Visual Traders Studio for MetaTrader FAQ
|
Visual Traders Studio for MetaTrader System Requirements
What is an Element?
What is a Link?
What is the Tools Configuration Folder used for?
What is an Expert Advisor?
EA Specifics
How do I delete a link or element?
How come I don't see my new variable available from the Logic pulldown menu?
Can variables be set to MQL built in variables like close[0], close[1]
What is the "Failed to compare two elements in the array" error?
Vista and Windows 7 permission problems
Can a StopLoss or TakeProfit be set to an indicator value?
How do I get started?
How to contact us
Why can't I see my custom indicator?
Windows 7 Access
The MQL Shift Parameter used in almost all indicators.
The MQL Point variable
Q: Visual Traders Studio for MetaTrader System Requirements What are the system requirements for VTS? A: The system requirements for VTS are the same as the MetaTrader platform, so if you can run MetaTrader than you can run VTS.    Q: What is an Element? What is an Element? A: An Element is a basic building block on a VTS drawing. There are 6 basic Elements types: Start Element Note Element Variable Element Logic Element Function Element End Element These are used to build all VTS systems. The VTS system then generates a MetaTrader Expert Advisor.  Q: What is a Link? What is a Link? A: A Link is a line drawn between two Elements on the VTS drawing pad. A Link is drawn simply by clicking a mouse and dragging from one element to another. The Link determines the path of the system's logical execution. The Link will ultimately define the order of execution in the Expert Advisor. Q: What is the Tools Configuration Folder used for? What is the Tools Configuration Folder used for? A: The Tools Configuration Folder is used by VTS to find the path to the MetaTrader platform. VTS first converts a VTS drawing into Intermediate Trading Langauge (IDL) and then converts the IDL into proper MQL code. VTS then uses the MetaTrader platforms tools to compile the MQL code into an Expert Advisor. Q: What is an Expert Advisor? What is an Expert Advisor? A: An Expert Advisor is a mechanical trading system that runs on the MetaTrader platform. Q: EA Specifics More information about MetaTrader Expert Advisors ... A: An Expert Advisor is built by creating an MQL file, with an extension of mq4, and then compiling the MQL file into Expert Advisor code. The extension of the Expert Advisor file is ex4. If the Alpari version of MetaTrader was installed on your PC, the folder “C:\Program Files\ MetaTrader - Alpari UK\experts” will contain both mq4 and ex4 files. The mq4 file is a human readable file. If you double click an mq4 file, the “MetaEditor” application will start and load the mq4 file. The MetaEditor application is part of the MetaTrader platform. It is automatically installed when the MetaTrader platform is installed. The “MetaEditor” application is used to edit MQL code. It has many useful features found in most code editors, including intellisense, context help and an online library. While editing an mq4 file from within the MetaEditor, an Expert Advisor is built by clicking the “Compile” button. If there are no syntax errors, the MetaEditor application will build the ex4 file. The ex4 file is not a human readable file. It is binary code interpreted by the MetaTrader platform. So the by compiling the mq4 file, you are converting the MQL language, which is human readable text, into a binary file that can be read by a machine. When the MetaTrader platform is started, any ex4 files in the “experts” folders are shown to be available under the “Expert Advisors” folder from the Navigator window. The VTS application converts its drawings into MQL code. VTS automatically creates an mq4 file and places it in the MetaTrader platform’s “experts” directory. The mq4 file is then compiled into an ex4 file using the MetaEditor application. Both the MetaEditor and Terminal applications can be run from within VTS when VTS is configured correctly. Q: How do I delete a link or element? How do I delete a link or element? A: Just select it and use the "delete" key on your keyboard. Q: How come I don't see my new variable available from the Logic pulldown menu? How come I don't see my new variable available from the Logic pulldown menu? A: Variables and functions will not be available on menus until they are saved. You can save the item, or build the System (this will force a save). Q: Can variables be set to MQL built in variables like close[0], close[1] Can variables be set to MQL built in variables like close[0], close[1] A: Yes, go to the assigment tab of the variable and double click "enter a value" and put in the code For eaxmple: close[0] or even complex assignments, such as: open[0] - close[0] Q: What is the "Failed to compare two elements in the array" error? What is the "Failed to compare two elements in the array" error? A: To solve the problem, you just need to delete some files in the "data\systems" folder. The VTS data\systems folder is usually: C:\Program Files\iExpertAdvisor\Visual Trader Studio for MetaTrader\Data\Systems In this folder, there