Dear User
This troubleshooting guide will help you to quickly resolve any issue you might be having with our Expert Advisor, without the need to describe your issue in depth, provide detailed screenshots and wait for our analysis.
Please contact us only after you have followed instructions in this guide and issue still persists.
When contacting us, please inform us about the issue you are experiencing in as much detail as possible within your first message (,,EA doesn't work,, type of message will not get us anywhere). Once you follow the instructions in this guide and issue still persists please provide screenshots (test, inputs, historical tester, chart) and as much description of the issue as possible in your first email. This way we can resolve your issue quickly, within few messages instead of 20 emails. Our time is as much precious as yours.
Installation: Installation is a simple drag and drop process. Place the EX4 file you have downloaded in Experts folder of your platform and restart it.
Open MT4 platform:
Click File/Open Data folder/MQL4/Experts:
Place your EX4 file into the Experts folder.
Close the folder.
Restart the MT4 platform.
EA can be now used. It can be found both in strategy tester and under the experts in navigator window.
Launching the historical data test in MT4 and replicating our test results
1. Launch strategy tester:
First thing you need to do, is to launch strategy tester. To do so In MT4 platform click: View/Strategy tester.
2. Pick the EA to test:
Once you open strategy tester, you need to find our EA that you want to test. In dropdown menu of historical tester, pick your purchased Expert Advisor to run your test.
3. Set the inputs values for your EA:
Our expert will be delivered with random inputs. You will need to manually input them (takes about 30 seconds) to do so. In historical tester click on expert properties.Manually input all our tested inputs (available in each product gallery) into the value column of your expert advisor. Make sure that the your values match our tested values (to replicate our test). If your EA comes with preloaded input set, click load and find downloaded set file in your computer and load it.
4. Set the same test conditions:
Now you need to make sure, that you test the EA in same conditions and on the same data as we have. To do so, adjust following parameters in historical tester window to match our tested values.
Set the tested symbol: EURUSD
Set the tested period : 1H
Set the tested spread : 10
Pick the same test model that was used for our test (control points or every tick).
Pick the same date range for your test: Click Use Date and set the starting and ending date for the test.
Optional: You can also allow visual mode to observe EA work on historical data and verify its functionality.
Once you apply all of the above you will be able to verify EA functionality and observe its work in visual tester.
Finally, if you wish to match our test results, make sure you have downloaded all available data from your MT4 history center (learn how to download all available historical data in MT4 below).
Quick checklist before you contact us with any backtesting issue:
Please make sure you have following parameters set correctly for smooth testing experience.
Download complete historical data from my history center (EA functionality can be verified even without this step)
Use same inputs for testing as published in EA product gallery.
Test the EA on same time period of 13 years (not just a few days).
Set the spread for backtest to 10 points.
Set currency pair is to match published results (typically EURUSD).
Set Time Frame is to match the timeframe in published results (typically 1H).
Use same test model: Control points / Every Tick.
Once you make sure you have all of the above set up right and your test still comes significantly different than ours, please do not hesitate to contact us. Provide us with as much detail as possible in your first message (screenshots, description).
How to download all available historical data in MT4
1. Adjust max number of bars in chart and history:
In MT4 platform click Tools/Options/Charts. Set the number of Max bars in history to maximum number: 999999999999999 (until you run out of space). Set the number of Max bars in chart to maximum number: 999999999999999 (until you run out of space).
2. Restart the platform
3. Download all historic data for tested instrument:
Go to Tools/History center/: Once there, click on the currency pair you would like to download data for: Start with the highest timeframe (Monthly). Double click it and hit download to download all available data at for that timeframe. Repeat this for every timeframe (from monthly to 1 minute). Once you finish downloading the data, restart the platform again. Your data should be now complete and you should be able to run 90 percent tick test.
Launching the forward demo test in MT4
1. Make sure you use reliable ECN/STP/NDD broker with low trading costs:
Our EAs can work with any MT4 forex broker. However you never want to trade with a bad broker, with high trading costs and underlying conflict of interest. Make sure your broker provides direct ECN/STP market access with interbank spreads (spreads around 0,1 pip). It regulated by reputable authority (not self regulated). Browse list of our trusted forex brokers.
