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customising_mt4_export_settings [2020/04/29 06:36]
127.0.0.1 external edit
customising_mt4_export_settings [2020/11/18 05:56]
tickstory
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 The broker-specific "​Metratrader information"​ can be stored in a "MT4 Config"​ (.mt4config) file for later use or shared amongst traders who would like to compare their results. ​ By doing so, traders can ensure consistency and focus on optimising their settings or the EA itself, rather than trying to track down why their results are constantly changing despite no code and/or parameter changes. Given the fact that this information is key to an EA's back-test evaluation, you may wish to customise various settings to take full control over what is exported within the MT4 data file.  The "​Metatrader Info" tab is designed specifically for this purpose and is shown below. The broker-specific "​Metratrader information"​ can be stored in a "MT4 Config"​ (.mt4config) file for later use or shared amongst traders who would like to compare their results. ​ By doing so, traders can ensure consistency and focus on optimising their settings or the EA itself, rather than trying to track down why their results are constantly changing despite no code and/or parameter changes. Given the fact that this information is key to an EA's back-test evaluation, you may wish to customise various settings to take full control over what is exported within the MT4 data file.  The "​Metatrader Info" tab is designed specifically for this purpose and is shown below.
    
- +{{:pasted:20200429-034509.png}}
-{{:pasted:20161210-165713.png}} +
  
 As you can see from the screen-shot,​ there is some detailed information that is used to produce the MT4 exported database. ​ By default, Tickstory provides a "​Generic Broker"​ configuration that allows users to use relatively standard settings to produce their exports. ​ Of course, this information may not necessarily match your brokers, so it makes sense to review this information. As you can see from the screen-shot,​ there is some detailed information that is used to produce the MT4 exported database. ​ By default, Tickstory provides a "​Generic Broker"​ configuration that allows users to use relatively standard settings to produce their exports. ​ Of course, this information may not necessarily match your brokers, so it makes sense to review this information.
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 For example, if you wish to view the properties used for a EURUSD export, select the Symbol "​EURUSD"​ in the '​Symbol properties'​ box as shown below. For example, if you wish to view the properties used for a EURUSD export, select the Symbol "​EURUSD"​ in the '​Symbol properties'​ box as shown below.
  
-{{:pasted:20161210-165732.png}}+{{:pasted:20200429-034155.png}}
  
  When you do, the system will display all the settings for EURUSD, including the standard lotsize, tick value and so on.  When performing a back-test, it will be these values that are used to determine profit, maximum lot sizes and so forth. ​ As an exercise, let's set the spread for EURUSD to 3 pips by changing the value in the '​Spread'​ field. ​ You will note that the equivalent in pips will display to the right of the text-box as shown below:  When you do, the system will display all the settings for EURUSD, including the standard lotsize, tick value and so on.  When performing a back-test, it will be these values that are used to determine profit, maximum lot sizes and so forth. ​ As an exercise, let's set the spread for EURUSD to 3 pips by changing the value in the '​Spread'​ field. ​ You will note that the equivalent in pips will display to the right of the text-box as shown below:
  
-{{:pasted:20161210-165747.png}} +{{:pasted:20200429-034339.png}} 
- +
 Fields of particular note are: Fields of particular note are:
    
