IdeaVanta VantaBox VantaBox page

IdeaVanta Trading Lab

VantaBox

A simple MetaTrader 5 user guide: installation, license setup, tested pair settings, and a clear explanation of every option.

MT5 Expert Advisor Rule-based execution Risk controlled
1Install the EA file
2Allow ideavanta.com
3Enable Algo Trading
4Add the EA before box time

Before installation

What VantaBox needs to run

VantaBox is an MT5 Expert Advisor. It can only manage trades while MetaTrader 5 is open, connected, and allowed to trade.

Stable internet

The terminal must stay connected to the broker. A weak or frequently disconnecting connection can delay orders, license checks, and trade management.

Working computer or server

The computer must remain powered on while the EA is expected to work. If MT5 is closed, the EA cannot open, manage, or close trades.

VPS is recommended

For more reliable operation, use a VPS close to your broker server. This is especially useful if your home internet, laptop, or power supply is not stable.

Important: VantaBox does not run in the cloud by itself. It needs MT5 running on your computer or VPS during the trading session.

Installation

First setup

1

Copy the EA into MetaTrader 5

  1. Open MT5.
  2. Select File -> Open Data Folder.
  3. Open MQL5 -> Experts.
  4. Place VantaBoxEA_v1_3.ex5 in this folder.
  5. Restart MT5 or click Refresh in the Navigator window.
2

Allow the license check

The EA needs this permission to check your trading account. Without it, a new session cannot start.

Tools menu and Options item in MetaTrader 5
Step 1. Open Tools and click Options.
Allow WebRequest setting for ideavanta.com in MetaTrader 5
Step 2. Add the website address under Expert Advisors.
Address to add: https://ideavanta.com
  1. Open Tools -> Options, or press Ctrl+O.
  2. Open the Expert Advisors tab.
  3. Enable Allow WebRequest for listed URL.
  4. Add this exact address: https://ideavanta.com.
  5. Click OK.
Important: include https://. Do not add spaces or extra characters.
3

Enable automated trading

  1. Enable Algo Trading on the top MT5 toolbar.
  2. Drag VantaBox EA from Navigator onto the required pair chart.
  3. In the Common tab, allow algorithmic trading.
  4. Check the settings and click OK.
If Algo Trading is disabled: Experts will show auto trading disabled by client, and the EA will not place orders.
4

Add the EA before the box starts

Attach VantaBox EA before RangeStart. For example, if the box starts at 03:00, the EA must already be on the chart before 03:00 broker server time.

If the EA is added after the box starts, or settings are changed while the box is forming, the current box is cleared and the EA waits for the next trading day.

License

How to check the license

Successful check

After the EA is added to a chart, it checks the trading account number. A successful check shows:

License: OK / allowed

A matching message also appears in the Experts tab. This means the account is allowed and the EA can start a new trading session.

Successful VantaBox EA license check notification in MT5
Example of a LICENSE OK message in MetaTrader 5.
Strategy Tester: MT5 does not allow WebRequest inside the tester. Version 1.3 therefore shows TESTER MODE / network check unavailable and allows historical testing without a server log entry. On a normal chart, the license check is required.

Choose an instrument

Tested pairs and recommended settings

VantaBox EA has been tested on USDJPY, GBPUSD, and XAUUSD. Each instrument needs its own box time window. Use an M1 chart. All times below use the broker server time.

Do not copy the time settings from one pair to another. Each instrument has its own tested box window.
USDJPY

US Dollar / Japanese Yen

Low-risk mode: 1% of account

Two USDJPY versions have been tested. Choose one complete version and do not mix their settings.

USDJPYVersion 1
Longer box window
TIME
Range Start03:00
Range End06:00
Delete Orders20:55
Close Position20:55
RANGE SIZE
Minimum Range0.0%
Maximum Range0.6%
USDJPYVersion 2
Box ends at 05:00
TIME
Range Start03:00
Range End05:00
Delete Orders22:00
Close Position22:00
RANGE SIZE
Minimum Range0.0%
Maximum Range1.0%
GBPUSD

British Pound / US Dollar

Low-risk mode: 1% of account
GBPUSDRecommended window
Tested setup
TIME
Range Start04:05
Range End11:10
Delete Orders18:00
Close Position18:00
RANGE SIZE
Minimum Range0.0%
Maximum Range0.95%
XAUUSD

Gold / US Dollar

High-risk instrument
XAUUSDRecommended window
Use extra care
TIME
Range Start03:05
Range End06:05
Delete Orders18:55
Close Position18:55
RANGE SIZE
Minimum Range0.15%
Maximum Range0.85%
More settings are coming

More pairs and time windows will be published later. Proper testing needs a large amount of historical data and takes time, so new settings are added only after they have been checked.

A suggested 1% risk does not guarantee profit or prevent drawdown. Before live trading, test the settings in Strategy Tester and on a demo account with your broker.