is a folder for each system. And in that folder there should be a single file (*.se) by the same name as the folder. Somehow, sometimes there are extra files in these folders which need to be deleted: For example, there should only be one file in the folder, with the same name as folder with an extension of *.se. Any other files should be deleted. We are addressing this bug in the next release. We realize this is a pain, if you'd like, you can zip up your whole data folder, send it to us and We'll fix it for you and send it back. Q: Vista and Windows 7 permission problems If you are having strange problems like your settings are not saved and EAs are not built, check the permission of the VTS installation folder. A: Make sure you can write to the folder where VTS was installed. VTS needs to write to this folder in order to run properly. Depending on the User Id that was used to install VTS and create the "Program Files" folder, some users have reported problems writing to the folder where VTS was installed. The default installation folder for VTS is: C:\Program Files\iExpertAdvisor You may have changed this folder when installing VTS, if so, apply these directions to the folder when you chose to install VTS. Please follow these directions to change the ownership and permissions of a windows folder: http://www.vista4beginners.com/Change-permissions-take-ownership Q: Can a StopLoss or TakeProfit be set to an indicator value? Can a StopLoss or TakeProfit be set to an indicator value? A: Yes, but it's not that easy (I will make it easier in a future release) Here are the steps: Suppose you want to use the ATR as a stoploss value: 1. From the function toolbox, drag the iAtr indicator on to the chart and configure it the way you like. 2. From the variables toolbox, drag the takeprofit variable on to the pad. 3. In the Properties window to the right, change the "Read Only" property of the takeprofit variable to False (You need to select the element to have its properties shown in the property window) 4. Configure the takeprofit variable by clicking the +. Change the scope type from extern to system. 5. Now you can use the assignment to tab to set any value in the takeprofit variable. 6. You could use the "variable" menu in the assigment tab to set the name of the variable for your Atr function, for example: _variAtr But, in this case, this number would be the wrong magnitude! takeprofit is a integer value like 20, or 200 iAtr is a price value like 0.0020 So, we need to divide the iAtr value by the MQL builtin function Point. This is what goes into the assignment for the takeprofit variable: _variAtr/Point See, not very easy. I'll make it "drag n' drop" easy in a future release ;) Q: How do I get started? How do I get started? A: It's so easy to build an EA with VTS that many traders don't realize they have already done it. The easiest way to get started is to choose a QuickStart system. Press the build button after opening and you've built an EA. If you selected a strategy template it is a function EA. If you selected a QuickStart EA, it has no "guts". the logic to open/close buy/sell orders is not defined. The Help File details the entire process: 1. Go to Help -> Getting Started 2. Expand the Getting Started menu 3. Follow the directions if the "Building Your First Trading System" menu. Q: How to contact us How do I contact your company A: The best way to contact us is through email at: support@iExpertAdvisor.com Q: Why can't I see my custom indicator? Why can't I see my custom indicators? A: You need to set the tool configuration folder and then restart VTS. Then your customs indicators will be available from the functions section. VTS searches the experts\indicators folder to find any custom indicators loaded for your MetaTrader platform. T Q: Windows 7 Access How do I set the correct permissions in Windows 7? A: Sincere thanks to Josh M. for these steps! Steps: 1) Open up setup and download VTS 2) After installation left click on VTS icon 3) Click properties 4) Click compatibility 5) Click on change settings for all users 6) Click on the tick for – run this program as administrator under privilege level 7) Click apply 8) Make sure that under compatibility you see that the above mentioned is ticked and greyed out 9) Click apply 10) Click ok 11) Bingo Q: The MQL Shift Parameter used in almost all indicators. What is the Shift Parameter? A: The shift parameter is used to identify a candle (or bar). Where shift=0 (zero) is the currently forming bar on the chart and shift=1 is the bar to the left, etc. Most users set the shift as 0 to get the latest, or most current value of the indicator. But when testing for a cross condition, the shift values of 0 and 1 are used to test for the cross. Q: The MQL Point variable What is the MQL built-in variable Point used for? A: Point is used to take a integer number and make it the same magnitude as one price tick, or point, on a chart. For example, if your integer value is 10, you multiply 10 times Point to get a value like 0.0010. This value can now be used for comparison against other price and indicators values. |
