Emulate the "Expert Advisor" button click | Forex Factory

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Emulate the "Expert Advisor" button click

  • #1
  • First Post: Nov 10, 2010 10:53am Nov 10, 2010 10:53am
Is it possible to emulate via MQL (or via PostMessageA ) the click on the Metatrader "Expert Advisor" toolbar button?

I haven't found anything about it.
The basic idea is to freeze-on-event every running EA with minimal changes on a single EA.


Any suggestion is welcomed.
  • #2
  • Nov 10, 2010 11:21am Nov 10, 2010 11:21am
Nope. Use a GlobalVariable flag (if all EA's are on the same MT4) or (very nasty) the windows services to write to a common location that the EA's can check to turn themselves [off/on].
  • #3
  • Nov 10, 2010 12:26pm Nov 10, 2010 12:26pm
Quoting Daltanious
Is it possible to emulate via MQL (or via PostMessageA ) the click on the Metatrader "Expert Advisor" toolbar button?

I haven't found anything about it.
The basic idea is to freeze-on-event every running EA with minimal changes on a single EA.


Any suggestion is welcomed.
Sure you can send CTRL+E to the MetaTrader from you MQL4 code.
I'll try to write an example when I got the time.
Stop asking ChatGPT for broken MQL code. VisualMQL it instead.
  • #4
  • Nov 10, 2010 1:11pm Nov 10, 2010 1:11pm
Quoting CodersGuru
Sure you can send CTRL+E to the MetaTrader from you MQL4 code.
I'll try to write an example when I got the time.
Yea, but how do you cut the EA back 'ON' if you use this solution since all EA's will shutoff. (Unless this is what you wanted - A Global OFF switch) - Alternate methods would allow you to suspend operation and resume at will.
  • #5
  • Edited 4:39pm Nov 10, 2010 4:03pm | Edited 4:39pm
Quoting CodersGuru
Sure you can send CTRL+E to the MetaTrader from you MQL4 code.
I'll try to write an example when I got the time.
Nice idea, thanks a lot for the suggestion!
Googling a bit I found this code... and it works:

Inserted Code
#include <WinUser32.mqh>

// Emulate the CTRL-E keystroke
void DisableAllEA() {
   keybd_event(17, 0, 0, 0); // CTRL down
   keybd_event(69, 0, 0, 0); // E down
   keybd_event(69, 0, 2, 0); // E up
   keybd_event(17, 0, 2, 0); // CTRL up
}

In this way we can easily emulate any other keystroke just changing key codes.


Quoting Aja
Yea, but how do you cut the EA back 'ON' if you use this solution since all EA's will shutoff. (Unless this is what you wanted - A Global OFF switch) - Alternate methods would allow you to suspend operation and resume at will.
The CTRL-E keystroke is exactly what I need because I want a global OFF switch. The alternate mode is better but the global OFF switch works without any changes in other EAs.

Thanks anyway.
  • #6
  • Nov 11, 2010 9:47am Nov 11, 2010 9:47am
you can try to use spy++ to find the button ID and then use PostMessageA() to press the button (also you might have to find the handle to the main window by getting the parent window of the chart window).

I have done a similar thing to make an EA that can press the pause button in a visual backtest and it worked like a charm (I have posted this somewhere on the mql4.com forum but I am too lazy to search for it now).
  • #7
  • Nov 11, 2010 9:51am Nov 11, 2010 9:51am
Quoting Aja
Nope
He did not ask whether YOU know how it is done, he wanted to know whether it is possible.
  • #8
  • Nov 11, 2010 10:48am Nov 11, 2010 10:48am
Quoting 7bit
He did not ask whether YOU know how it is done, he wanted to know whether it is possible.
The question had obviously been answered to his satisfaction - so why the jib jab? (Sheeesh... - You wrote an answer then had to add ANOTHER post just to say that!?)
  • #9
  • Last Post: Nov 12, 2010 3:34am Nov 12, 2010 3:34am
Quoting 7bit
you can try to use spy++ to find the button ID and then use PostMessageA() to press the button (also you might have to find the handle to the main window by getting the parent window of the chart window).

I have done a similar thing to make an EA that can press the pause button in a visual backtest and it worked like a charm (I have posted this somewhere on the mql4.com forum but I am too lazy to search for it now).
Thanks for this additional tip.

I will keep it in my mind for future implementations.
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