EA settings

Every setting in simple words

Each field is explained briefly: what it does, why it is needed, and what value is normally used.

Main VantaBox EA settings
Main risk, time, box size, and breakeven settings.
01

RISK - risk and Stop Loss

Controls the position size and possible loss.

RiskMode
How the risk is calculated.

Percent uses a percentage of the balance. Fixed money amount uses a fixed cash amount. Fixed lot always uses the same lot size. For a clear cash risk, use Fixed money amount.

Normally: Fixed money amount
RiskValue
The risk size.

The meaning depends on RiskMode: 20 means $20, 2.0 means 2%, and 0.10 means a 0.10 lot.

Example: 20
StoplossMode
Where to place Stop Loss.

Opposite side of the box places the stop on the other side of the box. Percentage uses only part of the box height.

Normally: Opposite side
StoplossPercentage
Stop Loss size as a percentage of the box.

Used only when StoplossMode = Percentage. 100% means the full box. 50% means half of the box.

Normally: 100
02

TIME - trading times

All times use the broker server clock, not your computer clock.

RangeStartHour
Hour when the box starts.

From this time, the EA begins collecting the highest and lowest price.

Example: 3
RangeStartMinute
Minute when the box starts.

Used together with RangeStartHour. Values 3 and 5 mean a 03:05 start.

Example: 0
RangeEndHour
Hour when the box ends.

After this time, the EA checks the box and prepares the orders.

Example: 5
RangeEndMinute
Minute when the box ends.

Used together with RangeEndHour.

Example: 0
DeleteOrdersHour
Hour when pending orders are removed.

If Buy Stop and Sell Stop have not opened a trade, the EA removes them at this time.

Example: 22
DeleteOrdersMinute
Minute when pending orders are removed.

Used together with DeleteOrdersHour.

Example: 0
ClosePositionHour
Hour when an open position is closed.

This prevents the trade from staying open after the selected time.

Example: 22
ClosePositionMinute
Minute when an open position is closed.

Used together with ClosePositionHour.

Example: 0
Important: attach the EA before RangeStart. If it is restarted or its settings are changed after the box starts, it waits for the next trading day.
03

RANGE SIZE - box size filter

Skips boxes that are too small or too large.

MinimumRange
Minimum box size as a percentage of price.

If the box is smaller, the EA skips that day. A value of 0 disables the minimum limit.

Normally: 0.0
MaximumRange
Maximum box size as a percentage of price.

If the box is larger, the EA does not trade because the range is considered too wide.

Example: 1.0
04

BREAKEVEN - protect an open trade

Moves Stop Loss after price moves into profit.

UseBreakeven
Enable breakeven.

true lets the EA move Stop Loss. false keeps the original Stop Loss.

Normally: false
BreakevenTrigger
When to move Stop Loss, measured in R.

1.0 means price has moved into profit by the same distance as the original risk. This is +1R.

For +1R: 1.0
BreakevenBuffer
Small profit added to breakeven.

0 places the stop at the entry price. 0.1 locks about +0.1R and may cover part of the trading costs.

Example: 0 or 0.05
Breakeven moves the stop once. It is not a trailing stop and does not keep following price.
05

DYNAMIC RISK - automatic risk changes

An optional mode that changes risk and Stop Loss based on box size.

UseDynamicRisk
Enable dynamic risk.

When true, the four settings below are used. If you always want the same risk, leave it false.

Recommended for beginners: false
SmallBoxThreshold
Box size considered small, in pips.

If the box is not larger than this value, risk is multiplied by SmallBoxRiskMultiplier.

Example: 35
SmallBoxRiskMultiplier
How much to increase risk for a small box.

1.5 changes a $20 risk into $30. Use this carefully.

Example: 1.5
BigBoxThreshold
Box size considered large, in pips.

When the box reaches this size, BigBoxStoplossPercent is used.

Example: 60
BigBoxStoplossPercent
Stop Loss for a large box, as a percentage of its height.

50 places the stop at half of the box instead of the full opposite side.

Example: 50
06

PROP FIRM - extra controls

Options for prop firm rules and small execution adjustments.

EntryDelayMinutes
Delay before placing orders after RangeEnd.

0 means immediately. 5 means wait five minutes after the box ends.

Normally: 0
StoplossOffsetMaxPips
Extra Stop Loss distance.

Moves the stop farther away from the box by the selected number of pips.

Normally: 0
ClosingTimeOffset
Move the closing time by a number of minutes.

A positive number closes later. A negative number closes earlier than ClosePosition.

Normally: 0
CloseAtEquity
Close trades when account equity reaches this amount.

This is the total account equity, not the profit amount. 0 disables this option.

Normally: 0
07

DAY - trading days

Choose which weekdays the EA is allowed to trade.

