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Updating EA Before Next Tick

  • #1
  • First Post: Edited Mar 19, 2010 2:27am Mar 12, 2010 7:18am | Edited Mar 19, 2010 2:27am
I have a question. Is it possible to update an EA internally before the next tick or, possibly from some other source?

I'm asking because I've created an EA to monitor more than one chart and, based upon the overall profit and the target I set, it will close all orders at that point.

The problem is I have to select a chart to put it on, specific to a certain pair, that is, which is only updated (erratically) by tick for that pair. While all other pairs are updated at different times according to their tick. So, there is nothing synchronous about it and it's not very accurate.

The EA still works but, at the very least (if possible), I would like to have it refresh on a consistent basis. And, if that's possible, dare I ask, I would like to know if it's possible to close and/or delete orders before the next tick? It's easy enough to do manually, I was just wondering if it could be done from the EA itself.

Thanks in advance!

ETA: #1 Have attached copy of EA for anyone who is interested. I give details on how to use it in post 9.

ETA: #2 Added most current version that includes "auto-refresh." Requires both files. I give details of the "script" version in post 43.
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Profit_Monitor_V1.1T.mq4   5 KB | 319 downloads | Uploaded Mar 19, 2010 1:02am
File Type: mq4 PM_Script_V1.1T.mq4   5 KB | 372 downloads | Uploaded Mar 19, 2010 1:02am
  • #2
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:30am Mar 12, 2010 7:30am
Ignore the start() function completely.

What the code is doing is it checks for a new tick every 100 miliseconds. You could have the EA do other things and remove the "RefreshTicks" function if you're using some other function.

So in the code...


init()
{
MotherFunction();
}

void MotherFunction()
{
while(1==1)
{
if(RefreshTicks)
{
DaughterFunction();
}
else
{
Sleep(100);
}
}
}

void DaughterFunction()
{
//put the start function's contents in here
}
  • #3
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:59am Mar 12, 2010 7:59am
You make it sound easy enough. Will that code work pretty much the way it's shown? And what do you mean by putting start function contents in "void DaughterFunction()?" That's the whole rest of the EA isn't it? Or, are you just replacing "int start()" line with "void DaughterFunction()" line?

Thanks.
  • #4
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:22am Mar 12, 2010 8:22am
Okay, I added the code and tried compiling it, but I'm getting an error message saying "RefreshTicks" variable not defined. Am I missing something here?
  • #5
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:28am Mar 12, 2010 8:28am
should be RefreshTicks()
  • #6
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:32am Mar 12, 2010 8:32am
Do you mean if(RefreshTicks()) ...?

Nope, I tried that and it doesn't work ...

So, basically everything except for the MotherFunction(); which goes in init (), is supposed to replace the start() function, correct?
  • #7
  • Mar 12, 2010 10:05am Mar 12, 2010 10:05am
Pretty much.

All you're doing is replacing the start function with a different function (daughter function) and having the init function call the mother function which in turn calls the daughter function in perpetuity.
  • #8
  • Mar 12, 2010 10:32am Mar 12, 2010 10:32am
Okay. However, I'm still getting the 'RefreshTicks variable not defined' ...???

This is where I added the code:

PHP Code
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
  {
//----
   CAS=Close_All_Set_0_1; CAN=Close_All_Now_0_1;  MNF=Magic_Number_First; MNL=Magic_Number_Last;
   MN1=Magic_Number_1; MN2=Magic_Number_2; MN3=Magic_Number_3; MN4=Magic_Number_4; MN5=Magic_Number_5;
   MN6=Magic_Number_6; MN7=Magic_Number_7; MN8=Magic_Number_8; MN9=Magic_Number_9; MN10=Magic_Number_10;
//----
   if(CAN==1){ CL_now="Yes"; } P_set="No"; if(CAS==1){ P_set="Yes"; }
//----
   MotherFunction();
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
  {
//----
   
//----
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void MotherFunction()
{
while(1==1)
{
if(RefreshTicks)
{
DaughterFunction();
}
else
{
Sleep(100);
}
}
}

void DaughterFunction() // Start function was here ...
  {
//----
  • #9
  • Edited 5:53pm Mar 12, 2010 5:34pm | Edited 5:53pm
Here is a copy of the EA if anyone is interested. Basically it allows you to set a profit target and close all orders (open and pending) by magic number. You also have the option to select the magic number by range (x 2) or input up to ten magic numbers separately.

In order to start, after entering the magic numbers, you first enter the price you would like to close, at and set Close_All_Set to "1." If you set it to "0" it will shut it off.

There's also a Close_All_Now feature, which allows you to close all open and pending orders at any time, plus the Suspend feature, which will suspend trading and delete all pending trades.

Also, if you add this global to init() of an EA ...

PHP Code
if(!GlobalVariableCheck("Suspend_Trades")){ GlobalVariableSet("Suspend_Trades",0); }
... and call it up in start() ...

PHP Code
int SPD=GlobalVariableGet("Suspend_Trades"); Suspend="no"; if(SPD==1){ Suspend="Yes"; }
... and set "if(SPD==1)" as a condition for opening new trades, it will suspend all trading wherever it is applied to EA. And it will remain suspended until it is reset by Profit Monitor EA or, Profit Monitor EA is closed out.

