How do I use Fractals in my EA?

Hi,

What is the code to detect if an upper or lower fractal has just emerged in the previous bar?

This will give you the barshift (i for up-fractal and j for down-fractal) and the price of the fractal (upFractal and downFractal) to the most recent up or down fractal:

I'm not sure this is exactly what you were looking for, but it might get you started at least

I thought fractals would appear in shift 2

I tried using fractals as an exit strategy in my ea but it is not working correctly.

I tried coding the EA to Exit BUY when an Upper Fractal has appeared two shifts away, and to Exit SELL when a Lower Fractal has appeared two shifts away.

But the problem is that it doesn't seem to be exiting the trade properly.

Here is the code:

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| This MQL is generated by Expert Advisor Builder |
//| http://sufx.core.t3-ism.net/ExpertAdvisorBuilder/ |
//| |
//| In no event will author be liable for any damages whatsoever. |
//| Use at your own risk. |
//| |
//+------------------- DO NOT REMOVE THIS HEADER --------------------+

#define SIGNAL_NONE 0
#define SIGNAL_BUY 1
#define SIGNAL_SELL 2
#define SIGNAL_CLOSEBUY 3
#define SIGNAL_CLOSESELL 4

#property copyright "Expert Advisor Builder"
#property link "http://sufx.core.t3-ism.net/ExpertAdvisorBuilder/"

extern int MagicNumber = 0;
extern bool SignalMail = False;
extern bool EachTickMode = True;
extern double Lots = 1.0;
extern int Slippage = 30;
extern bool UseStopLoss = False;
extern int StopLoss = 30;
extern bool UseTakeProfit = False;
extern int TakeProfit = 60;
extern bool UseTrailingStop = False;
extern int TrailingStop = 30;

int BarCount;
int Current;
bool TickCheck = False;

bool buyFlag = false, sellFlag = false;
datetime barStart = 0;

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init() {
BarCount = Bars;

if (EachTickMode) Current = 0; else Current = 1;

return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit() {
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start() {
int Order = SIGNAL_NONE;
int Total, Ticket;
double StopLossLevel, TakeProfitLevel;



if (EachTickMode && Bars != BarCount) TickCheck = False;
Total = OrdersTotal();
Order = SIGNAL_NONE;

if (barStart < Time[0]) //start of new bar
{
barStart = Time[0];
buyFlag = false;
sellFlag = false;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Variable Begin |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+


double Upper0 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_UPPER, Current + 0);
double Upper1 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_UPPER, Current + 1);
double Lower0 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_LOWER, Current + 0);
double Lower1 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_LOWER, Current + 1);
double Middle1 = iMA(NULL, 0, 20, 0, MODE_SMA, PRICE_CLOSE, Current + 1);

double Upper2 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_UPPER, Current + 2);
double Lower2 = iBands(NULL, 0, 20, 2, 0, PRICE_CLOSE, MODE_LOWER, Current + 2);
double Open2 = iOpen(NULL, 0, Current + 2);
double Close2 = iClose(NULL, 0, Current + 2);
double Low2 = iLow(NULL, 0, Current + 2);
double High2 = iHigh(NULL, 0, Current + 2);

double Open1 = iOpen(NULL, 0, Current + 1);
double Close1 = iClose(NULL, 0, Current + 1);
double Low1 = iLow(NULL, 0, Current + 1);
double High1 = iHigh(NULL, 0, Current + 1);
double Close0 = iClose(NULL, 0, Current + 0);

double FractalsUpper = iFractals(NULL, 0, MODE_UPPER, Current + 2);
double FractalsLower = iFractals(NULL, 0, MODE_LOWER, Current + 2);

//Buy
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 > Open1 && High1 > Upper1
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close0 > Upper0
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 > Open1 && High1 > Upper1 && Close2 > Open2 && High2 > Upper2

//Sell
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 < Open1 && Low1 < Lower1
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close0 < Lower0
//Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 < Open1 && Low1 < Lower1 && Close2 < Open2 && Low2 < Lower2

//Exit Buy
//(Close1 < Middle1) || (Close0 < Low1 && OrderProfit() < 0)

//Exit Sell
//
//(Close1 > Middle 1) || (Close0 > High1 && OrderProfit() < 0)

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Variable End |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//Check position
bool IsTrade = False;

for (int i = 0; i < Total; i ++) {
OrderSelect(i, SELECT_BY_POS, MODE_TRADES);
if(OrderType() <= OP_SELL && OrderSymbol() == Symbol()) {
IsTrade = True;
if(OrderType() == OP_BUY) {
//Close

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal Begin(Exit Buy) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

if (buyFlag == false && Close1 < Middle1)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSEBUY;
}

if (buyFlag == false && Close0 < Low1 && OrderProfit() < 0)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSEBUY;
}

if (buyFlag == false && FractalsUpper > Low2)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSEBUY;
}


