Full Troubleshooting & Person Information
1. EXPERT ADVISORS — TROUBLESHOOTING
Trades Not Opening
Q: The EA is operating however no trades are positioned. What ought to I verify?
- Single Entry is ON: If SINGLEENTRY = true, the EA is not going to open a brand new commerce whereas one already exists for that image with the identical magic quantity. Disable it or shut the prevailing commerce first.
- Commerce Route restricted: TRADEDIRECTION could also be set to LONGONLY or SHORTONLY, blocking one facet fully.
- Dashboard exhibits EA Stopped: Verify the EADISABLEREASON subject on the dashboard — it tells you precisely why (unfold too excessive, drawdown hit, information filter, time filter, and so on.).
- Magic Quantity mismatch: If ENABLEMAGICNUMBER = true, the EA solely counts trades opened with its assigned magic quantity. Manually positioned trades or different EA trades are invisible to it.
- Disable commerce after account change: Re-attaching the EA or switching accounts resets the EAACTIVE flag. Take away and re-attach the EA.
- Dealer restrictions / inadequate margin: Verify the Specialists and Journal tab in MetaTrader. Error 4756 means buying and selling will not be allowed by the dealer or account kind.
- Max Trades Per Day reached: If MAXTRADESPERDAY is about and the restrict is hit, no new entries open for the remainder of that day.
- Commerce On New Bar mode: If TRADEONNEWBARVALUE = true, the EA solely evaluates alerts on a brand new bar open. No trades set off mid-candle.
Q: The EA exhibits “Buying and selling Disabled” on the dashboard. Why?
The dashboard reads the interior EADISABLEREASON string. Widespread causes and their causes:
| Purpose Proven | Trigger | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Unfold too excessive | Present unfold exceeds MAXSPREADPOINTS | Enhance MAXSPREADPOINTS or set it to 0 to disable |
| Information Coming | Information filter is lively and an occasion is approaching | Disable ENABLENEWSFILTER or regulate information buffer minutes |
| Out of buying and selling time | Present time is exterior all enabled periods | Modify Time Filter periods or set EnableTimeFilter = false |
| Buying and selling Not allowed in the present day | Day filter is obstructing the present weekday | Allow the day in Commerce Days Settings or set EnableDayFilter = false |
| Most drawdown % reached | Fairness drawdown exceeded the set restrict | Enhance MAXDRAWDOWNPERCENT or set to 0 to disable |
| Most each day loss reached | DAILYSTOP triggered | Enhance DAILYSTOP or set to 0 to disable |
Tip: Allow SHOWLOGS = true in settings for detailed output within the Specialists tab displaying precisely why trades are being skipped.
File & Loading Points
Q: I can’t drag the EA file onto the chart. What ought to I do?
- Place the .ex4 / .ex5 file in MQL4/Specialists or MQL5/Specialists and right-click the Navigator panel, then choose Refresh.
- Guarantee AutoTrading is enabled — the toolbar button have to be inexperienced.
- Within the EA Properties window (when attaching), tick “Enable Automated Buying and selling”.
- Verify the Specialists tab for INIT_FAILED messages after attaching.
Q: The EA exhibits INIT_FAILED instantly after attaching. Why?
The EA runs validation checks on startup. A popup message field will seem with the precise purpose earlier than returning INIT_FAILED. Widespread failures:
- Each STOPLOSS and TAKEPROFIT are 0 in Pips mode — not less than one have to be non-zero.
- In Quantity mode, each STOPLOSSAMOUNT and TAKEPROFITAMOUNT are 0.
- BREAKEVENACTIVATION pips worth is beneath the dealer’s minimal cease degree.
- TRAILINGDISTANCE is beneath the dealer’s minimal cease degree.
- An emblem within the SYMBOLS listing will not be out there in Market Watch (Multicurrency EA).
- Not sufficient historic bars loaded for the image and timeframe.
Cease Loss & Take Revenue
Q: Cease Loss or Take Revenue will not be being set on trades.
- Minimal Cease Degree violation: At startup, the EA validates SL/TP towards SYMBOLTRADESTOPSLEVEL. In case your pips worth is beneath the dealer’s minimal, the EA returns INIT_FAILED with a message displaying the required minimal.
