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How do I backtest a semi-automated EA?

  • Post #1
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  • First Post: Feb 14, 2020 4:48pm Feb 14, 2020 4:48pm
  •  Dasilvja
  • | Joined Dec 2016 | Status: Member | 35 Posts
I have recently had a programmer create an EA for me. It is semi-automated. In other words, I input the price level I want it to trigger at, plus all the trading parameters (stop loss, position size, etc) and when triggered it kind of manages the trade for me. Anyways, we're having an issue with it. There have been a couple times that I used it (on demo) and the stop loss wasn't created with the trade, despite the fact that I had set it up to be there. Obviously this could be very problematic in a real account. I need the stop loss.

The programmer insists that it is programmed correctly. They have been over it again and again. They believe that the broker has a Stop Loss limit and if the stop loss is set to be too small, then it wouldn't create it, especially added with the spread. I was using a 10 pip SL on the EURGBP in this example and the spread was less than 1.5 pips. Before this I never even heard of a stop loss limit. Regardless, the broker told me where to look to find that information and also, for peace of mind, assured me that there are NO SL Limits with them.

The programmer hasn't been able to duplicate this issue. And since most of my tests ran fine, I'm not sure how I got it in the first place. The programmer has requested that I " run backtesting with the same symbol and same settings with a few different dates and see if same situation happens" (this is the second time they "asked"). That's fine. I'll do whatever I can from my end to figure this out. However, I don't have a clue how to backtest an EA that isn't automatic (I'm still a rookie). I get the feeling like this is pretty straightforward but I just don't know how to do it. When I search online I get a ton of results on "how to backtest an EA", "how to backtest on MT4", etc... but nothing specifically about how to do a manual backtest with a semi-automated EA.

Can anyone please point me in the right direction?
  • Post #2
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  • Feb 16, 2020 10:10pm Feb 16, 2020 10:10pm
  •  RedLineFred
  • Joined Sep 2012 | Status: Member | 327 Posts
There are limits and these are spelled out here:

https://book.mql4.com/appendix/limits

As for back testing, its somewhat difficult without knowing how your EA functions, but you may be able to find a point in time (historically speaking) where you think you would like to trade. Start the Strategy tester a day before this date having set all you inputs and see what happens.

best of luck.
" check out The Traders Outpost "
 
 
  • Post #3
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  • Last Post: Feb 17, 2020 4:10am Feb 17, 2020 4:10am
  •  dietcoke
  • | Joined Apr 2011 | Status: Member | 168 Posts
Go back to the developer and get them to add some debug logging that you can turn on as and when required.
You haven't said exactly how you tell the EA what trades to place but is it possible that human error in setting the criteria is at play?
 
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