(NEWBIE) Where does the EA begin

Hey all, I am a little (actually a lot) embarrassed to ask this about this EA but here goes. I found the thread on another forex factory section and I copied and pasted the first portion of the EA below. My broker is FXDD. Where exactly does the code begin in the EA below? It looks like the beginning of the code is general information and that possible the EA begins where it says:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

...however I may be way off! Obviously I have never used an EA before and hopefully I can use it in Demo mode for awhile. Thanks for any help I can get!

Brett



//+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Daily Scalping v1.0h.mq4 |
//| Skyline 2007 |
//| |
//+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Skyline 2007"
#property link ""
#include <stdlib.mqh>
// v1.0 (07 Feb 2007) : Start Project
// v1.0a (07 Feb 2007) : Add GMT_Shift variable
// v1.0b (16 Feb 2007) : Added MagicNumber routine based on pair and timeframe
// v1.0c (17 Feb 2007) : Added routine TotalOrders to count only active order related to current EA (Thanks to Vitalykk)
// Added routine OrdersLossInDay to control losses in the same day. Users have the option to change how much loss trade they want setting external variable MaxLossesTradesPerDay.
// v1.0d (19 Feb 2007) : Fixed bug that prevent , when an order was not dispatched, to open reverse trade correctly.
// Handled the case of doji candle that EA now will ignore to determine the trend situation from last 3 candles.
// v1.0e (19 Feb 2007) : Fixed bug on CheckTrend for doji candle routine (Thanks to Vitalykk)
// Added function OrdersTakeProfit to avoid EA enter again the market until next day.
// v1.0f (07 Mar 2007) : Midnight order will be opened until 00:01
// v1.0g (09 Mar 2007) : Removed v1.0f limit about order opening.Introducing FirstOrderDone to handle the first order.
// v1.0h (20 Mar 2007) : Fixed error on SL and added comment in case of error opening order to better debug EA.
// Add global variables MidnightOrderOpened, TradeStatus to avoid losing variable values if recompile after EA is on chart.
// Add TrailingStop routine, if =0 Trailing is disable otherwise it will trail using TrailingStop pips.
//---- Definizione parametri esterni
extern double GMT_Shift = 1;
extern int TakeProfit = 200;
extern int StopLoss = 40;
extern int HourToCloseOrders = 17;
extern bool SundayCandleExists = true;
extern double Lots = 0.1;
extern bool UseMoneyManagement = true;
extern int Risk = 10;
extern int Slippage = 3;
extern int MaxLossesTradesPerDay = 2;
extern int TrailingStop = 0;
//extern bool UseATR_for_TP = false;
//extern bool UseATR_for_SL = false;
//extern double PercentageATR_for_TP = 10;
//extern double PercentageATR_for_SL = 10;
//----- Definizione parametri interni
// Definition Global Variable
// MidnightOrderOpened = 0 not assigned (first EA run), =1 order still to be opened, =2 order already opened
// TradeStatus = 0 Trades disabled , = 1 Open only Buy orders , = 2 Open only Sell orders
int MagicNumber;
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
{
string TradeMode,Temp;

// Calcola dimensione Lot in base all'Equity
if (UseMoneyManagement==true) Lots = CalcolaLot(Risk);

// Calcola MagicNumber a seconda della coppia e timeframe
MagicNumber = MagicFromSymbol();

// Gestione variabile globale
GlobalVariable();

// Attiva ordine alle 00:00 GMT
OpenOrderMidnight(Lots);

// Controlla ordini chiusi in perdita
OrdersLossInDay();

// Controlla se TP è stato raggiunto
OrdersTakeProfit();

// Attiva ordini successivi
OpenNextOrders(Lots);

// Chiude ordini allo scadere di HourToCloseOrders
CloseAllOrders(HourToCloseOrders);

// Effettua il TrailingStop
TrailingStop();

hi Brett,

don't be ambarrassed! It's alright!
Well..The EA starts with the init() function, then the start() function is executed (and every function which is called within start(){...}) very tick,then when you shut down the EA deinit() is called.
So init and deinit only once each and start every tick which comes in!
Hope that helped you.
Well..and actually the code begins in line 6...but that's probably not what you wanted to know, because that's obvious.

Everything that begins with double slash // is a comment - not executeable code.

The first code is "extern double", which is defining a variable. Extern means it is external, and will show up in the user inputs tab when you load the EA. Double is the type of variable.

Where it says "int start()" is where the program starts. Everything before this is initialization, done only once when EA is loaded.

Every tick, the program will begin execution at the "int start()" point.

make sense?

Thanks to both of you for your help. When you say that anything after the double (//) marks is not recognizeable code, does that mean I should delete it before copying this into the platform or that the platform will ignore it and it will not cause a problem. THanks again.

Brett

It won't cause a problem. Comments are notes the programmer puts in, and are ignored by the computer.

Why are you copying the code? you should be able to place the file, as you received it, onto your harddrive, and run it like it is. I'm not sure exactly where since I don't use FXDD, but it will probably be something like C:\program files\FXDD\experts. Then shut down the trading platform and restart, and you should see it there available to run.

Just place it in the

C: /Program files /FXDD Metatrader 4/ Experts

folder. Not to difficult, then restart mt4 and it will be in the experts part of the navigator.

Ok, I did this: I went into the MetaTrader thru my broker, FXDD. I click on MetaEditor and I can find the file that I downloaded (the EA) right there. I then clicked on "compile" and there are no errors. Now, the million dollar question is - now what? I have searched for 2 hours on what to do next to backtest the EA or to simply run the EA and I cannot find any information on this anywhere, not even on the metaquotes website. Not in the help forum nor in the help file. This is too strange. Everyone seems to be only talking about coding issues but not with actually running the EA. Does anyone know where I can find these answers? For someone brand new to using EA's, this is rough!

brett

On the left, in the Navigator under Expert Advisors, you should now see your EA.

To back test, click on the Strategy Tester icon (which looks like an hour glass). You will find this icon on the toolbar near the top of your window. In the help file look for "Strategy Tester" (use the Search option).

Once the Strategy Tester icon is clicked, a Strategy Tester section will open at the bottom of your screen. There you can select the EA you want to test, and the currency, time frame, etc. Now read the help file.

To run an expert on a demo or real account, simply drag and drop it on the chart of pair and timeframe you want to use. In the Commons tab, make sure Live Trading is enabled. In the Input tab, set your parameters. Finally, make sure Expert Advsiors on the toolbar is enabled.

Wow, I could hug you guys! I followed what everybody said and it worked perfectly. I really, I mean really appreciate the time you all took to respond. May the pips be with you!

Brett

oK , I do have one more question. When backtesting, I click on the strategy tester, it then has several dropdown boxes that say Period and Model. Am I supposed to read the EA script and figure this out because I have no idea what dropdown to use?

Brett

Cool. You're getting there. Just play around with it.

Sometimes an EA is designed for a particular TF (timeframe) chart. If it doesn't say so in the notes try any chart. Some will use data from the TF chart they're attached to, some will calculate based on a certain TF and it doesn't matter what chart they're attached to.

Model - you compromise speed for accuracy (validity). Try different ones. There are a lot of opinions on backtesting, I'm no expert but I don't get too carried away about it, I've heard too many reasons why it can be misleading.

Use it to find settings that work pretty well, then forward test (put the EA live on a demo account for weeks or months).

I like to watch the visual on backtest to compress price movement and see why some trades work and others don't. I learn a lot that way.