Low-Code Alert Setup

Learn how to add alert functionality to TradingView scripts for automated trading

Introduction

This guide shows you how to modify existing TradingView strategy scripts to send automated trading signals to your MT5 EA via TradeSgnl. You'll learn how to add alert functionality to your Pine Script strategies to enable automated trading.

Looking for a No-Code Solution?

If you prefer not to modify code, our TradeSgnl Strategy Builder offers the same functionality without requiring any programming knowledge.

What You'll Learn

Add visual confirmation arrows to your charts
Create clear visual indicators for trade entries and exits
Format alert messages for TradeSgnl EA
Ensure reliable communication between TradingView and your MT5 platform
Configure dynamic alerts with advanced parameters
Include risk settings, stop-loss, take-profit, and other trading parameters

This guide is ideal for traders who already have custom TradingView strategies and want to connect them to TradeSgnl EA for automated execution. We'll walk through the process step-by-step, from adding visual indicators to configuring webhook alerts.

Adding Visual Confirmation

Before adding alert functionality, it's helpful to add visual confirmation arrows to your chart. These arrows provide a clear visual cue for trade entries and exits, making it easier to understand when your alerts will trigger.

Using plotshape() for Visual Signals

TradingView's plotshape() function allows you to display icons or arrows on your chart when specific conditions are met. We'll use it to show buy and sell signals.

Buy Signal Arrow

plotshape(longCondition, style=shape.labelup, 
  location=location.belowbar, 
  color=color.new(#046ff9, 0), 
  size=size.large, 
  text='TradeSgnl \n Buy', 
  textcolor=color.new(color.white, 0))

Sell Signal Arrow

plotshape(shortCondition, style=shape.labeldown, 
  location=location.abovebar, 
  color=color.new(#046ff9, 0), 
  size=size.large, 
  text='TradeSgnl \n Sell', 
  textcolor=color.new(color.white, 0))

Implementation Steps

To add visual confirmation to your strategy script, follow these steps:

First: Identify Your Entry Condition

Before adding visual arrows, you need to determine exactly which conditions trigger your entry signals.

Finding Your Entry Conditions

Find the code where strategy.entry is called. The condition that triggers this is your entry condition.

if ta.crossover(fast, slow)  // This is your condition
    strategy.entry('long', strategy.long)

In this example, ta.crossover(fast, slow) is the entry condition you'll use for your visual confirmation.

Adding the Visual Arrows

Once you've identified your entry conditions, add the plotshape() calls to the end of your script:

Complete Example:

Strategy with Visual Indicators

//@version=5
strategy("TradeSgnl MA Crossover Strategy", overlay=true)

// Calculate moving averages
fastMA = ta.sma(close, 20)
slowMA = ta.sma(close, 50)

// Plot moving averages
plot(fastMA, color=color.blue, title="Fast MA")
plot(slowMA, color=color.red, title="Slow MA")

// Define entry conditions
longCondition = ta.crossover(fastMA, slowMA)
shortCondition = ta.crossunder(fastMA, slowMA)

// Strategy entries
if longCondition
    strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)

if shortCondition
    strategy.entry("Short", strategy.short)

// Visual confirmation arrows
plotshape(longCondition, style=shape.labelup, location=location.belowbar, 
  color=color.new(#046ff9, 0), size=size.large, 
  text='TradeSgnl \n Buy', textcolor=color.new(color.white, 0))
  
plotshape(shortCondition, style=shape.labeldown, location=location.abovebar, 
  color=color.new(#046ff9, 0), size=size.large, 
  text='TradeSgnl \n Sell', textcolor=color.new(color.white, 0))

Example of TradeSgnl arrows on a TradingView chart

TradeSgnl arrows showing buy and sell signals on a chart

Tip

The visual arrows are just for reference on your chart and don't affect the strategy's performance metrics. They help you confirm that your alerts will trigger at the right times.

Adding Alert Functions

With visual confirmation in place, the next step is to add alert functionality to your strategy script. These alerts will send trading signals to your TradeSgnl EA when your strategy's conditions are met.

Adding Custom Alert Messages

Simply add these input fields to your strategy:

Alert Message Inputs

// License code and alert message inputs
licenseCode = input.string(title="License Code", defval="YOUR-LICENSE-CODE", group="Alerts")
longEntryAlert = input.string(title="Long Entry Alert", defval="Long Entry Signal", group="Alerts")
longExitAlert = input.string(title="Long Exit Alert", defval="Long Exit Signal", group="Alerts")
shortEntryAlert = input.string(title="Short Entry Alert", defval="Short Entry Signal", group="Alerts")
shortExitAlert = input.string(title="Short Exit Alert", defval="Short Exit Signal", group="Alerts")

Using Alerts in Your Strategy

After adding the input fields, use them in your strategy logic:

Using Alert Messages

// In your strategy logic
if (longCondition)
    strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)
    alert(licenseCode + "," + longEntryAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (exitLongCondition)
    strategy.close("Long")
    alert(licenseCode + "," + longExitAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (shortCondition)
    strategy.entry("Short", strategy.short)
    alert(licenseCode + "," + shortEntryAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (exitShortCondition)
    strategy.close("Short")
    alert(licenseCode + "," + shortExitAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

Tip

Make sure to include your license code, symbol, and action at the beginning of each alert message. The custom alert text will be added at the end.

Important Note on Alert Frequency

Always use alert.freq_once_per_bar_close as the frequency parameter. This ensures alerts only trigger once when a bar closes, preventing duplicate trades from being executed.