//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal End(Exit Buy) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

if (Order == SIGNAL_CLOSEBUY && ((EachTickMode && !TickCheck) || (!EachTickMode && (Bars != BarCount)))) {
OrderClose(OrderTicket(), OrderLots(), Bid, Slippage, MediumSeaGreen);
if (SignalMail) SendMail("[Signal Alert]", "[" + Symbol() + "] " + DoubleToStr(Bid, Digits) + " Close Buy");
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
IsTrade = False;
continue;
}
//Trailing stop
if(UseTrailingStop && TrailingStop > 0) {
if(Bid - OrderOpenPrice() > Point * TrailingStop) {
if(OrderStopLoss() < Bid - Point * TrailingStop) {
OrderModify(OrderTicket(), OrderOpenPrice(), Bid - Point * TrailingStop, OrderTakeProfit(), 0, MediumSeaGreen);
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
continue;
}
}
}
} else {
//Close

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal Begin(Exit Sell) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

if (sellFlag == false && Close1 > Middle1)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSESELL;
}

if (sellFlag == false && Close0 > High1 && OrderProfit() < 0)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSESELL;
}

if (sellFlag == false && FractalsLower < High2)
{
Order = SIGNAL_CLOSESELL;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal End(Exit Sell) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

if (Order == SIGNAL_CLOSESELL && ((EachTickMode && !TickCheck) || (!EachTickMode && (Bars != BarCount)))) {
OrderClose(OrderTicket(), OrderLots(), Ask, Slippage, DarkOrange);
if (SignalMail) SendMail("[Signal Alert]", "[" + Symbol() + "] " + DoubleToStr(Ask, Digits) + " Close Sell");
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
IsTrade = False;
continue;
}
//Trailing stop
if(UseTrailingStop && TrailingStop > 0) {
if((OrderOpenPrice() - Ask) > (Point * TrailingStop)) {
if((OrderStopLoss() > (Ask + Point * TrailingStop)) || (OrderStopLoss() == 0)) {
OrderModify(OrderTicket(), OrderOpenPrice(), Ask + Point * TrailingStop, OrderTakeProfit(), 0, DarkOrange);
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
continue;
}
}
}
}
}
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal Begin(Entry) |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

if (Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 > Open1 && High1 > Upper1 && Close2 > Open2 && Close2 > Upper2)
{
Order = SIGNAL_BUY;
buyFlag = true;
}

if (Upper0 > Upper1 && Lower0 < Lower1 && Close1 < Open1 && Low1 < Lower1 && Close2 < Open2 && Close2 < Lower2)
{
Order = SIGNAL_SELL;
sellFlag = true;
}

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Signal End |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

//Buy
if (Order == SIGNAL_BUY && ((EachTickMode && !TickCheck) || (!EachTickMode && (Bars != BarCount)))) {
if(!IsTrade) {
//Check free margin
if (AccountFreeMargin() < (1000 * Lots)) {
Print("We have no money. Free Margin = ", AccountFreeMargin());
return(0);
}

if (UseStopLoss) StopLossLevel = Ask - StopLoss * Point; else StopLossLevel = 0.0;
if (UseTakeProfit) TakeProfitLevel = Ask + TakeProfit * Point; else TakeProfitLevel = 0.0;

Ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_BUY, Lots, Ask, Slippage, StopLossLevel, TakeProfitLevel, "Buy(#" + MagicNumber + ")", MagicNumber, 0, DodgerBlue);
if(Ticket > 0) {
if (OrderSelect(Ticket, SELECT_BY_TICKET, MODE_TRADES)) {
Print("BUY order opened : ", OrderOpenPrice());
if (SignalMail) SendMail("[Signal Alert]", "[" + Symbol() + "] " + DoubleToStr(Ask, Digits) + " Open Buy");
} else {
Print("Error opening BUY order : ", GetLastError());
}
}
if (EachTickMode) TickCheck = True;
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
return(0);
}
}

//Sell
if (Order == SIGNAL_SELL && ((EachTickMode && !TickCheck) || (!EachTickMode && (Bars != BarCount)))) {
if(!IsTrade) {
//Check free margin
if (AccountFreeMargin() < (1000 * Lots)) {
Print("We have no money. Free Margin = ", AccountFreeMargin());
return(0);
}

if (UseStopLoss) StopLossLevel = Bid + StopLoss * Point; else StopLossLevel = 0.0;
if (UseTakeProfit) TakeProfitLevel = Bid - TakeProfit * Point; else TakeProfitLevel = 0.0;

Ticket = OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_SELL, Lots, Bid, Slippage, StopLossLevel, TakeProfitLevel, "Sell(#" + MagicNumber + ")", MagicNumber, 0, DeepPink);
if(Ticket > 0) {
if (OrderSelect(Ticket, SELECT_BY_TICKET, MODE_TRADES)) {
Print("SELL order opened : ", OrderOpenPrice());
if (SignalMail) SendMail("[Signal Alert]", "[" + Symbol() + "] " + DoubleToStr(Bid, Digits) + " Open Sell");
} else {
Print("Error opening SELL order : ", GetLastError());
}
}
if (EachTickMode) TickCheck = True;
if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;
return(0);
}
}

if (!EachTickMode) BarCount = Bars;

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

The fractal appears in shift 2, but is confirmed only when 2 bars after the fractal has closed which is why I use shift 3

If you want to exit a trade when a fractal appears 2 shifts away, you need to check that there is a fractal on shift 2. I suggest you do this:

1) Remove this from Variable:
2) Replace the current fractal exit buy condition with this:
3) Replace the current fractal exit sell condition with this:

Thanks! It is working correctly now