Scalping Gold Pro - Optimization & User Guide

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Scalping Gold Pro is designed specifically for Gold/XAUUSD, the M1 timeframe, and a Hedging account. If your broker uses a name such as XAUUSD.a, GOLD, or XAUUSDm, select that exact symbol.

Buy Scalping Gold Pro on MQL5 Market Recommended Broker (IC Markets)

IMPORTANT: Optimization does not guarantee future profits. A set file depends on the broker, the specifications of its Gold symbol, spread, commission, leverage, and the historical period used.

1. How to Open the Strategy Optimizer

Open MetaTrader 5 and connect to the broker account whose data you want to use.

Press Ctrl+R or open View → Strategy Tester.

Select the Expert Advisor optimization task.

In the Expert field, select Scalping Gold Pro.

Alternative: in Navigator → Expert Advisors, right-click Scalping Gold Pro and select Test. Then enable an optimization mode in the Settings tab.

2. How to Configure the Settings Tab

Field	Recommended setting	Explanation
Expert	Scalping Gold Pro	Select the copy installed from MQL5 Market.
Symbol	Your broker's Gold symbol	Usually XAUUSD, although it may include a prefix or suffix (e.g. XAUUSD.a, GOLD, XAUUSDm).
Period	M1	This is the EA's operating timeframe.
Date	Custom or predefined period	Last year is only an example. The longer the period, the longer the optimization will take.
Forward	No during exploration; 1/3 during confirmation	During final optimization, reserve the most recent third of the period to verify parameters.
Delays	Zero latency, ideal execution	Makes the initial comparison simpler and faster.
Modelling	1 minute OHLC	The recommended mode for optimizing Scalping Gold Pro. New entries are evaluated at the start of each M1 candle.
Profit in pips	Unchecked	Allows the tester to consider the deposit currency and margin calculations.
Deposit	Match the intended account	Use the actual starting capital you plan to trade with. Minimum: USD 100.
Leverage	Match your account	Leverage directly changes the margin used.
Optimization	Fast genetic based algorithm	Significantly reduces the number of passes when multiple combinations exist.
Criterion	Depends on your objective	You can use Custom max, Complex Criterion max, Drawdown min, or Profit Factor max.

How to Choose the Optimization Criterion

The criterion tells the genetic algorithm which results should be considered superior. There is no single correct criterion for every user.

Criterion	What it prioritizes	When to use it
Custom max	Scalping Gold Pro's proprietary criterion combining compounded monthly return, equity drawdown, and weekly trading activity. Passes with fewer than 5 trades or no profit receive a score of 0.	Use when you want a performance balance specifically engineered for this EA.
Complex Criterion max	MT5 built-in formula combining trade count, drawdown, expected payoff, Recovery Factor, and Sharpe Ratio.	Use for an overall multi-metric evaluation without over-focusing on one statistic.
Drawdown min	Searches for the lowest relative balance drawdown.	Use when capital preservation is the absolute priority. Check trade count to avoid selecting inactive setups.
Profit Factor max	Searches for the best ratio between gross profit and gross loss.	Use when seeking high profit-to-loss efficiency. Ensure enough trades are executed to be statistically sound.

Practical Recommendation: Run the main search with Custom max or Complex Criterion max. Then review how the best candidates perform when sorted by drawdown, Profit Factor, net profit, and trade count.

How Much Historical Data Should You Use?

Initial search: 3–6 months.
Confirmation: Use a longer period containing different Gold market volatility phases.
Rule: The longer the period, the longer each individual test pass will take.

3. How the Inputs Tab Works

Column	Meaning
Checkbox	Checked: MT5 varies that input during optimization. Unchecked: it remains fixed.
Value	The fixed value used when the checkbox is unchecked.
Start	The first value MT5 will test.
Step	The increment between one test value and the next.
Stop	The final value in the test range.
Steps	The total number of values generated for that input.

DO NOT OPTIMIZE EVERYTHING AT ONCE: Selecting too many variables causes combinations to grow exponentially (into billions or trillions). The recommended professional approach is to work with one strategy and only 1–2 inputs at a time.

Lot Management During the Search

To compare the core strategy logic without lot compounding distorting the results, initially configure:

Lot calculation method: Fixed lot.
Fixed lot: 0.01.
Maximum calculated lot: 0.01.

Before saving the final SET file, restore the lot calculation method you actually intend to use and run the complete backtest again.

4. Recommended Ranges for Periodic Strategies

This group includes strategies S01, S02, S03, and S06.

Input	Start	Step	Stop
Enable Sxx	Do not optimize. Keep `true` for the strategy being studied and `false` for the others.
Sxx activation	Ignore previous direction	Automatic	Previous net movement was downward
Entry interval — S01	3	3	15
Entry interval — S02/S03/S06	5	5	30
Maximum Sxx positions	1	1	5
Basket target per 0.01 lot	0.25	0.25	2.00

Stage A: Activation + Entry interval = 15–18 combinations.
Stage B: Maximum positions + Basket target = 40 combinations.

