Pine Script v5 → MQL4: Conversion Guide

Each guide pairs equivalent code side by side — same logic, both languages — and ships a free, original, MIT-licensed template you can run today. Demo-test everything: translation bugs are cheaper on demo.

Side-by-side: the core translations — Pine Script v5 → MQL4

// Pine v5
atr = ta.atr(14)

// MQL4: direct call, no handles needed
double atr = iATR(NULL, 0, 14, 1);

// Pine v5: strategies run on close by default
if barstate.isconfirmed
    // your logic

// MQL4: start() fires on every tick - gate it yourself
static datetime lastBar = 0;
if(Time[0] == lastBar) return(0);
lastBar = Time[0];

// Pine v5
var float peak = na
peak := math.max(nz(peak, close), close)

// MQL4: static or global scope
static double peak = 0.0;
peak = MathMax(peak == 0 ? close : peak, close);

// Pine v5: broker emulator
strategy.entry("L", strategy.long, qty=qty)
strategy.exit("X", stop=stopPrice)

// MQL4: explicit order + stop in one call
OrderSend(Symbol(), OP_BUY, lots, Ask, 30,
          NormalizeDouble(Ask - stopDist, Digits), 0,
          "tpl", Magic, 0, clrGreen);

Translation notes — Pine Script v5 → MQL4

• MQL4 has only orders (no separate positions like MQL5) - pool them with OrderSelect and filter by symbol + magic number.
• 4/5-digit brokers: some old EAs multiply pips by 10 when Digits is 3 or 5. ATR-based stops avoid this - the distance is in price terms already.
• MT4 strategy tester models ticks coarsely ("control points" mode) - verify any converted strategy on every-tick mode or demo before judging it.

Download the templates — Pine Script v5 → MQL4

⬇️ mt4-strategy-template.mq4 (MIT) ⬇️ pine-v5-strategy-template.pine (MIT)

Upgrading to MT5 later? See the MT4 → MT5 guide; going to TradingView instead: MQL5 → Pine v5.