metatrader.info

Hi folks,

In my humble opinion, there are two things make any software a professional software. The first thing is the stability of the software, the second and the most important thing is the usability of the program.

The Wikipedia defines the usability as: “Usability is the degree to which the design of a particular user interface takes into account the human psychology and physiology of the users, and makes the process of using the system effective, efficient and satisfying.”

We are going to study the user interface of MetaTrader in these series of articles and you (the user) the only one who can decide the usability degree of MetaTrader.

 

Main window title:

The top most area of any application called the application title. In MetaTrader this title (Figure 1) contains: the current account number, the program name and the title of the active chart and its timeframe.

 

Figure 1 - Application title

Main menu:

Under the application title in the most of Microsoft Windows applications you will find the main menu (Figure 2). The main menu of MetaTrader contains all the available commands and functions in the terminal client. The main menu includes the following sub-menus: "File", "View", "Insert", "Charts", "Tools", "Window" and "Help".

 

Figure 2 - Main menu

Toolbars:

The toolbar(s) is a little window(s) under the main menu enables you to easy access some of MetaTrader commands and functions (Figure 3). The most important commands and functions have been grouped in four toolbars: "Standard", "Charts", "Line Studies" and "Periodicity".

These toolbars are customizable and you can change the commands of any of the toolbars.

 

Figure 3 - Toolbars

Market Watch window:

In this window you will find a list of financial instruments and their current prices (Figure 4). This window enables you to manage trade positions and charts. Double click the currency pair you want to open new order for or drag it to the price chart window to open its chart.

 

Figure 4 - Market watch

 

Data Window:

In this window you find useful information about the prices and programs (experts and indicators) attached to chart (Figure 5). just drag the mouse over the chart or the programs on the chart and you will see this information.

 

Figure 5 - Data window

Navigator window:

This is the window of the easy access to the opened accounts, advisors, indicators and scripts (Figure 6). From this window you can manage your accounts and your programs (advisors, indicators and scripts).

 

Figure 6 - Navigator window

Terminal window:

In this window you can work with account history, news, alerts, internal mail, news and logs (Figure 7). In this window you can see the opened and pending orders and manage them.  Notice the tabs at the bottom of this window which enable it to host a lot of useful windows.

 

Figure 7 - Terminal window

Price charts window:

The price chart window is the main tool for market data analysis. The terminal plots here the history data as well as the received quotations (Figure 8). Besides you can load your custom indicators and you can draw line studies and graphics.

 

Figure 8 - Price chart

Statusbar:

At the bottom of terminal client you will find the Statusbar (Figure 9). The statuesbar shows various information like: the statue of connection to the server, the name of currently loaded profile, hints for the under mouse command and the price data.

 

Figure 9 - Satusbar

Quick navigation box:

Clicking the left corner of the horizontal bar of the chart window will open text box called quick navigation box (Figure 10). In this box you can quickly navigate among the opened chart and chart periods. You can too to go to a specified position in the chart.

 

Figure 10 - Quick navigation box