LT MACD EA
Complete walkthrough of all inputs for the LT MACD EA: five MACD strategies, full indicator configuration, trade execution, account protection, and all available filters.

These inputs configure the MACD indicator and select the trading strategy. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) consists of the MACD line (fast EMA minus slow EMA), a signal line (EMA of the MACD line), and a histogram showing the difference between the two.
EA Trading Strategy
enumMACD_SimpleSelects the MACD-based entry strategy.
| Strategy | Signal logic |
|---|---|
| MACD_Simple | Buy when the MACD histogram is positive (MACD line above signal line); Sell when histogram is negative |
| MACD_MainLine | Buy when the MACD line crosses above zero; Sell when it crosses below zero |
| MACD_SignalLine | Buy when the MACD line crosses above the signal line; Sell when it crosses below |
| MACD_Trend | Trend-following mode using MACD direction and histogram color agreement |
| MACD_Reversal | Buys when MACD is below zero and histogram turns positive; Sells when above zero and turns negative |
MACD_SignalLine is the classic MACD crossover and generates the most signals. MACD_MainLine (zero crossover) is more selective and represents a stronger trend confirmation.
Close Trades on Opposite Direction Signal
boolfalseWhen true, an opposite MACD signal closes the existing position before opening the new one.
Reverse Trade Signal
boolfalseInverts all MACD strategy signals.
MACD Time Frame
enumPERIOD_CURRENTTimeframe for the MACD indicator calculation.
MACD Fast EMA Period
int12Period of the fast EMA used in the MACD calculation. The classic default is 12. A shorter period (6-9) produces a more reactive MACD line with more signals.
MACD Slow EMA Period
int26Period of the slow EMA. The classic default is 26. The difference between the fast and slow EMA periods determines how sensitive the MACD is to trend changes.
MACD Signal SMA Period
int9Period of the signal line (a smoothed average of the MACD line). The classic default is 9. The crossover between the MACD line and signal line is the most commonly used MACD entry trigger.
MACD Applied Price
enumPRICE_CLOSEThe price type applied to the MACD calculation. Close is the most commonly used.
These inputs define which instrument the EA trades and whether it uses a real or virtual account balance for lot-size calculations.
EA Name
stringLT EAThe internal name displayed on the chart and in log messages. Changing this lets you run two instances of the same EA on the same chart with different settings without naming conflicts.
Type of Symbol
enumNChartSelects whether the EA trades the chart symbol (NChart) or a custom symbol entered in the Trading Symbol field (CChart). Use CChart to trade a different instrument from the one the EA is attached to.
| Option | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| NChart | Trades the chart symbol automatically |
| CChart | Trades the symbol entered in Trading Symbol |
Trading Symbol
stringEURUSDThe symbol the EA will trade when Type of Symbol is set to CChart. Enter the exact symbol name as it appears in your broker's Market Watch (e.g EURUSD, XAUUSD, US30).
Use a Virtual Balance
boolfalseWhen enabled the EA uses the value in EA Virtual Balance for lot-size risk calculations instead of the real account equity. Useful for testing fixed-lot scenarios on a live account without changing real risk.
EA Virtual Balance
int1000The virtual account balance (in account currency) used when Use a Virtual Balance is enabled. Has no effect when Use a Virtual Balance is false.
Core execution parameters: which timeframe the EA reads signals on, trade direction, lot sizing, stop loss and take profit modes, and position management options.
Working timeframe
enumPERIOD_CURRENTThe timeframe the EA uses to read indicator values and generate signals. PERIOD_CURRENT means the EA reads the chart timeframe. Changing this lets you run a higher-timeframe strategy on a lower-timeframe chart.