Broker must be sending your orders directly to the market. This type of broker will be able to provide ultra-low interbank spreads and will be paid only by the commission you generate for him. There is no underlying conflict of interest. This type of broker want you to succeed in the market (he will make more on you as his client this way). On the other hand, broker not sending your orders to the market will act as a casino (in many aspects). Fundamentally, he wants you to lose (dealing desk broker).
2. Make sure EA works in strategy tester:
Before you approach real time data testing phase, you need to make sure that the EA has worked on historical data. To do so simply run the test in historic tester in MT4 (as described above).
3. Make sure you understand the rules of your EA and its inputs:
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In autotrading, it is extremely important to know and understand the rules of your system. All necessary informations regarding the expert advisor rules can be found on product page including the description of inputs. To understand the relationship between inputs and signal (its frequency and sensitivity) it is very useful to observe EA trade in visual historical test.
4. Place Expert Advisor in the chart you want to test:
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Pick the EA from navigator window of your MT4 platform and drop it in the exact chart you want to test. If you want to test it in 1H chart of EURUSD, drag and drop EA in the 1H chart of EURUSD.
5. Adjust expert advisor common properties and inputs:
Once you place the EA in your chosen chart, Expert Advisor properties will pop up. Allow following parameters in common properties of your Expert Advisor : Allow live trading, Allow DLL imports, Allow import of external experts, Allow modification of signal setting.
Check and adjust your EA inputs: Make sure those are the exact inputs you want to test. Make sure they are in logical range. For example when you set your spread filter to 1 pip, EA will not open any trade if the current spread surpasses that value. If you have set file available for your EA, click load and find the set file in your computer to load the complete inputs (without adjusting them manually). Once you done adjusting the inputs and common properties of the EA, click ok. You can access Expert advisor properties any time by right clicking in the chart: Expert advisor/Properties/.
6. Allow auto trading in your MT4 platform:
Enable auto trading in your MT4 platform. The smiley face should appear in the top right corner of the chart.
Additional informations: Application of EA on other instrument:
When you decide to use your EA on any other instrument or timeframe, inputs need to be adjusted accordingly. Inputs combinations that work in 1H chart of EURUSD, rarely work in 4H chart of USDJPY. Optimization in MT4 can be used to find suitable inputs combinations for any other timeframe and currency (learn more). Adjust magic number. When using the EA on multiple pair, you need to use different magic numbers (both for sell and buy orders). Some expert advisors cannot be used on multiple currencies on the same account. In that case you are free to install any number of MT4 platforms in your computer and run them on separate accounts.
Quick checklist before you contact us with any forward testing issue:
Iam using reliable ECN/STP broker with low trading costs and low spread (spread must be low enough to allow trading according to spread filter).
Functionality of EA was verified in historical data testing.
Picked the viable inputs combination that suits user needs and proved to be performing well in historical data.
User understands the inputs of his EA (Recognising the signal and understanding it frequency - it might take some time before the first valid signal occurs).
EA was plotted the in desired timeframe and currency pair to be tested.
Autotrading in MT4 platform is allowed.
Allowed following parameters in common properties of EA : Allow live trading, Allow DLL imports, Allow import of external experts, Allow modification of signal setting.
Please contact us with your forward testing issue, only once you check all of the above. Once you make sure you have all of the above set up right and your still experience any testing issue, please do not hesitate to contact us. Provide us with as much detail as possible in your first message (screenshots, description). We will do our best to help you out and make your issue our priority.
Disclaimer and user agreement:
Expert advisor was tested for profitability on historical data. All screen shots provided are displaying real results of the test. However past data will never guarantee future success. Every expert advisor needs to be tested properly on demo account. LIVE use only on your own risk. Read full disclaimer. TheForexKings Team does not give any financial advice. TheForexKings does not take any responsibility for any user’s investments and investment decisions. All rights reserved. Strictly for personal use.
