WD Gann Box Indicator: A Box, A Fan And Four Levels

Written by Dominic Walsh · Published 14 Jul 2026 · Last updated 9 Sep 2026

The wd gann box indicator draws objects rather than buffers. It hunts back `Lookback` bars for the most extreme confirmed swing high and swing low, frames them in a box, then divides that range into quarters. Three fan angles run from the anchor across the box.

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	0
Alerts	popup, push notification, email, sound
Inputs	20

What the WD Gann Box Indicator draws on the chart

An OBJ_RECTANGLE spans the two anchor swings, outlined in `ClrBox`.

The 50 percent midline draws in `ClrMid`, with 25 and 75 percent in `ClrQuarter`.

Three OBJ_TREND fan angles run in `Clr1x1`, `Clr2x1` and `Clr1x2`.

OBJ_TEXT labels name each level when `ShowLabels` is on.

How the WD Gann Box Indicator calculates its values

Finding the anchors

A swing needs `Fractal` `5` bars on each side that fail to beat it. Across `Lookback` `150` bars the code keeps the single highest confirmed high and the single lowest confirmed low. Those two prices frame everything else.

Dividing the range

range takes the high anchor minus the low anchor. The quarter levels then sit at 25, 50 and 75 percent of it, measured up from the low. Those three plus the two edges give five prices in all.

Setting the direction

upTrend compares which anchor came later in time. A low that formed after the high means the box reads upward. The fan angles start from the appropriate corner, and `ProjectBars` `30` extends the right edge forward.

How to read the signals

The box frames the largest confirmed swing inside the lookback window.

The 50 percent line is the level most traders watch first.

Fan angles are geometric constructions rather than fitted lines.

A fresh extreme redraws the whole box, so treat the levels as provisional.

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

`EnableAlerts` starts on and `EnablePopup` carries the text. `EnablePushNotify`, `EnableEmail` and `EnableSound` begin false. `SoundFile` picks the clip. The midline test reads two completed closes, and the guard allows one message per bar.

Every WD Gann Box Indicator input

Core settings

Setting	What it does	Default
Lookback	Bars to search for swing anchors. Bars searched for the anchor swings, default `150`.	150
Fractal	Swing confirmation strength (bars each side). Bars each side of a confirmed swing, default `5`.	5
ProjectBars	Forward projection of box right edge (bars). Bars the box extends past the last candle, default `30`.	30

Display settings

Setting	What it does	Default
ShowFan	Draw Gann fan (1×1 / 2×1 / 1×2). Draws the three fan angles, default `true`.	on
ShowLevels	Draw 25/50/75% Gann price levels. Draws the 25, 50 and 75 percent levels, default `true`.	on
ShowLabels	Draw text labels. Draws the text labels, default `true`.	on
LineWidth	Base line width. Base line width, default `2`.	2
ClrBox	Box outline (0% & 100% edges). Box outline colour, default goldenrod.	goldenrod
ClrMid	50% midline. Midline colour, default crimson.	crimson
ClrQuarter	25% / 75% levels. Quarter level colour, default steel blue.	steel blue
Clr1x1	1×1 fan angle.	lime
Clr2x1	2×1 fan angle.	orange red
Clr1x2	1×2 fan angle.	deep sky blue
ClrLabel	Text labels.	silver

Alert settings

Setting	What it does	Default
EnableAlerts	Master switch for the midline cross alerts, default `true`.	on
EnablePopup	Terminal dialog on a midline cross, default `true`.	on
EnablePushNotify	Phone push on a midline cross, default `false`.	off
EnableEmail	Mail delivery on a midline cross, default `false`.	off
EnableSound	Sound playback on a midline cross, default `false`.	off
SoundFile	Wav clip for the box alert, default `alert.wav`.	alert.wav

Settings that fit your chart

A box wants a swing large enough to divide meaningfully. EURUSD H1 is the reference chart, where `Lookback` at `150` covers about six days. On M5 the box spans half a day and redraws often. On H4 and daily the anchors hold for weeks and the levels settle.

When the WD Gann Box Indicator fails

The box depends entirely on two anchor bars, so one new extreme moves everything.

Fan angles come from geometry rather than from price behaviour, and they scale with the chart.

`Fractal` `5` confirms late, so the anchors are always at least five bars old.

Copy the compiled WD Gann Box 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 WD Gann Box Indicator: U.S. Dollar Index on Wikipedia, Aroon at StockCharts ChartSchool.

Download the WD Gann Box Indicator for MT4 and MT5

The zip holds the compiled WD Gann Box 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

How does Lookback pick the two anchors?

It searches back 150 bars for confirmed swings, then keeps the single highest high and the single lowest low among them. Those two prices define the box. A fresh extreme inside the window replaces one anchor and redraws everything.

What do the ShowFan angles represent?

Three fixed slopes drawn from the anchor corner: one unit of price per unit of time, twice that, and half. They are geometric constructions from the original method rather than lines fitted to price.

Which level does the alert watch?

The 50 percent midline. Two completed closes get compared against it, and a crossing fires the message. Quarter levels and box edges are there for reference, and neither carries an alert of its own.

What does ProjectBars at 30 extend?

The right edge of the box and the fan angles, thirty bars past the last candle. That gives the levels somewhere to sit while price is still developing. It changes nothing about the anchors or the prices themselves.

Are results guaranteed?

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