//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Des_News_Plotter.mq4 |
//| DesORegan |
//| mailto: oregan_des@hotmail.com |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
// ========================================================================================================
// This indicator displays lines on the chart corresponding to upcoming news events. It has the following features:
// 1. Customizable audio alerts prior to the news event itself.
// 2. Allows the user to display lines according to event rating. e.g. display High rated events only.
// 3. Deletes old news lines from the chart(older than today's)".
// 4. Adjusts GMT from file to local (using GMT_Offset).
// 5. Converts AM/PM time in file to 24hr for correct plotting.
// 6. Prioritises higher rated events at same time as lower events. Prevents High "hiding" behind Low etc..
// (assuming appropriate timeframe is selected)
// 7. Event descriptions used to populate object descriptions.
//
// To be able to use this indicator you must first save the file from the DailyFx website to the
// C:\Program Files\Broker Metatrader\experts\files folder. The file is located at:
// http://www.dailyfx.com/calendar/Dailyfx_Global_Economic_Calendar.csv
// IMPORTANT: It must be saved as "News.csv". Make sure it's for the current week.
//
// Save your own preferences by changing the external inputs in the code and recompiling.
// There may be bugs in this indicator but I think I've got most if not all ironed out.
// Only one way to find out. ;-)
//
// ========================================================================================================
#property copyright "DesORegan"
#property link "mailto: oregan_des@hotmail.com"
#property indicator_chart_window
#include <stdlib.mqh>
// =========================
// External Global Variables
// =========================
extern int GMT_Offset=2; // change this to suit, default (+2) is for CET
extern bool Display_Low=true;
extern color Low_Color=Blue;
extern bool Display_Medium=true;
extern color Medium_Color=Orange;
extern bool Display_High=true;
extern color High_Color=Red;
extern bool News_Alerts=true;
extern bool Low_Alerts=false;
extern bool Medium_Alerts=false;
extern bool High_Alerts=true;
extern int Warning_In_Mins=15;
extern bool Delete_Old_News=false; // deletes events older than today's
// =========================
// Internal Global Variables
// =========================
datetime Today_Start;
// =========================
// Internal Global Arrays
// =========================
string News_Array [][5]; // 0=Date,1=Description,2=Rating,3=Rating No.,4=Alert Given?
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
// Custom indicator initialization function
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
int init()
{
//======================
// Variable Init
//======================
Today_Start = iTime(Symbol(),PERIOD_D1,0);
GMT_Offset = GMT_Offset*3600; // *secs in hour
Warning_In_Mins = Warning_In_Mins*60; // *secs in minute
News_Plotter(); // reads file and plots news according to preferences
if (Delete_Old_News == true) Delete_Old_News(); // deletes old event lines
return(0);
}
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
// Custom indicator deinitialization function
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
int deinit()
{
ObjectsDeleteAll();
return(0);
}
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
// Custom indicator iteration function
// =================================================================================================
// =================================================================================================
int start()
{
if (News_Alerts == true) Check_News(); // checks for imminent news events
if (Delete_Old_News == true && Today_Start != iTime(Symbol(),PERIOD_D1,0)) // only calls if new day
{
Delete_Old_News();
Today_Start = iTime(Symbol(),PERIOD_D1,0);
}
return(0);
}
// =================================================================================================
//| News_Plotter function
// =================================================================================================
int News_Plotter ()
{
string Event_Date, Event_Month, Event_Day, Event_Time;
string Gap, Event_Description, Event_Rating, Event_Rating_No;
string Hrs, Mins;
