We have Trailing Step parameter equal to 10 points. This parameter is coded in the Expert Advisors and it is used only in "New tick" mode.

The Trailing Stop has two Trailing modes: "New bar" and "New tick".

For backtesting FSB uses only "New bar" mode. It moves the trailing stop only at a new bar if there is a new High (Low for short positions). If the initial stop is XX points, FSB starts trailing when the market forms new highest High (or low for shorts). It puts the SL XX points below the highest High.

You can uses "New bar" or "New tick" for trading via the Trader (MT bridge) or with Expert Advisors. The "New bar" works in the same way as in the backtesting mode. If you use "tick mode", the EA moves the stop when there is a new High using a Trailing Step parameter.

You can find this parameter in the beginning of the Expert Advisers.

This is copy of the EA code with more info:

// TrailingStop_Moving_Step determines the step of changing the Trailing Stop.
// 0 <= TrailingStop_Moving_Step <= 2000
// If TrailingStop_Moving_Step = 0, the Trailing Stop trails at every new extreme price in the position's direction.
// If TrailingStop_Moving_Step > 0, the Trailing Stop moves at steps equal to the number of pips chosen.
// This prevents sending multiple order modifications.
int TrailingStop_Moving_Step = 10;

There is no trailing step in the backtester. Or, if you prefer, the Trailing Step = 1 point.

Hi again Popov

After more thought there may be some confusion over how a Trailing Stop usually functions.
I did research before posting this subject to confirm my understanding of how the Trailing Stop offered by some brokers usually functions - and it's clearly explained here:

http://help.saxobank.com/customer/portal/articles/1945781-what-is-a-trailing-stop-order-and-how-can-i-use-it-

This describes a Trailing Stop with
1) An Initial Stop - self explanatory.
2) A Trailing Step - defines the number of points profit after which the Initial Stop will be trailed by the specified Trailing Step.
NB: The position is not required to be in profit by the amount of the Initial Stop before the Trailing Stop commences.

If I reread your explanation (above) of the Trailing Stop functionality in FSB backtesting (using 'new bar mode') it does not conform to this functionality. If I understand you, in FSB the Trailing Stop only commences trailing in 1 point increments when the position is in profit by the amount of the Initial Stop.
- This is a very different functionality: As I said previously, this results in a profit equal to the Initial Stop being required before the position begins trailing (and in fixed 1 point increments).

Your description of the functionality when using 'new tick mode' (not available for backtesting) isn't detailed and exactly clear to me, but it does appear to conform to the expected functionality described as clearly as I can, above - and has different functionality to that you describe for 'new bar' mode.
But, one can't backtest in FSB using the "TrailingStop_Moving_Step" setting available only in the source code - only for trading in 'new tick mode'.

So, the Trailing Stop functionality (and behaviour) available for backtesting in FSB appears to be a different and maybe not as useful interpretation of how a Trailing Stop usually functions.

Perhaps you can confirm if my understanding is correct that the Trailing Stop available for backtesting in FSB does function differently to the (standard from what I've seen) Trailing Stop functionality provided by some brokers.

Much appreciated

Hi Popov

Please calm down I think there may be too much heated debate on here, as a general observation.
I'm reminded now of how easy it is to fail to communicate clearly, or, to misunderstand a written communication and be mistakenly upset by it.

I think you misunderstood and missed the 1 key point of my previous post - I was not making issue with the use of bar data vs. tick at all, or broker or MT4 issues (I wasn't going there at all).- I just felt I should refer to your explanation and terminology re the difference in FSB's Trailing Stop re. tick and new bar.

My apologies for not succeeding in communicating more clearly the one problem I am confused about.

My question is only about the behaviour of the way the FSB Trailing Stop 'rules' work vs. they way I've seen it usually set up at brokers.

Again I repeat my understanding: You say the FSB Trailing Stop waits for the position to be in profit by the amount of the Initial Stop before it starts trailing in Trailing Steps equal to the Initial Stop. I hope I understand this clearly.

I point out that the Trailing Stop I am familiar with - as per the link example, has a different functionality and behaviour.
This Trailing Stop has a (user input) Trailing Step parameter (FSB doesn't) , and it starts trailing the initial Stop as soon as this Trailing Step is reached in profit; and trails in increments of the Trailing Step NOT increments of the Initial Stop.
NB: I.e. It does not wait to be in profit by the amount of the Initial Stop before it starts trailing - and in increments of the Initial Stop. This is the key difference I'm asking about.

