sends a test message using the settings specified to test their workability. If it has been tested successfully, the "OK" button must be pressed to apply these settings. In case the test did not succeed, it is recommended to check all settings again, restart the temrinal and resend the test message.

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Terminal allows to publish reports about the account status in internet automatically. To do so, one has to set up internet connection parameters through FTP (File Transfer Protocol). This can be done in the "Publisher" tab:

Attention: Reports of only active accounts can be published. If the account number given in this field does not match with the current one, the reports will not be published.

• FTP server : FTP server address the report to be sent to. Example: ftp.your_domain_name.com
  
  
• FTP path : name of the FTP server directory where the report will be placed. The path (starting with the root directory) for sending reports must be given in this field. Example: /report_shots
  Passive mode : switch between active and passive mode of data transfer.
  In active mode, a free port (from dynamic range of 1024 to 65535) is allotted in the client terminal to which the server will connect in order to set connection for transferring of data. The FTP server connects to the client's port with the given number using TCP port 20 from its part to transfer data. In passive mode, the server informs the client about the TCP port number (from the dynamic range of 1024 to 65535) to which the client can connect to set up data transfer.
  
  The main difference between active and passive FTP mode is the part that opens connection for data transferring. In active mode, it is the client who has to accept connection from the FTP server. In passive mode, the client initiates connection, and the server accepts it.
  
  
  The "Test" button sends report about the current account status using the specified settings that allows to check their workability. If it has been tested successfully, the "OK" button must be pressed to activate these settings. If the test did not succeed, it is recommended to check all settings again and retest.
  
  Enable : enable support reports publishing. If disabled, other fields are inaccessible;
  

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Signals of system events can be set up in the terminal (not to be mixed up with alerts). It is a very convenient tool informing about changes in the terminal status. Signals can be set up in this tab. For this to be done, the "Enable" option must be enabled first. At that, a table containing the list of system events and corresponding actions will become active. System events are:

Connect : connection to the server. Signal of successful connection to the server;

Disconnect : no connection to the server. Signal of interrupted connection to the server;

Email Notify : notifying by email. If this signal has triggered, it is recommended to check the "Terminal : Mailbox" window;

Timeout : a certain time range is predefined for performing trade operations. If this range has been exceeded for some reason, the operation will not be performed, and this signal will trigger;

OK : trade operation has been successfully performed. No errors occurred during performing of this operation;

News : receiving of news. If this signal has triggered, it is recommended to check the "Terminal : News" window;

Expert Advisor : this signal triggers when an expert advisor is performing a trade operation;

Expert Confirmation : request to experts for confirmation of a trade operation. Such signal can only trigger if the "Manual confirmation" option is enabled;

Alert : performing of the Alert() function by an expert advisor;

Requote : price changed during preparation of a trade operation;

Trailing Stop : triggering of the order of the same name.

If there is a need to disable any of the signals, it is necessary to double-click on its name or icon with the left mouse button. Another double click will activate it again. After the signal has been triggered, the file specified in the "Action" field of the corresponding event will run. A double click on the file name allows to change the file. After double-clicking a pop-up list of available files to be assigned for the event will appear. Selection of any file from this list and further Enter button pressing means that it is assigned to the corresponding event. To confirm all changes made, one has to press the "OK" button.

Attention: Any file executable in the operation system can be assigned to the event.

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Interface of the terminal includes the following components:

Common Window Heading
The program heading includes the current account number, application name, as well as the active chart window name and its period (timeframe).

Main Menu
All commands and functions that can be executed in the client terminal are collected in its main menu. It contains: "File", "View", "Insert", "Charts", "Tools", "Window", "Help".
More details can be found in the "Main Menu" section.

Toolbars
Four toolbars are built into the terminal: "Standard", "Charts", "Line Studies", and "Periodicity". The toolbars contain duplicated commands and functions of the main menu. However, these toolbars are customizable, so one can collect only mostly used widgets in them.
More details can be found in the "Toolbars" section.

Market Watch
This window contains the symbol list. Commands of this window allow to control trade positions and charts.
More details can be found in the "Market Watch" section.

Data Window
This window shows information about prices, as well as indicators and expert advisors imposed. This data window does not allow to perform any actions.
More details can be found in the "Data Window" section.

Navigator
Open accounts, expert advisors, indicators, and scripts are grouped in the navigation window. The "Navigator" can help to control them promptly.
More details can be found in the "Navigator" section.

