Forex trading involves substantial risk of loss, and may not be suitable for everyone.
Contents
Welcome
Forex Strategy Builder is a complete system for creating and testing
Forex, Index or CFD trading strategies. These startegies can be automatically tradet
by using the free, visual platform - Forex Strategy Trader.
It provides an easy way of building strategies by combining various technical indicators.
All parameters and indicators logic can be selected from menus, so that you do not have to write
formulas and scripts.
Forex Strategy Builder uses historical forex rates to perform a reliable
backtest on different markets and data periods.
It gives you detailed charts and statistics, and automatic journals show all orders
and positions as well as the changes of your virtual bank account.
The program includes a number of useful tools like strategy generator, optimizer, interpolation
methods comparator, bar explorer, pivot points calculator...
Download
If you have downloaded this program from a mirror server,
it might be outdated.
Please check for the newest version on its main download page:
http://forexsb.com/download.html.
System Requirements
The only important requirement of Forex Strategy Builder is
the presence of Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0.
It is the new managed code-programming model for Windows.
The Framework is also useful for many other applications.
Windows Vista and Windows 7 include the required Framework. If you have windows XP with
auto update switched on, the Framework should be automatically installed also.
In order to facilitate you, we have provided a script that checks
the compatibility of your computer. It works with Internet Explorer only.
If your browser shows a warning message about the script presence, you have
to permit its usage. This script is not harmful.
The system requirements of this program are determined by
Microsoft .NET Framework Version 2.0.
Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows 7
- Windows Vista
- Windows XP
Required Software:
If you use Windows Vista, you do not need to install additional software.
Forex Strategy Builder is fully compatible with it.
Installation
- Download the Forex Strategy Builder's installation file.
- Double click on it to run the installer.
- Read and accept the users' license agreement.
- Choose a destination folder. By default, the installer makes folder
Forex Strategy Builder into your Program Files folder.
- Choose a group for the Windows Start Menu icons. The default one is Forex Strategy Builder.
- Read the ReadMe file.
- Update the forex rates from the program's website or from your broker.
Extract the historical forex rates in Dat folder. You can reach it from the Start Menu.
It is a subfolder of the Forex Strategy Builder's folder.
Upgrade
The best way to renew your Forex Strategy Builder is to download the latest version and
to install it over the old installation.
Forex Rates
Updated forex rates are provided in the program's website.
After download, extract the archive in .\Data subfolder or in other folder. If you use
different folder you can point it from the [Market] - [Data Directory] menu.
Demo strategies
The program is distributed together with several demo strategies.
They are for demonstration only!
- Demo Bollinger ADX - a classical Bollinger Bands trend following strategy.
- Demo Ichimoku Kinko Hyo - a trend following system based on this indicator.
- Demo MACD Reversal - demonstrates the "Close and Reverse" logic.
- Demo Optimizer - usable for testing the Optimizer. - Open the Optimizer, check all the checkboxes and press "Optimize". It can reach 6500 pips profit.
- Demo Scanner - contains some ambiguous bars. You can apply the Scanner or Method Comparator on it.
- Demo Trading the News (NFP) - it catches a price move after a news announcement.
- Demo Weekly Trading - demonstrates the possibility of trading only during certain periods of the week.
- New - the default starting strategy.
Safe strategy building!
- Use pessimistic method of interpolation.
- Check your strategy with the scanner and the method comparator.
- Minimize the ambiguous bars.
- Avoid over-optimization.
- When it is possible, test the strategy using data from alternative source.
- For more information, browse the forum
and the program's web site.
Uninstallation
To remove the Forex Strategy Builder from your computer,
run the uninstaller from the Windows Start Menu or from Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs.
You can manually uninstall Forex Strategy Builder by deleting its folder.
