Want to do Backtest on MT4, but Found problems; Accurate Tick data, CVS file...!

Beginner Questions
1

Hello,

After finishing the school and reading some books, I wanted to start applying what I learned. I’d like to try a system and backtest strategies…But the problem is I still couldn’t find a good Historical Data and/or using it on MT4. And Even If I found one, I still couldn’t use it on MT4… I would like some help please.

After a day of looking here and there, I found multiple solutions, the best one was downloading Tick data from Dukascopy because I’ve read in different places that Ducaskopy has more accurate tick data than most brokers…

I have two files of about 11 Go each of EURUSD Tick Data from Dukoscopy, One I got it from Dukascopy Demo account…And the other was from SQ Tick Downloader. I’ve followed the exact steps I found in a thread here and it just didn’t work out, there was a problem with applying the script the OP posted; And Also I found a problem with Converting the CVS file in order for MT4 to understand it :confused:

Here is a link to the thread : http://forums.babypips.com/expert-advisors-and-automated-trading/52287-tutorial-complete-backtesting-analysis-setup-100-free.html

I’ve also downloaded and imported Data from Histdata.com of EURUSD to MT4, But I’ve verified its accuracy and found out that it’s WIDELY and Totally different from FXCM and other brokers historical data (esp in the previous Years). This confused me even more !

There are two problems I found with Historical Data, the first one is with the Price difference and the second one is the Time difference. Some Data use GMT, and some use GMT +2 sometimes even GMT +4 !! This is quit problematic.

I’m Stuck and would like to know if there is any solution to How can i do a backtest with somewhat accurate historical data with MT4 ? Or How can I use the CVS file I downloaded from Dukascopy so that MT4 would accept it…

Thank you :smiley:

2

I’m also trying to find one to back test certain indicator combination. I hope someone can help here.

4

Try here Forex Tick Data | Birt’s EA review and here https://tickstory.com/

5

Thank You, Bob. I dl it from tickstroy onto my iPad but it doesn’t open. I will try again on my laptop. Thank you for the link once again. Would love to see what it is and how it work. As you mention, the scary part, learn them then dump them, lol. This forex thing doesn’t stick to the book, madness in its own way.

6

Embrace madness with open arms.

7

Thanks Bobbillbrowne.

I’ve already followed all the instruction in Birt’s website. But the results aren’t good.

I did convert CSV file into FXT using the script they provided, but I found that there still is a problem with the data in the chart, after converting it !

However, I’m still trying to make it work…

8

Try this then bro. If that doesn’t help I don’t know what you’re doing wrong

http://forums.babypips.com/expert-advisors-and-automated-trading/65705-how-i-get-99-9-modelling-quality-mt4.html

9

Thank you Bobbillbrowne.

I will try your method…

I would like to ask you if we can do backtest without using Tick data ? I mean, I just downloaded all the historical data from the history center in MT4 and displayed them in chart; data that goes back to 1970s in all time frames…I compared the historical data I got from MT4 to Dukascopy’s historical data and I found them to be relatively the same. Isn’t that enough for a backtest ?

10

It’s all about quality of data bro. If you want to have any confidence in your backtest results you need to go to the effort of formatting this data.

Do a bit more research on the net and make sure you read some articles on backtesting over at mql4.com.

Can’t do the hard work for you bro, that’s up to you.

11

Thank you Bobbillbrowne for your advice.

12

Finally, your method worked very well ! Thank you again bobbillbrowne :slight_smile: All I needed was to use and configure Tickstory well !

I use CSVtoFXT script to convert the file I exported from Tickstory via StrategyQuant, because When I use “Export to MT4” I don’t see any volume in the chart. But when I use “Export to file” and convert the file I get Volume data in the chart (even though the volume doesn’t seem to be accurate!!) Will the volume be necessary in the backtest ?

I would love to know If I need to convert the CSV file to multiple time frames ? I’m a day trader, I will use the 1M to 30M time frames. Should I convert the CSV file to all 4 time frames or just the one minute time frame is enough to have the tick data in all the 4 time frames?

Thanks