Terminal
Terminal is a multifunctional window intended for working with trade positions, news, account history, alerts, internal mail, and logs of the program and of expert advisors, as well. Moreover, the "Terminal" window allows to open and modify orders of different kinds and manage trade positions.
More details can be found in the "Terminal" section.

Tester
This window is intended for testing of expert advisors. Besides testing and viewing of various reports, the expert parameters can be optimized in this window, as well.
More details can be found in the "Tester" section.

Tick Charts
A tick chart is the basis of data analysis. Besides price changes, various analytical objects can be located in the chart: line studies, technical and custom indicators, texts, and geometrical figures.
More details can be found in the "Working with Charts" section.

Status Bar
For additional information to be visualized, the status bar is used in the terminal. The status bar contains indicator of the server connection, names of active template and profile, as well as command prompts and price data.

Fast Navigation Tools
Hot keys, acceleration keys, and fast navigation bar are intended for quick work with the terminal. Using of keys allows to execute various commands of the program promptly, and the fast navigation bar makes it possible to move the chart along its time base precisely, change its timeframe, and even the symbol itself.
More details can be found in the "Fast Navigation Tools"

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The main menu of the terminal is located under the program heading and represents a set of sub-menus. Commands and functions to be executed in the client terminal are collected in it. The main menu consists of:

File
Working with charts, storing of history data and profiles, and print.

View
Setting of toolbar, managing of command windows ("Market Watch", "Data Window", "Navigator", "Terminal", "Tester") and the program interface language.

Insert
Managing of technical indicators, line studies, and other objects.

Charts
Setting of bars displaying, scale, managing of the imposed objects, presence of grid, chart properties.

Tools
General settings of the client terminal, History Center, global variables, and MetaEditor (MetaQuotes Language 4 editor).

Window
The list of open charts and their locations.

Help
Userguide and information about the program.

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Commands for working with charts, managing of profiles, storing of history data and charts are collected in this menu, as well as charts printing properties. The following commands are available in the menu:

New Chart : open a new chart window for the symbol. At the command execution, the list of available symbols will appear. Having selected a symbol in the list, one can open a new chart.
The same actions can be performed by the New Chart button of the "Standard" toolbar.


Open Offline : open a symbol chart offline. By this command, one will be able to select a necessary file with its history data being stored. At that, the new quotes for this symbol will not be shown in the chart. Offline chart opening can be useful at testing of expert advisors.

Open Deleted : restore a deleted chart. The deleted charts will be restored if the "Save deleted charts to reopen" is enabled in the terminal settings. All deleted charts templates are stored in the /DELETED directory. At this command execution, these templates are called, and the corresponding chart will be opened.

Profiles : open sub-menu for managing profiles. Profiles can be stored or deleted in this sub-menu, as well as previously stored ones can be downloaded.
This profile managing sub-menu can also be called by the Call menu of profile management button of the "Standard" toolbar.
More details can be found in the "Profiles and Templates" section.

Close : close the current chart.

Save As : save history data as a text file in "CSV", "PRN", or "HTM" format.

Save As Picture... : save the chart in "BMP" or "GIF" format.
The same actions can be performed by the chart context menu command of the same name.

Open an Account : open a new demo account. Such accounts can be opened without placing of any money onto the deposit and allow to test the own trading system well.

To open an account, one can also execute the context menu command of the same name of the "Navigator : Accounts" window or press the Insert button.

Login : authorize. At this command execution, the terminal tries to connect to the server using the account selected. After successful authorization, quotes and news will start to income, and one can start trading.
It is possible to authorize having executed the "Login" command of the context menu of the "Navigator : Accounts" window or double-click on the account name.

Print Setup... : general setup of printing parameters : printing device, page size and orientation, etc.

Print Preview : preview the chart before printing it. The settings of the selected printer are used at this. This command helps to preview before printing whether all desired data can be printed with the settings given.
The same actions can be performed having pressed the Chart Preview button of the "Standard" toolbar or having executed the chart context menu command of the same name.

Print... : print a chart. If the "Color Print" option is enabled in the program settings, the chart can be printed in color, not as a black-and-white one.
The same actions can be performed by pressing of the Chart Print button of the "Standard" toolbar, accelerating buttons of Ctrl+P or by execution of the "Print" chart context menu command.

Exit : the terminal shutdown.