- Hidden SL/TP is ON: If HIDDENSLTP = true, no precise SL/TP is shipped to the dealer server. The EA manages exits internally. That is intentional for brokers that reject SL/TP at order open time.
- Improper mode chosen: Confirm you’re utilizing the right mode — Pips, Quantity, or % — and that your values match that mode.
Q: Breakeven or Trailing Cease will not be activating.
- Guarantee USEBREAKEVEN = true or USETRAILINGSTOPLOSS = true is enabled.
- BREAKEVENACTIVATION defines what number of pips in revenue earlier than breakeven kicks in. The commerce should attain this revenue degree first.
- TRAILINGSTART defines the pips revenue threshold earlier than trailing begins. If value has not moved that far, trailing is not going to activate.
- Each values should exceed the dealer’s minimal cease degree or the EA will fail at INIT.
Surprising Commerce Closures
Q: Trades closed on their very own with out hitting SL or TP. Why?
Verify the Safeguard Settings and Revenue/Loss Limits — any of the next can set off an automated shut of all trades:
| Setting | Set off Situation |
|---|---|
| MAXDRAWDOWNPERCENT | Drawdown % from peak fairness exceeded |
| MAXDRAWDOWNAMOUNT | Drawdown in forex quantity exceeded |
| DAILYSTOP | Day by day loss restrict hit |
| DAILYTARGET | Day by day revenue goal reached |
| WEEKLYSTOP / WEEKLYTARGET | Weekly limits reached |
| MONTHLYSTOP / MONTHLYTARGET | Month-to-month limits reached |
| MAXDEPOSITLOAD | Margin utilization exceeded deposit load % (default: 50%) |
- Information Filter: If ENABLENEWSFILTER = true and a information occasion fires, the EA follows the Information Motion Settings (CLOSETRADES, CLOSEHIGHESTLOOSINGTRADE, and so on.).
- Time Filter / Day Filter: If CLOSEALLORDERSTRADETIME = true, all trades shut when the allowed session ends.
- Shut After N Candles: If CLOSEAFTERNCANDLE is larger than 0, trades shut mechanically after that many candles no matter revenue.
- Exit Technique fired: An reverse sign (Supertrend flip, candlestick sample, fractal break) triggered the configured exit technique.
Grid / Hedge / Martingale
Q: Grid or Hedge orders aren’t showing after the primary commerce.
- Grid: Verify that MAXGRIDSTEP has not been reached. If it has, MAXGRIDACTION fires (default: Shut All). The grid is not going to restart till new trades open.
- Hedge: If HEDGEEXECUTIONMODE = PENDING, the hedge is positioned as a pending order and solely seems as an open commerce when value reaches the set off degree.
- For each: Pending orders can’t be positioned inside the dealer’s minimal cease degree distance from present value. Enhance STEPDISTANCE or HEDGEDISTANCE accordingly.
Q: I enabled Martingale, Grid, and Hedge collectively. Is that an issue?
The EA will show a “Excessive Threat Alert!!” warning and message field, however will nonetheless initialize and run. Operating all three concurrently compounds lot sizes extraordinarily aggressively and might deplete an account quickly on a single shedding streak. It’s strongly beneficial to allow just one loss restoration mode at a time.
Multicurrency EA Particular
Q: The EA runs on a number of pairs however solely trades on one image.
- The multicurrency EA makes use of OnTimer() as an alternative of OnTick() and waits for all symbols to sync bar occasions. If symbols are out of sync, it skips the verify silently.
- All symbols listed within the SYMBOLS enter (comma-separated) have to be added to Market Watch earlier than the EA masses.
- Image names should precisely match your dealer’s naming together with any suffixes corresponding to .professional, m, or _SB.
Tip: Allow SHOWLOGS = true — in case you see “Ready for image synchronization…” within the Specialists tab, that is the trigger.
Supertrend EA — Technique Questions
Q: What’s the distinction between Entry Technique 1 and Entry Technique 2?
- Technique 1: Purchase when Supertrend flips inexperienced (course change); Promote when it flips purple. These are reversal/flip alerts triggered in the meanwhile of development change.