int Int_Hrs, Int_Mins, Last_Int_Event_Rating, i=0;
datetime Real_Event_DateTime, Real_Event_Time;
color Market_Event_Color;
int File = FileOpen("News.CSV", FILE_CSV|FILE_READ,','); // opens News.csv file
if (File == -1)
{
Alert("News Events File Error.");
int err=GetLastError();
Print("Error(",err,"): ",ErrorDescription(err));
}
FileSeek(File, 96, SEEK_SET); // move file pointer to beginning of valid data
while(FileIsEnding(File)==false) // While the file pointer is not at the end of the file
{
ArrayResize(News_Array,i+1); //resizes array for every loop (event)
// ===========================
// Reads file and formats data
// ===========================
Event_Date = FileReadString(File); // Read Date from file
if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Jan") Event_Month = "01"; // extract Month and convert to number
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Feb") Event_Month = "02"; // in string format for adding to
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Mar") Event_Month = "03"; // other components of Date
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Apr") Event_Month = "04";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "May") Event_Month = "05";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Jun") Event_Month = "06";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Jul") Event_Month = "07";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Aug") Event_Month = "08";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Sep") Event_Month = "09";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Oct") Event_Month = "10";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Nov") Event_Month = "11";
else if(StringSubstr(Event_Date,4,3) == "Dec") Event_Month = "12";
else Alert ("Date Reading Error in News Function");
Event_Day = StringSubstr(Event_Date, (StringLen(Event_Date)-2), 0); // extract Day
Event_Date = TimeYear(TimeCurrent())+"."+Event_Month+"."+Event_Day; // reconfigure Date
Event_Time = StringConcatenate("0000",FileReadString(File)) ; // read Time and fill out with 0's
// ===========================
// Converts AM/PM to 24hr
// ===========================
if (StringSubstr(Event_Time, (StringLen(Event_Time)-2), 2) == "PM") // PM time conversion
{
Mins = StringSubstr(Event_Time,(StringLen(Event_Time)-5),2);
Hrs = StringSubstr(Event_Time,(StringLen(Event_Time)-8),2);
Int_Hrs = StrToInteger(Hrs)*3600;
Int_Mins = StrToInteger(Mins)*60;
Real_Event_Time = Int_Hrs + Int_Mins;
if (Real_Event_Time < 43200) Real_Event_Time = Real_Event_Time + 43200; // prevents 12:12PM etc from being altered
}
else // AM time conversion
{
Mins = StringSubstr(Event_Time,(StringLen(Event_Time)-5),2);
Hrs = StringSubstr(Event_Time,(StringLen(Event_Time)-8),2);
Int_Hrs = StrToInteger(Hrs)*3600;
Int_Mins = StrToInteger(Mins)*60;
Real_Event_Time = Int_Hrs + Int_Mins;
}
Gap = FileReadString(File) ;
Gap = FileReadString(File) ;
Event_Description = FileReadString(File);
Event_Rating = FileReadString(File) ;
for (int p = 1; p <= 5; p++) Gap = FileReadString(File) ; // more gaps in file for unused data
if (Real_Event_Time == 0) // if no time is specified in file
{
Real_Event_DateTime = StrToTime(Event_Date) + Real_Event_Time;
//Print("Warning: "+Event_Date+" "+Event_Rating+" - "+Event_Description+" - Event Time Unknown");
//Print("Please check internet for updates.");
Event_Description = "Event Time Unknown "+Event_Description;
}
else Real_Event_DateTime = StrToTime(Event_Date) + Real_Event_Time + GMT_Offset;
// ==================
// Fills News_Array
// ==================
News_Array[i,0] = TimeToStr(Real_Event_DateTime); // fills datetime data in compatible format
News_Array[i,1] = Event_Description; // fills description data
News_Array[i,2] = Event_Rating; // fills rating data
if (Event_Rating == "High") Event_Rating_No = "3";
if (Event_Rating == "Medium") Event_Rating_No = "2";
if (Event_Rating == "Low") Event_Rating_No = "1";
News_Array[i,3] = Event_Rating_No; // number equivalent for ratings
News_Array[i,4] = "0"; // used for prevents repetition of alerts
i++; // required to increment News_Array
}
FileClose( File );
// =================================================================
// Helps set rating color for events at same time to highest rating.
// Used with Market_Event_Color below.
