MyFxBots
Published on Wed Oct 16th, 2013

By reaching this guide here, you must have applied the previous guides - tick data free download and converting it for Metatrader 4 usability, so I assume that you have now the HST files in your history\[your broker's name] folder and the FXT in your tester\history folder. If this is not the case, please refer to the previous linked guides first.

Enabling tick data backtesting

As the latest Metatrader 4 client builds are unable to use custom FXT files anymore, a special software has to be run to enable it for that.

  • Now, there are 2 options:
  • The Tick Data Suite, a commercial (paid) software enriched with more features than the free script and is fully supported at the official website. A trial version is available.
  • The completely free Birt's patch script with some limitations. There is no available support for it.
  • The free script limitations include but not limited to:
  • Optimizations are not supported, if tried would cause crash.
  • Third party tools as Walk Forward Analyzer are not supported.
  • The script runs only manually after Metatrader 4 launches.
  • The 2GB limitation removal is available only for builds 405+ and for select operating systems for the previous builds.
  • If a backtest was made outside the script, a subsequent backtest in the script will result in a crash.
  • Real spread has to be manually enabled and the terminal have to be restarted if real spread is no longer needed.
  • There is no available support for it. Only the troubleshooting area could help a little.

For a more detailed comparison table, please navigate to the Feature matrix page.

How to verify it is working

If the backtest is running and the file in tester\history was not recreated, this means that everything is ok. Of course, it will skip the "Collecting M??" and "Using M??" steps. At the end of the backtest, a red bar should be seen in the results tab normally and modeling quality 99% in both the results and the balance chart too.

If you faced any problem, please navigate to the FAQ and Troubleshooting page.

Running multiple Metatrader 4 instances from the same folder

If the Tick Data Suite is involved, this is performed automatically and as many MT4 terminal instances as needed can be launched from the same folder.

Otherwise, if Birt's patch script is the one involved and multiple instances are needed to be run from the same folder, one of the loaders can be used, they are available in the tick data downloads area. These loaders are compatible with builds 225-409; the generic loader in the main folder is compatible with builds 405-409 while the generic loader inside the old folder is compatible with older versions. Individual loaders are available too for several older builds but the generic loaders should work for any build lower than 409. No support is available in the official website for these loaders too.

Be aware that the generic loaders will need to configure themselves for every particular build so a series of messages will displayed and the terminal will be closed once the relevant offsets are found. This occurs just in the first time to run and is totally normal.

Latest Tick Data Suite News and Updates

Current MetaTrader Platform Will Stop Working After May 1st, 2023 The traders using a version of MT4 older than build 1370 on Windows, their MetaTrader platform will stop working after May 1st, 2023. You should update your MT4 to the latest free version to ensure a seamless and uninterrupted trading experience. The latest MT4 build features improved platform stability and you can download it by following the instructions below:
MetaTrader 4 and 5 Applications Are Back in the Apple AppStore MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 Apps were reinstated on March 6th, 2023, and are now available on the AppStore. MetaQuotes has communicated with Apple regarding operational technicalities throughout the lengthy process of restoring the Apps back to the AppStore, providing further insights as needed.
MT4 and MT5 have been removed from Apple iOS AppStore Apple removes the widely used and most popular Forex Trading Apps; MetaTrader MT4 & MT5 from App Store MT4 & MT5 apps are no longer on the App Store globally.
Renko Bar Backtesting with Tick Data Suite and Other Great Features It is now possible to run backtests using Renko bars natively. This was previously possible only with the assistance of 3rd party software through a cumbersome process with a somewhat unfriendly learning curve; now it is available directly in the Tick Data Suite
Tick Data Suite Features and Details The Tick Data Suite is a Unique Product with which you can Download Tick Data, Do Backtesting and Optimization your Strategies using Variable Spread in Metatrader 4
Free Tick Data Download A lot of tick data sources are available online and this is an attempt to cover some of the most well and popular providers where tick data are free to download
Tick Data Suite Guide [OUTDATED] On arriving to this guide, it's assumed that you already downloaded the desired tick data and it was converted to an FXT file and several HST files, each of which is setting in its proper place. If the steps above were not done yet, you will need first to follow the How to download free tick data and the How to prepare the tick data for MetaTrader 4 guides
How to Download Dukascopy Tick Data and Purse it with Birt's PHP Scripts [Outdated] A Brief Guide On How To Download And Process The Free Forex Tick Data From Dukascopy Using Birt's PHP Scripts. The Available Data In Dukascopy Is Raw In The Form Of Files Spanning Only One Hour, So It's Obvious That Tools Will Be Needed To Download And Parse It
How to Download Dukascopy Tick Data with JForex Platform A Quick Guide on How to Download and Process the Free Forex Tick Data from Dukascopy using the JForex Platform
Download Birt's Free Tick Data Tools and Scripts [Outdated] Download Birt's Free Tool and Script Files Helping you to Acquire, Process and Use Free Tick Data in Metatrader 4 Backtesting
Problems with Conversion to FXT and Tick Data Usage in Tick Data Suite [Outdated] Problems and Issues with Strategy Backtesting in Metatrader 4 Using Tick Data Suite, from CVS Conversion to FXT to Tick Data Usage
Free Birt's Batch Script MT4 FXT Files 2GB Limit Removal [Outdated] Birt's Patch Script Removes the 2GB the Metatrader 4 Limitation with FXT Files and Disables Overwriting Existing FXT Files too, which Effectively Permits Pre-Created Tick Data FXT Files Usage.
Enabling and Verifying the Use of Prepared Tick Data by MT4 for Backtesting [OUTDATED] As the Latest Metatrader 4 Client Builds are Unable to use Custom FXT Files Anymore, a Special Software has to be Run to Enable it for that; Tick Data Suite, a Commercial (Paid) Software, or the Completely Free Birt's Patch Script with Some Limitations.
How to Prepare Tick Data FXT Files for MT4 Backtesting with CSV2FXT [OUTDATED] Native CSV File Containing Tick Data are Incompatible with Metatrader 4, so it Can't be Used in Backtesting. FXT is the Proprietary File Format that Contains Ticks and Can be Read by Metatrader 4, so Simply we Need to Convert CSV Files to FXT.
Tick Data Suite VS Free Birt's Batch [OUTDATED] In fact, the Tick Data Suite is a commercial alternative for the free Birt's patch script, so every fault or deficiency in the latter are addressed in the Tick Data Suite with full technical support to its clients

Talk about Tick Data Suite

Information, charts or examples contained in this review article are for illustration and educational purposes only. It should not be considered as an advice or endorsement to purchase or sell any security or financial instrument. We do not and cannot give any kind of financial advice. No employee or persons associated with us are registered or authorized to give financial advice. We do not trade on anyone's behalf, and we do not recommend any broker. On certain occasions, we have a material link to the product or service mentioned in the article. This may be in the form of compensation or remuneration.