This script is a technical analysis tool designed for the MetaTrader platform that helps traders identify market trends and determine optimal "stop-loss" levels using a modified version of the Bollinger Bands indicator. It focuses on tracking price momentum while creating a dynamic safety net for trades.
Core Logic and Functionality
1. Trend Identification The tool continuously monitors the relationship between the current market price and the upper and lower boundaries of the Bollinger Bands (a standard volatility indicator).
- Upward Trend: Triggered when the closing price breaks above the upper band.
- Downward Trend: Triggered when the closing price breaks below the lower band.
2. Dynamic Boundary Tracking Once a trend is established, the script doesn't just follow the standard Bollinger Bands. It applies a specific logic to ensure the boundaries only move in a way that protects the trade:
- In an uptrend, the "floor" (lower boundary) will only move upward. If the indicator suggests a lower floor, the script ignores it and holds the previous higher level.
- In a downtrend, the "ceiling" (upper boundary) will only move downward. If the indicator suggests a higher ceiling, the script ignores it and holds the previous lower level.
3. Risk Adjustment (MoneyRisk) The script includes a unique calculation to "buffer" these boundaries. It takes the distance between the upper and lower bands and applies an offset factor. This allows the user to widen or tighten the safety zones based on their specific risk tolerance, ensuring the stop-loss lines aren't too close to the current price action.
4. Visual Signals and Display Options The tool is highly customizable in how it presents information on your chart:
- Signals: It can display specific markers (arrows) exactly when a trend reversal or a significant move occurs, allowing for quick visual identification of entry or exit points.
- Lines: It can draw continuous trailing lines that follow the price action, representing the "moving" stop-loss level.
- Modes: Users can choose to see everything (signals and lines), only the trailing lines, or only the specific signal markers, depending on their preferred trading style.
Summary for the User
Essentially, this script automates the process of calculating a "trailing stop." It identifies when the market is moving in a strong direction and then draws a line that follows that move—only moving in your favor to lock in profits while staying far enough away from the price to avoid being triggered by normal market noise.
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| BBands_Stop_v1.mq4 |
//| Copyright © 2006, TrendLaboratory Ltd. |
//| http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TrendLaboratory |
//| E-mail: igorad2004@list.ru |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright © 2006, TrendLaboratory Ltd."
#property link "http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/TrendLaboratory"
#property indicator_chart_window
#property indicator_buffers 6
#property indicator_color1 DodgerBlue
#property indicator_color2 Red
#property indicator_color3 DodgerBlue
#property indicator_color4 Red
#property indicator_color5 DodgerBlue
#property indicator_color6 Red
//---- input parameters
extern int Length=20; // Bollinger Bands Period
extern int Deviation=2; // Deviation
extern double MoneyRisk=1.00; // Offset Factor
extern int Signal=1; // Display signals mode: 1-Signals & Stops; 0-only Stops; 2-only Signals;
extern int Line=1; // Display line mode: 0-no,1-yes
