Invalid Stops when placing an order | Forex Factory

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Invalid Stops when placing an order

  • #1
  • First Post: Sep 11, 2015 8:37am Sep 11, 2015 8:37am
Please, please help me.

I'm getting an invalid stops error (130) when trying to place an order with a demo account on IC Markets using an EA.

In the example below I'm trying to place a OP_BUYSTOP for AUDJPY @ 85.105 with a SL of 85.005 (10 pips) and a TP of 85.155 (5 pips) but the same thing happens when I use a SL/TP of 20/20 pips.

I've tried to include as much info as I can on the screen print. I'm sure I'm doing something stupid but I just can't see it.
Attached Image (click to enlarge)
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  • #2
  • Sep 11, 2015 9:01am Sep 11, 2015 9:01am
Try to normalize each value with the correct digits.

Also be sure your broker allow to place TP/SL at the same time than the order. ECN brokers don't ...
MT4/MT5 EAs/Indicators/Alerts coder
  • #3
  • Sep 11, 2015 10:13am Sep 11, 2015 10:13am
Quoting FerruFx
Also be sure your broker allow to place TP/SL at the same time than the order. ECN brokers don't ...
Which is probably his problem.

However: If you have to set the TP/SL in a separate request you may want to check the actual price your order was filled to calculate in any slippage, otherwise you might end up with a trade that has actually a lower SL or TP as you had planned.
Setting SL/TP in the same request is only possible when using instant orders, this order type doesn't have any slippage, it gives you a requote to handle that underlying problem. Market orders (as used by the so called ECN brokers) might have slippage hence it doesn't make much sense to set a TP/SL within the same request as it is possibly calculated using a wrong price.
  • #4
  • Sep 12, 2015 10:57am Sep 12, 2015 10:57am
I have the same problem with IG MT4, but, my EAs work on fxcm MT4.

IG may limit its MT4 platform. I email to IG. But, no response. So, I don't use IG.
IG limit stop loss on large gap in order for you to loss.
  • #5
  • Sep 14, 2015 12:48am Sep 14, 2015 12:48am
Quoting FerruFx
Try to normalize each value with the correct digits. Also be sure your broker allow to place TP/SL at the same time than the order. ECN brokers don't ...
I am using an ECN broker.

That's one of the strange things, the EA I'm working on places about 100 orders per 24 hour period. Most of them go through OK without any issues. It's just the odd one that fails. And it's not currency specific.

I think I will take your suggestion and place the order with no SL or TP and then amend the order.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'd not thought of that.
  • #6
  • Sep 14, 2015 12:49am Sep 14, 2015 12:49am
Quoting Jack168
I have the same problem with IG MT4, but, my EAs work on fxcm MT4. IG may limit its MT4 platform. I email to IG. But, no response. So, I don't use IG. IG limit stop loss on large gap in order for you to loss.
Yes, I don't use IG Index for the same reason, the minumum SL to too high.
  • #7
  • Last Post: Edited 7:48am Apr 16, 2016 7:20am | Edited 7:48am
Quoting BigOldFella
Please, please help me. I'm getting an invalid stops error (130) when trying to place an order with a demo account on IC Markets using an EA. In the example below I'm trying to place a OP_BUYSTOP for AUDJPY @ 85.105 with a SL of 85.005 (10 pips) and a TP of 85.155 (5 pips) but the same thing happens when I use a SL/TP of 20/20 pips. I've tried to include as much info as I can on the screen print. I'm sure I'm doing something stupid but I just can't see it. {image}

  1. First of all stop using old and not reliable function MarketInfo(Symbol(), MODE_BID) for getting Bid/Ask prices. Switch to using SymbolInfoTick() function in pare with MqlTick structure. It will reduce number of operations as gets several values at the same request and more reliable.
  2. As already told FerruFx you have to normalize ALL prices for OrderSend(...) function. For example:

Inserted Code
RefreshRates();
MqlTick stTick;
for(int i=0; i<28; i++) {
if (SymbolInfoTick(PairInfo[i].sy,stTick)==True) {
PairInfo[i].bid=stTick.bid;
PairInfo[i].ask=stTick.ask;
}
...
double OrderOpenPrice;
double SL, TP;
double Point=MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_POINT);
if (Oper=OP_BUY) {
OrderOpenPrice=NormalizeDouble(Pair Info[i].ask,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
TP=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask+TP*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
SL=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask-SL*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
}
else if (Oper=OP_SELL) {
OrderOpenPrice=NormalizeDouble(Pair Info[i].bid,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
TP=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask+TP*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
SL=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask-SL*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
}
...
OrderSend(PairInfo[i].sy, Oper, SL, TP, ....);

RefreshRates();
MqlTick stTick;
for(int i=0; i<28; i++) {
if (SymbolInfoTick(PairInfo[i].sy,stTick)==True) {
PairInfo[i].bid=stTick.bid;
PairInfo[i].ask=stTick.ask;
}
...
double OrderOpenPrice;
double SL, TP;
double Point=MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_POINT);
if (Oper=OP_BUY) {
OrderOpenPrice=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
TP=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask+TP*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
SL=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask-SL*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
}
else if (Oper=OP_SELL) {
OrderOpenPrice=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].bid,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
TP=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask+TP*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
SL=NormalizeDouble(PairInfo[i].ask-SL*Point,MarketInfo(PairInfo[i].sy,MODE_DIGITS));
}
...
OrderSend(PairInfo[i].sy, Oper, SL, TP, ....);

Keep in mind ALL PRICES have to be normalized! Even if you've got them from server.
You may make calculation with non-normalized prices but prices used in OrderSend function must be normalized.

​3. The above example do not enclude Stop Level and Freeze Levels check. But it is also highly important that these levels have to be checked also before placing market or pending order. Read about them here: https://book.mql4.com/appendix/limits

4. ECN/STP broker or brokers who have ECN/STP account do not allow to place market or pending orders with non-zero SL/TP values. You have first to send the order with zero SL&TP values and the next step modify SL&TP with the values you need.

These all together will help to avoid error 130 (Invalid Stops) in 95% of cases.
BR, alex
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