2011-11-07
Cute Point and Figure indicator v1.3

IMPORTANT!!!
If you have already installed older version(v1.1 or v1.2)  of Cute Point and Figure indicator on your MT4 and want to install new one(v1.3) - i strongly recommend you to replace all old files with new ones, including templates .tpl files. 
More about this procedure in installation section below.

* This step will protect you from unexpected problems tied with version mismatch. You will not need older versions of indic, because newest version have all(old+new) features.



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What's new in v1.3:
* Added ability to add fully customizable(width, period, color) moving averages
* Added mail alert when new column of X's or O's appears
* Added ability to view each column's reverse time 
* CPU using optimization
* Additional 4 templates for boxes and X/O views 

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7 Files included:
* Cute_PointAndFigure_v1.3.ex4
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes.tpl
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes_with_MA_view.tpl
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes_with_MA_and_ReverseTime_view.tpl
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO.tpl
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO_with_MA_view.tpl
* Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO_with_MA_and_ReverseTime_view.tpl

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Cute Point & Figure v1.3 indicators features:
* Very easy in use and understanding
* Customizable boxsize & stepsize
* Added ability to add and customize two moving averages 
* Trend Lines plotting ability(manually)
* Alert signals when new column of X's or O's appears
* Mail alert function on X/O column change
* Customizable user interface(colors, font sizes etc)
* Two views: X/O & boxes
* Date showing(with ability to on/off: year, month, day displaying)
* Column's reverse time 
* Fast grid painting algorithm
* Warning messages when selected time frame is too big(helps to avoid crash of MT4)
* Warning messages about incorrect moving averages inputs
* Ability to be attached to Forex, stocks, indices, metal charts
* Suitable for scalping and for longer period trading
* Really Cute and simple look of X/O chart
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----- Installation -----
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If this is the first time when you are installing Cute Point and Figure indicator then skip  "IMPORTANT" chapter ant stop at  [1] of installation step.


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!!! IMPORTANT !!!
*If you have already installed older version(v1.1 or v1.2)  of Cute Point and Figure indicator on your MT4 and want to install new one(v1.3) - i strongly suggest you to replace all old files with new ones, including templates .tpl files. 


For those who don't know how to do that:


Find and delete all 5 previous version's files placed at your MT4 indicators(e.g. C:\Program Files\RealTrader4\experts\indicators\) and templates(e.g. C:\Program Files\RealTrader4\templates\). 

If it was v.1.1 then delete:

* Cute_PointAndFigure.ex4
* Cute_PnF_xo_view.tpl
* Cute_PnF_xo_paper.tpl
* Cute_PnF_boxes_view.tpl
* Cute_PnF_boxes_paper_view.tpl


If it was v.1.2 then find and delete:
* Cute_PointAndFigure.ex4
* Cute_PnF_xo_view_v1.2.tpl
* Cute_PnF_xo_paper_view_v1.2.tpl
* Cute_PnF_boxes_view_v1.2.tpl
* Cute_PnF_boxes_paper_view_v1.2.tpl

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--- Fresh installation steps: ---

[1] Firstly, check your MetaTrader 4 platform - is it based on 4(e.g. EUR/USD = 1.1234) or 5(e.g. EUR/USD = 1.12345) digits price.

*For 4 digits price platforms use: Cute_PnF_v1.3_for_4digits_MT4.zip 
*For 5 digits price platforms use: Cute_PnF_v1.3_for_5digits_MT4.zip

*** Warning! Don't run 4 digits price indicator on 5 digits MT4 and vice versa. This can take too much resources of your CPU, also can cause a crash of MT4.

[2] Turn off MetaTrader(if it's running).

[3] Extract Cute_PnF_v1.3_for_4digits_MT4.zip or Cute_PnF_v1.3_for_5digits_MT4.zip  file using ZIP or WINRAR to your desktop.

[4] Place the Cute_PointAndFigure_v1.3.ex4 file into the MT4 indicators folder. (e.g. C:\Program Files\RealTrader4\experts\indicators\)

[5] Then put the below files into the MT4 templates folder (e.g. C:\Program Files\RealTrader4\templates\):

*Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes.tpl
*Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes_with_MA_view.tpl
*Cute_PnF_v1.3_boxes_with_MA_and_ReverseTime_view.tpl
*Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO.tpl
*Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO_with_MA_view.tpl
*Cute_PnF_v1.3_XO_with_MA_and_ReverseTime_view.tpl

[6] Now run MetaTrader 

[7] Go to Tools>Options>Charts and in "Max bars in chart" type 15000 or 20000. This number means with how many bars Cute Pnf indicator will work. *Smaller the number = faster the indicator, but shorter PnF chart. And vice versa, bigger number = longer PnF chart, but takes more CPU resources.

[8] Restart MetaTrader.

