Data Visualization and Analytics
What is the difference between Volume Profile and Market Profile TPO?
Volume Profile displays the quantity of buy and sell orders (Real Volume), or data ticks (Tick Volume) per price level.
Market Profile displays the quantity and indices of time periods where prices occurred per price level. Units are named TPO's, short for Time Price Opportunity. Market Profile is a charting technique by J. Peter Steidlmayer, a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), ca 1959-1985.
Volume Profile Histogram
Market Profile TPO Block Structure
Market Profile displays the quantity and indices of time periods where prices occurred per price level. Units are named TPO's, short for Time Price Opportunity. Market Profile is a charting technique by J. Peter Steidlmayer, a trader at the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT), ca 1959-1985.
Volume Profile Histogram
Market Profile TPO Block Structure
What is the difference between Real Volume and Tick Volume?
Real Volume is the quantity of buy and sell orders, data used in analytics to represent activity based on monetary value and classification, inherent to the market or type of instrument data might not be available, i.e., Forex and CFD's without access and value respectively.
MetaTrader 4, for use with CFD brokers, natively does not feature Real Volume, the indicator adds support via its application program interface (API) for use with equities, indices and commodities CFD's, i.e., CFD for stock or futures exchange contract.
Tick Volume is the quantity of data ticks, data used in analytics to represent activity based on data feed updates with classification by Price Action.
Tick Volume is the quantity of data ticks, data used in analytics to represent activity based on data feed updates with classification by Price Action.
How reliable are Tick Volume and Price Action Volume Delta?
Both are used with many different types of volume indicators widely valued as reliable analytical methods.
Compared to Real Volume, ethically, Tick Volume compiled Volume Profile and Footprint can only be considered as a completely different method of analytics. Theoretically, the difference in data type representation is very large, i.e., a tick of a large order, being a single for tick volume and multiples for trade volume, with a mere relation between ticks of (intermediary processed possibly accumulated) price updates. In practice however, the difference in terms of visual price level variation, the general form, is small. Large orders do not occur much as they are strategically split into smaller orders, technologically, processing speed related accumulation likewise. With discretion, this could be used as an lower quality, low cost, alternative. For Order Flow Analysis Volume Delta, between order type and Price Action classification, i.e., actual buy and sell orders, and higher and lower price changes, the difference is incomparable. This can only be used as another method of analytics.
Compared to Real Volume, ethically, Tick Volume compiled Volume Profile and Footprint can only be considered as a completely different method of analytics. Theoretically, the difference in data type representation is very large, i.e., a tick of a large order, being a single for tick volume and multiples for trade volume, with a mere relation between ticks of (intermediary processed possibly accumulated) price updates. In practice however, the difference in terms of visual price level variation, the general form, is small. Large orders do not occur much as they are strategically split into smaller orders, technologically, processing speed related accumulation likewise. With discretion, this could be used as an lower quality, low cost, alternative. For Order Flow Analysis Volume Delta, between order type and Price Action classification, i.e., actual buy and sell orders, and higher and lower price changes, the difference is incomparable. This can only be used as another method of analytics.
Data Feed and Connections
Which brokers provide Real Volume data?
For example, AMP Futures and Just2Trade provide Real Volume.
All MetaTrader 4, and most MetaTrader 5 brokers are CFD brokers, CFD brokers only provide Tick Volume, and not Real Volume as might with exchange stocks and futures brokers.
What are the differences between brokers in Real Volume data provided?
The scope of the Order Book, it is of the stock or futures exchange, named Market Data, or of the brokerage clients trade operations only as in most cases. For demo accounts and such other limitations or adjustments.
What is the difference between Top of Book (Level 1) or Market Depth (Level 2) data?
Top of Book Level 1, the Time and Sales (T&S) list, is the trade operation data for price charts and volume indicators such as Volume Profile. Market Depth Level 2 additionally provides data required for the Depth of Market (DOM) Column or Ladder.
How to connect Top of Book (Level 1) or Market Depth (Level 2) data?
For example, via a native MetaTrader 5 terminal connection with a MQL5.com Market subscription for Nasdaq (Level 1) data, or via the indicator its application program interface (API) with third-party data such as of Barchart.com or directly obtained from the marketplace applicable such as CME Group .
For third-party data connection with the indicator API simple, relatively low cost, custom programmatic functions (network connection and data formatting) might be required, the MetaEditor features an AI assistant (OpenAI GPT-4 models), and at MQL5.com Freelance work orders can be opened and developers selected.
For third-party data connection with the indicator API simple, relatively low cost, custom programmatic functions (network connection and data formatting) might be required, the MetaEditor features an AI assistant (OpenAI GPT-4 models), and at MQL5.com Freelance work orders can be opened and developers selected.
License purchase and rentals
Can a software license be used for both MetaTrader 4 and 5?
No, licenses purchased and rented via the MQL5.com App Store are per platform for 20 device activations. Cross-platform compatible data connector extensions do not require a license.
Why do Volume by Price MT4 product and checkout page links point to MQL5.com?
MQL4 and MQL5, short for MetaQuotes 4 and 5 programming languages, are for the development of MetaTrader applications. MQL5.com is a website providing various services for traders and developers of both platforms,
the MQL5.com Market service, or App Store, is for sellers to publish and distribute MetaTrader 4 and 5 applications which are licensed per platform to an MQL5.com user account.
Configuration and features
How reliable is MetaTrader 5 historical and real-time tick-by-tick data used with MetaTrader 4?
Most brokers internally use the same data feed when provisioning both platforms, with the indicator cross-platform interfaces, this allows to use data without any discrepancies including Real Volume.
Why are distributions different after chart timeframe or price scale change?
The default mode 'History Bars + Real-time Ticks Accumulation' stores data distributions in-memory. Chart timeframe and price level grid must be maintained, with chart scale fix, or reinitialization might occur (on price movement outside of the current scale) and tick accumulation is restarted, using coarse historical bar data up to that time.
The second mode 'History Ticks + Real-time Ticks' stores data tick-by-tick on disk which is persistant on reinitialization.
What is the use for .tpl, .set and .ini files?
Set files (.set extension) are to configure chart applications (e.g., type 'Indicator' and 'Script') they contain application input parameter settings. Set files can be used via the application's properties window 'Inputs' tab.
Templates (.tpl extension) are to configure charts they contain chart property settings including configurations of all applications attached to it. Templates can be used via the menu bar or context menu.
INI files (.ini extension) are to configure advanced or less frequently used settings and can be edited with a text file editor. For indicator they contain input parameter settings and can be used via the indicator's properties window 'Inputs' tab by file path as text input parameter values.
Templates (.tpl extension) are to configure charts they contain chart property settings including configurations of all applications attached to it. Templates can be used via the menu bar or context menu.
INI files (.ini extension) are to configure advanced or less frequently used settings and can be edited with a text file editor. For indicator they contain input parameter settings and can be used via the indicator's properties window 'Inputs' tab by file path as text input parameter values.
Still need help or have questions? See Help Center or use the MQL5.com Forum for direct answers and help with the MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms in general.
General disclosure: Materials, information, and presentations are for data visualization software feature educational purposes only and should not be considered specific investment advice nor recommendations. Example composition charts shown with indicators configured, including ranges and chart scales, strictly for best viewing with these purposes. Risk disclosure: Trading currencies, equities, indices and commodities involves substantial risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. An investor could potentially lose all or more than the initial investment. Risk capital is money that can be lost without jeopardizing ones financial security nor life style. Only risk capital should be used for trading and only those with sufficient risk capital should consider trading. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results.