Change Log
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.12.0.0 (February 24, 2010)
- Backtester can determine ambiguous bars during scannig due to two orders in a single intra bar. (Reported by Doncello)
- "Indicator Parameters" - return same dir signal to its previous state as before "Close and Reverse" was activated (Reported by Footon)
- Historical rates updated from Alpari, time zone GMT.
- Repaired Permanent SL sign in Strategy Overview.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.11.0.1 (February 06, 2010)
- Fixed a bug with the generator - setting a negative number to Permanent SL
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.11.0.0 (January 16, 2010)
- All Stop Loss values are positive numbers. Changed indicators: Trailing Stop, Trailing Stop Limit, Stop Loss, Stop Limit.
- The minimum value of Permanent Stop Loss and Permanent Take Profit were changed to 5 pips.
- The maximum value of all Stop Loss and Take Profit indicators were changed to 5000 pips.
- Changed indicators fix for "jumping price". Affected indicators: Steady Bands, Bollinger Bands, Starc Bands, Keltner Channel, Envelopes, Donchian Channel, Moving Average.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.10.0.0 (November 1, 2009)
- Permanent Take Profit added.
- The traded size can be part of a lot.
- Strategy generator was improved.
- Pessimistic method of interpolation is more pessimistic now.
- Optimistic method of interpolation is more optimistic now.
- Method comparator switches off Trade until Margin Call option.
- Intrabar data are loading automatically when "Automatic Scann" is switched on.
- Loading of intrabar data after changing Data Horizon or Data Directory.
- The starting tips are ordered.
- Generator is able to generate Permanent Take Profit.
- Chart settings are saved into the config file.
- Many small fixes have been made.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.9.1.0 (May 23th 2009)
- New feature - "Export Strategy as Custum Indicator" added.
It makes possible testing of multicurrency and multiperiod strategies.
- Changed signals logic of the indicators "Average True Range", "ATR MA Oscillator" and
"Oscillator of ATR" form dirrectional oscillators to nodirectional oscillators.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.9.0.0 (May 17th 2009)
- The program can load custom indicators.
- New, more sophisticated functions for calculating the signals included.
- Aroon indicator was removed. Aroon Histogram indicator was included instead.
- Indicators were rewritten in order to increase the calculation precision.
- Relative Vigor Index indicator was added.
- Data Horizon logic was improved.
- Strategy Generator - Out of Sample testing was added
- Strategy Optimizer - Out of Sample testing was added
- Additional Statistics was added.
- Oscillator of MACD was improved. New parameters were added
- Hungarian translation was added. Contributed by Denes Bagi.
- Russian translation was improved.
- Trailing Stop Limit indicator was added. It sets a Trailing Stop Loss and a constant Take Profit levels.
- Full Screen mode was added. Short key: Alt + Enter
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.8.2.1 (March 18th 2009)
- Indicator logic rules description added to the Indicator Parameters Window.
- Some tool windows resized to fit properly the Russian translation.
- Parameter names of Hourly High Low indicator corrected.
- Entry Hour indicator - minutes added.
- Web links properly redirected.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.8.2.0 (March 3th 2009)
- The program recognizes greater variety of ambiguous bars and incorrect logic.
- Fixed issue with missing signal sell in overlapped fractals.
- Issue with closing ambiguity when the exit order price is equal to the bar closing price fixed.
- Vertical shifts to Pivot Points, Previous High Low, Fractal and Round Number indicators added.
- More logic rules to the Stochastics indicator added.
- Narrow Range indicator (NR4, NR7) added.
- Inside Bar indicator (IB) added.
- Hourly High Low indicator added. It measures the highest and the lowest price in a time interval.
- Bug in Balance of Power indicator - Division by Zero - fixed.
- Issue with slippage setting in Instrument Editor Dialog fixed.
- Ichimoku Kinko Hyo indicator and a proper demo strategy added.
