Getting Started

Syntax

FAQ

v3 Announcement

PineConnector Docs
PineConnector Docs
Getting Started

Getting Started

Getting Started

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Welcome to PineConnector — let’s get you set up fast!

This page will help you get started with PineConnector. Follow the steps in order and refer back here if needed. If you have questions or encounter any blockers at any stage, please reach out to PineConnector Support via the blue bubble at the bottom right corner!

1. Verify Compatibility with Your Operating System

PineConnector is compatible with the following Operating Systems:

  • Windows: 10 and 11.
  • Windows Server: 2016, 2019 and 2022.
  • MacOS: Possible but potentially unstable—consider using a Windows VPS.

    • Tip for MacOS Users: Utilize Microsoft Remote Desktop for better navigation of your VPS. Need help? View the VPS Setup guide.

The following Operating Systems are not compatible:

  1. Windows 8 or older: Upgrade to Windows 10 or 11.
  2. Windows Server 2012: Upgrade to Windows Server 2016, 2019, or 2022.
  3. MetaQuotes VPS: Use an alternative VPS provider, like the PineConnector VPS.
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Checking Your Windows Version If you are unsure which Windows version you are using, follow these steps to determine the version of Windows currently installed on your computer:
  1. Press the Windows logo key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type winver into the Open box.
    3. image
  3. Click OK or press Enter.

This action will display the "About Windows" box, showing the version and build number of the Windows operating system installed on your computer.

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Optimizing VPS Location for Your Broker Optimize your VPS location to achieve as low as 1ms latency, potentially saving up to 200ms.

Identify the best location for your broker:

Optimal VPS Location Checker →

2. Ensure that you have TradingView Essential Plan or Higher

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Using TradingView’s Trial? If you are on TradingView's free trial under the Essential, Plus, Premium, Expert, Elite, or Ultimate plan, you will be allowed to send webhook alerts, which satisfies the requirement to have a TradingView Essential plan or higher.
TradingView’s plans as of September 2023
TradingView’s plans as of September 2023

To automate your TradingView strategies, indicators, or scripts, you will require TradingView Essential, Plus, Premium, Expert, Elite, or Ultimate. Being on any of those plans will enable you to send webhook alerts.

Check TradingView Plan →

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Get TradingView and PineConnector For Free Sign up as a new Pepperstone client and receive a TradingView Essential plan plus 3 months of our Starter PineConnector plan worth $89.70 for free. With this arrangement, you are able to start automating your trading for free.

Learn more →

3. Setup PineConnector EA on Your MetaTrader Terminal

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For this step, please ensure that you have already registered for a PineConnector account.

Once you have ensured that you’re using a compatible Operating System, setup the PineConnector Expert Advisor (EA) on your MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 terminal, please refer to the respective guides:

Quick start (1)

4. Send in a Test Alert

After setting up the PineConnector EA on your MT4/5 terminal, send a few test alerts to verify that your connection is properly established and to familiarize yourself with the workflow, ensuring everything operates smoothly before executing live trades.

Test Alert Guide →

Test It Out

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License ID Your License ID is the long integer indicated in your PineConnector Portal.
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For your test alert, we recommend sending a simple buy order for EURUSD with 1 lot using the following syntax:

LicenseID,buy,EURUSD,risk=1

For this example, the License ID is 6161199464661. Accordingly, the syntax used will be:

6161199464661,buy,EURUSD,risk=1

If done correctly, you should see a buy position for EURUSD with 1 lot open on your terminal.

5. Familiarize Yourself with the PineConnector Syntax

Syntax is the way you write alert messages to configure and trigger specific actions in your MetaTrader terminal. Understanding and correctly using the PineConnector syntax is essential for effective automation of your trading strategies.

Syntax Guide →

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the following key syntax commands and components:

  • Commands (Market Orders):
  • Other Parameters:

Try These Out

The following are examples of syntax you should try:

  1. With different symbols — explore other FX symbols and non-FX symbols as per your Symbol List.
LicenseID,buy,GBPUSD,risk=1
LicenseID,buy,BTCUSD,risk=1
LicenseID,buy,US100,risk=1
  1. With a stop loss (SL):
LicenseID,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,sl=30
  1. With a take profit (TP) — note that other parameters such as sl= and tp= can be arranged in any order.
LicenseID,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,tp=50
LicenseID,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,tp=50,sl=30
LicenseID,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,sl=100,tp=200
  1. With a different command:
LicenseID,sell,EURUSD,risk=1

6. Familiarize Yourself with Various EA Options

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Errors During your familiarization, you may encounter errors such as 130 or 4756—please refer to the Error Guide for debugging and remedy steps. If you still face issues, please feel free to reach out to us.

After successfully sending test alerts, familiarize yourself with various EA options to implement your trading strategies with minimal or no coding.

EA Options Guide →

We recommend that you explore the following EA Options as they are the most frequently used:

Experiment with different settings by sending test alerts to see how changes affect trade execution. For instance, change the Target Type from pips to percentage to observe different target placements, or switch from Lots to Percentage of Balance for volume computation based on stop-loss and risk values.

7. Setup a Secret Key

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This step is recommended, but optional.

The Signal Authentication feature is a security mechanism designed to ensure the secure transmission of trading signals from TradingView to MetaTrader. By configuring a secret key, you can add an extra layer of security to your trading signals. This ensures that signals are only executed if the secret key in your TradingView message matches the one defined in the PineConnector Portal.

This feature helps prevent unauthorized access and ensures that only signals with verified authentication are executed, enhancing the overall security of your trading operations.

In the following example, we have added PineApple as the secret key.

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With the Signal Authentication feature turned on, you will have to add the secret component in your syntax, which looks like the following:

LicenseID,command,symbol,risk=1,secret=PineApple

From our example above, the new syntax will be:

6161199464661,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,secret=PineApple

Since the Secret Key is case-sensitive, the following will not be accepted:

6161199464661,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,secret=pineapple
6161199464661,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,secret=PINEAPPLE
6161199464661,buy,EURUSD,risk=1,secret=pINEaPPLE

8. Configure TradingView Script and Alerts

Once you understand the EA options and PineConnector Syntax, configure your TradingView indicator/strategy script and create alerts. Ensure the alerts trigger the appropriate trades on your MT4/5 terminal.

If you need an example of a script being PineConnector-compatible, please refer to the following SuperTrend strategy guide.

9. Monitor and Optimize Your Setup

Monitor your signals and trades to ensure they execute as intended.

  1. Check Logs Regularly:
    • Review the PineConnector Signal Logs and your MetaTrader Experts tab.
  2. Optimize EA Settings:
    • Adjust EA settings based on strategy performance.
  3. Optimize TradingView Strategy:
    • Fine-tune parameters such as risk management, stop-loss, take-profit levels, and trade sizes.

Initially, monitor closely, but as trading actions stabilize, you can reduce the frequency of monitoring.

By following these steps, you will have PineConnector set up and optimized for your trading strategies. Happy trading!

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How can we improve the Getting Started Guide?