Trading Filters Guide

📋 Overview

RedFox Copier Pro includes multiple filtering layers to control which signals are executed. You can filter by symbol, trading hours, days of week, and signal content. This ensures you only trade what fits your strategy and schedule.

Filter Categories:

  1. Symbol Filters - Which instruments to trade

  2. Time Filters - When to trade (hours & days)

  3. Content Filters - What text patterns to allow/block

🎯 Symbol Filters

1. EnableListSymbol

EnableListSymbol = true | false

Controls whether symbol filtering is active.

false (Default - All Symbols)

Behavior: EA trades all symbols from signals.

Example:

Signals received:
- EURUSD BUY ✅
- XAUUSD BUY ✅
- GBPJPY SELL ✅
- US30 BUY ✅

All symbols are traded

When to use:

  • Trust all signal provider's instruments

  • Want maximum diversification

  • No symbol preferences

true (Symbol Whitelist Active)

Behavior: EA only trades symbols in ListSymbol setting.

Example:

When to use:

  • Focus on specific instruments

  • Avoid high-spread pairs

  • Limit to pairs you understand

  • Broker doesn't offer all symbols

2. ListSymbol

Defines which symbols to trade (when EnableListSymbol = true).

Configuration Examples:

Major Forex Only:

Gold + EUR Pairs:

Indices Only:

Mixed Portfolio:

Important:

  • Use exact broker symbol names (check Market Watch)

  • No spaces after commas: "EUR,GBP" not "EUR, GBP"

  • Case-sensitive on some brokers

  • Include suffix if broker requires (e.g., EURUSDm, XAUUSD.)

Symbol Suffix Handling

Problem: Brokers add suffixes to symbols (EURUSD → EURUSDm, XAUUSD.)

Solution: EA automatically tries multiple suffix variations.

Settings:

Examples:

No Suffix (Standard):

With Suffix (ECN Broker):

Auto-Detection: EA tries these variations automatically:

Best Practice: Leave SymbolsEnd = "" and let EA auto-detect.

⏰ Time Filters

3. EnableTimeFilter

Controls whether time-based filtering is active.

false (Default - 24/7 Trading)

Behavior: EA trades any time a signal is received.

When to use:

  • Automated 24/7 trading

  • Signal provider has good timing

  • No schedule restrictions

true (Time Filter Active)

Behavior: EA only trades during specified hours and days.

When to use:

  • Avoid high-spread hours (rollover, news)

  • Trade only London/NY sessions

  • Weekend/holiday restrictions

  • Personal trading schedule

4. StartHour / EndHour

Defines trading hours (24-hour format, broker server time).

Configuration Examples:

London + NY Session (Full Overlap):

NY Session Only:

Asian Session:

Avoid Rollover (Skip 11 PM - 1 AM):

Important Notes:

  • Times are in broker server time (check MT4 market watch)

  • Most brokers use GMT+2/GMT+3 (Europe time)

  • Convert your local time to broker time!

Example Timeline:

EA Logs:

5. StartDay / EndDay

Defines trading days (1=Mon, 2=Tue, 3=Wed, 4=Thu, 5=Fri, 6=Sat, 7=Sun).

Configuration Examples:

Weekdays Only (Avoid Weekend Gaps):

Exclude Friday (Avoid Weekend Risk):

Full Week (Including Weekend):

Mid-Week Only:

Combined Time & Day Filter Example:

Professional Setup (London Session, Weekdays):

🔍 Content Filters (Whitelist/Blacklist)

6. EnableWhitelist

Controls whether signal text must contain specific keywords.

false (Default - No Content Filter)

Behavior: All signal text formats are accepted.

When to use:

  • Trust all signal provider's messages

  • No specific content requirements

true (Whitelist Active)

Behavior: Signal text must contain at least one keyword from Whitelist.

Use Cases:

  • Only trade specific signal types

  • Filter by strategy name

  • Require specific indicators mentioned

7. Whitelist

Signal must contain at least ONE of these keywords to be executed.

Configuration Examples:

VIP Signals Only:

Confirmed Setups Only:

Specific Strategy:

Multiple Channels (Filter by Source):

8. EnableBlacklist

Controls whether certain keywords block signals.

false (Default - No Blacklist)

Behavior: No text-based blocking.

true (Blacklist Active)

Behavior: Signal is blocked if it contains ANY keyword from Blacklist.