- Many another smaller issues fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.8.0.0 (January 20th 2009)
- The program works with Forex, Indexes and CFD data;
- New indicators added: Aroon, Ease of Movement, Balance of Power,
Detrended Oscillator, Fisher Transform, Percent Change,
Previous Bar Closing, Previous Bar Opening;
- The program's interface is translatable;
- Main Menu - several fixes, icons added;
- Strategy Overview - several fixes;
- New tools added - Profit Calculator, Pivot Points Calculator,
Fibonacci Levels Calculator, Command Console
- Buttons for showing the journal tables - added on the main screen;
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.1.4 (September 9th 2008)
- Strategy Publisher - BBCode issue was fixed.
- Strategy Publisher - Ctrl-A shortcut added.
- Strategy Overview - HTML markup fixed.
- Intrabar Scanner - "Scan" button was removed. The scanning accomplishes automatically now.
- Several dialog windows ware better coded
- Account settings - new Leverage numbers added: 1/1, 1/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/50
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.1.3 (June 15th 2008)
- Indicator Bar Range was added.
- Indicator Ross Hook was added.
- The program warns when the strategy description might be outdated.
- The help links are pointed to the new help system at http://forexsb.com/help
- Offline data file parsing issue fixed.
- A localization issue fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.1.1 (May 15th 2008)
- Round Number indicator was added.
- Minor fixes in the indicator parameters dialog;
- Minor fixes in the position journal table.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.1.0 (May 1st 2008)
- Adjustable number of the traded lots.
- Automatic scan - menu [Testing] - [Automatic Scan].
- Backtesting to a Margin Call - can be switched off from menu [Testing]
- [Trade until a Margin Call]
- New indicators - Price Move, Enter Once, Week Closing, Account Percent Stop, ATR Stop:
- Price Move - Sets an entry point at a predetermined number of
pips away from the base price.
- Enter Once - Allows only one entry during the desired period.
- Week Closing - Closes the position at the end of the week.
- Top Bottom Price - Uses the highest and lowest prices of a previous period (bar, day, week, month)
- Account Percent Stop - Sets how many percents of you account to risk.
- ATR Stop - Sets the stop level depending on the market volatility
(using Average True Range as a criterion).
- The information in the strategy overview was improved.
- There is description to the strategies.
- Completely new function for reading the offline data files. It can recognize
more file formats now.
- A simple calculator is integrated - quick start [F12].
- Several bugs have been fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.0.2 (March 16th 2008)
- Minor bug with the indicators chart was fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.0.1 (March 13th 2008)
- Several minor fixes.
- Installer and uninstaller are provided (Inno Setup).
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.6.0.0 (March 6th 2008)
- Virtual trading account in EUR or USD.
- The strategy Overview explains the logic in plain English.
- Forex Strategy Builder can load the last used strategy automatically.
- You can choose a separate offline data folder for the history rates.
- The strategy generator was improved. It initially optimizes and refines
the strategy. You can lock some slots also to keep them unchanged.
- You can set long and short swap numbers in pips and a slippage value.
- A Permanent Stop Loss can be used as additional exit level or as a permanent loss limiter.
- Additional journal by positions was provided.
- You can apply different color schemes. You can edit them also.
- A Trailing Stop bug was fixed.
- Many other fixes.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.3.3 (November 4th 2007)
- A critical bug with the "Starc Bands" indicator have been fixed
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.3.2 (November 1st 2007)
- Links to Daily and Weekly Forex Outlook were added
- Several minor bugs have been fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.3.1 (October 1st 2007)
- "Heiken Ashi" indicator - added.
- Export to xls format function - added. It can export market data, indicators values and the journal summary.
- The user interface was improved and now better fits to Windows Vista
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.3.0 (September 1st 2007)
- "MACD Histogram" indicator - added.
- "DeMarker" indicator - added.
- "Force Index" indicator - added.
- "Day of Week" additional filter - added.
- FSB checks the loaded data. This function can be switched On / Off from "Market" menu
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.2.0 (August 05th 2007)
- "Moving Averages Crossover" indicator is added. It compares two Moving Averages.
