The 4 timeframe adx indicator plots three lines and alerts on a directional cross. One thing needs saying first. There is no timeframe input anywhere in this source, and every value comes from the chart you have open. What you get is a clean ADX and DI set with four alert routes.
This build ships as a compiled .ex4 for MT4 and .ex5 for MT5; the screenshots below come from EURUSD H1.
| Platforms | MT4 (.ex4) + MT5 (.ex5) |
|---|---|
| Chart window | Separate window (levels 25) |
| Plots | 3: ADX, +DI, -DI |
| Alerts | popup, push notification, email, sound |
| Inputs | 8 |
What the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator draws on the chart
Three lines in the pane below price.
`ADX` runs gold at width 3.
`+DI` runs lime at width 1.
`-DI` runs red beside it.
A level sits at twenty-five.
The scale starts at zero.
- ADX: line, gold, width 3
- +DI: line, lime, width 1
- -DI: line, red, width 1
How the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator calculates its values
One terminal call
iADX supplies all three. `AdxPeriod` `14` sets the window, and the three modes give the main reading and both directional lines. Wilder defined this arrangement.
What the lines mean
They split the job. The gold line rates how strong a move is without saying which way. The two DI lines carry the direction between them.
About the name
It promises more than the code does. No timeframe input exists and no higher-timeframe lookup appears. Reading four charts means opening four windows.
How to read the signals
Gold above twenty-five says the move has strength.
Lime above red means buyers led the window.
A DI cross under twenty-five says direction without strength.
The gold line can rise in either direction.
A falling gold line means the move is tiring.
`TrendLevel` `25` is Wilder’s own threshold.
Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.
`EnableAlerts` heads four routes and ships true with `EnablePopup`. Turn on `EnablePushNotify` for the mobile terminal, `EnableEmail` for outgoing mail, or `EnableSound` to play `SoundFile`. Crosses report once a bar.
Every 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
AdxPeriod |
Bars in the window, `14`. | 14 |
TrendLevel |
Strength the alert requires, `25`. | 25 |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
EnableAlerts |
master toggle. Master switch, `true`. | on |
EnablePopup |
MT4 popup dialog. Dialog in the terminal, `true`. | on |
EnablePushNotify |
mobile MT4 push notification. Buzz on a phone, `false`. | off |
EnableEmail |
SMTP email (Tools > Options > Email). Mail on a DI cross, `false`. | off |
EnableSound |
play sound file from MT4/Sounds/. Cue on a DI cross, `false`. | off |
SoundFile |
Which clip plays, `”alert.wav”`. | alert.wav |
Settings that fit your chart
The reading needs roughly twice its window before it settles. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart. Crosses above the level come once or twice a day there. On M5 the gold line rarely stays high. On H4 each cross covers a session.
When the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator fails
The name promises timeframes the code does not carry.
Wilder smoothing puts the gold line well behind price.
A DI cross in a range means nothing.
Warm-up needs about twice the window before values settle.
Copy the compiled 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator file into your MQL4/Indicators folder, and the MT5 build into MQL5/Indicators, then restart the terminal and drag it onto a chart. The step-by-step guide with screenshots is at how to install MT4 and MT5 indicators.
Related on forexmt4systems.com: Multi-Timeframe Strategy.
Background reading on the method behind the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator: iadx (ADX) at the MQL5 Documentation, Average Directional Index ADX at StockCharts ChartSchool.
Download the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator for MT4 and MT5
The zip holds the compiled 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator build for MT4 and MT5, plus a short README. Compiled files only, no source. Enter your email below and the download link arrives in your inbox.
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FAQ
Is there a timeframe input beside AdxPeriod?
No. `AdxPeriod` `14` and `TrendLevel` `25` are the only two settings, and no higher-timeframe call appears in the source. Every value is built from the chart it runs on, so watching four timeframes means loading the tool four times.
What must happen before the alert fires?
A DI cross with the gold line above `TrendLevel` `25`. Both conditions have to hold on the same closed bar, which is what stops a cross inside a flat market from raising a message.
Why is TrendLevel set at 25?
Because Wilder used twenty-five as the point where a move counts as trending. Below it the DI lines still cross, but the strength reading says there is not much behind those crosses.
How long does AdxPeriod 14 take to settle?
About twice the window. The build skips roughly twenty-eight bars before writing values, because the smoothing inside needs a second pass over the data before the reading means anything.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the 4 Timeframe ADX Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Signal and Forecast collection. Then, browse more Signal and Forecast for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- For background on this concept, see iadx (ADX) at the MQL5 Documentation.
- For broader market context, see Average Directional Index Adx at StockCharts ChartSchool.
About the author
Written by Dominic Walsh, a Forex trader and MT4/MT5 indicator, Expert Advisor and script developer. Every tool on forexmt4systems.com is tested on live charts before release and ships with ready-to-use compiled MT4 (.ex4) and MT5 (.ex5) files. Learn more about the trader and developer behind this site.
How we build, test and correct every tool: Editorial & Testing Policy. Trading carries risk; see the disclaimer.