Kick off Trade Via Batch/VBS Script | Forex Factory

Options

Permalinks
Print Thread

Similar Threads

Basic Alt Key/Entry Script - Simplest Script Ever 1 reply

i like to add an indicator script into my own script. what would be the best idea? 3 replies

Scroll charts via script 7 replies

Script or ea that places orders via lines on chart 0 replies

Via indicator: trading xxxyyy via zzz 0 replies

Kick off Trade Via Batch/VBS Script

  • #1
  • First Post: Feb 25, 2009 6:50am Feb 25, 2009 6:50am
Is it possible to start a trade via a batch or vbs script? I've got an external application that doesn't interface with MetaTrader but I would like to automate a trading system based upon it's signals.

FYI: This isn't a web-based system that I have access to in anyway (i.e. can't build a dll or component app to communicate with it).
  • #2
  • Feb 25, 2009 11:15am Feb 25, 2009 11:15am
Should be possible, if both applications (MT4 + external sys) are located on the same pc.

Your external sys should place a file in the MT4/experts/files folder.

You create an EA in MT4 which is scanning for this file. If it finds it, read the file and process the orders. When done the EA deletes the file and scans again every minute or so for another file.

gl, MaxM
  • #3
  • Feb 26, 2009 6:52am Feb 26, 2009 6:52am
That sounds like a plan.

I guess it would be just easier to have my external system create a 0 byte test file called trade.txt and when the EA sees that file it would commence a trade.

Are there any articles or documentation that show how to assign a variable from an external file like that?
  • #4
  • Feb 26, 2009 8:06am Feb 26, 2009 8:06am
I'm looking at the kernel32 file functions. Is this a valid statement:

string ReadFile (string path)
{
int handle=_lopen (path,OF_READ);
if(handle<0)
{
variable = 0 // 0 for don't trade
}
else
{
variable = 1 // 1 for trade
}
  • #5
  • Feb 26, 2009 9:44am Feb 26, 2009 9:44am
So, I have completed a script that will do what I am looking to do, except monitor for changes. How do I add the element of time, so that this script will run continually? Also, I don't want it to trade when there is currently a trade in progress.

Inserted Code
#include <stdlib.mqh>
#include <WinUser32.mqh>

int filetrade;

// lopen
#define OF_READ               0
#define OF_WRITE              1
#define OF_READWRITE          2
#define OF_SHARE_COMPAT       3
#define OF_SHARE_DENY_NONE    4
#define OF_SHARE_DENY_READ    5
#define OF_SHARE_DENY_WRITE   6
#define OF_SHARE_EXCLUSIVE    7

#import "kernel32.dll"
   int _lopen  (string path, int of);
   int _lcreat (string path, int attrib);
   int _llseek (int handle, int offset, int origin);
   int _lread  (int handle, string buffer, int bytes);
   int _lwrite (int handle, string buffer, int bytes);
   int _lclose (int handle);
#import

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

string start(string path)
  {
//----
    int handle=_lopen ("C:trade.txt",OF_READ);           
    if(handle>0) 
      {
        if(MessageBox("Do you really want to BUY 1.00 "+Symbol()+" at ASK price?    ",
                 "Script",MB_YESNO|MB_ICONQUESTION)!=IDYES) return(1);
         int ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,1.0,Ask,3,0,0,"expert comment",255,0,CLR_NONE);
         if(ticket<1)
            {
               int error=GetLastError();
               Print("Error = ",ErrorDescription(error));
               return;
            }
         OrderPrint();
      }
    else
      {
        Print("Error opening file ",path); 
        return ("");
      }
    int result=_llseek (handle,0,0);  
    result=_lclose (handle); 
   
   return(0);
  }
  • #6
  • Feb 26, 2009 10:35am Feb 26, 2009 10:35am
I suspect that if I run this as an EA that it would continually check for the file (as long as there aren't open trades). Is this a correct assumption?

Also, for some reason, the script is not closing the file. Here is my updated script:

Inserted Code
#include <stdlib.mqh>
#include <WinUser32.mqh>

extern string filetrade="C:\trade.txt";

// lopen
#define OF_READ               0

#import "kernel32.dll"
   int _lopen  (string path, int of);
   int _llseek (int handle, int offset, int origin);
   int _lclose (int handle);
#import

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| script program start function                                    |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

string start(string path)
  {
//----
    int handle=_lopen (filetrade,OF_READ);
    int result=_llseek (handle,0,0); 
    int total=OrdersTotal();       
    if(handle>0) 
      {
        if(total<1)
          {
             if(MessageBox("Do you really want to BUY 1.00 "+Symbol()+" at ASK price?    ",
                 "Script",MB_YESNO|MB_ICONQUESTION)!=IDYES) return(1);
              int ticket=OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,1.0,Ask,3,0,0,"expert comment",255,0,CLR_NONE);
            if(ticket<1)
            {
               int error=GetLastError();
               Print("Error = ",ErrorDescription(error));
               return;
            }
           OrderPrint();
           result=_lclose (handle); 
         }
      }
    else
      {
        Print("Error opening file ",path);
        result=_lclose (handle);  
        return ("");
        
      }
   result=_lclose (handle); 
   return(0);
  }
  • #7
  • Last Post: Edited 12:30pm Feb 26, 2009 12:28pm | Edited 12:30pm
I figured out how to fix the script not closing the file, though I don't fully understand the logic. In hindsight I guess this does make sense because as long as the file can be opened, the value of handle would not be 0.

I had to place the close statement directly after the open statement:

Inserted Code
int total=OrdersTotal();
int handle=_lopen (filetrade,OF_READ);
int fclose=_lclose (handle);
      
if(handle>0) 

.....
0 traders viewing now