Creating an EA template

A template is a basic source code of a trading robot. It contains the standard program header, general properties and workpieces for the main event handlers: new tick arrival (OnTick), launch (OnInit) and EA deinitialization (OnDeinit). A template is created in the directory corresponding to a program type – MQL5/Experts (or MQL4/Experts). When creating a template, you can define the program inputs beforehand, as well as add them to the workpiece code for additional event handlers.

Fill in the following fields:

• Name – EA name. The same name is assigned to an EA file. Here you can also change the path to a destination file. For example, create it in the new \Experts subfolders.
• Author – author name.
• Link – developer's email address or website.
• Parameters – set of EA input parameters (external variables).

The input parameters are "input" class variables. To create a parameter, click Add and fill in three fields:

• Name – input variable name.
• Type – input variable type.
• Initial value – initial value of a variable. It can be changed before a program launch or during operation.

After specifying all the necessary data, click Next.

Event handlers #

At subsequent stages, select additional event handlers. The workpieces for them are to be inserted into the EA template:

• General handlers: events of a chart, a depth of market, new trades, etc.
• Test event handlers – managing optimization in real time.

To view an extended handler description, move the cursor over it.

Click Finish to complete template creation. A generated file is immediately opened for editing.