Direction alone is cheap; direction with force behind it is rarer. The trend direction force index indicator measures both at once: how far an average has pulled away from its own smoothed copy, multiplied by how quickly both are moving. The result is scaled against its recent peak so it lives between minus one and one.
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 0) |
| Plots | 3: TDFI, Up force, Down force |
| Alerts | popup, push notification, email, sound |
| Inputs | 10 |
What you get on the chart
One line and two histograms in a pane.
`TDFI` traces aqua through the pane.
`Up force` fills lime above the upper band.
`Down force` fills red below the lower band.
Reference lines sit at plus and minus the filter.
The scale runs from about minus to plus one.
- TDFI: line
- Up force: histogram
- Down force: histogram
How each value gets built
Two averages
`TrendPeriod` `20` builds an average of price and then an average of that average. Their gap says how far the trend has stretched.
Force
The average speed of both lines gets cubed and multiplied by the gap. Cubing keeps the sign and makes strong moves stand out far above weak ones.
Scaling
`LookbackBars` `60` finds the largest force in the window, and each value is divided by it. `PriceScale` `1000.0` only keeps the arithmetic in a comfortable range.
How to use what it draws
Above the upper band means up-trend with force.
Below the lower band means down-trend with force.
Between the bands means no trend worth trading.
Histograms appear only outside the bands.
Spikes near one mean the strongest move in sixty bars.
Warm-up needs about sixty bars.
Alert channels in this build: popup, push notification, email and sound, one message per closed bar.
The line pushing up through the upper band or down through the lower one is what reports. `EnableAlerts` is the switch and a popup carries it; phone, email and the speaker clip start off.
Every Trend Direction Force Index Indicator input
Core settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
TrendPeriod |
EMA length (fast + slow use the same length). Length of both averages, `20`. | 20 |
LookbackBars |
normalisation window (peak-of-force). Window for scaling to the peak, `60`. | 60 |
Filter |
trend/force threshold band (+/-). Band that separates trend from noise, `0.05`. | 0.05 |
PriceScale |
internal price scaling. Internal scaling only, `1000.0`. | 1000.0 |
Alert settings
| Setting | What it does | Default |
|---|---|---|
EnableAlerts |
Switch for band-cross messages, `true`. | on |
EnablePopup |
Popup message, `true`. | on |
EnablePushNotify |
Phone message, `false`. | off |
EnableEmail |
Email message, `false`. | off |
EnableSound |
Speaker message, `false`. | off |
SoundFile |
Speaker clip, `”alert.wav”`. | alert.wav |
Where the settings fit
A normalised force reading adapts to any symbol’s pace. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, where it leaves the band a few times a week. On M5 the band filters most of the noise. On D1 each push past it marks a real trend leg.
What it gets wrong
Scaling to a recent peak makes quiet weeks look loud.
A cubed speed exaggerates a single fast bar.
The line reacts after the move has begun.
The band is narrow, so crossings still come often.
Copy the compiled Trend Direction Force Index 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: Ichimoku Trend Strategy.
Download the Trend Direction Force Index Indicator for MT4 and MT5
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FAQ
What does Filter 0.05 separate?
Trending bars from the rest. Readings inside plus or minus five hundredths count as no trend worth trading; the histograms and the messages only appear once the line leaves that band.
Why is the speed cubed inside TDFI?
Cubing keeps the direction and magnifies strong moves relative to weak ones. A bar twice as fast contributes eight times the force, which makes real thrusts stand out.
What does LookbackBars 60 scale against?
The largest absolute force seen in the last sixty bars. Dividing by it keeps the line between about minus one and plus one on any symbol.
When does the Up force histogram appear?
Only while the scaled line sits above the upper band. Inside the band neither histogram is drawn, which keeps the pane quiet during ranges and makes each trend leg easy to spot.
Are results guaranteed?
No. Trading involves risk. Results are not guaranteed; past performance is not indicative of future results. Use the Trend Direction Force Index Indicator as one input. Always backtest before trading live.
Category: this is part of our Trend collection. Browse more Trend for MetaTrader, or explore every MT4 indicator and MT5 indicator on the site.
External references
- For background on this concept, see Force index on Wikipedia.
- For broader market context, see Ice Futures And Spot Prices 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.