GTS error - Magic number conflict with other pair - Pip Cop

cogs · 2009-03-24, 05:44 AM

Now that Jerry is no lnger answering questions I will attempt to get this answered here.

'magic number conflict with other pair'

This is so frustrating. I have only one instance of GT-Shadow running on an account on one currency pair

and I still get this useless annoying error.

Any suggestions?

**PipCop** · 2009-03-24, 09:03 AM

Cogs, I would recommend you save your settings file to your desktop, stop the robot, then reset all the settings to default, then open the settings file with Notepad and manually re-entering the settings. I had a similar issue with RoboMiner and this resolved it.

Of course, be sure you maintain the same Magic Number if you have any open trades. If there are no open trades, you can change it.

**PipCop** · 2009-03-24, 11:12 AM

Here are some other things to think about:

1. You used to have it running with the same magic number on a different chart. Then you closed that chart. The problem is, under tools--->options---->charts, you have "save deleted charts to reopen" checked. That means that the platform is still running that chart in the background, even though you think it is closed. Or else you closed his platform and reopened it, and the chart is now open with the EA on it, but again, you doesn't realize it. you need to go into the options and uncheck that "save deleted charts to reopen" and then close the platform and reopen it again.

2. You has the same account running somewhere else, such as on a VPS, but doesn't remember it, and has the conflict on that platform.

3. You have a different EA altogether running on a different pair, but using the same magic number. This one is not too likely, however.

4. You used to have it running on a different currency pair

. You took the EA off that pair, and put it on a new pair, but still left trades open from the old pair. The EA is giving the message because it sees open trades for a different currency

, that have the same magic number. Even if you took the EA off that old chart, you still need to either close those old trades, or else use a different magic number on the current chart.

cogs · 2009-03-24, 04:36 PM

Pipcop,

I have alread tried your first suggestion many times, your second suggestion is most likely the case albeit no matter what I change the magic number to it does not allow the EA to function.

I have found it comes down to 'trade window' and 'range 1' settings. Unfortunately I had to alter these to make the EA trade and kept exactly the same magic number, which provided the error in the first place.

**PipCop** · 2009-03-24, 04:59 PM

How exactly did you alter those? I don't quite understand how they would affect the magic number.

cogs · 2009-03-24, 05:25 PM

Yes, quite interesting isn't it. Curiousity is the best way to fault find it seems.

eg: If I change the trade window from 24 to 25, the EA will trade again (or not) and the error message will dissapear. It only takes one incriment in the wrong direction with various settings and the EA will stop.

I can even run the EA with no magic number entered.

This is about the whole secrecy of the "magic number" and its relevance that is never explained.

**PipCop** · 2009-03-24, 05:57 PM

The magic number isn't a secret! The magic number is simply a unique identifier for trades made that allows robots to know which trades are under it's control. Many robots use it, and I've even programmed it into some of my own robots to help keep track of orders.

For example, if you had two robots trading on the same currency

, they would both need a different Magic Number so they'd know which orders they'd open, and which they should close.

Example: You're running GTS with settings for high risk, and running GTS on a second chart (but on the same account) with low risk settings. Trades placed by GTS v1 could use magic number "1" and the GTS v2 would need to place them with any other number, perhaps "2", so the two robots didn't confuse the open trades.

No secrecy there!

cogs · 2009-03-24, 06:28 PM

Then why do so many designers recommend - "Do not change it whatever you do"?
As long as it isn't the same as any other EA on any given chart you should be able to change it to whatever you like.

Also aren't the last two digits related to lot size?

I still am yet to understand why changing trade window and other parameters allows the magic number to be conflicting with others or not.

**1ka** · 2009-03-24, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cogs

...
Also aren't the last two digits related to lot size?.
...

Normally no.

However the EA author may have coded something that parses the magic number and extracts the last two digits to use as lot size. I'd question the sanity of any EA author though, if they did that

**PipCop** · 2009-03-24, 06:55 PM

Cogs, most authors tell you not to change it because average users run a robot for a month, then change it with open trades, and those trades are then orphaned and not controlled by the robot. Then they wipe out the account and the user blames the robot author.

I would be stunned if anyone calculated anything off the magic number. That would be insane.

See this link for the technical overview of Magic Number use:
http://docs.mql4.com/search/magic%20number
and then click the "Documentation" link at the left.