// =================================================================
for (p = 1; (p <= ArraySize(News_Array)/5); p++) // this helps give priority to higher rated events
{
if (News_Array[p,0] == News_Array[p-1,0] && StrToInteger(News_Array[p,3]) < StrToInteger(News_Array[p-1,3]))
{
News_Array[p,3] = News_Array[p-1,3];
}
}
// ============================
// Plots event lines on chart
// ============================
for (p = 0; p < (ArraySize(News_Array)/5); p++)
{
if (News_Array[p,3] == "1") Market_Event_Color = Low_Color;
if (News_Array[p,3] == "2") Market_Event_Color = Medium_Color;
if (News_Array[p,3] == "3") Market_Event_Color = High_Color;
if(Display_Low == true && News_Array[p,2] == "Low")
{
ObjectCreate(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJ_VLINE,0,StrToTime(News_Array[p,0]),NULL);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_COLOR,Market_Event_Color);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_WIDTH,1);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], OBJPROP_BACK, true);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_STYLE,STYLE_DOT);
ObjectSetText(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], News_Array[p,2]+": "+News_Array[p,1], 8);
}
if(Display_Medium == true && News_Array[p,2] == "Medium")
{
ObjectCreate(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJ_VLINE,0,StrToTime(News_Array[p,0]),NULL);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_COLOR,Market_Event_Color);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_WIDTH,1);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], OBJPROP_BACK, true);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_STYLE,STYLE_DOT);
ObjectSetText(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], News_Array[p,2]+": "+News_Array[p,1], 8);
}
if(Display_High == true && News_Array[p,2] == "High")
{
ObjectCreate(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJ_VLINE,0,StrToTime(News_Array[p,0]),NULL);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_COLOR,Market_Event_Color);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_WIDTH,1);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], OBJPROP_BACK, true);
ObjectSet(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0],OBJPROP_STYLE,STYLE_DOT);
ObjectSetText(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0], News_Array[p,2]+": "+News_Array[p,1], 8);
}
}
// ==================================
// DEBUG TOOL - PRINTS ARRAY CONTENTS
// ==================================
//for (p = 0; p < (ArraySize(News_Array)/5); p++)
// {
// Print(News_Array[p,0]+" "+News_Array[p,1]+" "+News_Array[p,2]+" "+News_Array[p,3]+" "+News_Array[p,4]);
// }
return(0);
}
// =================================================================================================
// Check News function
// =================================================================================================
int Check_News ()
{
for (int p = 0; p < (ArraySize(News_Array)/5); p++)
{
if (TimeCurrent()-TimeSeconds(TimeCurrent()) == (StrToTime(News_Array[p,0])-Warning_In_Mins) && News_Array[p,4] == "0")
{
if (Low_Alerts == true && News_Array[p,2] == "Low")
{
Alert(News_Array[p,1]+" rated "+News_Array[p,2]+" occurs in "+Warning_In_Mins/60+"mins.");
News_Array[p,4] = "1";
}
if (Medium_Alerts == true && News_Array[p,2] == "Medium")
{
Alert(News_Array[p,1]+" rated "+News_Array[p,2]+" occurs in "+Warning_In_Mins/60+"mins.");
News_Array[p,4] = "1";
}
if (High_Alerts == true && News_Array[p,2] == "High")
{
Alert(News_Array[p,1]+" rated "+News_Array[p,2]+" occurs in "+Warning_In_Mins/60+"mins.");
News_Array[p,4] = "1";
}
}
}
return(0);
}
// =================================================================================================
// Delete_Old_News function
// =================================================================================================
int Delete_Old_News()
{
for (int p = 0; p < (ArraySize(News_Array)/5); p++)
{
if (iTime(Symbol(),PERIOD_D1,0) > StrToTime(News_Array[p,0]))
{
ObjectDelete(p+".News: "+News_Array[p,0]);
}
}
return(0);
}
Sample
Analysis
Market Information Used:
Indicator Curves created:
Indicators Used:
Custom Indicators Used:
Order Management characteristics:
Other Features:
Uses files from the file system
It issuies visual alerts to the screen
It reads information from a file