Introduction
The Average Directional Movement Index Multi-Timeframe (ADX MTF) Indicator for MetaTrader 5 provides directional signals from all 21 standard timeframes, ranging from M1 to MN1.
For each timeframe, it displays a directional arrow object (`OBJ_ARROW`) using Wingdings character 108:
🟢 Green arrow = upward ADX signal
🔴 Red arrow = downward ADX signal
After gathering these signals, the indicator calculates a consensus summary using a unique logic:
If the number of **up** signals is greater than **down + 1**, the indicator plots a larger **Wingdings 217** upward arrow
* If the number of **down** signals is greater than **up + 1**, it plots a larger **Wingdings 218** downward arrow
This enables traders to view a high-confidence trend direction based on multi-timeframe ADX analysis directly on the main chart.
🔁 Note: All multi-timeframe indicators developed by Forex Home Expert use this exact signal logic structure.
The Average Directional Movement Index Multi-Timeframe indicator for MT5 (ADX_MTF) utilizes a template and displays a panel on the chart. Its function, operation, and usage are identical to the Strength of Price Movement Multi Timeframe indicator (SPM_MTF) as detailed in the previous article. For a comprehensive guide on creating a multi-timeframe indicator, you can refer to the following resources: Strength of Price Movement Multi Timeframe indicator for MT5
Key Features:
✅ 21-Timeframe Directional ADX Scanning
✅ Wingdings Arrows Overlay (per timeframe)
✅ Summary Arrow with Up/Down Consensus Calculation
✅ Color Customization for Each Signal
✅ Built-in Alerts (pop-up, email, mobile)
✅ Graphical Interface Panel for Timeframe Switching (via `OnChartEvent`)
Inputs and Parameters
| Input | Description |
| --------------- | ------------------------------------------ |
| `BarCalc` | Bars used for ADX signal scan |
| `ArrowUp` | Color of up signal arrow |
| `ArrowDn` | Color of down signal arrow |
| `NTArrow` | Color of neutral arrow (default) |
| `f_model` | Font type for arrows (usually "Wingdings") |
| `alerts` | Enable/disable alert popups |
| `UseEmailAlert` | Enable email alerts |
| `UseSendnotify` | Enable push notification alerts |
Why Multi-Timeframe ADX Matters?
The ADX is powerful for identifying **trend strength** but lacks insight into **trend consistency** across timeframes. This custom ADX_MTF indicator solves that:
📈 Confirm short-term trades with long-term trend backing
⚠️ Avoid sideways or weak markets using visual confirmation
🚨 Detect powerful breakouts supported by multiple timeframe trends
Using **all 21 timeframes** (from M1 to MN1) ensures broad trend consistency in your decision-making process.
Technical Overview: How the Indicator Works
Timeframe Management
The indicator prepares and manages handles for all standard MT5 timeframes:
ENUM_TIMEFRAMES TFId[] = {PERIOD_M1, PERIOD_M2, ..., PERIOD_MN1};
int tfxar = ArraySize(TFId); // total 21 timeframes
/*
Handles for all timeframe-specific ADX indicators are stored in `hADXp[]` and initialized inside `OnInit()` using `iADX()` for each timeframe.
*/
Signal Extraction Logic
Each timeframe is scanned using:
//---
int ADXDirectionScan(const ENUM_TIMEFRAMES stf,int shift) // Scan ADX Direction
{
//--
int ret=0;
int rise=1,
down=-1;
//--
int br=shift+2;
double res=0.0;
UpdatePrice(stf);
//--
double ADXp[];
ArrayResize(ADXp,br,br);
ArraySetAsSeries(ADXp,true);
//--
int xx=TFIndexArray(stf);
CopyBuffer(hADXp[xx],1,0,br,ADXp); // We will use ADX indicator buffer for DI+
//--
if(ADXp[shift]>ADXp[shift+1]) ret=rise;
if(ADXp[shift]<ADXp[shift+1]) ret=down;
//--
return(ret);
//---
} //-end ADXDirectionScan()
//---
/*
This compares DI+ values (buffer 1) to detect rising or falling strength.
*/
Consensus Calculation Logic.
