question on coding take profit point of mt4 - mql4

I have question on take profit point of mt4:
I would like to set take profit point to stop loss * 2, so the code should be:
takeprofit = NormalizeDouble((Ask + ((Ask - stoploss)*Point()*2) + StopLevel*Point()),Digits);
However, it won't works, so anyone know how to fix it? I am new to mq4 coder. Thanks

Remember that you need to differentiate between BUY and SELL orders.
You also look like you are getting confused with stoploss and StopLevel. I'm assuming that your StopLevel is the distance of your stoploss in points.
If that is the case, your code should look something like this (you don't need to reference StopLevel if you already have the distance in Points):
if(ordertype==OP_BUY) takeprofit = NormalizeDouble(Ask+StopLevel*2*Point,Digits);
else takeprofit = NormalizeDouble(Bid-StopLevel*2*Point,Digits);

Related

why mql4 show error 130 when we use Stoploss in OrderSend function

I am trying to create a EA in mql4, but in OrderSend function, when i use some value instead of zero it show ordersend error 130. Please help to solve this problem
Code line is
int order = OrderSend("XAUUSD",OP_SELL,0.01,Bid,3,Bid+20*0.01,tp,"",0,0,Red);
error number 130 means Invalid stops.
so that means there is a problem with the stops you set with the ordersend function.
I suggest you set it like that:
int order = OrderSend("XAUUSD",OP_SELL,0.01,Bid,3,Bid+20*Point,tp,"",0,0,Red);
so you could use Point instead of hard coding it.
and to check what is the error number means. I think you could refer to: https://book.mql4.com/appendix/errors
You should know that there exists a minimum Stop Loss Size (mSLS) given in pips. "mSLS" changes with the currency and broker. So, you need to put in the OnInit() procedure of your EA a variable to get it:
int mSLS = MarketInfo(symbol,MODE_STOPLEVEL);
The distance (in pips) from your Order Open Price (OOP) and the Stop-Loss Price (SLP) can not be smaller than mSLS value.
I will try to explain a general algorithm I use for opening orders in my EAs, and then apply the constrain on Stop-Loss level (at step 3):
Step 1. I introduce a flag (f) for the type of operation I will open, being:
f = 1 for Buy, and
f = -1 for Sell
You know that there are mql4 constants OP_SELL=1 and OP_BUY=0 (https://docs.mql4.com/constants/tradingconstants/orderproperties).
Once I have defined f, I set my operation type variable to
int OP_TYPE = int(0.5((1+f)*OP_BUY+(1-f)*OP_SELL));
that takes value OP_TYPE=OP_BUY when f=1, while OP_TYPE=OP_SELL when f=-1.
NOTE: Regarding the color of the orders I put them in an array
color COL[2]= {clrBlue,clrRed};
then, having OP_TYPE, I set
color COLOR=COL[OP_TYPE];
Step 2. Similarly, I set the Order Open Price as
double OOP = int(0.5*((1+f)*Ask+(1-f)*Bid));
which takes value OOP=Ask when f=1, while OOP=Bid when f=-1.
Step 3. Then, given my desired Stop Loss in pips (an external POSITIVE parameter of my EA, I named sl) I make sure that sl > SLS. In other words, I check
if (sl <= mSLS) // I set my sl as the minimum allowed
{
sl = 1 + mSLS;
}
Step 4. Then I calculate the Stop-Loss Price of the order as
double SLP = OOP - f * sl * Point;
Step 5. Given my desired Take Profit in pips (an external POSITIVE parameter of my EA, I named tp) I calculate the Take-Profit Price (TPP) of the order as
double TPP = OOP + f * tp * Point;
OBSERVATION: I can not affirm, but, according to mql4 documentation, the minimum distance rule between the stop-loss limit prices and the open price also applies to the take profit limit price. In this case, a "tp" check-up needs to be done, similar to that of the sl check-up, above. that is, before calculating TPP it must be executed the control lines below
if (tp <= mSLS) // I set my tp as the minimum allowed
{
tp = 1 + mSLS;
}
Step 5. I call for order opening with a given lot size (ls) and slippage (slip) on the operating currency pair (from where I get the Ask and Bid values)
float ls = 0.01;
int slip = 3; //(pips)
int order = OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_TYPE,ls,OOP,slip,SLP,TPP,"",0,0,COLOR);
Note that with these few lines it is easy to build a function that opens orders of any type under your command, in any currency pair you are operating, without receiving error message 130, passing to the function only 3 parameters: f, sl and tp.
It is worth including in the test phase of your EA a warning when the sl is corrected for being less than the allowed, this will allow you to increase its value so that it does not violate the stop-loss minimum value rule, while you have more control about the risk of its operations. Remember that the "sl" parameter defines how much you will lose if the order fails because the asset price ended up varying too much in the opposite direction to what was expected.
I hope I could help!
Whilst the other two answers are not necessarily wrong (and I will not go over the ground they have already covered), for completeness of answers, they fail to mention that for some brokers (specifically ECN brokers) you must open your order first, without setting a stop loss or take profit. Once the order is opened, use OrderModify() to set you stop loss and/or take profit.

