TesterStop

Gives program operation completion command when testing.

void TesterStop();

Return Value

No return value.

Note

The TesterStop() function is designed for a routine early shutdown of an EA on a test agent – for example, when reaching a specified number of losing trades or a preset drawdown level.

TesterStop() call is considered a normal completion of a test, therefore the OnTester() function is called, and the entire accumulated trading statistics and optimization criterion value are submitted to the strategy tester.

Calling ExpertRemove() in the strategy tester also means normal test completion and allows for obtaining trading statistics, but the EA is unloaded from the agent’s memory. In this case, performing a pass on the next set of parameters requires time in order to reload the program. Therefore, TesterStop() is a preferred option for an early routine completion of a test.

Example:

//--- defines
#define BALANCE_LOSS_STOP  100.0       // value of the balance drawdown, at which testing is stopped
#define EQUITY_LOSS_STOP   100.0       // value of the equity drawdown, at which testing is stopped

//--- input parameters
input  double  InpLots        =  0.1;  // lots
input  uint    InpStopLoss    =  50;   // Stop loss in points
input  uint    InpTakeProfit  =  150;  // Take Profit in points
sinput ulong   InpMagic       =  123;  // MagicNumber
sinput ulong   InpDeviation   =  5;    // deviation
//--- global variables
CTrade      trade;                     // trade class instance
CSymbolInfo symb;                      // symbol class instance
CAccountInfo account;                  // trading account class instance
...
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int OnInit()
  {
   ...
//--- successful initialization
   return(INIT_SUCCEEDED);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| Expert tick function                                             |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
void OnTick()
  {
//--- update current quotes
   if(!symb.RefreshRates())
      return;
   ...

//--- if the balance or equity have dropped more than indicated in the BALANCE_LOSS_STOP and EQUITY_LOSS_STOP macro substitutions,
//--- the test is considered unsuccessful and the TesterStop() function is called
//--- check for loss of balance by more than BALANCE_LOSS_STOP
   if(balance_prev!=account.Balance())
     {
      if(account.Balance()<balance_prev-BALANCE_LOSS_STOP)
        {
         PrintFormat("The initial balance of %.2f %s decreased by %.2f %s, and now has a value of %.2f %s. Stop testing.",balance_prev,account.Currency(),balance_prev-account.Balance(),account.Currency(),account.Balance(),account.Currency());
         TesterStop();
         /*
         Result:
         The initial balance of 10000.00 USD decreased by 100.10 USD, and now has a value of 9899.90 USD. Stop testing.
         TesterStop() called on 9% of testing interval
         */
        }
     }
//--- check the loss of equity by more than EQUITY_LOSS_STOP
   if(equity_prev!=account.Equity())
     {
      if(account.Equity()<equity_prev-EQUITY_LOSS_STOP)
        {
         PrintFormat("The initial equity of %.2f %s decreased by %.2f %s, and now has a value of %.2f %s. Stop testing.",equity_prev,account.Currency(),equity_prev-account.Equity(),account.Currency(),account.Equity(),account.Currency());
         TesterStop();
         /*
         Result:
         The initial equity of 10000.00 USD decreased by 100.10 USD, and now has a value of 9899.90 USD. Stop testing.
         TesterStop() called on 9% of testing interval
         */
        }
     }
  }