//---
void ADXMovementCalculation(int barCnt) // Scan the direction of iADX on each timeframe
{
//--
ArrayResize(PowerMove,barCnt,barCnt);
ArraySetAsSeries(PowerMove,true);
//--
for(int i=barCnt-1; i>=0; i--)
{
up=0;
dw=0;
//--
for(int x=0; x<tfxar; x++)
{
Arwcolor[x]=NTArrow;
PowerMove[i]=0.0;
int PPM=ADXDirectionScan(TFId[x],0);
if(PPM>0)
{
up++;
Arwcolor[x]=ArrowUp;
}
if(PPM<0)
{
dw++;
Arwcolor[x]=ArrowDn;
}
if(x==tfxar-1)
{
if(up>dw+1)
{
PowerMove[i]=1.0;
TColor=ArrowUp;
curAlert=1;
}
if(dw>up+1)
{
PowerMove[i]=-1.0;
TColor=ArrowDn;
curAlert=-1;
}
}
}
}
//--
return;
//---
} //-end ADXMovementCalculation()
//---
/*
This logic ensures that only dominant directional consensus (not slight differences) triggers a clear summary signal.
*/
Dynamic Timeframe Panel (OnChartEvent)
The indicator creates a clickable panel on the chart containing labels for all 21 timeframes. When a label (e.g., "H4") is clicked, the internal reference timeframe for analysis is updated.
This makes it easy for the user to interact with the indicator dynamically.
void OnChartEvent(const int id,
const long &lparam,
const double &dparam,
const string &sparam)
{
//---
//--- handling CHARTEVENT_CLICK event ("Clicking the chart")
ResetLastError();
//--
if(id==CHARTEVENT_OBJECT_CLICK)
{
//--- if "X" button is click
if(sparam=="X")
{
mi.DeletedADXObject();
//--- unpress the button
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,"X",OBJPROP_STATE,false);
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,"X",OBJPROP_ZORDER,0);
//--
mi.display=false;
ObjectDelete(mi.CI,"X");
mi.DisplayPanelButton();
}
//--- if "cstar" button is click
if(sparam==mi.cstar)
{
mi.DeletedADXObject();
mi.DisplayPanelButton();
//--- unpress the button
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.cstar,OBJPROP_STATE,false);
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.cstar,OBJPROP_ZORDER,0);
if(!mi.display)
mi.display=true;
if(mi.corpos==mi.posbot) ObjectDelete(mi.CI,mi.arbot);
if(mi.corpos==mi.postop) ObjectDelete(mi.CI,mi.artop);
mi.DrawADXObject();
//--
ChartRedraw(mi.CI);
}
//--- if "artop" button is click
if(sparam==mi.artop)
{
mi.DeletedADXObject();
mi.DisplayPanelButton();
//--- unpress the button
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.artop,OBJPROP_STATE,false);
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.artop,OBJPROP_ZORDER,0);
if(!mi.display)
mi.display=true;
ObjectDelete(mi.CI,mi.artop);
mi.PanelPosChange(mi.postop);
//--
ObjectDelete(mi.CI,"X");
mi.DisplayButtonClick("arbot");
mi.DrawADXObject();
//--
ChartRedraw(mi.CI);
}
//--- if "arbot" button is click
if(sparam==mi.arbot)
{
mi.DeletedADXObject();
mi.DisplayPanelButton();
//--- unpress the button
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.arbot,OBJPROP_STATE,false);
ObjectSetInteger(mi.CI,mi.arbot,OBJPROP_ZORDER,0);
if(!mi.display)
mi.display=true;
ObjectDelete(mi.CI,mi.arbot);
mi.PanelPosChange(mi.posbot);
//--
ObjectDelete(mi.CI,"X");
mi.DisplayButtonClick("artop");
mi.DrawADXObject();
//--
ChartRedraw(mi.CI);
}
//--- if TF button is click
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[0])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[0],mi.TFId[0]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[1])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[1],mi.TFId[1]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[2])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[2],mi.TFId[2]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[3])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[3],mi.TFId[3]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[4])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[4],mi.TFId[4]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[5])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[5],mi.TFId[5]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[6])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[6],mi.TFId[6]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[7])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[7],mi.TFId[7]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[8])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[8],mi.TFId[8]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[9])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[9],mi.TFId[9]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[10])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[10],mi.TFId[10]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[11])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[11],mi.TFId[11]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[12])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[12],mi.TFId[12]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[13])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[13],mi.TFId[13]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[14])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[14],mi.TFId[14]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[15])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[15],mi.TFId[15]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[16])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[16],mi.TFId[16]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[17])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[17],mi.TFId[17]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[18])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[18],mi.TFId[18]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[19])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[19],mi.TFId[19]);
}
//--
if(sparam==mi.TFSc[20])
{
mi.ChangeChartSymbol(mi.TFSc[20],mi.TFId[20]);
}
//--
}
//---
} //-end OnChartEvent()
//---------//
How to Use
1. **Attach to Any Chart** (e.g., EURUSD H1)
2. **Adjust the Inputs**
3. **Observe Directional Arrows** per timeframe on your chart
4. **Watch Summary Signal Arrow** (center chart)
5. **Click Timeframe Labels** to change timeframe view instantly
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
**Q1: What makes this ADX MTF indicator different from the built-in ADX in MetaTrader 5?**
**A1:** The built-in ADX only analyzes the current chart timeframe. This ADX MTF indicator scans and displays directional strength across **21 timeframes**, giving you a full-spectrum view of the market’s trend dynamics. It also features consensus-based summary signals and interactive controls.