What is the correct way to set StopLoss and TakeProfit in OrderSend() in MetaTrader4 EA?

I'm trying to figure out if there is a correct way to set the Stop Loss (SL) and Take Profit (TP) levels, when sending an order in an Expert Advisor, in MQL4 (Metatrader4). The functional template is:
OrderSend( symbol, cmd, volume, price, slippage, stoploss, takeprofit, comment, magic, expiration, arrow_color);
So naturally I've tried to do the following:
double dSL = Point*MM_SL;
double dTP = Point*MM_TP;
if (buy) { cmd = OP_BUY; price = Ask; SL = ND(Bid - dSL); TP = ND(Ask + dTP); }
if (sell) { cmd = OP_SELL; price = Bid; SL = ND(Ask + dSL); TP = ND(Bid - dTP); }
ticket = OrderSend(SYM, cmd, LOTS, price, SLIP, SL, TP, comment, magic, 0, Blue);
However, there are as many variations as there are scripts and EA's. So far I have come across these.
In the MQL4 Reference in the MetaEditor, the documentation say to use:
OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask,3,
NormalizeDouble(Bid - StopLoss*Point,Digits),
NormalizeDouble(Ask + TakeProfit*Point,Digits),
"My order #2",3,D'2005.10.10 12:30',Red);
While in the "same" documentation online, they use:
double stoploss = NormalizeDouble(Bid - minstoplevel*Point,Digits);
double takeprofit = NormalizeDouble(Bid + minstoplevel*Point,Digits);
int ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,1,price,3,stoploss,takeprofit,"My order",16384,0,clrGreen);
And so it goes on with various flavors, here, here and here...
Assuming we are interested in a OP_BUY and have the signs correct, we have the options for basing our SL and TP values on:
bid, bid
bid, ask
ask, ask
ask, bid
So what is the correct way to set the SL and TP for a BUY?
(What are the advantages or disadvantages of using the various variations?)
EDIT: 2018-06-12
Apart a few details, the answer is actually quite simple, although not obvious. Perhaps because MT4 only show Bid prices on the chart (by default) and not both Ask and Bid.
So because: Ask > Bid and Ask - Bid = Slippage, it doesn't matter which we choose as long as we know about the slippage. Then depending on what price you are following on the chart, you may wish to decide on using one over the other, adding or subtracting the Slippage accordingly.
So when you use the measure tool to get the Pip difference of currently shown prices, vs your "exact" SL/TP settings, you need to keep this in mind.
So to avoid having to put the Slippage in my code above, I used the following for OP_BUY: TP = ND(Bid + dTP); (and the opposite for OP_SELL.)
If you buy, you OP_BUY at Ask and close (SL, TP) at Bid.
If you sell, OP_SELL operation is made at Bid price, and closes at Ask.
Both SL and TP should stay at least within STOP_LEVEL * Point() distance from the current price to close ( Bid for buy, Ask for sell).
It is possible that STOP_LEVEL is zero - in such cases ( while MT4 accepts the order ) the Broker may reject it, based on its own algorithms ( Terms and Conditions may call it a "floating Stoplevel" rule or some similar Marketing-wise "re-dressed" term ).
It is adviced to send an OrderSend() request with zero values of SL and TP and modify it after you see that the order was sent successfully. Sometimes it is not required, sometimes that is even mandatory.
There is no difference between the two links you gave us: you may compute SL and TP and then pass them into the function or compute them based on OrderOpenPrice() +/- distance * Point().
So what is the correct way to set the SL and TP for a BUY ?
There is no such thing as "The Correct Way", there are rules to meet
Level 0: Syntax is to meet the call-signature ( the easiest one )
Level 1: all at Market XTO-s have to meet the right level of the current Price +/- slippage, make sure to repeat a RefreshRates()-test as close to the PriceDOMAIN-levels settings, otherwise they get rejected from the Broker side ( blocking one's trading engine at a non-deterministic add-on RTT-latency ) + GetLastError() == 129 | ERR_INVALID_PRICE
Level 2: yet another rules get set from Broker-side, in theire respective Service / Product definition in [ Trading Terms and Conditions ]. If one's OrderSend()-request fails to meet any one of these, again, the XTO will get rejected, having same adverse blocking effects, as noted in Level 1.
Some Brokers do not allow some XTO situations due to their T&C, so re-read such conditions with a due care. Any single of theirs rule, if violated, will lead to your XTO-instruction to get legally rejected, with all adverse effects, as noted above. Check all rules, as you will not like to see any of the following error-states + any of others, restricted by your Broker's T&C :
ERR_LONG_POSITIONS_ONLY_ALLOWED Buy orders only allowed
ERR_TRADE_TOO_MANY_ORDERS The amount of open and pending orders has reached the limit set by the broker
ERR_TRADE_HEDGE_PROHIBITED An attempt to open an order opposite to the existing one when hedging is disabled
ERR_TRADE_PROHIBITED_BY_FIFO An attempt to close an order contravening the FIFO rule
ERR_INVALID_STOPS Invalid stops
ERR_INVALID_TRADE_VOLUME Invalid trade volume
...
..
.
#ASSUME NOTHING ; Is the best & safest design-side (self)-directive