extern int Nbars=1000;
//---- indicator buffers
double UpTrendBuffer[];
double DownTrendBuffer[];
double UpTrendSignal[];
double DownTrendSignal[];
double UpTrendLine[];
double DownTrendLine[];
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Custom indicator initialization function |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
{
string short_name;
//---- indicator line
SetIndexBuffer(0,UpTrendBuffer);
SetIndexBuffer(1,DownTrendBuffer);
SetIndexBuffer(2,UpTrendSignal);
SetIndexBuffer(3,DownTrendSignal);
SetIndexBuffer(4,UpTrendLine);
SetIndexBuffer(5,DownTrendLine);
SetIndexStyle(0,DRAW_ARROW);
SetIndexStyle(1,DRAW_ARROW);
SetIndexStyle(2,DRAW_ARROW);
SetIndexStyle(3,DRAW_ARROW);
SetIndexStyle(4,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexStyle(5,DRAW_LINE);
SetIndexArrow(0,159);
SetIndexArrow(1,159);
SetIndexArrow(2,108);
SetIndexArrow(3,108);
IndicatorDigits(MarketInfo(Symbol(),MODE_DIGITS));
//---- name for DataWindow and indicator subwindow label
short_name="BBands Stop("+Length+","+Deviation+")";
IndicatorShortName(short_name);
SetIndexLabel(0,"UpTrend Stop");
SetIndexLabel(1,"DownTrend Stop");
SetIndexLabel(2,"UpTrend Signal");
SetIndexLabel(3,"DownTrend Signal");
SetIndexLabel(4,"UpTrend Line");
SetIndexLabel(5,"DownTrend Line");
//----
SetIndexDrawBegin(0,Length);
SetIndexDrawBegin(1,Length);
SetIndexDrawBegin(2,Length);
SetIndexDrawBegin(3,Length);
SetIndexDrawBegin(4,Length);
SetIndexDrawBegin(5,Length);
//----
return(0);
}
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Bollinger Bands_Stop_v1 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
{
int i,shift,trend;
double smax[25000],smin[25000],bsmax[25000],bsmin[25000];
for (shift=Nbars;shift>=0;shift--)
{
UpTrendBuffer[shift]=0;
DownTrendBuffer[shift]=0;
UpTrendSignal[shift]=0;
DownTrendSignal[shift]=0;
UpTrendLine[shift]=EMPTY_VALUE;
DownTrendLine[shift]=EMPTY_VALUE;
}
for (shift=Nbars-Length-1;shift>=0;shift--)
{
smax[shift]=iBands(NULL,0,Length,Deviation,0,PRICE_CLOSE,MODE_UPPER,shift);
smin[shift]=iBands(NULL,0,Length,Deviation,0,PRICE_CLOSE,MODE_LOWER,shift);
if (Close[shift]>smax[shift+1]) trend=1;
if (Close[shift]<smin[shift+1]) trend=-1;
if(trend>0 && smin[shift]<smin[shift+1]) smin[shift]=smin[shift+1];
if(trend<0 && smax[shift]>smax[shift+1]) smax[shift]=smax[shift+1];
bsmax[shift]=smax[shift]+0.5*(MoneyRisk-1)*(smax[shift]-smin[shift]);
bsmin[shift]=smin[shift]-0.5*(MoneyRisk-1)*(smax[shift]-smin[shift]);
if(trend>0 && bsmin[shift]<bsmin[shift+1]) bsmin[shift]=bsmin[shift+1];
if(trend<0 && bsmax[shift]>bsmax[shift+1]) bsmax[shift]=bsmax[shift+1];
if (trend>0)
{
if (Signal>0 && UpTrendBuffer[shift+1]==-1.0)
{
UpTrendSignal[shift]=bsmin[shift];
UpTrendBuffer[shift]=bsmin[shift];
if(Line>0) UpTrendLine[shift]=bsmin[shift];
}
else
{
UpTrendBuffer[shift]=bsmin[shift];
if(Line>0) UpTrendLine[shift]=bsmin[shift];
UpTrendSignal[shift]=-1;
}
if (Signal==2) UpTrendBuffer[shift]=0;
DownTrendSignal[shift]=-1;
DownTrendBuffer[shift]=-1.0;
DownTrendLine[shift]=EMPTY_VALUE;
}
if (trend<0)
{
if (Signal>0 && DownTrendBuffer[shift+1]==-1.0)
{
DownTrendSignal[shift]=bsmax[shift];
DownTrendBuffer[shift]=bsmax[shift];
if(Line>0) DownTrendLine[shift]=bsmax[shift];
}
else
{
DownTrendBuffer[shift]=bsmax[shift];
if(Line>0)DownTrendLine[shift]=bsmax[shift];
DownTrendSignal[shift]=-1;
}
if (Signal==2) DownTrendBuffer[shift]=0;
UpTrendSignal[shift]=-1;
UpTrendBuffer[shift]=-1.0;
UpTrendLine[shift]=EMPTY_VALUE;
}
}
return(0);
}
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