The advanced adx indicator for mt 4 indicator puts the full directional set in one pane. ADX measures how strongly a move is running, while +DI and -DI show which side is driving it. An ADX Strength histogram sits behind them and levels cross at 20 and 40.
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 20 / 40) |
| Plots | 4: ADX Strength, ADX, +DI, -DI |
| Alerts | popup, push notification, email, sound |
| Inputs | 8 |
What the Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator draws on the chart
ADX Strength is a histogram carrying the same value as the main line, drawn behind it as a filled shape.
ADX is the main strength reading over AdxPeriod bars.
+DI rises when upward movement dominates.
-DI rises when downward movement dominates.
Two levels cross the pane at 20 and 40, the first matching the TrendLevel default.
- ADX Strength: histogram, slate gray, width 3
- ADX: line, white, width 2
- +DI: line, deep sky blue, width 1
- -DI: line, orange red, width 1
How the Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator calculates its values
Three readings from one routine
Each line is a call to the platform directional routine at the AdxPeriod length. One asks for the main value and the other two ask for the positive and negative components.
Nothing is smoothed by hand here. The three plots are three modes of the same underlying calculation.
The histogram
ADX Strength copies the main value into a second buffer rather than computing anything new. Drawn as a histogram it gives the pane a filled shape under the line.
So the line and the histogram always agree exactly. The duplication is for readability, not for a second reading.
What the alert requires
Two conditions have to hold at once. The positive component must cross above the negative one between the last two closed bars, and the main value must sit above TrendLevel on that bar.
Selling mirrors it. That strength condition is what keeps crosses during flat stretches from firing anything.
How to read the signals
The main reading above 20 says a move has some conviction behind it, and above 40 says a strong one.
+DI over -DI means buyers are leading, regardless of how high the main reading sits.
A rising main reading with both components flat means the move is accelerating without changing hands.
This family measures strength and direction separately, so read the pair together rather than either alone.
Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.
Alerts cover popup, push, email and sound. A bar time check runs first, so a qualifying cross produces one alert per closed bar.
Every Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
AdxPeriod |
AdxPeriod is the smoothing length for all three readings. It defaults to 14. | 14 |
TrendLevel |
TrendLevel is the strength floor a cross has to clear before an alert fires, 20 by default and drawn across the pane. | 20 |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
EnableAlerts |
master toggle. EnableAlerts gates the message block and defaults to true. | on |
EnablePopup |
MT4 popup dialog. | on |
EnablePushNotify |
mobile MT4 push notification. EnablePushNotify sends each signal to the MT4 mobile app. It defaults to false. | off |
EnableEmail |
SMTP email (Tools > Options > Email). | off |
EnableSound |
play sound file from MT4/Sounds/. | off |
SoundFile |
(see inputs panel) | alert.wav |
Settings that fit your chart
The screenshot uses EURUSD H1. This family suits instruments that trend for a stretch and then rest, which describes most majors on H1 and above. On M1 and M5 the two components cross constantly and TrendLevel does nearly all the filtering. Raising TrendLevel towards 25 is the usual adjustment on a fast chart.
When the Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator fails
The main reading rises in a strong downtrend exactly as it does in an uptrend, so it never tells you which way to take a move.
All three readings lag. The main value often peaks well after the move that produced it has finished.
A cross between the components can happen at any strength, and only TrendLevel stops the weak ones being reported.
The histogram duplicates the main line, so the pane looks busier than the information in it justifies.
Copy the compiled Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 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.
Download the Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator for MT4 and MT5
The zip holds the compiled Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 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
What is the difference between ADX and the +DI line?
The main reading measures how strongly a move is running without saying which way. +DI measures how much of the recent movement went upward. A high main reading with -DI on top describes a strong downtrend, and the same reading with +DI on top describes a strong uptrend.
Does ADX Strength add anything over the ADX line?
No. It copies the same value into a second buffer so the pane can draw a filled histogram under the line. The two never disagree. It exists to make the shape easier to read at a glance rather than to report anything new.
Why does the alert need TrendLevel as well as a cross?
Because the components cross frequently while the market is going nowhere. Requiring the main reading to sit above TrendLevel, 20 by default, throws those away. Raising it towards 25 or 30 leaves only crosses inside genuinely strong moves.
Should AdxPeriod stay at 14 on a fast chart?
Fourteen is the length this family was designed around and it works on H1 and above. On M1 or M5 the readings whip about, and lengthening AdxPeriod steadies all three at the cost of a later response. Adjusting TrendLevel usually helps more.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Advanced ADX Indicator for MT 4 Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Signal and Forecast collection. Next, browse more Signal and Forecast for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- The core method is documented in iadx (ADX) at the MQL5 Documentation.
- Additional market context is at ADX at Investopedia.
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.