How to calculate lot based on account currency in Metatrader4

I am a little bit new in this language, but I have the basics.
What I want: open a position with stop loss and take profit.
I want to place an order with 100 euro, and I want to set the stop loss to 10 euros, and set the take profit to 5 euros. But as I see the OrderSend method requires lots for placing the order, and levels for stop loss and take profit.
And my problem is: how to calculate these values based on the euro amounts I want to set?
I searched for some lot-pip-etc calculation on the web, but after all what I tried did not work. This is how I wanted to calculate:
double AmountToTradeInEuro = 100;
double AmountToTakeInEuro = 5;
double AmountToMaxLossInEuro = 10;
double Lots = AmountToTradeInEuro / MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKVALUE);
double StopLossLevel = AmountToTakeInEuro / MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKVALUE);
double TakeProfitLevel = AmountToMaxLossInEuro / MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_TICKVALUE);
OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_SELL, Lots, Bid, 3, StopLossLevel, TakeProfitLevel);
Basically I would like to know how to calculate the Lot for 100 euro and how to calculate the Levels for stoploss and takeprofit.
And are the stoploss and takeprofit levels also lots? Or are they different units?
Welcome to MQL4!
First question is about the account currency - if it is USD (or something else not EUR) - you have to make such convertion. Ok, let me describe what to do with the EUR balance.
You can compute lot size based on the stoploss - in such a case you can get tick value using MarketInfo(_Symbol,MODE_TICKVALUE). But you must know the price level where to exit (stoploss), whether it is 1 pips or 100 pips. Let us think that is 100 ticks (which is equal to 10 pips of 5-digit broker). Then, your lot size is
double lot = AmountToMaxLoss / (MarketInfor(_Symbol, MODE_TICKVALUE) * stoploss), then you have to normalize the result:
double lot_step=MarketInfo(_Symbol, MODE_LOTSTEP);
double result = lot_step * NormalizeDouble(lot / lot_step, 0);
then check that result > MarketInfo(_Symbol, MODE_MINLOT).
About takeprofit - it might be a strange approach to wait for your takeprofit target in the currency instead of the price level but if you need - the way is same.

