Alpari's GBPUSD 1M Databank Download Issue

Apparently Alpari is still having problems with their GBPUSD 1M data downloads on their website. After several emails they tell me it's a complex issue (it's been months and months now).

Would someone be so kind as to share their Alpari's 1M data for GBPUSD for 2008 to the present?

Much appreciated!

Glen

Since I found the solution to my question shortly after I originally posted and just now remembered my post, I'll post for others who may need this help.

As of this post, Apari's databank is still under construction...

The data is not Alpari but MetaQuotes (GMT-2).

 

1. On your testing terminal (or a new install of MetaTrader***NOT your trading terminal***) Just go to the History Center, select a currency pair, and select the M1 time frame.
2. Hit the Download button. A message will remind you that you will be downloading from MetaQuotes and not from your broker. It gives you 10 years of minute data for any currency pair listed. If your trading server's timezone is GMT-2, then you are done! If not follow the steps below.

 

1. Next Export the data to a .CSV file.
2. Go into the history folder of your MT4 installation and delete the .hst file of the data you just downloaded.
3. Now select Import button and locate your .CSV file to bring the data back into the History Center however, set the Shift option for your broker's server timezone. For example, since I use IBFX which is GMT+0, I set the shift to GMT-2 for MetaQuotes. This will realign the data to match your trading server's timezone.

Now you'll have 10 years of minute data. I've compared my MetaQuotes data with my live IBFX data and it is really similar--close enough for testing in my opinion. Enjoy and I hope this helps someone.

Glen

How do I convert the .dat files to .hst? Seems there is a step missing. When I try to Import from .dat it does not work but does not give an error message.

History data is saved in MT4 as .hst files. If you need to shift timezones and you are exporting your newly downloaded data, save it as ASCII Text (.csv). Then import the .csv file.

I don't know how to convert .dat files.

Glen

Thanks. Does anyone have the struct layout for dat files?

Thanks Gnllr your information is very helpful, but i am a little confused with the time shift my broker timezone is +1GMT could u plz help me out. eg -3 +3

Hi MrCBee,

That would be a shift of -3 for your broker. After you import the data, open any pair's minute chart and then compare with your broker's minute chart just ensure the start of the day matches on both.

Warm Regards,

Glen