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Complete .mq5 source code

MQL5 Scalping EA: M5 EMA Crossovers and ATR Sizing

Inspect a single-symbol M5 EMA crossover EA with an entry spread filter, ATR-derived initial stop distances and estimated percentage sizing. The tutorial exposes the calculation and execution limits; it does not publish verified backtest results or establish an edge for short-term trading.

Build a custom MT5 Expert AdvisorView the MQL5 code

Strategy logic

Entry conditions

The fast and slow EMA values from two completed M5 bars define a crossover. The EA checks the spread on the first tick of a new M5 bar and allows one matching symbol-and-magic position. Indicator-data retries are allowed until that bar is processed, but a spread rejection skips the bar. Each chart instance trades its own symbol; there is no portfolio selector.

Exit conditions

Requested SL and TP distances are ATR multiplied by the input factors, fixed when the order is submitted. With the illustrative 1.5 and 2.0 settings, their distance ratio is 1:1.33 before costs and execution differences. At or after SessionEndHour in broker-server time, the EA retries matching-position closure on chart ticks and blocks entries until midnight. This is not an automatic New York timezone conversion or a guarantee of closure.

MQL5 Expert Advisor Code

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//|  ScalpingEA.mq5                                                  |
//|  MQL5 Scalping Expert Advisor — EMA Crossover + ATR Filter       |
//|  For educational purposes only. Past results ≠ future returns.   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
#property copyright "Pineify Educational Example"
#property version   "1.00"
#property strict

//--- Input parameters
input int      FastEmaPeriod   = 8;       // Fast EMA period
input int      SlowEmaPeriod   = 21;      // Slow EMA period
input int      AtrPeriod       = 14;      // ATR period
input double   AtrSlMult       = 1.5;     // ATR multiplier for Stop-Loss
input double   AtrTpMult       = 2.0;     // ATR multiplier for Take-Profit
input double   RiskPercent     = 1.0;     // Risk per trade (% of balance)
input int      MaxSpreadPoints = 20;      // Maximum allowed spread (points)
input int      SessionEndHour  = 21;      // Hour to close all trades (server time)
input ulong    MagicNumber     = 20260001;

//--- Indicator handles
int g_handleFastEma = INVALID_HANDLE;
int g_handleSlowEma = INVALID_HANDLE;
int g_handleAtr     = INVALID_HANDLE;

//--- State
datetime g_lastBarTime = 0;

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialisation                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {
   if(FastEmaPeriod<=0 || SlowEmaPeriod<=0 || AtrPeriod<=0 || AtrSlMult<=0
      || AtrTpMult<=0 || RiskPercent<=0 || RiskPercent>100 || MaxSpreadPoints<0
      || SessionEndHour<0 || SessionEndHour>23 || MagicNumber==0) return INIT_PARAMETERS_INCORRECT;
   g_handleFastEma = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_M5, FastEmaPeriod, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   g_handleSlowEma = iMA(_Symbol, PERIOD_M5, SlowEmaPeriod, 0, MODE_EMA, PRICE_CLOSE);
   g_handleAtr     = iATR(_Symbol, PERIOD_M5, AtrPeriod);

   if(g_handleFastEma == INVALID_HANDLE ||
      g_handleSlowEma == INVALID_HANDLE ||
      g_handleAtr     == INVALID_HANDLE)
     {
      Print("ERROR: Failed to create indicator handles.");
      return INIT_FAILED;
     }

   Print("ScalpingEA initialised on ", _Symbol);
   return INIT_SUCCEEDED;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert deInitialisation                                           |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnDeinit(const int reason)
  {
   if(g_handleFastEma != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(g_handleFastEma);
   if(g_handleSlowEma != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(g_handleSlowEma);
   if(g_handleAtr     != INVALID_HANDLE) IndicatorRelease(g_handleAtr);
   Print("ScalpingEA removed. Reason code: ", reason);
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Utility: count open positions for this EA on this symbol          |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int CountOpenPositions()
  {
   int count = 0;
   for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
      ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
      if(ticket == 0) continue;
      if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) == _Symbol &&
         PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) == (long)MagicNumber)
         count++;
     }
   return count;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Utility: close all positions for this EA on this symbol           |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void CloseAllPositions()
  {
   for(int i = PositionsTotal() - 1; i >= 0; i--)
     {
      ulong ticket = PositionGetTicket(i);
      if(ticket == 0) continue;
      if(PositionGetString(POSITION_SYMBOL) != _Symbol) continue;
      if(PositionGetInteger(POSITION_MAGIC) != (long)MagicNumber) continue;

      MqlTradeRequest req = {};
      MqlTradeResult  res = {};
      req.action    = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
      req.symbol    = _Symbol;
      req.volume    = PositionGetDouble(POSITION_VOLUME);
      req.type      = (PositionGetInteger(POSITION_TYPE) == POSITION_TYPE_BUY)
                      ? ORDER_TYPE_SELL : ORDER_TYPE_BUY;
      req.price     = (req.type == ORDER_TYPE_SELL)
                      ? SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID)
                      : SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
      req.deviation = 10;
      req.magic     = MagicNumber;
      req.comment   = "ScalpingEA close";
      req.position  = ticket;
      if(!OrderSend(req, res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
         Print("CloseAllPositions error: ", res.retcode);
     }
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Utility: calculate lot size from risk %                           |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
double CalcLotSize(double slDistance)
  {
   if(slDistance <= 0) return 0;
   double tickValue  = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_TRADE_TICK_VALUE);
   double tickSize   = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_TRADE_TICK_SIZE);
   double balance    = AccountInfoDouble(ACCOUNT_BALANCE);
   double riskAmount = balance * RiskPercent / 100.0;
   if(tickSize<=0 || tickValue<=0 || riskAmount<=0) return 0;
   double lotSize    = riskAmount / (slDistance / tickSize * tickValue);
   double minLot     = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_MIN);
   double maxLot     = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_MAX);
   double stepLot    = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_VOLUME_STEP);
   if(stepLot<=0 || minLot<=0 || maxLot<=0) return 0;
   lotSize = NormalizeDouble(MathFloor(MathMin(lotSize,maxLot)/stepLot)*stepLot,8);
   if(lotSize<minLot) return 0;
   return lotSize;
  }

