Multiple Trades Per Bar?

Does anyone know what code to put in an EA so that it does not trigger multiple trades on each bar?

For example on an EA that uses 4 HR bars, how do you tell it to trade only once per each 4 hour bar. Instead of re-entering again after a stop or take profit is hit.

I would like to have it trade only once on per 4 hour bar if the entry signal is met. Instead of re-entering again multiple times on the same bar after each exit.

Thanks in advance.

Just set a last bar timestamp, and only check for trades if the current timestamp is greater than the last bar timestamp.

EXAMPLE...

Use on 4 Hour Euro/US

But needs to be coded so that only one trade per 4 hour bar is initiated...

***********************************************************

extern double Lots=0.1;
extern double Profit = 100.0;
extern double Stop = 20.0;


//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
{
//----

//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
{
//----

//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
{

//----
double sar = iSAR(NULL,0,0.01,0.1,0);

psaroveropen(sar,Open[0]);
psarunderopen(sar,Open[0]);
//Print("SAR: ", sar, "Open: ", Open[0]);
//----


return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int psaroveropen(double sar, double open){

static int countersell = 24;


if (sar > open){
if (countersell > 0){
countersell--;
}
if (countersell == 0 && OrdersTotal() < 1){

OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,3,Bid+Stop*Point,Bid-Profit*Point,
"My EA",12345,0,Green);
}
}else
{
countersell = 24;
}
return(0);

}

int psarunderopen(double sar, double open){

static int counterbuy = 24;


if (sar < open){
if (counterbuy > 0){
counterbuy--;
}
if (counterbuy == 0 && OrdersTotal() < 1){
OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask, 3,Ask-Stop*Point,Ask+Profit*Point,
"My EA",12345,0,Green);
}
}else
{
counterbuy = 24;
}
return(0);

}


************************************************

Can you elaborate on this?

It needs to take only one trade per 4 hour bar period. Which would include any closed trades within the same current 4 hour bar. If there was an earlier closed trade on the current bar, then there can be no trade until the opening of the next bar.

I included a sample EA where it is trading multiple times on the same bar and I would like to filter it to one trade per 4 hour bar assuming the entry signal parameter is met.

Is there a simple code snippet that I can use for all ea's?

Thanks in advance.

Well there's not much to it...


Exactly as you'd expect. Define a timeframe, init the var, then check to see if the bar is the same as the last check... if it is, return back. Otehrwise set the new bar stamp and go forward.

This is what I put in and it still generates more than one trade per 4 hour bar including closed trades. What am I doing wrong here...


***

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| SR.mq4 |
//| |
//| |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

extern double Lots=0.1;
extern double Profit = 100.0;
extern double Stop = 20.0;
extern int TradePer = 60;


//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function |

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

int init()

{
//----

//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
{
//----

//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+


int start()
{


datetime last_bar;

if (iTime(Symbol(), TradePer, 1) == last_bar) {
return(0);
}
else {
last_bar = iTime(Symbol(), TradePer, 1);
}



//----
double sar = iSAR(NULL,0,0.01,0.1,0);

psaroveropen(sar,Open[0]);
psarunderopen(sar,Open[0]);
//Print("SAR: ", sar, "Open: ", Open[0]);
//----




return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+



int psaroveropen(double sar, double open){

static int countersell = 24;


if (sar > open){
if (countersell > 0){
countersell--;
}
if (countersell == 0 && OrdersTotal() < 1){

OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_SELL,Lots,Bid,3,Bid+Stop*Point,Bid-Profit*Point,
"My EA",12345,0,Green);
}
}else
{
countersell = 24;
}
return(0);

}

int psarunderopen(double sar, double open){

static int counterbuy = 24;


if (sar < open){
if (counterbuy > 0){
counterbuy--;
}
if (counterbuy == 0 && OrdersTotal() < 1){
OrderSend(Symbol(),OP_BUY,Lots,Ask, 3,Ask-Stop*Point,Ask+Profit*Point,
"My EA",12345,0,Green);
}
}else
{
counterbuy = 24;
}
return(0);

}

For starters you want to put the datetime init outside of start().

Put it right below the externs.

Here's what I do, make sure that the code is in the same place relative to the init() and start()

Thanks Rabid and Ronald!