-   * **Map to** - This allows you to map this particular symbol (eg. EURUSD) to the equivalent symbol in MT4 (eg. EURUSDm).  ​If you have generated ​your custom ​broker ​settingsthis field will automatically ​be populated ​Leave ​blank if the symbol is the same on your MT4 platform.+   * **Map to** - The symbol name shown in Tickstory is not necessarily the same symbol name in Metatrader. ​This field allows you to map this particular symbol (eg. //EURUSD// or //​DEUIDXEUR//​) to the equivalent symbol in MT4 (eg. //EURUSDm// or //GER30//).  ​The mapped symbol name needs to match your MT4 broker ​//exactly// (including case). For simplicitya list of MT4 symbols available from your chosen MT4 terminal is available for selection. By choosing the corresponding symbol name, you will also automatically ​load the specific MT4 instrument settings (egDigits, Lot Size) from your broker terminal. If you leave the 'Map to' field blank, Tickstory assumes ​the symbol ​name is the same as in your MT4 terminal. 
    * **Min lot/Lot step** - These values have bearing on many EAs that incrementally change lot sizes. ​ If these values are not set correctly, you can receive "Order Send 131" errors when running your EA.  Consult the MQL documentation for further information.    * **Min lot/Lot step** - These values have bearing on many EAs that incrementally change lot sizes. ​ If these values are not set correctly, you can receive "Order Send 131" errors when running your EA.  Consult the MQL documentation for further information.
 +
 +   * **Digits** - This field represents the number of fractional digits that applies to the symbol. For example, a 5 digit price will look like 1.4539 whereas the same price in 4 digits will look like 1.454.
 +
 +Generally speaking, once these values have been loaded from your broker, you should not need to alter them except for advanced testing.
    
 <​note>​NOTE:​ The '​Spread'​ field was used in earlier Metatrader versions (circa pre-2015) and has now been obsolesced in favour of a "​Spread"​ field on the Strategy Tester'​s parameter screen. ​ This new spread field in the Strategy Tester allows you to change the spread easily between back-tests. ​ Therefore, setting the Spread field within Tickstory **no longer has any effect for the latest Metatrader versions** and can be ignored. ​ It remains available in Tickstory for backward compatibility with earlier versions of Metatrader only.</​note>​ <​note>​NOTE:​ The '​Spread'​ field was used in earlier Metatrader versions (circa pre-2015) and has now been obsolesced in favour of a "​Spread"​ field on the Strategy Tester'​s parameter screen. ​ This new spread field in the Strategy Tester allows you to change the spread easily between back-tests. ​ Therefore, setting the Spread field within Tickstory **no longer has any effect for the latest Metatrader versions** and can be ignored. ​ It remains available in Tickstory for backward compatibility with earlier versions of Metatrader only.</​note>​
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 will yield the value in the '​Account Currency'​ field. will yield the value in the '​Account Currency'​ field.
  
-====== ​Generating ​settings from your own broker ======+====== ​Using the settings from your own broker ======
    
-As you can appreciate, it would be difficult to craft an entire broker configuration by hand.  You would need to somehow find out all the details about each of the settings from your broker and input them into the Tickstory configuration. ​ Fortunately,​ however, there is a way of automatically generating these settings.  ​This is done by running a special Tickstory Expert Advisor on your system that will generate the settings for you.  In order to perform this task, follow the steps below:+As you can appreciate, it would be difficult to craft an entire broker configuration by hand.  You would need to somehow find out all the details about each of the settings from your broker and input them into the Tickstory configuration. ​ Fortunately,​ however, there is a way of automatically generating these settings.  ​
    
-1. Click on the "​Help"​ tab within the Tickstory MT4 export dialog. ​ This will give you the same instructions as described here about how to deploy the Tickstory EA to your MT4 installation. +There are two sections of settings ​to acquire from your broker:
-  +
-  +
-2. Click on the Deploy MQ4 button. ​ This will automatically deploy the EA to your MT4 Installation if you have already configured it.  If not, it will prompt you for the correct folder location which should be something like: +
-  +
- ​C:​\Program Files\Metatrader Broker\experts +
-  +
-3. Restart your MT4 terminal and go to the MT4 Navigator->​Expert Advisor tree.  You should see the Tickstory EA appear in the list.  Double-click on it to apply it on any LIVE chart or drag the icon onto a chart window. +
-  +
-{{:pasted:20161210-165817.png}}+
  
