UPDATE: MT4 Floating Charts is working again!
I have to admit that the first time that I used Metatrader was kind of a big event for me. Up until that time, I had been using the free Java charts that brokers were offering.
If you have been trading Forex for long enough, you know the ones I mean. They were really clunky to use, you couldn't store any settings and they would crash ALL the damn time. Setting up your charts at the beginning of the trading day could take 15 minutes.
It was like going to the best barber shop in town, that only plays Ice Ice Baby on the stereo. You had to sit still in the chair, no matter how irritating the rest of the experience was.
But it did start to get to me. On some days, did almost didn't feel like trading. Of course, there were other paid solutions out there, but why would I do that?
If you do not know what I am talking about, consider yourself lucky.
Metatrader had it's bugs too, but being able to save chart settings, having trendlines that actually worked and being able to add custom indicators was nothing short of amazing. The desktop version of Metatrader is still my favorite charting program.
They have done a really good job of improving it over the years. I can't say the same for the iPhone version though.
How It Could Be Better
Just like anything else, it could be better.
Their backtesting functionality is sketchy, at best. Sometimes indicators don't load correctly. The program doesn't uninstall cleanly. But these are minor points, in my opinion.
However, there is one thing that Metatrader does not do natively that I wish it did…multi monitor charts. What is the use in having all your fancy monitors, if you only have one Metatrader window?
There is a solution out that that may solve the problem. I'll tell you what that solution is and give you my opinion on it in this video:
Multi Monitor Metatrader On A Mac
As you probably know, ever since my first experiments with a pseudo-Mac, I have been a huge fan of the OS X operating system. The only trouble is that brokers and forex programmers don't share my sentiments.
The fact is that most forex trading programs are only for Windows and I don't see a big shift happening any time soon. Hopefully with the invention of that hideous monster called Windows 8, programmers will start to see the light.
But I digress…
Here is how to get a multi monitor setup to work with a Mac:
Resources
Here are the links to the products mentioned above:
- MT4 Floating Charts homepage
- VMWare Fusion
- Windows XP might be hard to get, try Windows 7 instead
- I use a MacBook Pro
- I love Viewsonic Monitors
Don't want to mess with this crazy setup?
Get TradingView and get multi-monitor trading in a regular browser on Windows, Mac and Linux. Simply open a new browser window and drag it your other screen.
This is one of the many reasons that I switched to TradingView.
Conclusion
But if you are looking for a way to finally use Metatrader 4 to it's full potential, that is how you do it. I have to thank Colin Jessup for turning me on to this program. He tweeted about it one day and it has been one of the best trading tech discoveries that I have found in awhile.
Would you need a multi monitor setup with Metatrader or not? Leave a comment and let us know…
Disclosure: Some of the links above might be affiliate links where I receive a commission if you purchase through those links. But the money made goes towards my Heroic List goal of going Shark Diving (#12) and a portion gets donated to my charity partner.
As of 2019-09-23 Mon MT4 Floating Charts is working again.
My Floating Charts software stopped working 2019-09-20 Fri about 23:00 hrs. GMT and by 05:30 2019-09-23 Mon it was working. However in the intervening time I found a free to use back up script IBFX – Undock chart that allows you to undock chart windows but lacks the functionality of MT4 Floating Charts.
With IBFX you don’t have any left or right click functionality on any of the undocked charts, or a chart menu. A chart menu is only available on the main window.
If you want to do anything on the chart you have to redock it adjust the chart and then undock it again.
I got mine from this post https://www.tradingsystemforex.com/scripts-and-other-tools/108143-undock-charts-out-of-mt4.html As a script you have to run it every time you want to undock a chart. It is not a credible alternative to MT4 Floating Charts but a good back up, that doesn’t require an internet connection for authentication like MT4 Floating Charts.
To install I did the following:
Down load the zip file and then extract its information. In the new folder there should be two files. 1) IBFX – Undock chart.ex4 & 2) MT4iConnect.dll
Open up MT4 and click File/Open Data Folder. This will open a documents window click MQL4 – Scripts. Copy the IBFX – Undock chart.ex4 and paste it to the Scripts folder. Then go to File/Open Data Folder/MQL4/Libraries and Copy the MT4iConnect.dll and paste it to the Scripts folder. Close down MT4 and then reopen it.
In the Navigator window under Scripts you should see “IBFX – Undock chart”. Simply drag and click/drop it onto the chart you wish to undock. You will then see that chart undoock from the main window and you are then able to click on it and position it to which ever screen you wish.
I’m posting this in the hope that it is of use to some people. All the best.
It looks like a great backup, thanks!
Floating charts are working again
Great, thanks for the update! Yes, it’s working.
MT4 Floating Charts disappeared, my lifetime membership lasted 9 months. lol
Sorry to hear that, not sure what happened to that company. They just disappeared.
yes, http://www.floatingcharts.com. is not working
hey, I have a paid version, but it has stopped working for two days, the website is not working either. you can check it, I need the program very much and probably only me
Not sure what is going on. Maybe they stopped supporting it.
If you pay for lifetime membership and upgrades then that’s pretty shitty, especially as some people have just purchased it. My emails have come back undelivered to their support address. What a joke
Sorry to hear it, that is shitty. I have added an update at the top of this post, to let people know.
Hi,
I know this is an old thread but it seems like the floating charts server went down today and their website is not working. Anyone else having this problem?
Yes, I also see that the site is down.
Hi ! Do you know how to make multple copys of Fibonacci retracements you created ?? I set parameters on Fibonacci retracements then saved them on template , have extra levels on them . But when I load the template with new Fibonacci retracements level , the levels are still in default setting . How do I fix ? Need help . Thank you . God Bless
Hi Mariano, the Fibonacci levels don’t get stored in the template, they should be stored in Metatrader. If you are using Floating Charts,try closing all the child charts, then setup the Fibonacci levels. Then when you open a new chart, the levels should be there.
I also use a mac but I use VirtualBox. What preference in VirtualBox to allow floating charts to work
Sorry, I don’t have any experience with VirtualBox. You should download the free sample of Floating Charts and give it a try before you buy.
I am also using a mac. Went with “parallel desktop” in the end (heard “vm fusion” works just the same). In my view multi monitor set up is a time saver and makes monitoring different charts less time consuming and laborious. Some people say over kill. I am aiming for six monitors, just what I feel comfortable using and will compliment how I trade. I find it keeps things nice and ordered the ability to see more without realising it. I believe picking up on more data than you actually know. If you cant see the data because its hidden in a task bar you waist time flicking between views and tabs. Your minds eye is able to receive less input from what you pick up in subliminal messages. Watch some stuff on Darren Brown and how receptive the mind is to things you don’t realise your registering. Its just a theory of mine.
Cool, thanks for sharing. I think that there is something to subconscious learning.
I have a similar setup as you. My solution is: Mac OS + Windows XP in VirtualBox(it’s free and as good as VM fusion). I think Oanda’s Java platform(also they have MT4) is good, and it can store users’ preference on server. Therefore, you won’t lose your setting.
Cool, never tried VirtualBox, thanks for sharing.