- Technique 2: Purchase when value pulls again and bounces on the inexperienced Supertrend line; Promote when value pulls again to the purple line. These are continuation/retest alerts.
Q: Does ENABLETRAILINGONSUPERTREND change the traditional trailing cease?
Sure. When ENABLETRAILINGONSUPERTREND = true, the Supertrend line itself dynamically acts because the trailing cease degree. The cease follows the Supertrend line because it strikes, as an alternative of utilizing the mounted pip-based trailing cease outlined within the Trailing Cease settings.
2. INDICATORS — TROUBLESHOOTING
Applies to: Greater Excessive Decrease Low Indicator (MT4 and MT5)
Loading & Show Points
Q: I connected the indicator however nothing seems on the chart.
- Make sure the .ex4 / .ex5 file is in MQL4/Indicators or MQL5/Indicators and Refresh the Navigator.
- Verify that SHOWARROW = true and SHOWTEXT = true within the indicator settings.
- The indicator requires not less than STARTBAR bars of historical past (default: 50). On newly opened charts or unique pairs with sparse knowledge, it returns early and attracts nothing. Scroll again on the chart to load extra historical past, then reload the indicator.
- Verify the Specialists tab for “Did not create indicator handles” — this implies iFractals or iATR didn’t initialize. That is attributable to inadequate historic knowledge.
Q: Arrows and labels seem however they’re all the time 2 bars behind the precise sign candle. Is that this a bug?
No — that is by design. Williams Fractals require 2 bars on all sides to be confirmed. A fractal at bar index i is just confirmed when bar i+2 closes. This 2-bar lag is inherent to fractal-based detection and can’t be eliminated with out utilizing unconfirmed/repainting alerts. The sign is legitimate; it’s merely confirmed after 2 bars.
Q: Labels overlap with candle our bodies or are too distant.
- Modify LABELOFFSET — this controls how far above/beneath the candle the textual content seems, calculated relative to ATR.
- Modify ARROWUPSYMBOL and ARROWDOWNSYMBOL to vary the arrow glyph code (default: 233 and 234).
Sign Logic Questions
Q: Do I would like so as to add the indicator to the chart for the EA or Scanner to perform?
No. The EA and Scanner calculate all indicator values internally utilizing indicator handles (iFractals, iATR, iMA). Including the indicator to the chart is only for visible affirmation and doesn’t have an effect on any sign logic or commerce execution.
Q: What’s the distinction between HH/LL Entry Technique 1 and Technique 2?
- Technique 1: Purchase sign when the sample is HH + HL and value closes above the current Greater Excessive. Promote sign when the sample is LH + LL and value closes beneath the current Decrease Low.
- Technique 2: Purchase sign when the sample is LH + HL (a tightening vary with bullish construction). Promote is the reverse.
Q: What does the quantity proven subsequent to the sign arrow imply?
That is the switchIndex — the bar index at which the latest sign was confirmed. A price of 1 means the sign fired on the final closed candle. Greater numbers imply the sign shaped extra candles in the past.
Q: The MA Filter is enabled however trades appear to go within the unsuitable course.
- Confirm ENABLEMAFILTER = true and MA1TIMEFRAME is about to the timeframe you plan for development bias (e.g., H4).
- If utilizing Hull MA (HMA) mode — word that iMA() doesn’t natively assist HMA. The EA makes use of a customized HMA calculation that requires sufficient historic bars to be loaded first.
- Verify which MA entry technique is chosen: some modes evaluate quick vs gradual MA whereas others evaluate value vs MA.
3. SCANNER / DASHBOARD — TROUBLESHOOTING
Applies to: Greater Excessive Decrease Low Scanner Dashboard (MT4 and MT5)
Scanner Not Loading / Panel Not Displaying
Q: I connected the scanner however the dashboard panel doesn’t seem.
- The scanner makes use of EventSetTimer() for periodic refresh. If MetaTrader blocks timer occasions (e.g., in optimization mode), the panel is not going to draw.
- Verify if the Cover/Present Panels button on the high of the chart is about to Present Panels. Clicking it toggles the SHOWPANEL flag.
