TimeCurrent() in strategy tester | Forex Factory

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TimeCurrent() in strategy tester

  • #1
  • First Post: Aug 24, 2009 11:04am Aug 24, 2009 11:04am
Is there any way to pull the current time in the tester instead of the last server time? When I run my EA, TimeCurrent() returns the last server time from when I logged on. I need it, or something else, to pull the current backtest time so I can backtest my EA.

Anyone got any ideas?
  • #2
  • Aug 24, 2009 11:18am Aug 24, 2009 11:18am
You can get the time of the current bar with Time[]

you cannot get a time countdown kind of feature just when the bar started.
  • #3
  • Aug 24, 2009 11:35am Aug 24, 2009 11:35am
Time[] just has the open time of the current bar.

If I was running live, I could get current time. But I need to get current time in the backtester. Which is where TimeCurrent() doesn't get.

Is there no way to do this? Maybe grabbing the time off of the tick?
  • #4
  • Aug 24, 2009 4:33pm Aug 24, 2009 4:33pm
nope no way to do it. one of the many limitations of mt4
  • #5
  • Aug 24, 2009 11:18pm Aug 24, 2009 11:18pm
Quoting nondisclosure00
Is there any way to pull the current time in the tester instead of the last server time? When I run my EA, TimeCurrent() returns the last server time from when I logged on. I need it, or something else, to pull the current backtest time so I can backtest my EA.

Anyone got any ideas?
MQL4 Documentation:
datetime TimeCurrent( )
Returns the last known server time (time of incoming of the latest quote) as number of seconds elapsed from 00:00 January 1, 1970.

Note: At the testing, the last known server time is modelled.
Sample:
if(TimeCurrent()-OrderOpenTime()<360) return(0);

So, what is your problem exactly?
  • #6
  • Aug 25, 2009 11:13am Aug 25, 2009 11:13am
For example, Put in your EA (use one that comes w/ MT4), put the following in the start funtion:
Inserted Code
Comment(TimeCurrent());
You'll notice that the time will never change in the back tester. It'll stay the same on each candle.

Now, when you put it on a chart (not backtesting), it'll show the last known server time (tick time, mostly).

That's the problem. I need it to show the current backtesting time.
Quoting Irtron
MQL4 Documentation:
datetime TimeCurrent( )
Returns the last known server time (time of incoming of the latest quote) as number of seconds elapsed from 00:00 January 1, 1970.

Note: At the testing, the last known server time is modelled.
Sample:
if(TimeCurrent()-OrderOpenTime()<360) return(0);

So, what is your problem exactly?
  • #7
  • Aug 25, 2009 12:21pm Aug 25, 2009 12:21pm
Quoting nondisclosure00
For example, Put in your EA (use one that comes w/ MT4), put the following in the start funtion:
Inserted Code
Comment(TimeCurrent());
so I did. Yet again.
Quote
You'll notice that the time will never change in the back tester. It'll stay the same on each candle.
Rather opposite. It follows the test progress as expected.
Quote
That's the problem. I need it to show the current backtesting time.
well, that's your problem. Let me ask again, what is it? Please give the details of what you're doing to allow us to point it out.
  • #8
  • Aug 25, 2009 12:36pm Aug 25, 2009 12:36pm
int start()
{
//----

Print(" Current time is " + TimeToStr(TimeCurrent(),TIME_DATE|TIME_SECONDS));
//----
return(0);
}


//------ .....h
to trade and code, keep both simple... no call to impress....h
  • #9
  • Aug 27, 2009 4:52pm Aug 27, 2009 4:52pm
Run this EA in your back tester. Watch the comment section up at the top. You'll see what I mean.
Inserted Code
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                                  for posting.mq4 |
//|                      Copyright © 2009, MetaQuotes Software Corp. |
//|                                        [url]http://www.metaquotes.net[/url] |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright © 2009, MetaQuotes Software Corp."
#property link      "[url]http://www.metaquotes.net[/url]"
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
  {
//----
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
  {
//----
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
  {
//----
      Comment(TimeHour(TimeCurrent())," current hour ",
              TimeMinute(TimeCurrent())," current minute ");   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Now, if you still see the correct time, then your lucky. You'll see another person in here w/ the problem.