Trade direction
enumbuy_sellRestricts which side the EA can open. Set to buy to only go long, sell to only go short, or buy_sell to trade both directions.
| Option | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| buy | Opens Buy positions only |
| sell | Opens Sell positions only |
| buy_sell | Opens both Buy and Sell positions |
Search signals on ...
enumbar_1Determines which bar the EA reads for entry signals. bar_1 uses the last fully closed bar (no repainting). bar_0 reads the live forming bar for faster signals at the cost of potential repainting.
bar_1 is the safer default for live trading. bar_0 is useful for scalping strategies where speed matters more than repainting protection.
Money management
enumriskSelects how the EA calculates the lot size for each trade.
| Option | Lot calculation |
|---|---|
| lots_min | Always trades the broker minimum lot |
| lot | Uses the fixed lot size set in Lot Size or Risk in Percentage |
| risk | Calculates lot size so the risk equals the percentage set in Lot Size or Risk in Percentage |
Lot Size or Risk in Percentage
double3.0Interpreted based on the Money management setting. When money management is lot, this is the fixed lot size. When it is risk, this is the percentage of account balance to risk per trade (requires a valid Stop Loss to be set).
Stop Loss Mode
enumSL_FIXEDSelects how the stop loss distance is calculated.
| Mode | Calculation |
|---|---|
| SL_FIXED | Uses the fixed number of points set in Fixed Stop Loss (points) |
| SL_RISK | Calculates a stop distance based on the Risk-Based Stop Loss (% of balance) |
Fixed Stop Loss (points)
uint0The stop loss distance in points when Stop Loss Mode is SL_FIXED. Set to 0 to disable the stop loss entirely. A point is the smallest price increment (e.g. 1 point on EURUSD = 0.00001).
Trading without a stop loss (value 0) exposes the account to unlimited drawdown if the market moves against the position.
Risk-Based Stop Loss (% of balance)
double1.0Active when Stop Loss Mode is SL_RISK. The EA calculates a stop distance such that losing the trade would cost this percentage of the account balance.
Take Profit Mode
enumTP_FIXEDSelects how the take profit distance is calculated.
| Mode | Calculation |
|---|---|
| TP_FIXED | Uses the fixed number of points set in Fixed Take Profit (points) |
| TP_RR | Sets the take profit as a multiple of the stop loss distance |
Fixed Take Profit (points)
uint0The take profit distance in points when Take Profit Mode is TP_FIXED. Set to 0 to disable the take profit.
Risk-Reward Ratio (TP = SL x RR)
double2.0Active when Take Profit Mode is TP_RR. The take profit is set at Stop Loss distance multiplied by this value. A value of 2.0 means the take profit is twice the stop loss distance.
Virtual Levels (hide SL/TP from broker)
boolfalseWhen enabled the EA manages stop loss and take profit internally without sending them to the broker. The broker sees positions with no SL/TP, which can prevent stop hunting on some brokers.
Draw Levels on Chart (requires Virtual Levels)
boolfalseWhen Virtual Levels is enabled and this is true, the EA draws horizontal lines on the chart at the virtual SL and TP levels so you can see them visually.
Only one Position
boolfalseWhen true the EA will not open a new position if one is already open on the symbol. Prevents pyramiding or stacking multiple positions from repeated signals.
Reverse All Trade Signal Combined
boolfalseInverts the final combined signal after all filters are applied. A Buy signal becomes a Sell and vice versa. Useful for testing counter-trend approaches without modifying the strategy logic.
Close opposite of All Trade Signal Combined
booltrueWhen true, receiving a Buy signal will close any open Sell positions (and vice versa) before opening the new position. Keeps the EA from holding conflicting positions simultaneously.
Two-level risk management system. Account Level monitors the overall account and closes positions when drawdown or profit thresholds are reached. Symbol Level does the same but scoped to the current trading symbol only.
Protection based on the account trades
boolfalseMaster switch for Account Level protection. When enabled the EA monitors overall account equity and closes positions automatically when the risk or profit percentage thresholds below are breached.
Total risk % on overall account
double1.0Account Level drawdown threshold. If total open positions are losing more than this percentage of the account balance, the EA triggers the close actions selected below.