Creating Your First MQL5 Script: A Beginner’s Guide

Watch on YouTube: Creating Your First MQL5 Script: A Step-by-Step Guide

In this guide, we’ll create a simple “Hello, World!” script in MQL5, showcasing its structure, features, and execution process.

What is a Script in MQL5?

Scripts in MQL5 are designed for single-use tasks, executing once and terminating. They are ideal for operations like displaying alerts or performing calculations without continuous monitoring, unlike Expert Advisors.

Setting Up the Script
  1. Open MetaEditor: Launch MetaEditor from your MetaTrader 5 platform (F4).
  2. Create a New Script: Go to File > New, choose Script, and follow the wizard to name it (e.g., “Script_01”).

Now that the default script template is loaded, we’ll customize its content to create a simple test: a “Hello, World!” script.

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|                                                    HelloWorld.mq5 |
//|                           Copyright 2023, Your Name               |
//|                                   https://www.example_XXX.com         |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Copyright 2023, Your Name"
#property link      "https://www.example.com"
#property version   "1.00"
// Main function executed when the script runs
void OnStart()
{
    // Display an alert with "Hello, World!"
    Alert("Hello, World!");
}
Code Breakdown
  1. Header Section:
    • #property copyright: Declares copyright.
    • #property link: Adds a link to your website or portfolio.
    • #property version: Tracks the script version.
  2. OnStart Function:
    • Executes when the script is run.
    • In this example, the Alert(“Hello, World!”) command generates a pop-up message in MetaTrader.
  3. Comments:
    • Lines starting with // explain the code and are ignored by the compiler.

Executing the Script in MetaTrader 5

  1. Launch MetaTrader: Open your platform.
  2. Access Navigator: Press Ctrl + N to open the Navigator window.
  3. Locate Your Script: Find your script under the Scripts section.
  4. Run the Script: Right-click your script (e.g., “Script_01”) and select Attach to Chart, or double-click it.

Conclusion

Creating a basic MQL5 script is an excellent starting point for learning the language and its applications. With this foundation, you’re ready to explore more advanced functionalities in MQL5.

Next: Comments, Identifiers, Reserved Words

Previous: Settings and IDE

Watch on YouTube: Creating Your First MQL5 Script: A Step-by-Step Guide