Complete Example with Alerts

Complete Strategy with Alerts

//@version=5
strategy("Simple Strategy with Custom Alerts", overlay=true)

// License code and alert message inputs
licenseCode = input.string(title="License Code", defval="YOUR-LICENSE-CODE", group="Alerts")
longEntryAlert = input.string(title="Long Entry Alert", defval="Long Entry Signal", group="Alerts")
longExitAlert = input.string(title="Long Exit Alert", defval="Long Exit Signal", group="Alerts")
shortEntryAlert = input.string(title="Short Entry Alert", defval="Short Entry Signal", group="Alerts")
shortExitAlert = input.string(title="Short Exit Alert", defval="Short Exit Signal", group="Alerts")

// Example strategy (simple moving average crossover)
fastMA = ta.sma(close, 10)
slowMA = ta.sma(close, 20)

// Strategy conditions
longCondition = ta.crossover(fastMA, slowMA)
shortCondition = ta.crossunder(fastMA, slowMA)

// Strategy entries and exits with custom alerts
if (longCondition)
    strategy.entry("Long", strategy.long)
    alert(licenseCode + "," + longEntryAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (shortCondition and strategy.position_size > 0)
    strategy.close("Long")
    alert(licenseCode + "," + longExitAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (shortCondition)
    strategy.entry("Short", strategy.short)
    alert(licenseCode + "," + shortEntryAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

if (longCondition and strategy.position_size < 0)
    strategy.close("Short")
    alert(licenseCode + "," + shortExitAlert, alert.freq_once_per_bar_close)

// Plot indicators
plot(fastMA, color=color.blue)
plot(slowMA, color=color.red)

TradingView Premium Requirement

Webhook functionality requires at least a TradingView Pro+ subscription. Without this subscription level, you won't be able to send signals to the TradeSignal Server via webhooks.

Signal Parameters

When setting up your alert messages, you can include various parameters to customize how trades are executed by your TradeSgnl EA. Here's a guide to the most common parameters and how to use them.

Using Custom Alert Inputs

After adding the alert message inputs to your script as shown in the Alert Functions section, you'll see these fields in your strategy settings. These inputs make it easy to configure your signals:

Custom alert inputs in TradingView strategy settings

Custom alert inputs for signal configuration

How Alert Inputs Work

1. Enter your license ID in the "License Code" input field.
2. Enter signal parameters (like buy, sell, risk values) in the other alert message inputs.
3. Your script automatically combines these values when the alert triggers.
4. The result is a complete signal like "LicenseID,EURUSD,buy,risk=0.01" that TradeSgnl EA understands.

Tip

You only need to enter action parameters (buy, sell, closebuy, etc.) and any optional parameters in the alert message inputs. Your license code is automatically prepended to create the complete signal message.

Basic Signal Structure

Every TradeSgnl alert message follows this basic structure:

LicenseID,SYMBOL,ACTION,risk=VOLUME,[OPTIONAL_PARAMS]

For example:

LicenseID,EURUSD,buy,risk=0.01

Common Signal Parameters

Parameter	Description	Example
symbol	Symbol for the trade	`EURUSD, GBPUSD, etc.`
action	Action to perform	`buy, sell, closebuy, closesell`
risk	Position size in lots or risk percentage	`risk=0.01`
sl	Stop Loss in points/pips	`sl=50`
tp	Take Profit in points/pips	`tp=100`
comment	Trade comment (use quotes)	`comment=Strategy 1`

Signal Examples

Basic Buy Signal:

LicenseID,EURUSD,buy,risk=0.01

Buy with Stop Loss and Take Profit:

LicenseID,EURUSD,buy,risk=0.01,sl=50,tp=100

Sell Signal with Comment:

LicenseID,GBPUSD,sell,risk=0.02,tp=120,comment=MA Cross

Close Sell Positions:

LicenseID,EURUSD,closesell

Need More Signal Options?

TradeSgnl EA supports many additional parameters for advanced trading strategies. For a complete reference of all available parameters and their usage, please visit our detailed Signal Guide.

Alert Configuration

Once you've added the alert code to your script, you need to create the actual alert in TradingView and configure it to send signals to your TradeSgnl EA.

TradingView Paid Plan Required

Webhook alerts require a TradingView paid plan (Essential or higher). If you're using a free plan, you can still create alerts, but they won't be sent to your TradeSgnl EA.

Step-by-Step Alert Setup

Step 1: Open Alert Dialog

Click the Alerts Button in the top toolbar of your TradingView chart to open the alert creation dialog.

Click the Alerts Button in the top toolbar

Step 2: Configure Alert

Select your script name and "alert() functions calls only" from the dropdown menus. This ensures your custom alert message will be sent when the condition is triggered.

TradingView alert condition configuration

Configure alert conditions and select 'alert() functions calls only'

Step 3: Set Webhook URL

In the Notifications tab, enable 'Webhook URL' and enter https://webhook.tradesgnl.com as the destination for your alerts. This connects TradingView to your TradeSgnl EA.

Enable Webhook URL and enter https://webhook.tradesgnl.com

Important Alert Settings

Required Alert Configuration

Select your script name from the dropdown
For example: 'TradeSgnl MA Crossover Strategy'

Choose 'alert() functions calls only' from the dropdown
This will be replaced with your formatted alert message
In the Notifications tab, enable 'Webhook URL'
Enter https://webhook.tradesgnl.com as the webhook URL

Testing Your Alert

After setting up your alert, follow these steps to test it:

1. Use a Demo Account

Always test your alerts with a demo trading account first to ensure they're working correctly before using real funds.

2. Check EA Logs

Monitor your MT5 EA's logs to verify that alerts are being received and processed correctly by the EA.

3. Start with Small Positions

When testing with real accounts, use minimal risk settings (small position sizes) until you're confident in your alert configuration.

Tip

It's a good practice to create separate alerts for different signals (buy, sell, close long, close short). This makes it easier to manage your alerts and troubleshoot any issues.

Need Additional Help?

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