To install History Data:
Technical analysis is the methodology used for forecasting the direction of prices by studying past market data, primarily price and data. Markets are most often analyzed using charts. As such, it's very important to have available historical data for all symbols and timeframes used. Historical data are constantly formed and stored on the server. Connecting to it, the client terminal downloads all necessary data. These can be then used for the drawing of charts, testing and optimization of Expert Advisors. To control historical data, the terminal has a special window named "History Center". This window can be opened by executing the command "Tools — History Center" or by pressing F2.
After the terminal has been shut down, all accumulated historical data will be stored in the "History Center". Sizes of files containing historical quotes do not exceed values defined in settings. If the amount of historical data accumulated exceeds the value set in the field of " Max. bars in history:", the oldest bars will be deleted when storing. For each timeframe, a separate history file is formed named as SSSSSSPP.hst (where SSSSSS - symbol name, PP - timeframe in minutes) and saved in the /HISTORY. Later on, the saved data will be used to draw charts, as well as for testing of trading strategies.
In the "History Center" window, the available data can be changed. For this, it is necessary to select the desired symbol and timeframe in the left part of the window. The corresponding data will be loaded in the form of a table. To add a record about a new bar, it is necessary to press the button of the same name, fill out all necessary fields in the new window and press "OK". After that, the new bar will appear in the history. One can modify the bar by selecting the corresponding record and pressing the "Modify" button. To delete a bar, it is necessary to select it and press the button of the same name.
It is possible to load quotes for basic currency pairs starting with year 1999 from the historical data server. To do so, it is necessary to select the desired symbol and press "Download".
When downloading historical data, it is recommended to control the number of bars in history and in charts.
Historical data can be exported into files formatted as CSV, PRN and HTM. For this, it is necessary to select the desired symbol in the left part of the "History Center" window and press "Export". Then it is necessary to select one of three file formats and specify the path of location on the hard disk.
Historical data as CSV, PRN, TXT, HTM and HST can also be imported into terminal.
Historical data in the file can be represented as follows (any other separator can be used instead of space):
First of all, it is necessary to select a symbol and a timeframe, for which the import will be performed, in the left part of the "History Center" window. Then it is necessary to set up import parameters by pressing "Import":
After historical data have been imported, they can be used to show charts and test Expert Advisors.