Introduction to MetaTrader 4 Interface
The following screenshot below shows the main MetaTrader 4 software inter-face. As a beginner trader trying to learn how to execute xauusd orders in the online xauusd market, the main tool for trading the xauusd market is the MT4 software software. This MetaTrader 4 platform is the software that you'll connect to your xauusd broker with & execute xauusd trade transactions & monitor your xauusd account balance from this MetaTrader 4 platform.
The XAUUSD Trading MetaTrader 4 software software is provided for free through the various xauusd broker web sites. This MT4 software looks like the xauusd example shown below:
Main Areas of this MetaTrader 4 platform as displayed above are:
- MT4 Navigation Menus
- Toolbars
- MT4 Gold Chart Window
- MetaTrader 4 Navigator Window Panel
- MT4 Market Watch Window Panel
- MetaTrader 4 Terminal
- MetaTrader 4 Connection Bars
For this MT4 tutorial we shall look at a brief introduction for each of these learn xauusd MetaTrader 4 platform:
1. Navigation Menus
The MetaTrader 4 navigation menus are:
- File
- View
- Insert
- Charts
- Tools
- Window
- Help
These are the main MetaTrader 4 navigation menus that can be used to navigate MetaTrader 4 software. As a beginner trader you can begin by clicking any of these MetaTrader 4 navigation menus to familiarize yourself with various MT4 button keys which are arranged as MetaTrader 4 sub-menus within these MetaTrader 4 navigation menus.
These MetaTrader 4 navigation menus will be discussed and covered in details in the next MetaTrader 4 guides about navigation menus.
2. Tool-Bars
The MT4 tool bars are used to manipulate MT4 xauusd charts, either by placing MT4 indicators, MT4 line studies, change MT4 xauusd chart timeframes and load MT4 template from a list of saved MT4 templates.
These MT4 tool-bars will be discussed on other MetaTrader 4 tutorials which will outline each MetaTrader 4 button key on this MetaTrader 4 toolbar & how to add and customize these MT4 toolbars.
3. Chart Panel
This MT4 xauusd chart window is the main area where MT4 xauusd charts are displayed & a trader can analyze the xauusd trend direction of a MT4 xauusd chart whether up or down, place MT4 xauusd chart indicators for technical analysis & even place orders from these MT4 xauusd charts.
4. Navigator
MT4 Navigator will contain information about MT4 accounts, whether practice or real, this MT4 window will also have a list of all the MT4 indicators as well as MT4 Gold Expert Advisors and scripts.
A trader can select which MT4 xauusd account to login by expanding the Accounts menu, choose an MT4 indicator by expanding the MT4 indicator menu or choose an MT4 Gold Expert Advisor by expanding the Expert Advisor menu.
5. Market Watch
MT4 Market watch is used to show streaming gold trading price quotes for MT4 xauusd. This can list as many quotes provided by your MT4 xauusd broker or a few selected by a trader. To save internet band width, right click inside the MT4 market watch window and select 'Hide All', so as to hide the MT4 symbols that you are not transacting on this MT4 platform and save on internet band width.
6. Terminal
This is the MetaTrader 4 window panel that's like the bank account trade area for your MT4 xauusd trade transactions, on this MetaTrader 4 window you can view your trading account balance, profit & losses statement, equity, margin used also retrieve a copy of all your MetaTrader 4 xauusd trade transactions history.
This MT4 window panel will also list all open xauusd trade transactions & calculate all the profit & loss in real-time as the gold charts move up or down.
7. Connection Bar
MT4 connection bars - Red bars are for no connectivity, green bars show that there is connection to the servers and MetaTrader 4 xauusd trade orders can be set. These MetaTrader 4 connection bars should always be green when one logged into their MetaTrader 4 demo xauusd account or MetaTrader 4 live account.
These MT4 platform main areas form the MetaTrader 4 software interface & will be the main areas to be covered in detail in next learn MetaTrader 4 tutorials. For now it is best to download MetaTrader 4 software software & familiarize yourself with MT4 platform interface.
Why XAUUSD Trading Platform is Required for Placing XAUUSD Transactions with XAUUSD Brokers
Xauusd platform is software that is used to access the xauusd market & analyze these gold trading price movements using xauusd charts and xauusd technical analysis tools. There are various reasons why a trader requires to use a good xauusd platform. A good xauusd platform can determine if a as a trader you make a profit or not.
So why does a trader need a good Gold platform:
To connect to the XAUUSD Broker Trading Server:
To place a xauusd trade order one needs to use a xauusd platform which will connect to the trading servers of their xauusd broker & this will allow them to open & close xauusd trade orders. Good xauusd platforms will connect with ease to the brokers' servers & allow gold traders to place gold trade orders at any time from their desktop PC computer.
To analyze xauusd charts using technical analysis tools
To place a buy or sell xauusd order a trader needs to first interpret the direction of a xauusd instrument using xauusd charts. This is why all good xauusd platforms provide xauusd technical tools such as gold trading price charts, xauusd technical indicators and various different chart time-frames from which one-can analyze gold trading price moves using the gold chart timeframes of their choice.
From the above xauusd platform interface, the summary of all information required by a trader is provided on this MetaTrader 4 software interface
- Connection - connection to the broker servers
- Charts - price graphs which display gold prices
- Toolbars - toolbars to add tools and technical analysis indicators on gold charts
- Market Watch - for displaying available instruments in MT4
- Data panel - provides MetaTrader 4 xauusd account data and other indicator data
- Exchange rates - shows current market gold trading price on a xauusd chart
- Menu bar - Shows all menu items on MT4 software