Recurrence Relation tree method

I am currently having issues with figuring our some recurrence stuff and since I have midterms about it coming up soon I could really use some help and maybe an explanation on how it works.
So I basically have pseudocode for solving the Tower of Hanoi
TOWER_OF_HANOI ( n, FirstRod, SecondRod, ThirdRod)
if n == 1
move disk from FirstRod to ThirdRod
else
TOWER_OF_HANOI(n-1, FirstRod, ThirdRod, SecondRod)
move disk from FirstRod to ThirdRod
TOWER_OF_HANOI(n-1, SecondRod, FirstRod, ThirdRod)
And provided I understand how to write the relation (which, honestly I'm not sure I do...) it should be T(n) = 2T(n-1)+Ɵ(n), right? I sort of understand how to make a tree with fractional subproblems, but even then I don't fully understand the process that would give you the end solution of Ɵ(n) or Ɵ(n log n) or whatnot.
Thanks for any help, it would be greatly appreciated.
Assume the time complexity is T(n), it is supposed to be: T(n) = T(n-1) + T(n-1) + 1 = 2T(n-1) + 1. Why "+1" but not "+n"? Since "move disk from FirstRod to ThirdRod" costs you only one move.
For T(n) = 2T(n-1) + 1, its recursion tree will exactly look like this:
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-complexity-of-T-n-2T-n-1-+-C (You might find it helpful, the image is neat.) C is a constant; it means the cost per operation. In the case of Tower of Hanoi, C = 1.
Calculate the sum of the cost each level, you will easily find out in this case, the total cost will be 2^n-1, which is exponential(expensive). Therefore, the answer of this recursion equation is Ɵ(2^n).

Moving Average across Variables in Stata

I have a panel data set for which I would like to calculate moving averages across years.
Each year is a variable for which there is an observation for each state, and I would like to create a new variable for the average of every three year period.
For example:
P1947=rmean(v1943 v1944 v1945), P1947=rmean(v1944 v1945 v1946)
I figured I should use a foreach loop with the egen command, but I'm not sure about how I should refer to the different variables within the loop.
I'd appreciate any guidance!
This data structure is quite unfit for purpose. Assuming an identifier id you need to reshape, e.g.
reshape long v, i(id) j(year)
tsset id year
Then a moving average is easy. Use tssmooth or just generate, e.g.
gen mave = (L.v + v + F.v)/3
or (better)
gen mave = 0.25 * L.v + 0.5 * v + 0.25 * F.v
More on why your data structure is quite unfit: Not only would calculation of a moving average need a loop (not necessarily involving egen), but you would be creating several new extra variables. Using those in any subsequent analysis would be somewhere between awkward and impossible.
EDIT I'll give a sample loop, while not moving from my stance that it is poor technique. I don't see a reason behind your naming convention whereby P1947 is a mean for 1943-1945; I assume that's just a typo. Let's suppose that we have data for 1913-2012. For means of 3 years, we lose one year at each end.
forval j = 1914/2011 {
local i = `j' - 1
local k = `j' + 1
gen P`j' = (v`i' + v`j' + v`k') / 3
}
That could be written more concisely, at the expense of a flurry of macros within macros. Using unequal weights is easy, as above. The only reason to use egen is that it doesn't give up if there are missings, which the above will do.
FURTHER EDIT
As a matter of completeness, note that it is easy to handle missings without resorting to egen.
The numerator
(v`i' + v`j' + v`k')
generalises to
(cond(missing(v`i'), 0, v`i') + cond(missing(v`j'), 0, v`j') + cond(missing(v`k'), 0, v`k')
and the denominator
3
generalises to
!missing(v`i') + !missing(v`j') + !missing(v`k')
If all values are missing, this reduces to 0/0, or missing. Otherwise, if any value is missing, we add 0 to the numerator and 0 to the denominator, which is the same as ignoring it. Naturally the code is tolerable as above for averages of 3 years, but either for that case or for averaging over more years, we would replace the lines above by a loop, which is what egen does.
There is a user written program that can do that very easily for you. It is called mvsumm and can be found through findit mvsumm
xtset id time
mvsumm observations, stat(mean) win(t) gen(new_variable) end

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