Forex Trading - View Single Post

droland · #**103** (**permalink**) 07-22-2006, 07:50 PM

thanks for the detailed steps but I am having a problem that I can't figure out.

I run the period_converter exactly as you say below, but the strategy tester does not see the data other than in M1.

Can you give me a step by step after you have used your process below but now using a strategy tester.

Also, If I try to load say an M5 chart offline all I get is "Waiting of Update". It doesn't see the data yet M5 chart show over 100k records.

?????

Dave R.

Quote:

Originally Posted by holyguy7

Step by Step, How to get better Backtesting Results

1. Go download the MT4 Data for the currency pair you want to backtest found HERE. Make sure you download the M1 data. It should give you data for every minute all the way back into 2004 (about 1.5 years of backdata).

2. After you unzip the data on your Hard Drive, you need to import the data into Metatrader 4.

3. Open Metatrader 4 (Launch the program)

4. You need to go to your History Center in Metatrader 4. Hit F2 on your keyboard. Or Click on the top of Metatrader: Tools and choose History Center

5. Open Forex, Open Currency Pair to import and Open M1

6. Click Import and Browse to the location where you unzipped the Data for the currency pair.

7. Make sure File Type is on Metaquotes files. Click Open and OK. Then Close.

8. Now, in the Navigator window on the left side of your Metatrader 4 program, open up Scripts. It should be right below Custom Indicators.

9. Open the chart offline by going to File- Openoffline - SELECT and open the Pair on M1 Timeframe.

10. You should have the M1 Chart (offline) open of the currency pair. You need to Double click on Period Converter script.

10. Click Input tab and you should see the Value as 3. You need to change the value to 5 (M5), 15 (M15), 30 (M30), 60 (H1), 240 (H4), 1440 (D1).

11. Now, click Tools- Options- Charts tab and change the Max Bars in History and Max Bars in Chart to 999999999999 and click OK.

Basically, you are converting the M1 data that you imported into the different timeframes that you want to test. You can do one at a time to do all of them.

I usually start and choose 5 then click OK. Then I double click again on the Period Converter and change the value to 15 then click OK, then I click again and change the value to 30 then click OK, until I have completed the timeframes.

NOTE: It will give you a warning, "Do you really want to stop 'period_converter' and execute 'period_converter' on the chart M1?

Just click YES and then double click on the period_converter again to continue converting the M1 data to all timeframes.

I have done this with all currency pairs that I can download on all timeframes. It is good to have this as it gives you an idea if something is going to work or not.

I hope this helps.