FST will resend close order at every 30 seconds until the warning message is closed or the position is closed.
The position can be also close manually.

If the strategy comes from FSB, it has a time frame and a symbol record. I can add a warning and additional confirmation if one tries to start trading on different chart.

If strategy was set directly in FST it can also record info for the market it was initially started to trade.
Normally FST stop trading if the user changes the chart, but currently there is no warning or confirmation when tarding is started on different chart.

I can also add a record if a strategy was first tested on a Demo account. If it wasn't, FST can show a confirmation dialog.

I think the failure to close an order is a critical issue. There can be nothing worse than an open position going against you that you have no control over. A bit like in the early days when you couldn't get hold of your broker and no-one else wanted to get involved with a fellow brokers book. Here are my thoughts.

1. If the close order is sent and it fails I think the order should be continuously retried until canceled by operator intervention.  At the same time a flashing warning should be displayed on FST as a visual indication of a problem and maybe even send an email indicating an order failure.

2. How long should it retry for? Maybe every 30 seconds would seem reasonable. Maybe for an hour, after that the market would either be closed or there is another problem.

3. I think strategy activity should be stopped until the order is closed. You cannot keep trading a strategy when half of it is broken.

4. I do occasionally get a message that says market closed when it isn't and the next minute the order goes through so getting a market closed response shouldn't be an indication to stop sending the close order.

Repeating Failed Close Orders
My thoughts are to make FST checking the return status of close orders. If close order returns an error or we still have a position after that, FST must repeat the close order. It's clear but:
- how frequently FST should repeat failed close orders: At every minute, At every new bar...
- When to cancel resending of close orders: after a specified time...
- do we need to stop strategy activity until the position gets closed (I mean adding and so on)
Please comment on that topic.

Fixing Martingale.
Current issue is failing of catching activated Stop loss or Take profits some times. It means that consecutive losses stats may not be correct. It is not a big issue, but we have to make FST as better as we can. Any thoughts on that matter?

I'm going to release stable FST after fixing these topics. Am I missing something?

I'll be in Bulgaria till the end of August. FST and FSB must become rock solid till than.

Ok probably I know what`s the problem, as it`s conversion issue, it must be good/old -> different Culture. Do you use US culture (I`m from Europe) ?

************** Exception Text **************
System.FormatException: Input string was not in a correct format.
   at System.Number.StringToNumber(String str, NumberStyles options, NumberBuffer& number, NumberFormatInfo info, Boolean parseDecimal)
   at System.Number.ParseDouble(String value, NumberStyles options, NumberFormatInfo numfmt)
   at System.Double.Parse(String s, NumberStyles style, NumberFormatInfo info)
   at Forex_Strategy_Trader.Actions.ParseAndSetParametrs(String parameters)
   at Forex_Strategy_Trader.Actions.TimerPingTick(Object sender, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Is the text "when converting to double." a part of the errormessage?
thomas

Hi.
I`m testing 1.5.3.1, autostart seems to not work:

start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   140   "no"    "Test Trade"

got parse error, when converting to double.

Did you covert to double ConnectionID?
I'll add int.TryParse to prevent crashes.

start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   140   "no"    "Test Trade"

got parse error, when converting to double.

Following tags remain open after publishing FSTv1.5.1NB.

- Automatic log file for FST;
- Repeating non executed closing orders (with an on/off option);

To fix:
- Dealing with activated SL and TP that are not properly detected from expert.

Documentation ToDO:
- Trade Settings;
- Logical Groups;

ETA next NB with log file Wednesday.

///
/// Detects if position was closed from SL or TP.
/// Must be called at every new tick.
///
void DetectSLTPActivation(string symbol)
{
    
    // Save position values from previous tick.
    double oldStopLoss   = PositionStopLoss;
    double oldTakeProfit = PositionTakeProfit;
    double oldProfit     = PositionProfit;
    int    oldType       = PositionType;

    // Update position values.
    SetAggregatePosition(symbol);

    // Compare updated values with previous tick values.
    if (oldType != OP_SQUARE && PositionType == OP_SQUARE)
    {   // Position was closed this tick must be due to SL or TP.
        double closePrice;
        double activatedSL = 0;
        double activatedTP = 0;
        if (oldType == OP_BUY)
            closePrice = MarketInfo(symbol, MODE_BID);
        else if (oldType == OP_SELL)
            closePrice = MarketInfo(symbol, MODE_ASK);

        string stopMessage = "No SL or TP activation";
        if (MathAbs(oldStopLoss - closePrice) < 2 * PipsValue)
        {   // Activated Stop Loss
            activatedSL = closePrice;
            stopMessage = "Activated StopLoss=" + activatedSL;
        }
        else if (MathAbs(oldTakeProfit - closePrice) < 2 * PipsValue)
        {   // Activated Take Profit
            activatedTP = closePrice;
            stopMessage = "Activated TakeProfit=" + activatedTP;
        }

          // For Martingale (if used)
        ConsecutiveLosses = IF_I(oldProfit < 0, ConsecutiveLosses + 1, 0);

        string message = stopMessage +
            ", Position closed at " + closePrice +
            ", Profit=" + oldProfit +
            ", ConsecutiveLosses=" + ConsecutiveLosses;

        if (Write_Log_File) WriteLogLine(message);
        Print(message);
    }
}

It compares current tick position values with previous tick values. If the position was closed, the code checks if current price is near to position's SL or TP. If yes, it assumes that the closing was due to activation of SL or TP.
We'll log this info and send it to FST for logging and drawing on the chart.
Also Martingale ConsecutiveLosses variable is be updated according to the profit / loss.

I used the idea of @acerguest for FST starting automation.
The batch file for autostarting will be included in the distribution.
Here is it's code:

:: This batch file runs FST automatically, sets connection ID,
:: sets a strategy name to load and starts (or not) autotrade;
:: Example:
:: start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   100   "yes"   "Test Trade"
:: Where:
::       100 is the ConectionID,
::       "yes" means start autotrade when connected,
::       "no" means do not start autotrading,
::       "Test Trade" is the strategy name without extension.

start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   100   "yes"   "Test Trade"
start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   110   "yes"   "Test Trade"
start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   120   "yes"   "Test Trade"
start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   130   "no"    "Test Trade"
start "" "Forex Strategy Trader.exe"   140   "no"    "Test Trade"

It will be available for testing on Monday together with other changes on FST.

I'm planning a short vacation (5-6 days) from 18th of July, so I really hope to update FST to next beta till then.

Hope Hackers' God will send me some inspiration.