Tom DeMark’s complaint about trend lines was that two people draw two different ones. His answer was a rule: start from the most recent qualifying pivot and work backwards. The demark trend lines indicator applies exactly that, which means the same chart always produces the same lines.
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 | Main price chart |
| Plots | 2: TD Buy, TD Sell |
| Alerts | popup |
| Inputs | 5 |
Drawn output, plot by plot
Two marks on price plus the lines themselves.
`TD Buy` prints lime using arrow 233.
`TD Sell` prints red using arrow 234.
A supply line joins two qualifying highs.
A demand line joins two qualifying lows.
Objects carry the `InpObjPrefix` `”FMTS_TDLINE_”` prefix.
- TD Buy: arrow, lime, width 2, arrow code 233
- TD Sell: arrow, red, width 2, arrow code 234
The mechanism
Finding the pivots
`InpPivotBars` `5` bars either side must fail to beat a candidate. Five is a wide rule, so the anchors describe real turns rather than small wobbles.
Working right to left
The most recent qualifying pivot is the first anchor and the one before it is the second. That ordering is the whole DeMark contribution, and it removes the choice entirely.
Confirming a break
`InpBreakBufferPt` `5.0` is the extra distance required. Price must clear the line by that much, which discards the touches that merely graze it.
Reading day to day
Both lines redraw whenever a new pivot qualifies.
A supply line usually slopes down over a falling market.
A demand line usually slopes up under a rising one.
`InpLookbackBars` `400` bounds the search.
Five points is a deliberately small buffer.
Every pivot confirms five bars late.
Alert channels in this build: popup, one message per closed bar.
`InpEnableAlerts` `true` raises a terminal message when price clears a line by the required buffer on a closed bar. The terminal is the only destination this build offers, with no handset, mail or audio route in the panel.
Every DeMark Trend Lines Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
InpPivotBars |
bars on each side for pivot detection. Bars either side defining a pivot, `5`. | 5 |
InpLookbackBars |
bars to scan for swing points. History the scan covers, `400`. | 400 |
InpBreakBufferPt |
extra points beyond TD line to confirm break. Extra points a break must clear, `5.0`. | 5.0 |
InpObjPrefix |
Prefix on every object name, `”FMTS_TDLINE_”`. | FMTS_TDLINE_ |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
InpEnableAlerts |
Speak when a line breaks, `true`. | on |
Where it earns its keep
A five-bar pivot rule across four hundred bars needs swings with size. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, covering about seventeen days. On M5 the lines redraw constantly. On H4 the same scan spans most of a quarter.
Where it disappoints
The lines move whenever a newer pivot qualifies.
A rule-based line is still only two points.
Five points of buffer is small on a fast symbol.
Every anchor confirms five bars after it printed.
Copy the compiled DeMark Trend Lines 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 DeMark Trend Lines Indicator: Trend line (technical analysis) on Wikipedia, Trendline at Investopedia.
Download the DeMark Trend Lines Indicator for MT4 and MT5
The zip holds the compiled DeMark Trend Lines 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
Why does DeMark work right to left?
Because the most recent structure is what price is trading against now. Starting from the newest qualifying pivot and reaching back removes the judgement call that makes two traders draw two different lines.
What does InpBreakBufferPt 5.0 filter out?
Touches that barely cross. Requiring five extra points beyond the line means a bar grazing it produces nothing, which is a small filter but enough to discard the most marginal breaks.
How wide is the InpPivotBars 5 rule?
Eleven bars in total, five on each side plus the candidate. That is considerably stricter than the common three-bar fractal, so the anchors are genuinely significant turns rather than minor ones.
Do the lines stay put once drawn?
No. Each redraws as soon as a newer pivot qualifies, which is a property of the rule rather than a fault. The line you see always reflects the two most recent qualifying turns.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the DeMark Trend Lines Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Trend collection. Also, truly, browse more Trend for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- The core method is documented in Quadrant Lines at StockCharts ChartSchool.
- Additional market context is at D2000-2 on Wikipedia.
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.