ADX With Alert Indicator: Strength First, Direction Second

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 26 May 2026 · Last updated 9 Sep 2026

The adx with alert indicator separates two questions most tools blur. How strong is the move, and which way does it point? ADX answers the first. The two directional lines answer the second.

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 Adx With Alert Indicator draws on the chart

A thick gold `ADX` line carries trend strength.

The lime `+DI` line tracks upward pressure.

Its red counterpart `-DI` tracks the downward side.

A reference sits at `TrendLevel` `25`, the usual line between drifting and trending.

• ADX: line, gold, width 3
• +DI: line, lime, width 1
• -DI: line, red, width 1

How the Adx With Alert Indicator calculates its values

Directional movement first

Each bar contributes how far it extended beyond the previous high or below the previous low. Those two figures, smoothed at `AdxPeriod` `14`, become the two directional lines.

Strength comes from their gap

ADX measures how far apart the two directional lines are, smoothed again. A wide gap means one side dominates. A narrow one means neither does.

Why ADX has no direction

The calculation uses the absolute gap, so a strong fall and a strong rally both push it up. That is deliberate, and it is why the two directional lines have to be read alongside it.

How to read the signals

ADX above 25 says the move has strength, not which way it points.

`+DI` above `-DI` says the upward side is dominant.

ADX rising while both directional lines converge is unusual and worth a second look.

The reading lags twice, because it smooths a smoothed value.

Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.

`EnableAlerts` heads four routes and arrives true beside `EnablePopup`. Flip `EnablePushNotify` for a mobile push, `EnableEmail` for mail, or `EnableSound` to play `SoundFile`. Those three ship off. Events report on closed bars.

Every Adx With Alert Indicator input

Core settings

Setting	What it does	Default
AdxPeriod	Bars in both smoothing passes, default `14`.	14
TrendLevel	Reference drawn in the pane, default `25`.	25

Alert settings

Setting	What it does	Default
EnableAlerts	Head switch across the four routes, default `true`.	on
EnablePopup	MetaTrader dialog on a level or cross event, default `true`.	on
EnablePushNotify	Mobile push on the same event, default `false`.	off
EnableEmail	Email on the same event, default `false`.	off
EnableSound	Audio cue on the same event, default `false`.	off
SoundFile	Audio file the cue uses, default `”alert.wav”`.	alert.wav

Settings that fit your chart

Trend strength is a slow measure. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, where ADX crosses 25 a few times a month. On M5 it moves faster but means less. Daily bars give the cleanest reading of all.

When the Adx With Alert Indicator fails

Double smoothing means ADX confirms a trend well after it began.

A reading under 25 can still contain a perfectly tradable move.

The three lines share one pane, which gets crowded on a short chart.

Copy the compiled Adx With Alert 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.

Background reading on the method behind the Adx With Alert Indicator: Candlestick pattern on Wikipedia, Bollingerbands at Investopedia.

Download the Adx With Alert Indicator for MT4 and MT5

The zip holds the compiled Adx With Alert 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.

FAQ

Why does the ADX line ignore direction?

Because it measures the absolute gap between the two directional lines. A hard fall and a hard rally produce the same reading, which is exactly why `+DI` and `-DI` are plotted alongside it.

What does TrendLevel 25 represent?

The conventional line between a drifting market and a trending one. It is a convention rather than a measured threshold, so treat it as a rough guide rather than a rule.

How late is AdxPeriod 14 in practice?

Later than a single average, because the calculation smooths a value that was already smoothed. On an hourly chart that usually means ADX confirms a trend a day or more after it started.

Can +DI cross -DI while ADX is low?

Yes, and it happens often. The directional lines can swap while strength stays under twenty-five, which is the case most traders learn to ignore. Strength and direction really are independent here.

Are results guaranteed?

No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Adx With Alert Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.