Thread: How to Install and Activate an Expert Advisor (EA)

How to Install an Expert Advisor on Your Computer

If you do not already have an Expert Advisor (EA) file, then you can download a free EA Here (Free FXCM Expert Advisors).

To install an EA into the Metatrader 4 platform, you must save the EA in the following folder "C:\Program Files\FXCM MT4 powered by BT\experts" as pictured below:

• To save the EA file, simply drag and drop the EA file from its current location to the "C:\Program Files\FXCM MT4 powered by BT\experts" folder. In my example below, I installed an EA file called "FXCM_AwesomeIndicator_Oscillator.ex4".

• Congratulations, you have successfully installed your EA! To double check that you were successful, open up the FXCM Metatrader 4 platform and the Expert Advisor will be listed under Expert Advisor in the Navigator Window.

How To Install An EA On A VPS

** The following is for expert advisors that use executables (.exe) files to install. A lot of commercial expert advisors will use this. **

Keep in mind the steps below as well as screenshots are to provide you with a general outline of what to expect. It is very unlikely that your configuration will match up 100% with every screenshot but this information should give you a base of what to expect.

1) Share the necessary drives so you view them from the VPS.

• Click options.

• Click local resources.

• Click more.

Make sure "Drives" is checked.

2) Copy the expert advisor .exe from your local hard drive to the VPS.

3) Install the expert advisor in the Metatrader 4 directory.

• This is where it becomes slightly different than installing it on your local PC.

Example: On your local PC typically you would install in the following directory:

• C:\Program Files\FXCM MT4 powered by BT
  or
• C:\Program Files (x86)\FXCM MT4 powered by BT
• On the VPS is varies slightly.
• Let's say my login for the VPS is vpsuser1.

I would install in the following directory:

• C:\Documents and Settings\vpsuser1\Program Files (x86)\FXCM MT4 powered by BT
• Installing the expert advisor anywhere but this specific location will cause it not to show up properly so this point is critical before you can proceed.

4) Once the above is complete simply open Metatrader 4 like normal and set up your charts, attach the expert to to your chart(s), and if you have any type of activation code from the vendor you purchased your expert advisor from make sure you put this in the inputs before proceeding.

At this point the expert advisor should be enabled and begin trading at the next signal opportunity.

How to Activate an EA Once Installed

1) Locate the navigator window on the left side of MT4 as pictured below:




2) Left Click and hold on the Expert Advisor you wish to utilize, then drag and drop onto the chart. A popup box will appear; next ensure that the "Common" tab looks as pictured below:




3) You may want to customize specific items within the "Inputs" tab. This would also be where you would enter your specific code if you purchased the EA.




4) Click "OK", if you see a smiley face in the top right corner of the chart as pictured below, then you are done!




5) If you instead see an "X" as pictured below, then you have one step left.




6) Click the "Expert Advisors" button and you will notice a green circle with a play icon overlaid as seen below:



7) Congratulations, you have successfully activated your EA!

I have the EA installed, the EA button is green, but it is still not happy. The smiley face is not smiling. I have LMD installed and the Plimus # is entered.

Originally Posted by rrandor

I have the EA installed, the EA button is green, but it is still not happy. The smiley face is not smiling. I have LMD installed and the Plimus # is entered.

There are many reasons why this may occur. Most often the live trading option is not selected after adding your EA. Youll find this in step number 2 in the guide above . I would go through the steps one by one and see if you cant find the issue. If you still need further assistance let us know.