[9] Now open a new chart and Select M1 timeframe(M1 timeframe is strongly recommended, because of charting accuracy and charting speed).

[10] Right click anywhere on the chart. Go to Template and choose any template which starts with the name Cute_PnF... 

[11] If wry grid or even no grid  appears on the chart, try to press M5 and then again M1(this will cause chart's redraw).

[12] To setup correct chart displaying - left click on vertical scale line on the chart(right corner of chart)  and drag down/up.

[13] Do the same like in step 8 for the timeline axis(bottom of chart).

[14] When you'll get the desired result with the look of your P&F chart - right click enywhere on the chart >>> Properties(F8) >> under section "Common" check the box called "Scale fix" and press OK. Now you will be able to drag your P&F chart horizontally and vertically. 

[15] That's it! Now you have configured your MetaTrader to correctly display Point & Figure chart with the help of Cute Point and Figure indicator. 


*If there still will be any problems with configuring and setuping indicator visit http://www.forexpnf.info , i've placed installation instruction video there. Also, if needed, send any words to: info@forexpnf.info or post a comment at http://www.forexpnf.info 


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----- Plotting trendlines -----
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You can plot up to 4 trend lines which will not shift and not dissapear.

1. Plot one trend line(use standard MT4 trend plotting tool) 
2. Go to it's properties:
2.1. double click to select plotted trendline(or use object list)
2.2. then right click on it 
2.3. choose "Trendline properties..." 
2.4. find section "Name" and change it to: "trend1"  (without ""), also all leters must be lower-case
2.5. set other options if needed(e.g: can uncheck ray feature) and press OK

That's it, now your trendline called "trend1" will be attached to chart and will not disappear and shift.
If needed you can plot more trendlines(up to 4). For that - repeat all steps posted above, but at step 2.4 don't forget to rename second trend line to "trend2", third to "trend3", fourth to "trend4".

For better understanding - how to plot trendlines correctly - watch video instructions at homepage.


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---- Using moving averages ----
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ShowMA=true option will turn on drawing an moving averages on your PnF chart.
You can add up to 2 moving averages. 
The MA's period must be greater than 1, the best values i recommend: 13, 21, 55, 100.
If you don't want to draw two of MA's then type in same period number(for example MA1period=20 and MA2period=20). 
You can also change MA's width, period and color settings.



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------ Using mail alert -------
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This feature let you get messages about appearing new X's or O's columns each time they appear. The mail message will include: pair, time, price information. This is very useful feature if you run MT4+CutePnF on remote computer.

For use of mail alert feature you must configure your MT4 Email(Tools>Options>Email). 
Fill the needed info:  SMTP server, SMTP login/password, etc inputs.
* More info about how to configure your MT4 mail can be found at forexpnf.info or just google it.
You can test your MT4 Email configuration by clicking "Test"  button there(Tools>Options>Email) and watching your Journals section for more info).
When you'll be done,  go to the Cute PnF v.1.3 properties.
MailAlertWhenNewColumnAppears=true will activate mail alert feature. 








HAPPY TRADING AND GOOD TECHNICAL ANALYSIS WITH POINT&FIGURE(the best method which i found)!
Thanks for using Cute Point and Figure indicator! :)





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---- My & indicator's history -----
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From the beginning of my friendship with Forex and Stocks  until this blog was born  Ive tested a lot of strategies based on: MAs(moving avarage), Bollinger Bands, Fractals, Stochastics, MACD, Parabolic SAR, CCI, Zig-Zag, Channel(figure) trading, support, resistance and much, much more.

After hundreds of unlucky tries to find 100% profitable method(also called holy grail) in forex(stocks)  i concluded that there is no holy grail.(by the way  from the beginning, my brother LS had pessimistic view about holy grail and was talking me about that thousands of times) 
The main method which looked explainable and sometimes profitable for me was  support/resistance trading. In spite of it  i wanted more accurate signal for jump in or closing the trade. Because of my trading style  1h/4h charts  i was used to spent a lot of time opposite my PC monitor to understand whats going on the stage. Also that support/resistance lines at short period trading were so unclear and unstable that was killing me.

After a while  my sufferings were spotted  I discovered Point & Figure charting method. This kind of charting gave me clear(filtered) support/resistance image. Later i discovered the world of Point & Figure patterns, what gave me an opportunity  to find accurate  buy and sell signals.

At the beginning i used classic Point & Figure drawing method  based on  pencil & paper. Later, internet gave me special  PnF  MS EXCEL sheets. MS EXCEL was not bad, anyway the disadvantages were:  importing/exporting  market data and poor graphical side of charting.

So, this is the way how  i  started programing  of my own Point & Figure indicator for MetaTrader 4 with MQL4 language. I called this indicator  Cute Point & Figure indicator.