Of course I've since modified it since trading closed two or three hours ago, so I can't guarantee it will work. I won't know for certain until trading reopens. Okay?

Oh, have also attached EA to the original post.

Thanks.
Attached File(s)
File Type: mq4 Profit_Monitor.mq4   5 KB | 287 downloads
  • #10
  • Edited 6:59pm Mar 12, 2010 6:40pm | Edited 6:59pm
Quoting Ronald Raygun
int init()
{
MotherFunction();
}
You should not do it in init(). This is explicitly stated in the mql4 manual, MT4 relies on the fact that init() will return fast. Instead the manual suggests to call such never-ending functions only in start. This will start the mechanism on the first tick. It is always a good idea to use the officially documented way if there is one. init() and deinit() may have timeouts, deinit() for example definitely has a timeout of 2 seconds and init() may be forcefully terminated when another(!) EA is recompiled!

start() is the only place where this is explicitly allowed. start() is guaranteed to never be interrupted.

Inserted Code
int init(){
}

int start(){
   MotherFunction();
}

void MotherFunction(){
   while(true){
      RefreshRates();

      // do your stuff here

      Sleep(100);
   }
}
  • #11
  • Mar 12, 2010 6:54pm Mar 12, 2010 6:54pm
So, will that code work? It looks like it will. Or at least I'll give it a try. Of course I won't really know until trading opens again ...

Oh, if it refreshes every second or whatever, does that mean I can close out trades before the next tick? (from the chart).
  • #12
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:03pm Mar 12, 2010 7:03pm
Quoting ecTrade
So, will that code work?
The code will work if you call MotherFunction() from start() and not from init(). init() may be forcefully interrupted by Metatrader at any time. init() must immediately return.

Sleep(100) means 100 milli seconds, not one second. 100 milli seconds should be ok. You can do any trading actions independently from any ticks at any time.

And one thing i forgot: Never do this while(true){sleep()} thing in indicators, only in EAs and scripts. In an indicator you will freeze MT4 completely and have to kill it because indicators run in the main GUI thread while EAs and scripts each have their own threads.
  • #13
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:10pm Mar 12, 2010 7:10pm
Quoting 7bit
The code will work if you call MotherFunction() from start() and not from init(). init() may be forcefully interrupted by Metatrader at any time. init() must immediately return.
The init() variables and/or functions are also loaded only one time, that is, until it's reset, correct?

Quote
Sleep(100) means 100 milli seconds, not one second. 100 milli seconds should be ok. You can do any trading actions independently from any ticks at any time.
Cool! It will be interesting to see how it works come Sunday.
  • #14
  • Edited 7:25pm Mar 12, 2010 7:14pm | Edited 7:25pm
Quoting ecTrade
The init() variables and/or functions are also loaded only one time, that is, until it's reset, correct?
Yes, it is only run one time. and if for some reason metatrader terminates the init() call after a while (i have had this problem) your EA will silently stop doing anything without ever being restarted.

If for any reason the start() function gets interrupted it will be called again with the next tick and the infinite loop can continue.

You might have problems with the start() function on weekends because there are no ticks and it wont be called at all, so for debugging you can place the call in init() (although you might not have to trade and debug much on weekends) but be sure to move the call back into the start() function when the EA is ready for production.
  • #15
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:27pm Mar 12, 2010 7:27pm
Quoting 7bit
You can do any trading actions independently from any ticks at any time.
You mean within the 100 millisecond time frame, right? It's sure a lot better than having to wait five or ten minutes sometimes! Even if you're off by a few seconds (with ticks on another chart) it could potentially mess you up.
  • #16
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:32pm Mar 12, 2010 7:32pm
Quoting ecTrade
You mean within the 100 millisecond time frame, right?
the while loop will refresh the rates and do its actions and then it sleeps 100ms. This means its looping and checking your trading signals 10 times a second. Anything faster would not make much sense because the network is slower and even 100ms might be too fast already.
  • #17
  • Mar 12, 2010 7:40pm Mar 12, 2010 7:40pm
Yeah, that sounds like it should be fine.

As for testing it on the weekend, I think all I need is to display something in the comments field, to show that it's actually generating a signal. That's about all can do for now, although I don't think anything else is necessary. At least it will give me a chance to work with and play around with the code.
  • #18
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:14pm Mar 12, 2010 8:14pm
Is there any way I can somehow call the start function during the weekends? I have a small set of self-optimizing EAs which are running just fine inside the init() function. If what you say about the init timeout is true, how can I get the EA to call the start function again if--for some reason--the terminal resets? When you put the long function in the init() function, at least the long function will restart when the terminal is reset.
  • #19
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:19pm Mar 12, 2010 8:19pm
Ron, move the EA to the scripts folder, it will run when activated even on weekends.
  • #20
  • Mar 12, 2010 8:31pm Mar 12, 2010 8:31pm
Quoting 7bit
You might have problems with the start() function on weekends because there are no ticks and it wont be called at all, so for debugging you can place the call in init() (although you might not have to trade and debug much on weekends) but be sure to move the call back into the start() function when the EA is ready for production.
So, do I just put the MotherFunction() in init() and leave the start() function empty?

Inserted Code
int init(){
}

int start(){
   MotherFunction();
}

void MotherFunction(){
   while(true){
      RefreshRates();

      // do your stuff here

      Sleep(100);
   }
}
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