//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Main tick handler                                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
  {
   //--- Session exit: close all positions at SessionEndHour
   MqlDateTime dt;
   TimeToStruct(TimeCurrent(), dt);
   if(dt.hour >= SessionEndHour)
     {
      if(CountOpenPositions() > 0)
         CloseAllPositions();
      return;
     }

   //--- Only process logic on new M5 bar
   datetime currentBarTime = iTime(_Symbol, PERIOD_M5, 0);
   if(currentBarTime == g_lastBarTime) return;
   if(currentBarTime<=0) return;

   //--- Spread filter
   long spreadPoints = SymbolInfoInteger(_Symbol, SYMBOL_SPREAD);
   if(spreadPoints > MaxSpreadPoints) { g_lastBarTime=currentBarTime; return; }

   // Two completed bars; each one-element buffer has an explicit shift.
   double fastNow[1], fastPrev[1], slowNow[1], slowPrev[1], atrNow[1];
   if(CopyBuffer(g_handleFastEma, 0, 1, 1, fastNow)  < 1) return;
   if(CopyBuffer(g_handleFastEma, 0, 2, 1, fastPrev) < 1) return;
   if(CopyBuffer(g_handleSlowEma, 0, 1, 1, slowNow)  < 1) return;
   if(CopyBuffer(g_handleSlowEma, 0, 2, 1, slowPrev) < 1) return;
   if(CopyBuffer(g_handleAtr,     0, 1, 1, atrNow)   < 1) return;

   if(atrNow[0]<=0) return;
   g_lastBarTime=currentBarTime;
   bool bullCross = (fastPrev[0] <= slowPrev[0]) && (fastNow[0] > slowNow[0]);
   bool bearCross = (fastPrev[0] >= slowPrev[0]) && (fastNow[0] < slowNow[0]);

   if(CountOpenPositions() > 0) return;

   double atr      = atrNow[0];
   double slDist   = atr * AtrSlMult;
   double tpDist   = atr * AtrTpMult;
   double ask      = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_ASK);
   double bid      = SymbolInfoDouble(_Symbol, SYMBOL_BID);
   double lots     = CalcLotSize(slDist); // Price distance, not a count of points.
   if(lots <= 0) return;

   MqlTradeRequest req = {};
   MqlTradeResult  res = {};
   req.symbol    = _Symbol;
   req.magic     = MagicNumber;
   req.deviation = 10;
   req.comment   = "ScalpingEA";

   if(bullCross)
     {
      req.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
      req.type   = ORDER_TYPE_BUY;
      req.price  = ask;
      req.volume = lots;
      req.sl     = NormalizeDouble(ask - slDist,_Digits);
      req.tp     = NormalizeDouble(ask + tpDist,_Digits);
      if(!OrderSend(req, res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
         Print("BUY order failed: ", res.retcode, " | comment: ", res.comment);
     }
   else if(bearCross)
     {
      req.action = TRADE_ACTION_DEAL;
      req.type   = ORDER_TYPE_SELL;
      req.price  = bid;
      req.volume = lots;
      req.sl     = NormalizeDouble(bid + slDist,_Digits);
      req.tp     = NormalizeDouble(bid - tpDist,_Digits);
      if(!OrderSend(req, res) || res.retcode!=TRADE_RETCODE_DONE)
         Print("SELL order failed: ", res.retcode, " | comment: ", res.comment);
     }
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Copy this code into MetaEditor, save it in the MQL5/Experts folder, and compile with F7.

Generate a custom Multi-pair scalping EA

Describe the entry, exit, position, order, and risk rules you want. Pineify generates editable MQL5 source code that you can inspect and compile in MetaEditor.

Generate custom MQL5 codeRead the MT5 testing guide

Pine Script vs MQL5: Same Strategy, Different Platforms

AspectPine Script (TradingView)MQL5 (MetaTrader 5)
ExecutionSeries evaluated on chart updatesEvent handlers with explicit buffers
DeploymentRuns in TradingView with alertsRuns in the MT5 terminal or on a VPS
Broker accessStrategy orders are simulated; live automation needs a separate integrationDirect broker connectivity
BacktestingStrategy Tester for strategy scriptsStrategy Tester for Expert Advisors
Code complexitySimpler, functional syntaxC++-like, more powerful

The calculation can be implemented on either platform, but the runtime model and buffer APIs differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related MQL5 pages

Mt5 Expert Advisor Tutorial→Moving Average Mql5 Indicator→Mql5 Risk Management Code→

Risk and testing note

These educational examples require independent compilation and testing. A compile pass or an illustrative setting does not establish execution correctness or profitability. Any reported performance must be supported by reproducible data and test settings; past results do not predict future returns. Trading involves significant risk of loss. This content is not financial advice.