In FSB (backtesting) it trails in increments of the specified Initial Stop, not in increments of the Trailing Step - as you describe the FSB Trailing Stop behaviour.
So, if I understand, you're saying in effect that in FSB, the Initial Stop and the Trailing Step are identical.
This is the key point of difference in functionality and resulting (undesirable) behaviour I'm trying (very hard) to describe.

Here's an example which may help:

I want a Trailing Stop in FSB with an Initial Stop of 1000 (=100 pips in 5 decimal instrument)
So FSB will only start trailing when I'm in profit by a massive 100 pips - and in increments (Trailing Steps) of a huge 100 pips.
The usual Trailing Stop would allow me to specify the Trailing Step and it will start trailing as soon as the position is in profit by the Trailing Step (e.g. only 10 pips) NOT when it is in profit by the amount of the Initial Stop (e.g. 100 pips).

So in a 'usual' Trailing Stop setup screen - I can set the Trailing Step at 100 (or i.e. 10 pips). When the position is in profit by only 10 pips it will start trailing in only 10 pip increments.
In FSB it would wait for profit of 100 pips before trailing in increments (Trailing Steps) of 100 pips.
Surely this is a big difference in behaviour, again, if I understand you correctly.

I may be misunderstanding your explanation and your are indeed describing the behaviour I expected, but having used the Trailing Stop a lot in FSB backtesting - using a big Stop of e.g. 100 pips (1000 in FSB) and a small Take Profit e.g. 10 pips (100 in FSB) - I see that it never actually trails, and now I think I understand why.

This is a big difference in behaviour in my understanding, hence the question and concern.

Thanks for your help and patience.

Please note I'm talking about backtesting the Trailing Stop in FSB - it's available settings and behaviour in the FSB backtester - not it's (apparently correct) MT4 behaviour.

One needs to be able to backtest in FSB the same behaviour as happens in MT4.

In the FSB backtester (you say) it trails in increments of the Initial Stop(?) - not in a user specified Trailing Step - that can be much smaller.
Also, again, the user setting of Trailing Step is not available in FSB backtester

This is the big difference in available settings (Trailing Step missing) and resulting behaviour when you compare the FSB backtester Trailing Stop and a the correct Trailing Stop - that I have tried to explain in detail repeatedly in my previous posts.

Quote 1: "For backtesting FSB uses only "New bar" mode. It moves the trailing stop only at a new bar if there is a new High (Low for short positions). If the initial stop is XX points, FSB starts trailing when the positions makes XX points profit and the program puts the stop at XX points below the current close price."

Quote 2: " If the High is lower than the position opening price + 20 points, the SL remains at the same level. If the previous bar High is higher than the positions opening price + 20 points,  the program sets the SL to High - 20 points."

Here I'm trying to show the Trailing Stop doesn't appear to function in FSB backtester. The position never trails - with an Initial Stop of only 200 and a Take Profit of 5000.

I may be doing something wrong?

Pic 1 of setup screen attached - pic 2 of the Trade journal to follow

I see different values of the ProfitLoss: -220, -115, -119, -168, -84 ...

Since the only exit rule that may close at a loss is Trailing Stop, it is obviously that the Trailing Stop trails.
If the Trailing Stop was constant, it would show equal losses.

Ok I see now the different profits and losses - thank you. - So it is trailing.

(I expected to see the Stop changes as entries in the Journal but now I see it looks like the Trailing Stop movements are visible in the 'Bar Explorer' view. Ahaa moment)

Last question I hope, please - to be absolutely clear:
Is it trailing in increments of the Initial Stop or default increments of 1 pip (10 in FSB)?

(From the irregular profit losses I presume it is trailing in increments of 1 pip?)

Thanks again Popov for your apparently endless patience.

Just confirming my understanding:

The Trailing Stop in FSB backtester is trailing in 'Trailing Step' increments of 1 point.

As you said: "There is no trailing step in the backtester. Or, if you prefer, the Trailing Step = 1 point."

[I just used the Saxo explanation link that I found - because it described exactly the identical Trailing Stop behaviour and the availability of the Trailing Step user setting I have seen/used at other brokers]