TradeMonday
Trade on Monday.

true means trade. false means skip the day.

true / false
TradeTuesday
Trade on Tuesday.

true means trade. false means skip the day.

true / false
TradeWednesday
Trade on Wednesday.

true means trade. false means skip the day.

true / false
TradeThursday
Trade on Thursday.

true means trade. false means skip the day.

true / false
TradeFriday
Trade on Friday.

true means trade. false means skip the day.

true / false
08

OTHER - general settings

Order identification, limits, and chart information.

MagicNumber
Number used to identify the EA's orders.

Different strategies on the same account should use different numbers. The same Magic Number on different accounts is not a problem.

Normally: do not change
BoundaryTolerance
Entry tolerance near the box edge, in pips.

Helps open a position if price is already very close to, or slightly past, the box edge when orders are placed.

Normally: 0.5
MaxLotSize
Maximum allowed lot size.

Protects against a very large position caused by bad symbol data or a very tight Stop Loss.

Example: 10
Notes
Your own note.

You can enter the setup name, pair, or account. It does not change the trading logic.

Can be left empty
ShowDashboard
Show information on the chart.

Displays the box, license status, and current EA status.

Normally: true
09

ACCESS - license settings

These values are already configured. Normal users should not change them.

LicenseCheckEnabled
Enables the license check.

It must stay true for live or demo account use.

Do not change: true
LicenseServerUrl
IdeaVanta license server address.

The EA sends the account number here to check access.

Do not change
LicenseAgentId
Product name on the license server.

It tells the server that VantaBox EA is being checked.

Do not change: VantaBoxEA
LicenseCheckIntervalMinutes
Time between license checks.

60 means one check every hour.

Do not change: 60
LicenseAllowNetworkGrace
Allow temporary operation during an internet problem.

If the license was recently approved, a short network problem will not immediately stop a new session.

Normally: true
LicenseNetworkGraceHours
Number of hours allowed during a network problem.

This works only after a previous successful license check.

Normally: 24
LicensePopupAlerts
Show license notifications.

Helps you quickly see OK, DENY, or a connection error.

Normally: true
LicenseFileLogEnabled
Save license checks to a file.

Useful when troubleshooting a user problem.

Normally: true
LicenseLogFileName
Name of the license log file.

There is no need to change it. The file is created in the terminal Files folder.

Do not change
10

VISUAL - box appearance

Changes only the chart display, not the trading strategy.

ShowBoxVisual
Show the box on the chart.

false hides the rectangles, but the trading logic continues to work.

Normally: true
KeepPreviousBoxes
Keep old boxes on the chart.

Useful for reviewing previous trading days.

Normally: true
FillBoxVisual
Fill the box with color.

false shows only the box border.

Normally: true
FormingBoxColor
Color of the box while it is forming.

Shows the current range before RangeEnd.

Choose a clear color
PassedBoxColor
Color of a box that passed the size filter.

The EA is allowed to trade this box.

Default: green
SkippedBoxColor
Color of a skipped box.

Shows that the range failed the MinimumRange or MaximumRange filter.

Default: red
BoxBorderWidth
Box border thickness.

This changes only the appearance.

Normally: 1

Risk examples

Fixed $20 riskRiskMode: AmountRiskValue = 20
2% of balanceRiskMode: PercentRiskValue = 2.0
Fixed lot sizeRiskMode: Fixed lotRiskValue = 0.10

The real cash risk may be slightly different because of the broker's minimum lot, lot step, commission, and rounding.

How it works

What the EA does

  1. Builds the boxCollects the highest and lowest price between RangeStart and RangeEnd.
  2. Checks the box sizeSkips a range that is too small or too large.
  3. Places two ordersBuy Stop above the box and Sell Stop below it.
  4. Keeps one directionAfter one position opens, the opposite pending order is removed.
  5. Ends the daily sessionRemoves pending orders and closes the position at the selected times.
VantaBox EA box and an open USDJPY position
The green rectangle shows the completed box.

Important rules

What you should remember

One entry per day

If this symbol already had a position, order, or trade today, a new entry is blocked regardless of Magic Number.

Do not change settings during the session

After a settings change, the current box is removed and the EA waits for the next trading day.

Standard and Raw accounts are supported

Different spreads may cause Buy Stop or Sell Stop to open at slightly different times.

The license does not close an open position

If the license ends during an active daily session, the EA continues managing the position until the session is finished.

Troubleshooting

Common messages and solutions

auto trading disabled by client

Enable Algo Trading and allow algorithmic trading in the EA properties.

LICENSE ERROR / webrequest

Add https://ideavanta.com under Tools -> Options -> Expert Advisors -> Allow WebRequest.

LICENSE DENY

The trading account is not registered, the license was revoked, or it has expired. Contact the administrator.

Entry blocked: symbol already has today's activity

This symbol already had a trade or order today. The EA will continue on the next trading day.

Attached after today's range start

The EA was added after the box started. Leave it on the chart and wait for the next trading day.

TESTER MODE

This is normal in Strategy Tester. MT5 blocks the online license request there, but historical testing still works.

Setup checklist

Before the first session