MQL4 to MQL5 translation desk

Hi everyone.

As you all probably know we're lately witnessing a change in MetaQuotes business model and focus.
Most of the MQL4 coders out there are quite permeable to moving to MQL5 but I see no alternative for the following reasons:

- The language structure has changed and adapted as smoothly as possible by MQ we can't ignore that
- MetaQuotes is hiking their MT4 Maintenance Fees and server related fees, making it down to 4x cheaper for brokers to work with MT5
- MT5 platforms sales and servers deploying is increasing at an always faster pace, as we reached the 100 MT5 friendly brokers over the last months, and the brokers themselves are starting to advertise MT5 (making it more visible on their websites than MT4. Most of the serious brokers I've ever worked with now offer it)
- It's not even possible to download MT4 from MQ anymore and they've given up on bringing new changes to it (which would make it too close to becoming and MT5 like)
- cTrader is (from my point of view) an amazing alternative but suffers from a very low user and community base. cAlgo is less alike MQL4 than MQL5 is which makes it harder as well for coders to shift towards it

I've been a faithful MT4 user and MQL4 coder but we live in a groovy world where everything gets to change at some point.

Looking at the bright side of the migration:

- 64bits platform (meaning full usage of your processor)
- Market depth
- Many More Timeframes on MT5 than MT4
- Hedging is now allowed for non US regulated users
- Soon to come: Native custom charts (renko & more)
- MQ implemented a much better Backtester to MT5 for the ones who're not aware of it. Free native tick data, multiple pairs backtest, many more native TFs

The very annoying part remains the language. By the user side, the platform is so similar to MT4 that the adaptation isn't hard.
HOWEVER The transition doesn't have to be brutal for coders if we work together on what I'd call "MQL4 libraries" and "MQL4 inclusions", allowing us to adapt our codes in a proper maner and in a matter of minutes.

What do I mean by "MQL4 Libraries & Inclusions"? Using the MQL5 documentation (5k pages..) content and what users already brought to the "MQL4 to MQL5" content such as there https://www.mql5.com/en/articles/81 (NB: not udpated for latest MQL5 but still great) we can build Libraries that will allow us to use functions the way we would do in MQL4 but in MQL5.

Here is an example:


This is obviously a quite simple sample. But this would make us coders save so much time on more complex functions (i.e. arrays tweaks)

I'm quite sure many coders around FF already have such libraries/inclusions.
Our objective would be to build a big common one so that all FF coders can lay on it and happily move towards MT5 without further disruption.

Looking forward to hear from enthusiastic members

Edo

This is important topic, and first stage i would use libraries and then code MQL5 , trade functions are so different its not easy implement using libraries.
the mt5 syntax sucks, it should be less time consuming write code, our purpose is trading and not coding.
Some brokers don't have information, metaquotes will stop developing mt4.

Here is my attempt to combine such functions and I hope it will serve as some sort of a base. It is based on mq4.mqh library, with some functions written by me. Include this file as usual in your new *.mq5 EA or indicator. You may have to include also StdLibErr.mqh.
The main idea is to use your old *.mq4 code with minimal (or in most cases without) modification in MT5 platform.

I jumped to MT5 again. I started there before MT4 b600 ( because mt4 had not debugger). Like when I passed my framework to MT4 I needed little adjustments for do it work in MT5 again. For me the difference is so big and compensate the change. The only thing didn't changed it's number of bugs. MT is the king of that

Does anyone have progress to report on MT4 to MT5 conversions?

Maybe a more complete include file?


Thanks!

Hi folks, sorry this was discontinued due to lack of interest from the community and lack of time by my side.
Such attempts have been around for a while but it seems that it is worth learning MQL5 now as much of MQL4 is compatible with it and the compatibility layer could be an expensive feature.

Edorenta, this is a good start. Let's gain some momentum, and perhaps you can post a "master" include file in post#1 (which you, as thread starter, can edit indefinitely, unlike all later posts). You could also gather a list of useful links to other sites.


Like lots of people, I'm still using just MT4, but I'd like to try migrating a few simple programs to MT5 to see how difficult it will be, once it's truly necessary.

I started today with a script. When I compiled my MT4 code in MT5, I got plenty of errors and warnings but tackled each one.

I found this thread and especially found the useful mq4.mqh by bodi0 (~4 posts previous to this one).

There's another (small) .mqh over at this thread, but it has a VERY helpful table with MT4 vs. MT5 commands. I'm a little concerned that it was first posted ~2010. Still, it seems like it would be a good place to start. (I have not begun to incorporate it yet). (No doubt there are similar threads elsewhere. Everyone should feel free to reference here in this thread).

Some of the MT5 functions have the same name, but different behavior. In some cases, one can create fairly similar overloaded (same name) functions to mimic MT4 behavior. Quite a few, however, need a new name because the behavior is just different.

To ease migration, I propose to create MT4 equivalent functions that have added the number "4". These can be defined in the .mqh file. When one types in the function name, you see both the MT5 name, as well as the similar MT4 name. Example:

MT5 has "int StringTrimLeft(string &string_var)". In regular MT4 code, the form is "string StringTrimLeft(const string text)".