- Attempt resizing the chart window barely — this triggers OnChartEvent with CHARTEVENT_CHART_CHANGE which redraws all panel components.
- Verify the Specialists tab for “No symbols discovered within the enter listing” — this implies all pairs in your pairsList have been unavailable in Market Watch and have been filtered out.
Q: Some pairs are lacking from the scanner panel. Why?
- The scanner checks every image through MarketInfo() (MT4) or SymbolSelect() (MT5). Symbols not in Market Watch are mechanically filtered out and logged as “Image not out there”.
- Add lacking symbols to Market Watch: right-click Market Watch, choose Present All or search manually, then reload the indicator.
- For MT5: error code 4302 means the image will not be in Market Watch; error code 4801 means the dealer doesn’t supply that pair.
- Make sure the image identify in your pairsList precisely matches your dealer’s image identify, together with suffixes.
Q: An emblem seems within the panel however the sign cells are clean.
- The scanner wants sufficient historic bars for every enabled timeframe. If fewer bars than STARTBAR are loaded, GetIndicatorValues() returns false and leaves the cell clean.
- Open a chart for that image on the affected timeframe, scroll again to load extra historical past, then reload the scanner.
- Verify if the fractal indicator deal with didn’t create for that image/timeframe mixture within the Specialists tab logs.
Alerts & Notifications
Q: The scanner exhibits alerts on the panel however I’m not getting any alerts.
- ALLOWALERT, ALLOWNOTIFICATION, and ALLOWEMAIL should every be individually enabled within the Alert Settings part.
- Verify if the Pause Alerts button on the dashboard was by chance clicked. It units SHOWALERTS = false. The button turns lime inexperienced when alerts are paused. Click on it once more to Resume Alerts.
- Alerts solely hearth on a brand new bar formation (isNewbarTf verify). If no new bar has closed for the reason that indicator loaded, no alert fires even when a sign exists on the panel.
- For push notifications, your MetaQuotes ID have to be configured in MT5 through Instruments > Choices > Notifications.
Q: What’s a Confluence Alert and why is it not triggering?
A confluence alert fires solely when all enabled Confluence Timeframes present the identical course (all Bullish or all Bearish) concurrently. A sign on only one timeframe is not going to set off a confluence alert.
- Verify the Confluence Timeframe Settings part and be sure to have enabled the timeframes you need to require settlement on.
- There are two separate timeframe sections — Particular person (for panel columns) and Confluence (for cross-TF alerts). Be sure to configured the right one.
- Enabling too many confluence timeframes makes it uncommon for all to align. Begin with 2–3 associated timeframes.
Dashboard Show & Interplay
Q: I click on an emblem identify within the panel however nothing occurs.
- Clicking an emblem button triggers ChartSetSymbolPeriod() to modify the present chart to that image. This solely works if the chart will not be locked and the image is on the market in Market Watch.
- If the image identify within the panel doesn’t precisely match your dealer’s naming (e.g., suffix variations), the chart change will fail silently.
Q: The panel is just too small, too massive, or the textual content is unreadable.
- Modify PANELHEIGHTPCT, PANELWIDTHPCT, and PANELTEXTPCT — all are proportion values relative to the chart dimensions.
- Panel dimensions are recalculated through CalcuLateDimensions() each time the chart is resized. Merely resize the chart window to pressure a right away re-render with new values.
Q: The scanner solely exhibits alerts for M1 and M5. How do I allow extra timeframes?
There are two separate timeframe configuration sections. Each have to be configured:
| Part | Setting Names | Function |
|---|---|---|
| Particular person Scan | ENABLEIND1M, ENABLEIND5M, ENABLEIND15M… | Controls which timeframes are scanned and proven as columns within the panel |
| Confluence | ENABLE1M, ENABLE5M, ENABLE15M… | Controls which timeframes should all agree for a confluence alert to fireplace |
The MT5 model moreover helps non-standard timeframes (M2, M3, M4, M6, M10, M12, M20, H2, H3, H6, H8, H12) that the MT4 model doesn’t have.