-4.  A prompt will come up to configure ​the EA ​Configure the Tickstory EA with the "​Input"​ settings: +  - Is for account-level details such as //​Leverage//​ and //​Commission//​ and; 
-  +  - Is for symbol-specific information such as the //Digits// and //Lot Size// fields
-   ​Config File Name This is the name of the config file that will be generated. ​ Leave this blank for Tickstory EA to automatically generate a file like Mt4.<​ServerName>​.Broker.config. + 
-  +In order to get your **Account** and **Symbol-specific** settings from your broker, please do the following: 
-   * Symbol Suffix ​For micro accountsyou will need to enter a "​Symbol Suffix"​ so the system can map each symbol (eg. EURUSD) ​to the equivalent symbol on your micro account.  ​For example, entering a suffix of '​m'​ will resolve ​to '​EURUSDm'​+ 
-  +  In Metatrader 4's Strategy Tester, select any EA, the //1H// period and the symbol ​you wish to test (eg. "//EURUSD//"and the //Open price// modelling quality type. 
-   * Allow When Not Connected ​You should ensure that you are connected to your broker before running ​the EA.  This will ensure that the script gets the latest information ​from your broker.  ​If you cannot connect to your broker for some reason, you will need to select ​the Allow When Not Connected property (in Expert Propertiesis set to '​true'​+  - Press the //Start// button on the Strategy Tester and wait for the test to complete
-  +  In Tickstory, select ​the "//​Load ​from FXT...//"​ button.  ​In the file chooser, you should see a file called //​[SymbolName]60_2.fxt//​ where "​SymbolName" ​will be the name of the symbol you chose in the Strategy Tester (eg. EURUSD). Note the Timeframe "​60"​ minutes and "​2"​ for Open modelling quality type that you selected
-An example settings screen showing a un-connected micro account ​are shown below+  Once you have selected the FXT, all your Account and Symbol settings ​are automatically loaded
-  + 
-{{:pasted:20161210-165833.png}}+<​note>​NOTEThis functionality has been added in v1.9.5.4 of Tickstory. If you have an earlier version, please upgrade.</​note>​
  
-Press the OK button once to are done to accept the settings. 
-  
-5.  The EA will start running and you will be able to see its progress in the "​Experts"​ tab.  If there are any errors, they will appear in this screen. ​ Likewise, if the system can't find information on a particular instrument, it will tell you in this screen along with what defaults it has assumed. ​ Once the script has successfully completed, a config file with all the details will be placed in your Metatrader'​s "​experts\files"​ directory named Mt4.<​BrokerName>​.Servername.mt4config. ​ For example: 
-  
-   <​MT4 Data Folder>​\experts\files\Mt4.Broker.Servername.mt4config 
-  
-6. Back in the Tickstory app, click on the '​Metatrader Info' tab within the MT4 export settings and load the config file from the MT4 experts\files directory. (as described in the section on "​Loading settings"​). 
-  
-7. You can now view, edit and save your broker settings in Tickstory. 
-  
    
 ====== Saving Settings ====== ====== Saving Settings ======
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 The 'Load settings'​ function allows you to load a config file that contains all the information required by the MT4 Exporter. ​ This config file could have been: The 'Load settings'​ function allows you to load a config file that contains all the information required by the MT4 Exporter. ​ This config file could have been:
    
-   * A file that you previously ​customised ​and saved.+   * A file that you previously ​customized ​and saved.
    * A file that was sent to you by a trading colleague.    * A file that was sent to you by a trading colleague.
    * A file that was generated as part of the process to '​generate settings from your broker'​.    * A file that was generated as part of the process to '​generate settings from your broker'​.
    
 To load the config file, simply click on the 'Load settings'​ button and then browse to the directory location where the file resides. ​ Config files that are bundled with Tickstory are stored in the Application directory. ​ In the case of files that were generated by the Tickstory EA, these will reside in your Metatrader installation'​s expert/​files directory. To load the config file, simply click on the 'Load settings'​ button and then browse to the directory location where the file resides. ​ Config files that are bundled with Tickstory are stored in the Application directory. ​ In the case of files that were generated by the Tickstory EA, these will reside in your Metatrader installation'​s expert/​files directory.
customising_mt4_export_settings.txt · Last modified: 2020/11/18 05:56 by tickstory