Seven guides, one path
The guides section is a short handbook written once and kept current: seven chapters that cover everything between "I downloaded a file" and "it is running on a VPS and I trust it a little". This post is the map, so you can jump to the chapter you need instead of reading all seven.
The chapters in order
- What is an expert advisor? The vocabulary: EA versus indicator versus script, the common strategy families, what you need to run one, and an honest answer to "are free EAs profitable".
- How to install .ex4 / .ex5 files. The data folder, the right subfolder, refreshing the Navigator, enabling algo trading, and what the smiley face or hat icon means.
- .ex4 vs .ex5. Why the two are not interchangeable, how to tell which terminal you have, and what to do if you only have the wrong one.
- How to test a free EA on demo. Strategy Tester settings that matter, what to log during a demo run, and the numbers that decide whether it deserves real money.
- EA not working? The usual fixes. Sad face, no trades, "invalid stops", DLL prompts, wrong account type, and the terminal log lines that tell you which one you have.
- Download Telegram files on a PC or VPS. Three ways to get a file from the channel onto the Windows machine that actually runs it.
- Why everything here is free. What the site is, what it deliberately does not do with files, and the one paid part that is kept separate.
Which chapter to open first
| You are here | Read |
|---|---|
| Never used an EA | Chapter 1, then 2 |
| File downloaded, cannot see it in MetaTrader | Chapter 2, then 3 |
| EA attached but not trading | Chapter 5 |
| Deciding whether to go live | Chapter 4 |
| Setting up a VPS | Chapter 6 |
| Wondering what the catch is | Chapter 7 |
How the guides are built
Each chapter has a contents rail, a FAQ block, previous and next links, and structured data so search engines and AI assistants can quote the exact answer. They are static pages generated from one source file, which is why every chapter shares the same layout and the same update date. When something in MetaTrader changes, the chapter is edited and the date moves.
What the guides do not cover, and where that lives
- Strategy-specific advice lives on the collection pages and in this blog: grid EAs, scalpers, gold robots.
- Building your own robot is covered in the EA Builder post and the builder's own in-app guide.
- Editing an existing EA's code is what the source vault is for.
Frequently asked questions
Are the guides for MT4 or MT5?
Both. Every chapter gives the MT4 and MT5 steps side by side where they differ, and says clearly when something applies to only one platform.
How often are the guides updated?
Whenever MetaTrader or Telegram changes something the guides describe. Each chapter shows its update date at the top.
Is there a guide on writing MQL code?
Not yet. For building a robot without code, use the EA Builder and its in-app guide. For learning MQL, reading the source files from the vault is a practical start.