5. Recommended Ranges for Distance Strategies

This group includes strategies S08, S09, S10, and S12.

Input	Start	Step	Stop
Enable Sxx	Do not optimize. Keep `true` for the strategy being studied and `false` for the others.
Sxx activation	Ignore previous direction	Automatic	Previous net movement was downward
Distance between entries	300	200	1500
Maximum Sxx positions	1	1	5
Basket target per 0.01 lot	0.25	0.25	3.00

One distance unit equals 0.01 in the Gold price. For example, 300 represents a distance of $3.00 in XAUUSD.

Stage A: Activation + Distance = 21 combinations.
Stage B: Maximum positions + Basket target = 60 combinations.

6. Shared Filters & Global Settings

Optimize these filters only after tuning the individual strategies:

Input	Start	Step	Stop
Previous M1 bars to evaluate	30	30	120
Minimum previous net movement	0	250	1500
Minimum previous range	0	500	3000
Maximum previous net movement	Keep at 0 during the first search.
Maximum previous range	Keep at 0 during the first search.

Note: Do not optimize minimum and maximum filters simultaneously to avoid contradictory combinations.

Final Adjustment of the Complete EA

Input	Start	Step	Stop
Maximum total positions	4	2	12
Equity growth target per cycle (%)	0.20	0.20	1.00

DO NOT OPTIMIZE: Magic Number, spread, slippage, Pause new entries, lot calculation method, automatic risk level, lot sizes, Emergency equity drawdown, Action at emergency limit, Minimum margin level, or calendar filters.

Emergency equity drawdown: Must be fixed manually before starting. If you select Custom max, this value allows the criterion to adapt its return and drawdown targets. If you want the emergency limit at 10%, enter 10 and leave its checkbox unchecked (0 disables protection).

7. Recommended Step-by-Step Optimization Procedure

Stage 0 — Save the Original Values: In Inputs, right-click and select Save. Save the file as SGP_ORIGINAL.set.

Stage 1 — Select One Strategy: Start with S01. Set Enable S01 = true (unchecked for optimization). Set all other Enable Sxx = false. Check only S01 activation and Entry interval. Click Start (only ~15 combinations).

Stage 2 — Adjust the Basket: Set the chosen Activation and Interval values in the Value column and uncheck them. Check only Maximum Sxx positions and Basket target per 0.01 lot. Run optimization.

Stage 3 — Repeat with Other Strategies: Keep the selected values, temporarily disable that strategy, and repeat Stages 1 and 2 for the other active strategies you want to use.

Stage 4 — Test the Complete EA: Re-enable all chosen strategies. Uncheck every checkbox in the Sxx groups. Run a full backtest, then optimize only Maximum total positions and Equity growth target per cycle.

Stage 5 — Fine Search: Narrow the range around the best areas and use smaller steps (e.g. interval steps of 1 min, distance steps of 100, target steps of 0.10).

Stage 6 — Final Validation: Validate with 1 minute OHLC over a longer period, run Forward 1/3, restore your real lot calculation and risk settings, and test on demo.

8. How to Select an Optimization Result

Open the Optimization Results tab.
Sort Result from highest to lowest.
Do not look only at Profit. Compare drawdown, trade count, Profit Factor, Recovery Factor, and forward results.
Look for a stable area containing several reasonable neighboring values.
Right-click a candidate and select Set Input Parameters.
Run a single backtest and review the report and balance/equity curve.

REJECT: Unacceptable drawdown, too few trades, excessive margin pressure, profits concentrated in a brief period, or poor forward performance.

9. How to Generate the .set File

In Optimization Results, right-click the selected candidate.
Select Set Input Parameters.
Open the Inputs tab and confirm the values.
Restore the strategies, lot calculation method, and protections you actually intend to use.
Right-click inside Inputs and select Save.
Save the file with the .set extension (e.g., SGP_ICMarkets_XAUUSD_M1_LowRisk.set).

10. How to Load the Set File into the EA

Open a chart of your broker's Gold symbol (XAUUSD).
Change the timeframe to M1.
Drag Scalping Gold Pro from the Navigator onto the chart.
Open the Inputs tab.
Click Load and select the .set file.
Review Magic Number, lot calculation method, Maximum calculated lot, Emergency equity drawdown, and Minimum margin level.
Click OK and verify that Algo Trading is enabled in MetaTrader 5.

Quick Summary

Select your broker's Gold/XAUUSD symbol and M1 timeframe.
Use 1 minute OHLC for fast and accurate optimization.
Use Fast genetic based algorithm and a criterion matching your goal (Custom max or Complex Criterion).
Optimize one strategy and only 1–2 inputs per stage.
Use a broad range first and a fine search afterward.
Select results based on consistency, drawdown, and stability, not profit alone.
Always validate on a demo account before trading with real money.

Risk Warning

Leveraged trading can result in substantial losses. Historical results and optimizations do not guarantee future performance. Use a level of risk you can afford and validate every configuration before trading live.

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