Now, if you don't see the correct time (tester time, not current time), post in here. Because I've solved the problem.

Quoting Irtron
so I did. Yet again.Rather opposite. It follows the test progress as expected.
well, that's your problem. Let me ask again, what is it? Please give the details of what you're doing to allow us to point it out.
  • #10
  • Edited Aug 28, 2009 12:32am Aug 27, 2009 10:57pm | Edited Aug 28, 2009 12:32am
Quoting nondisclosure00
Run this EA in your back tester. Watch the comment section up at the top. You'll see what I mean.
No I don't I'm afraid. All the examples from this thread work all right as expected including your code that changes hour and minute counters as the tester processes modelled ticks. Didn't I say that in the first place?
Quote
Now, if you still see the correct time, then your lucky.
I'm ok actually. It's rather you who is unlucky.
Quote
You'll see another person in here w/ the problem.
Why should I?
Quote
Now, if you don't see the correct time (tester time, not current time), post in here. Because I've solved the problem.
Obviously you've worked around some auxiliary problem that affects the readings and that you refuse to expose here. Or more likely you just misread the results by looking in the wrong place.
  • #11
  • Aug 28, 2009 7:52am Aug 28, 2009 7:52am
I agree with Irtron, the code works perfectly fine. the comments shows the time info as it progress through those history bars.

When it comes to code logic, its never a question about lucky or unlucky. It either works or it doesn't.

If it works on many platforms (mine and Irtron's, and I believe others will work fine) but not on yours... I suppose logical chain of thoughts will presume the problem lies with your platform. try reinstalling your MT4 client and/or redownload your history data after purging off what you currently have in your history folder.
Programming for a better future.
  • #12
  • Aug 28, 2009 7:55am Aug 28, 2009 7:55am
Quoting nondisclosure00
Now, if you don't see the correct time (tester time, not current time), post in here. Because I've solved the problem.
so what is your problem? perhaps you might wanna share the solution to a non-existent problem with others?
Programming for a better future.
  • #13
  • Aug 28, 2009 8:17am Aug 28, 2009 8:17am
Well, I use iTime() instead. But I had to prepare the M1 data ahead of time.

BTW, when I test, I use calander year 2008. If y'all are just using your current history (what is currently cached in MT4), then yes, it would work. I don't have 2008 data in cache, I had to download it, and import it from alpari.

Quoting Zen_Leow
so what is your problem? perhaps you might wanna share the solution to a non-existent problem with others?
  • #14
  • Feb 23, 2011 11:11am Feb 23, 2011 11:11am
The iTime and TimeCurrent() won't work for historical data when we backtest, as they were inside indicator. Though I agree with Irtron, the code works perfectly as they are in EA. Any ideas?

People can try it by simply add one more line as ,

#property link
#property indicator_chart_window

in the example codes.

Thanks.
  • #15
  • Jan 21, 2012 4:01am Jan 21, 2012 4:01am
Quoting fusheng
The iTime and TimeCurrent() won't work for historical data when we backtest, as they were inside indicator. Though I agree with Irtron, the code works perfectly as they are in EA. Any ideas?

People can try it by simply add one more line as ,

#property link
#property indicator_chart_window

in the example codes.

Thanks.
UP. Anyone got a workaround for that issue?
  • #16
  • Last Post: Sep 17, 2021 3:32am Sep 17, 2021 3:32am
Quoting nondisclosure00
Is there any way to pull the current time in the tester instead of the last server time? When I run my EA, TimeCurrent() returns the last server time from when I logged on. I need it, or something else, to pull the current backtest time so I can backtest my EA. Anyone got any ideas?
you can use this code:
Inserted Code
TimeHour(iTime(NULL,PERIOD_CURRENT,1))
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