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1) Download the zip file containing the 4XLab.NET software.
The zip file contains 4 files: 4XLab.NET.exe (The FOREX strategies tester software), DefaultTickMap.map.txt (tells the software how to interpret the columns in the comma separated tick data files, can be edited with Notepad), EUR_USD_Jan_2006_Week1_Small.csv (a sample comma separated tick file, can be opened with Notepad or Excel), and Parameters.txt (all the GUI parameters are saved here, tick file to load, transform parameters)
2) Extract the zip file to a folder of your choice.
3) Execute the program (4XLab.NET.exe), an About box will pop up, which must be accepted once to use the program.
The program uses the .NET framework 1.0 or 1.1. In the event your computer does not have it installed, it can be found here http://www.google.com/search?q=dotnetfx.exe+1.1
4) The Parameters.txt included file will automatically use the DefaultTickMap.map.txt file to load the EUR_USD_Jan_2006_Week1_Small.csv tick file.
This can be confirmed since the bottom left portion of the program displays the tick file in use. The name of the last tick file loaded will be saved to the parameters file and reloaded the next time the program is started.
If another tick file is to be loaded, select File->Load Tick File... then select the file to load. If a different format tick file is to be loaded, select File->Load New Tick Mappings & Tick File... the software will first prompt you to select the mapping file to use, the the tick source file. This feature can also be used to change the spread between the bid and ask prices.
5) The "Selected Process" dropdown menu contains the list of trading systems implemented for this copy of the software.
This copy implements a trading system based on the Stochastics RSI indicator. The system considers values less the 20 oversold levels, and values higher than 80 overbought values. This system attempts to ride the trend from the oversold to overbought and viceversa. The other two entries on the dropdown menu are a collection of internal module tests, and a blank trading system. Those entries were left in place to show how multiple algorithms which do not place trades can be implemented.
6) The "Account Parameters" text area contains the initial account parameters used to test the trading system.
The default values are: AMG:1000; ALV:50; AAL:0.30; LOG:2; This string is composed of 4 parameters. The syntax is PARAMETER:VALUE; The parameters are as follows:
- AMG: Account Margin: The amount of funds in the account.
- ALV: Account Leverage: The leverage applied to the margin used. If $1000 of margin is used, with a leverage of 50, $50000 are controlled.
- AAL: Account Allocation: The percentage of margin to allocate to a single trade. In this case, 30% of the available margin will be allocated to each trade.
- LOG: Verbose level of the program:
- LOG:0, the program is extremely verbose, all messages are shown:
- Indicators, Account, Trading Systems, End Of Trading Results, Optimizer Results
- LOG:1, Account and higher
- LOG:2, Trading Systems and higher
- LOG:3, End Of Trading Results and higher
- LOG:4, Optimizer Results
The parameters entered in this box will be saved and reloaded when the program is executed again. Should you want to recover the default parameters, press the "Reset" button.
7) The "Process Parameters" dropdown menu contains the parameters used by the trading system currently shown in the "Selected Process" dropdown.
Entering a parameter here will add it to the list of currently known parameters for this trading system. The sytax of the process parameters follows that of the account parameters. Executing a process without parameters will show the defaults used in the execution results box. You can also press the "Del" button to delete an unwanted set of parameters.
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