MetaTrader 4 & 5 Integration

Files

Download

Five files make up the integration: the include, the Macro Panel and the News Filter, each for MT4 and MT5. Download the ones you need and place them in the MetaTrader folders shown below. MetaTrader allows web requests only from Expert Advisors and scripts, so both programs install as EAs.

Installation

Setup guide

FXMacroData.mqh

MQL function reference

All public functions are defined in FXMacroData.mqh and work identically in MQL4 and MQL5. Each function is a thin wrapper around a single REST endpoint.

// Policy rate — EUR requires an API key
string json = FMD_GetIndicator("eur", "policy_rate", ApiKey);
double rate = FMD_LastValue(json);
Print("EUR policy rate: ", rate);

// USD inflation — no-key evaluation, up to 100 requests/day
string inf = FMD_GetIndicator("usd", "inflation");

string cal = FMD_GetCalendar("usd");   // USD needs no key
int rows = FMD_CalendarCount(cal);
for(int i = 0; i < rows; i++)
  {
   long   epoch;  string release, name;
   int    tier;   bool   topTier, timed, assumed;
   if(!FMD_CalendarRow(cal, i, epoch, release, name, tier, topTier, timed, assumed)) continue;
   if(!timed || assumed) continue;        // keep exact official times only
   Print(name, " at ", TimeToString((datetime)epoch), " UTC, tier ", tier);
  }

string fx = FMD_WebGet(FMD_BuildUrl("forex/usd/jpy"), ApiKey);
double spot = FMD_LastValue(fx);
Print("USD/JPY spot: ", spot);

string cot = FMD_GetCOT("EUR", ApiKey);
double net = FMD_JsonDouble(cot, "net_non_commercial");

string json = FMD_GetIndicator("usd", "inflation");

// Get the most recent value
double val  = FMD_LastValue(json);

// Extract a named field from the last record manually
double num  = FMD_JsonDouble(json, "val");
string date = FMD_JsonString(json, "date");

Expert Advisor

Macro Panel EA

FXMacroData_MacroPanel.mq4 / FXMacroData_MacroPanel.mq5 is a non-trading Expert Advisor that draws a live data panel in the top-left corner of the chart showing four key macro indicators for both currencies in the active pair. It places no orders and touches no positions. It runs as an EA because MetaTrader allows WebRequest() only from Expert Advisors and scripts.

The panel reloads its values whenever RefreshMinutes have elapsed since the last API call, eight requests per refresh. Without an API key the USD evaluation allowance is 100 requests a day, so keep the interval at 15 minutes or more. The Strategy Tester cannot make web requests, so the panel shows "No live data in the Strategy Tester" there.

Expert Advisor

News Filter EA

FXMacroData_NewsFilter.mq4 / FXMacroData_NewsFilter.mq5 loads the FXMacroData release calendar for the currencies you choose, keeps the releases that carry an exact official time, and raises a terminal-wide flag while the clock is inside a window around each one. Your own EAs read that flag with one call and skip new entries until the window closes. The News Filter never opens trades itself.

Install

Copy FXMacroData.mqh to the Include folder and the EA to MQL5\Experts\ or MQL4\Experts\, compile it, then allow the API host under Tools › Options › Expert Advisors: tick "Allow WebRequest for listed URL" and add https://api.fxmacrodata.com. Attach the EA to one chart per terminal; the flag is shared with every other chart. If ClosePositionsBeforeRelease is on, Algo Trading (MT5) or AutoTrading (MT4) must be enabled for the closes to go through.

Guard your own EA

#include <FXMacroData.mqh>

void OnTick()
  {
   if(FMD_IsNewsBlocked()) return;   // inside a release window: no new entries
   // ... your entry logic here ...
  }

Inputs

Limits

• It blocks only EAs that call FMD_IsNewsBlocked() or read FXMD_NEWS_BLOCKED. Other EAs and manual trades are not stopped.
• It closes positions only when ClosePositionsBeforeRelease is on, and then closes every position on the chart symbol.
• Times are compared in UTC with TimeGMT(); the panel shows both your computer's local time and UTC.
• A failed calendar request keeps the releases from the last good load, and the panel shows how old the calendar is.
• The Strategy Tester cannot make web requests, so the calendar is empty there and the flag stays at 0.
• When the EA is removed from the chart the flag is reset to 0.

Examples

Custom scripts & EAs

Include FXMacroData.mqh in any Expert Advisor or script to access the full API surface. Indicators cannot call WebRequest(), so fetch in an EA and share values through global variables if an indicator needs them.

// Place in an EA or script — fires an alert when EUR-USD
// policy-rate spread crosses a threshold.
#include <FXMacroData.mqh>

input string ApiKey    = "";
input double MinSpread = 1.5;  // percentage points

void OnTick()
  {
   double eur_rate = FMD_LastValue(FMD_GetIndicator("eur", "policy_rate", ApiKey));
   double usd_rate = FMD_LastValue(FMD_GetIndicator("usd", "policy_rate"));

   if(eur_rate == EMPTY_VALUE || usd_rate == EMPTY_VALUE) return;

   double spread = MathAbs(eur_rate - usd_rate);
   if(spread >= MinSpread)
      Alert("EUR/USD rate spread: ", spread, "pp");
  }

#include <FXMacroData.mqh>

input string ApiKey   = "";
input string Currency = "usd";

void OnInit()
  {
   string cal = FMD_GetCalendar(Currency, ApiKey);
   Print("[FXMacroData] Calendar for ", Currency, ": ", cal);
  }

#include <FXMacroData.mqh>

input string ApiKey     = "";
input double MaxUnempRate = 6.0;

bool MacroConditionMet(const string currency)
  {
   string json   = FMD_GetIndicator(currency, "unemployment", ApiKey);
   double uemp   = FMD_LastValue(json);
   if(uemp == EMPTY_VALUE) return false;  // fail-safe: skip trade
   return uemp < MaxUnempRate;
  }

void OnTick()
  {
   if(!MacroConditionMet("usd")) return;
   // ... your entry logic here ...
  }

Help

Troubleshooting

Print(FMD_WebGet("https://api.fxmacrodata.com/v1/data_catalogue/usd"));