Forum

lolinternets 2007.08.07 05:54 

So, I just started with MQL4 and am writing my first EA. It's an extremely simply EA for USD/JPY. On initiliazation it's supposed to generate a random number, normalize it so the number is either 1 or 0, and depending on the number it will place a buy or sell order. Then on each tick it checks for an open order; if one is open it does nothing, if no orders are open then it generates a random number, normalizes it so the number is either 1 or 0, and depending on the number places a buy or sell order. Now my problem is, the MathRand() function doesn't seem to be generating random numbers, it keeps generating the same number so the EA keeps placing buy orders. Below is the code and any help is appreciated. Thank you.

int ticket, err;
double rand;
 
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert initialization function                                   |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int init()
  {  
   MathSrand(TimeLocal());
   rand = MathRand();
     rand = rand/32767;
    rand = MathRound(rand);
      
    if ( rand == 0 )
    {
      ticket = OrderSend( Symbol(), OP_BUY, 1, Ask, 3, Ask-0.10, Ask+0.10, "", 16384, 0, Green);
      err = GetLastError();
    }
    else
    {
      ticket = OrderSend( Symbol(), OP_SELL, 1, Ask, 3, Ask+0.10, Ask-0.10, "", 16384, 0, Green);
      err = GetLastError();
    }
      
    if (err > 0)
    {
      Print("error(",err,"): ");
    } 
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert deinitialization function                                 |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int deinit()
  {
   OrderClose(ticket,1,Ask,3);
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
//| expert start function                                            |
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+
int start()
  {
   if ( OrderSelect(ticket, SELECT_BY_TICKET) == true )
   {
      if (OrderCloseTime() > 0)
      {
         rand = MathRand();
          rand = rand/32767;
          rand = MathRound(rand);
             
         if ( rand == 0 )
          {
            ticket = OrderSend( Symbol(), OP_BUY, 1, Ask, 3, Ask-0.10, Ask+0.10, "", 16384, 0, Green);
          }
          else
          {
            ticket = OrderSend( Symbol(), OP_SELL, 1, Ask, 3, Ask+0.10, Ask-0.10, "", 16384, 0, Green);
          }  
       }    
    }   
   return(0);
  }
//+------------------------------------------------------------------+

phy 2007.08.07 07:52 

void MathSrand(

int seed)

The MathSrand() function sets the starting point for generating a series of pseudorandom integers. To reinitialize the generator, use 1 as the seed argument. Any other value for seed sets the generator to a random starting point. MathRand retrieves the pseudorandom numbers that are generated. Calling MathRand before any call to MathSrand generates the same sequence as calling MathSrand with seed passed as 1.