Alert for order open / close

This is so simple I'm embarassed to post it.

Anyway, see the attached. All it does is gives an alert when the number of open orders changes.

It works perfectly when attached to a chart.

But, when you start up the platform with it still attached from prior to shutting down, it always gives an alert. Here's what's happening:

The first time through, the command total = OrdersTotal() is not executed, so total = 0, number = 0, oldnumber = 0, there's no alert, and the "firsttime" boolean gets set to false.

The second time through it executes normally, so the open orders get counted, "number" gets incremented, but "oldnumber" does not get updated until after the alert.

Not a big deal, but I'd like it to work right, and moreso, would like to know why execution is different if you attach an indicator vs. booting up with it already attached.

I havent looked at the code, but i am guessing that when MT starts the history hasnt been downloaded yet and/or variables have just gotten initialized.

If I were you I'd store the total number of orders in a globalvariable ( GlobalVariableGet/Set() ) and also maybe wait until you receive a tick by putting code in the start() function, also making sure you are connected (i think the function name is IsConnected() ) .

This would work better since global variable are persisted through session so you wouldnt need to initialize them every time.

Again, I havent looked at the code yet so I might be talking rubbish.

Do post it again when you're done, it can come in handy.

I think you are right! It does the count, but the orders aren't there yet. That would make sense.

I tried

if(! IsConnected()) return(0);

and

if(! IsConnected()) Sleep (5000);

but no good yet.

Oh wait, I know why this made no difference. It doesn't execute unless it gets a tick, and it won't get that unless connected.

However, I still think you're right, the order data hasn't been uploaded yet when it does the first count.

Still no solution. Any help out there?

For example add
at the very beginning of start() function.

What an elegant solution... Simple is best...

Beautiful. Seems to be working. Thanks!

So, it stops execution at that point until all account info is loaded, is this correct?

I've removed the print command and inputed the suggested code thanks to Vitovd, and re-uploaded, so the one on the first post is now.

Here's a more interesting (and fun) version.

Very nice, If you don't mind, How do i get the sound files to work?

Are the sound files in your /sounds folder?

Yes i put them in the sound folder but all i get is the popup window? Thanks for the response.

I also put them into my media player. I had to do that for another program once. This script is very nice could be very helpful if one dozes off for a while. I find myself doing that more often. LOL

I think you have to restart MT4 as well.

Yes i did that too. Is it working for you?