- "Previous High Low" indicator is added. It makes the prices High and Low from
the previous bar easier to use.
- "Data Horizon" function is added. . It helps limit the number of bars or the first
and the last date of data input.
- Some bugs are fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.1.1 (July 14th 2007)
- The "Donchian Channel" indicator is improved. An automatic parameter
"Use Previous Bar Value" is added.
- Some bugs are fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.1.0 (July 10th 2007)
- The "Intrabar Scanner" is improved
- "Data refining" function is provided. It corrects the data by filling
in the gaps between the Opening price and the previous Closing price.
It is available in the "Market" menu.
- A Microsoft .NET Framework identification function is added to the file "ReadMe.html".
- Some bugs are fixed.
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.5.0.0 (July 1st 2007)
- When starting the program, "Tip of the Day" appears.
- The program regularly checks for a later version (without sending any personal data over the web).
- Generator - a fully automatic generator of strategies is introduced.
- Evaluation of the historical test - determines whether the calculation of the bar is correct or ambiguous.
- Various methods of interpolation are introduced. (They mostly concern the ambiguous bars):
- Pessimistic scenario - the price moves in a direction opposite to the direction of
the position. (A worse development is possible!).
- Optimistic scenario - the price moves in the same direction as the direction of
the position (A better development is possible!).
- Random execution - the nearer order has better chances of being executed.
- Nearest order first - executes the nearest order first.
- Shortest route inside the bar - the price follows the shortest possible route
inside the bar.
- Bar Explorer - shows the route of the price inside the chosen bar
(depending on the method of interpolation).
- Intrabar Scanner - loads all available intermediate data and uses it for achieving
a more accurate calculation.
- Fast scanning - use F6 from the main screen of the program (You need loaded data).
- New Date/Time functions are added:
- "Data Bars Filter" - you can use it to exclude a certain number of bars from the test.
- "Date Filter" - excludes data, older or newer than a certain date.
- "Entry time" - entering the market between certain hours - useful with 1-hour or shorter charts.
- "Entry Hour" - opens a position at a certain time - 1-hour or shorter charts.
- When closing the program, it asks whether you wish to save any unsaved strategies.
- A button for easy hide of the journals is added.
- Bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.4.2.0 (April 19th 2007)
- Donchian Channel indicator - added
- More symbols - added
- Take Profit - added - For demo only!
- Stop Loss - added
- Stop Limit - logic improved - For demo only!
- Trailing Stop - logic improved
- Close logic conditions - only when the "Closing point of the position" is "Bar Closing"
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.4.0.2
- Bug in the Envelopes Indicator was corrected
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.4.0.1
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.4.0.0
- Added many new indicators
- Improved logic of the back-testing algorithm
- An optimizing function included
- Added more info in the stats windows and the journals
- Improved interface
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.3.3.0b
- "Pivot Points" indicator added
- Column "Equity" in the journal added
- Account chart showing the position's price (corrected with the rollover fee)
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.3.2.0b
- A new indicator: "Long or Short" added
- A new indicator: "Random Filter" added
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.3.1.1b
- Changed logic of the Directional Indicators
- Some of the indicators' parameters renamed
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.3.1.0b
- Function show/hide the Journal Panel added
- Minor bug fixing
Changes in Forex Strategy Builder v2.3.0.0b
- Design improvement
- Spread dropdown menu added - you can set the spread
- Swap Numbers dropdown menu added - you can set the swap number
- Same Direction Signal dropdown menu added - indicates how the next "same direction signal" acts
- Opposite Direction Signal dropdown menu added - indicates how the next "opposite direction signal" acts
- Function Strategy Overview added
- When you open a strategy, saved under different market conditions, a dialog box asks you to set the proper market
- Minor bug fixing
If you have any questions, ideas or offers, please contact us at
info@forexsb.com
or leave a message into our
forum.