Use Cases:

  • Avoid risky setups

  • Skip specific instruments

  • Filter out test signals

  • Block experimental strategies

9. Blacklist

Signal is blocked if it contains ANY of these keywords.

Configuration Examples:

Avoid Test Signals:

Skip Risky Trades:

Avoid Specific Pairs (Alternative to Symbol Filter):

Filter News Trades:

Whitelist + Blacklist Combined:

Example: Only VIP, But Skip Risky

Logic:

  1. Check whitelist: Must contain keyword

  2. Check blacklist: Must NOT contain keyword

  3. Both must pass for signal to execute

💼 Real-World Configuration Examples

Example 1: Conservative Trader

Goal: Only major pairs, London session, weekdays only.

Configuration:

Result: Very selective trading, only clean setups during optimal hours.

Example 2: Gold Specialist

Goal: Only Gold, NY session, avoid news.

Configuration:

Result: Focused Gold trading, avoids high-impact news volatility.

Example 3: Premium Signals Only

Goal: Only VIP signals, any time, any symbol.

Configuration:

Result: Maximum flexibility but only premium tier signals.

Example 4: Avoid Volatility

Goal: Trade major pairs, avoid news and risky setups, avoid Friday.

Configuration:

Result: Safe, conservative trading avoiding high-risk periods and setups.

Example 5: Full Diversification

Goal: Trade everything (maximum signals).

Configuration:

Result: EA executes every signal received (maximum exposure).

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Mistake 1: Wrong Broker Symbol Names

Bad:

Good:

❌ Mistake 2: Time Zone Confusion

Bad:

Good:

❌ Mistake 3: Whitelist + Blacklist Conflict

Bad:

Good: Use precise keywords without overlap.

❌ Mistake 4: Too Restrictive Filters

Bad:

Good: Balance filters with signal frequency.

❌ Mistake 5: Spaces in Lists

Bad:

Good:

✅ Best Practices

✅ 1. Start Permissive, Then Restrict

Week 1:

Week 2:

Week 3:

Week 4:

✅ 2. Monitor Filter Logs

EA logs blocked signals:

Review logs weekly:

  • Missing good trades? Relax filters

  • Too many bad trades? Tighten filters

✅ 3. Match Filters to Strategy

Scalping:

Swing Trading:

News Trading:

✅ 4. Test Filter Combinations

  • Run on demo with different configurations

  • Compare performance (profit, drawdown, trade count)

  • Find optimal balance

Example Test:

✅ 5. Document Your Filters

🔍 EA Logging Examples

Symbol Filter Block:

Time Filter Block:

Content Filter Block:

Filter Pass:

📊 Filter Impact Analysis

Test: 500 signals over 3 months

Filter Config
Signals Passed
Win Rate
Profit
Drawdown

No Filters

500 (100%)

52%

+15%

-12%

Symbol Only (Majors)

350 (70%)

54%

+18%

-10%

Symbol + Time

200 (40%)

58%

+22%

-8%

Symbol + Time + Content

120 (24%)

62%

+25%

-6%

Conclusion: Proper filtering improves win rate and reduces drawdown by focusing on optimal conditions.

🚀 Quick Start Guide

Step 1: Understand Your Signal Provider

  • What symbols do they trade?

  • When do they send signals?

  • Do they use specific keywords?

Step 2: Set Symbol Filter

Verify in Market Watch!

Step 3: Set Time Filter (Optional)

Step 4: Set Content Filters (Optional)

Step 5: Monitor & Adjust

  • Check EA logs for blocked signals

  • Adjust filters based on performance

  • Balance selectivity vs signal frequency

📞 FAQ

Q: No orders opening at all? A: Check logs for filter blocks. Likely symbol names don't match or time filter too restrictive.

Q: Can I use regex in whitelist/blacklist? A: No, simple keyword matching only. Keywords are case-insensitive.

Q: How to trade only one specific symbol? A: EnableListSymbol = true, ListSymbol = "EURUSD" (single symbol).

Q: Time filter not working? A: Verify broker server time (check MT4 Market Watch time). Convert your local time.

Q: Can I have different filters per symbol? A: Not directly. Use separate EA instances or file config feature.

Remember: Filters are powerful tools to align signal execution with your strategy and schedule. Use them wisely! 🎯

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