**Q2: What do the green and red arrows mean on the chart?**
**A2:**
**Green arrow** (Wingdings 108): Indicates that ADX is rising (positive DI > previous value) on that specific timeframe
**Red arrow** (Wingdings 108): Indicates ADX is falling (trend weakening)
The **large green (217)** or **red (218)** summary arrow shows dominant direction when more than one timeframe agrees
**Q3: How is the final summary signal calculated?**
**A3:** The indicator loops through all timeframes and counts up and down signals.
** If `up > down + 1`, it plots a large **up arrow** (Wingdings 217)
** If `down > up + 1`, it plots a **down arrow** (Wingdings 218)
** If neither, no summary arrow is drawn
**Q4: Can I change the timeframe used for analysis dynamically?**
**A4:** Yes. The indicator includes an interactive panel with all 21 timeframes (M1 to MN1). Just click on any label (like “H4” or “D1”) to switch the analysis source without reattaching the indicator. This is handled via the `OnChartEvent()` function in MQL5.
**Q5: Is this indicator repainting?**
**A5:** No. The indicator uses `CopyBuffer()` with proper indexing and does **not repaint** past signals. All calculations are based on closed candles and historical values.
**Q6: What symbols or assets can I use this on?**
**A6:** This indicator works with all MT5 instruments:
* Forex pairs (e.g., EURUSD, GBPJPY)
* Indices (e.g., DAX, S&P 500)
* Commodities (e.g., gold, oil)
* Crypto (e.g., BTCUSD)
**Q7: Does this indicator send alerts?**
**A7:** Yes. It supports:
* Popup alerts
* Email alerts
* Push notifications
These can be toggled on/off in the input settings.
**Q8: Can this be used inside Expert Advisors (EAs)?**
**A8:** While this is a custom visual indicator, its signal logic can be adapted into EAs. You may extract the consensus signal via `PowerMove[]` or implement a similar formula directly in your EA code.
**Q9: Can I use this for scalping or only for swing trading?**
**A9:** It’s suitable for **both**. Scalpers can confirm short-term moves with higher timeframe trends. Swing traders benefit from trend strength alignment across D1, H4, etc.
**Q10: Do I need to install any external libraries to use it?**
**A10:** No. Just download the `.ex5` file, place it in `MQL5/Indicators`, and run.
Conclusion
The **ADX Multi-Timeframe Indicator for MT5** offers a complete solution for traders who want to understand trend strength across all timeframes simultaneously. Using a unique formula that scans and weighs up/down movement across 21 timeframes, it delivers a summary arrow signal that simplifies complex data into an actionable visual.
With features like dynamic chart interaction, visual arrows, alerts, and a lightweight design, this tool is ideal for discretionary and algorithmic traders alike.
We hope that this article and the ADX_MTF or Average Directional Movement Index Multi-Timeframe Indicator for MT5 program will be useful for traders in learning and generating new ideas for trading, who can ultimately make money from home by trading forex.
Thanks for reading this article.
Please download the ADX_MTF indicator: Average Directional Movement Index Multi-Timeframe Indicator
If you are subscribed to my YouTube Channel, and would like to receive the source program of this article, please send a request via the Contact Us form page, and I will send it to your email, source code: Average Directional Movement Index Multi-Timeframe Indicator for MT5
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