MT4 is a standalone installation trading platform for individual Forex trader. Anyone can open a trading account with the Forex broker, download the trading program and install onto the PC. Setup and configure the broker server and login to your trading account to begin trading. One of the key features of this trading platform is programming capabilities, beside able to do charting, store historical price data and execute trades.
Expert Advisor
The core programming language is MQL4 or Metaquotes language 4 is a C program look a like programming language. Its comes with program function structure, variable declaration, operands, conditional checks, calling of technical indicator, time date function, math operations and other features. All files end with MQL format and are editable using the editor that comes with the trading platform. These are commonly call expert advisor and are used to run on MT4 trading account.
Create EA
Before you start, you have to code your trading strategy into programming codes MQL and compile with no error. Or you can purchase third party codes and use it to run on your trading account. You need to decide the time frame and open the currency chart of your choice after you login to your Forex trading account.
How to load EA
First you have to copy the MQL file (Expert Advisor) into your MT4 program folder experts. Then run MT4 and it will automatically compiled the expert advisor and it will appear in your navigator windows under the expert advisor directory. Simply select the desire expert advisor and move over to your currency chart. (Click and drag). You will see the name of the expert advisor at the top right hand corner of your currency chart. And look out for a smiling face on the right. If you see a cross then you did not enable EA trading.
Enable Expert Advisor
MT4 comes with an option to disable or enable the expert advisor trading on the top middle panel. Click to disable or enable it. You may have to set some parameters at the tool tab into option menu and go to Expert Advisor tab. You will see a list of tick box to select. In more cases, tick Enable Expect Advisor, tick Allow live trading, tick Allow DLL imports and tick Allow external experts imports. And leave the box empty for Disable experts when account changed, empty for Disable experts when profile change, empty for Ask manual confirmation and empty for Confirm DLL function calls. With the above set up, you should see a smiling face at the top right corner of your currency chart. You call load as many EA you want. My recommendation is limited 8.
Changes to program
If you need to change the expert advisor due to bug or program update, simply click on the name of the expert advisor, choose modify and it will automatically open the metaeditor for you to make changes. Once all changes done, simply compiled the program and it will automatically update the copies that is attached to run on your currency chart.
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