4. COMMON SETUP MISTAKES
Earlier than You Connect Any Product
- Add all required symbols to Market Watch earlier than loading the EA or indicator. Proper-click Market Watch and choose Present All, or search manually.
- Allow AutoTrading within the MetaTrader toolbar. The button have to be inexperienced.
- Shut any current positions on the image if attaching an EA for the primary time. Open positions with a distinct magic quantity could cause conflicts.
- Load enough historic knowledge by scrolling again on the charts for all pairs you plan to scan or commerce.
- Confirm image names match your dealer precisely, together with any suffixes corresponding to m, .professional, or _SB.
Most Widespread Errors and Fixes
| Mistake | What Occurs | Repair |
|---|---|---|
| SL and TP each set to 0 in Pips mode | INIT_FAILED with popup error | Set not less than certainly one of SL or TP to a sound pips worth larger than 0 |
| SL or TP worth beneath dealer minimal cease degree | INIT_FAILED with message displaying the required minimal | Enhance SL/TP to exceed the dealer’s SYMBOLTRADESTOPSLEVEL |
| Breakeven or Trailing beneath minimal cease degree | INIT_FAILED | Enhance BREAKEVENACTIVATION or TRAILINGDISTANCE |
| Symbols lacking from Market Watch | EA or Scanner filters out these pairs silently | Add all required symbols to Market Watch earlier than loading |
| Improper dealer image suffix in pairs listing | Symbols not discovered, clean panel cells | Match pairsList values precisely to dealer image names |
| AutoTrading disabled | EA masses however by no means locations any commerce | Allow the AutoTrading button within the MetaTrader toolbar |
| Magic Quantity mismatch between EA cases | EA doesn’t handle current trades, could open duplicates | Use the identical magic quantity throughout all associated merchandise |
| Martingale, Grid, and Hedge all enabled collectively | Excessive Threat warning fires, exponential lot development doable | Allow just one loss restoration mode at a time |
| SHOWDASHBOARDINTESTING = true throughout backtest | Backtesting turns into extraordinarily gradual | Set SHOWDASHBOARDINTESTING = false throughout optimization |
| Pause Alerts button by chance clicked | No alerts hearth from the scanner | Click on the button once more to Resume Alerts |
| Not sufficient historic bars loaded | Indicator or scanner exhibits clean cells or no alerts | Scroll again on charts for all pairs to pressure historical past obtain |
| SINGLEENTRY = true with an current open commerce | EA skips all new entry alerts | Shut the prevailing commerce or set SINGLEENTRY = false |
Filters Guidelines — If Trades Are Nonetheless Not Opening
Run by means of this guidelines in an effort to establish which filter is obstructing commerce entries:
- Dashboard standing: Is “EA Lively” proven? What does the Cease Purpose subject say?
- Unfold filter: Is MAXSPREADPOINTS = 0 (disabled)? Or is the present unfold exceeding the set restrict?
- Information filter: Is ENABLENEWSFILTER = false? Or is there an upcoming information occasion pausing trades?
- Time filter: Is EnableTimeFilter = false? Or is the present time exterior all enabled periods?
- Day filter: Is EnableDayFilter = false? Or is in the present day’s weekday disabled in Commerce Days Settings?
- Safeguards: Have any of MAXDRAWDOWNPERCENT, DAILYSTOP, DAILYTARGET, or related limits been triggered?
- Commerce Route: Is TRADEDIRECTION = BOTHDIRECTIONS?
- Single Entry: Is SINGLEENTRY = false, or has the prevailing commerce been closed?
- MA / ADX / RSI / MACD filters: Are all development and affirmation filters passing for the present market situation?
Tip: Allow SHOWLOGS = true to print the results of every verify to the Specialists tab for full transparency.
Earlier than contacting assist, accumulate the next data to assist resolve the difficulty quicker:
- Allow SHOWLOGS = true and replica the related traces from the Specialists tab.
- Be aware your MT4/MT5 construct model, dealer identify, account kind, and the precise product identify and model quantity.
- Take a screenshot of your settings through right-click EA or Indicator > Properties > Inputs tab.
- Be aware the precise image identify because it seems in your dealer’s Market Watch.
Contact channels:
