Zenith-FX/MIGRATION_GUIDE.md

Migration Guide - MT5 File Tree Structure

Overview

This repository has been reorganized to follow the official MetaTrader 5 (MT5) file tree standard. This guide will help you understand the new structure and how to use it.

What Changed?

Old Structure (Before)

Experienced-FX-Trader/
├── ForexTrader_v3.2_MultiStrategy_Production.mq5
├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Scalper_Production.mq5
├── Config/
│   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Moderate.set
│   └── [Other .set files...]
├── Previous Logs/
├── [PDF files in root...]
└── [Documentation files...]

New Structure (MT5 Standard)

Experienced-FX-Trader/
├── MQL5/                          # MT5 standard directory
│   ├── Experts/                   # Expert Advisor files (.mq5)
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_MultiStrategy_Production.mq5 ⭐
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Scalper_Production.mq5 ⭐
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3_Production.mq5 ✅
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3_MultiStrategy_Production.mq5 ✅
│   │   └── [Legacy versions...]
│   ├── Presets/                   # Configuration presets (.set)
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Moderate.set
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Aggressive.set
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Scalper.set
│   │   └── [Other presets...]
│   ├── Files/                     # Data files, logs, and .ini tester configs
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_MultiStrategy_Production.ini
│   │   ├── ForexTrader_v3.2_Scalper_Production.ini
│   │   ├── Previous Logs/
│   │   └── [Analysis files...]
│   └── Include/                   # Header files (.mqh) - for future use
├── Docs/                          # Educational materials
│   ├── Trading_Course_Advanced.pdf
│   ├── Ebook_Forex-A-Z_copy.pdf
│   └── [Other educational PDFs...]
└── [Documentation files...]       # README, guides, etc.

File Locations

File Type	Old Location	New Location
Expert Advisors (.mq5)	Root directory	MQL5/Experts/
Configuration presets (.set)	Config/	MQL5/Presets/
Strategy Tester configs (.ini)	Root directory	MQL5/Files/
Previous Logs	Root Previous Logs/	MQL5/Files/Previous Logs/
Educational PDFs	Root directory	Docs/
Analysis files (.py, .txt, .html)	Root directory	MQL5/Files/
Documentation (.md)	Root directory	Root directory (unchanged)

Benefits of the New Structure

1. MT5 Compatibility

The new structure matches the official MetaTrader 5 file tree standard, making deployment straightforward.

2. Easy Installation

Simply copy the entire MQL5/ folder to your MT5 Data Folder:

From: [Repository]/MQL5/
To:   [MT5 Data Folder]/MQL5/

3. Better Organization

• Expert Advisors are in MQL5/Experts/
• Configuration presets are in MQL5/Presets/
• All data files are in MQL5/Files/
• Educational materials are in Docs/

4. Industry Best Practices

Follows the standard used by professional MQL5 developers worldwide.

How to Use the New Structure

Installation Method 1: Copy Entire MQL5 Folder

1. Locate your MT5 Data Folder:

   • In MT5, go to File → Open Data Folder
   • This typically opens: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\MetaQuotes\Terminal\<TERMINAL_ID>\

2. Copy the MQL5 folder:

   Copy: [Repository]/MQL5/
   To:   [MT5 Data Folder]/MQL5/
   

3. Merge/Overwrite when prompted:

   • This will place EAs in the correct location
   • Presets will be available in MetaEditor
   • Files will be accessible to your EAs

4. Compile the EAs:

   • Open MetaEditor (F4 in MT5)
   • Navigate to MQL5/Experts/
   • Open any EA file
   • Press F7 to compile

Installation Method 2: Selective Copy

If you only want specific files:

1. For Expert Advisors:

   Copy: [Repository]/MQL5/Experts/[EA_Name].mq5
   To:   [MT5 Data Folder]/MQL5/Experts/
   

2. For Configuration Presets:

   Copy: [Repository]/MQL5/Presets/[Preset_Name].set
   To:   [MT5 Data Folder]/MQL5/Presets/
   

3. For Strategy Tester Configs:

   Copy: [Repository]/MQL5/Files/[Config_Name].ini
   To:   [MT5 Data Folder]/MQL5/Files/
   

Loading Configuration Presets

Old Method (Still Works)

1. Attach EA to chart
2. In settings, click "Load"
3. Browse to preset file manually

New Method (MT5 Standard)

1. Attach EA to chart
2. In settings, click "Load"
3. Presets from MQL5/Presets/ appear in the list automatically
4. Select your preset (e.g., ForexTrader_v3.2_Moderate.set)
5. Click "OK"

Strategy Tester Configuration

The .ini files in MQL5/Files/ serve as reference configurations for Strategy Tester:

1. Open Strategy Tester (Ctrl+R)
2. Select your EA from the Expert list
3. Manually configure settings based on the .ini file in MQL5/Files/
4. Or load the corresponding .set file from MQL5/Presets/

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need to change anything in my existing MT5 installation?

A: No, this change only affects the repository structure. Your MT5 installation works the same way.

Q: What if I already have the old files installed?

A: You can either:

• Keep using them (they'll continue to work)
• Replace them with files from the new structure
• Use the new structure for fresh installations

Q: Are the EAs themselves changed?

A: No, the EA code is identical. Only the file locations changed.

Q: Can I still use the old Config/ folder?

A: The Config/ folder no longer exists in the repository. Use MQL5/Presets/ instead.

Q: Where are the educational PDFs now?

A: All educational materials are in the Docs/ folder.

Q: Where are the Previous Logs?

A: They're now in MQL5/Files/Previous Logs/.

Documentation Updates

All documentation has been updated to reflect the new paths:

• ✅ README.md - Updated with structure diagram and new paths
• ✅ QUICKSTART_v3.md - Updated preset paths
• ✅ README_v3.2.md - Updated configuration paths
• ✅ STRATEGY_TESTER_GUIDE.md - Updated preset references

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues with the new structure:

1. Check this migration guide
2. Review the updated README.md
3. Open a GitHub issue with details

Summary

The new MT5-standard file structure provides:

• ✅ Better organization
• ✅ Easier deployment
• ✅ Industry-standard layout
• ✅ Professional development practices
• ✅ Simpler file management

Ready to use the new structure? Start with the Quick Start Guide!