Therefore, it helps with migration to have the MT4 equivalent as:

The StringConcatenate function is similarly different, and no longer returns a string. For that, I propose :

Question: Does anybody know of a way to offer a general type, such as "void str1, void str2, ..." for the arguments? I would prefer that it handle string/int/long/etc. (and do implied conversion for each), but I'm forced to just use "string str#". And therefore, I have to insert, for example, "IntegerToString(myint)" in place of just "myint".

Some functions are somewhat similar, and enough so that it appears I can define same-name overloaded functions to get back MT4 functionality. For example:
MT5 has "bool ArraySort(void &array[])". But this does only an Ascend sort of the entire array with no control of count and start.

MT4 has "int ArraySort(void &array[], int count=WHOLE_ARRAY, int start=0, int direction=MODE_ASCEND)"

The most common variation in my MT4 code is to use "MODE_DESCEND".

Therefore, one can create overloaded functions to implement these extra 3 arguments. The approach would be something like:


I noticed MT5 does not have "IsDllsAllowed()". However, there is a class/#include that mentions a different capitalization: "IsDLLsAllowed()".
Question: How do I use it in my script? It's probably simple, but I just don't know yet.

I also noticed in MT5 that -- at least for a script -- if your script calls DLL's, and they're not enabled, you can't even *run* it! Therefore, I suspect it's not even a necessary check (for a script).

Question: I'm wondering if the same is true for an Indicator or not? I have an indicator that *optionally* will call DLL's but only when they're enabled, but if not, 99% of the rest works fine. Will I be able to add that indicator without DLL's enabled?? Or (like a script), is it not even going to allow it? (I'll get to testing it later).

I will note, however, that the following is *NOT* quite an equivalent test for DLL's on/off:


I've attached my version (2019-OCT-13 v1_01 by pips4life) of bodi0's (v1_0) mq4.mqh, but I'm calling it: mq4_mq5_bridge.mqh

Contributions and corrections are welcome! Note: I have *not* *fully* tested what was there, nor what I added; it's just a starting point and seems to work so far.


Kent (pips4life)

have any of you experienced a lock up at iTime in metatrader. Example https://www.mql5.com/en/forum/326235 and Here https://www.mql5.com/en/forum/313720 The second link has a very good explanation of the problem. I doubt in MQL4 or MQL5 forum I will get a answer. I am posting it here because it is a conversion page to metatrader five and pips4life is the best coder I know when it comes 2 time issues. The second link link is a coder named Doerk Hilger . explaining why this error will happen for everyone. Doerk is not novice is posting about a error. https://www.mql5.com/en/users/doerk

I a Very extensive library of user defined error codes that are not trapped in MT4. If it is going to be a group effort to convert to Metrader five. I would Like to also discuss Error that metrader is not trapping and draw off every one's experiences. For Example. Forex. Com turned off a symbol for trading I was in. I have screen shots of it but I did not have alarms. I do now. The Error codes I have are broken into Five types. User head gap , Developer Bone headed errors, Damn it Desk errors, and metatrader Why did they not trap that With inn the metatrader code base . Lastly I have scanning error codes they just tell when what function the code is stopped in and why. Mainly these are telling what is not letting the code move forward. To Be honest I am not looking forward to rebuilding these. Mine will become obsolete in metatrader five at least some of them. Here is an example

if(!bReturnThis){ SetUserError( ushort( ersUIMaxDelta) ); };

This is a user defined error code . ers means this is error code a #define and Ui means user inputed. MaxDelta. is the total allowed by the trader on all open trades. #define numbers -100 through -199 are for user error trapping. Maybe I should Set up another thread just for errors and call this a sister Thread . My error trapping stuff has a sicking amount of detial. and is not easly posted in one lump. Like I said they will become obsolete soon I think. I am pondering out loud how to make sure mq4_mq5_bridge.mqh is tested and error trapped. One way I do this is every function is written to a file and assigned a number with a date and build number. If U were around during the meta 600 build U will see why it was done. The Number is used as a index Key for and array / stack trace for lack of a better word. I think it will overwhelm this thread but some thing like that has to be done. Does any one know if metatrader five supports try catch. Also if U are trading live Make SURE U BLOCK UPGRADES use shell Execute and run a batch file and remove the files under \AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\WebInstall\*.* it will remove mtclw and any .PNG file. On your testing pc move the contents some place. Also store the latest build number is a Gvar and Check it on int if changed Sound alarm. If I ahd not done that after the 600 build I would be down right now. Made a sister Thread. https://www.forexfactory.com/showthread.php?p=12611558

FYI

the "mq4_mq5_bridge.mqh" orders are not working, if you want use it delete, whole MT4ORDERS class, and use orginal MT4ORDERS.mqh latest release 2020.

i waiste lot of time, hope others wont. so thank you very much pips4life using an OLD MT4ORDERS class, in your bridge.

Anyhow its not huge task porting mt4 ea to mt5.

Other than the thread-starter who can keep editing post#1, nobody can edit old posts, including mine with my original "mq4_mq5_bridge.mqh".

I am not going to maintain and keep updating it, here or otherwise, unless I happen to be doing more MT4 to MT5 conversions which for the moment I am not.

My suggestion is for you and everyone to go ahead and make edits to the file and upload it here in this thread. We can all benefit from what you discovered that works or doesn't work in my original file.

Please post your update. Thanks.