Introduction to MetaTrader 4 Platform Interface

The following screen-shot below shows the main MetaTrader 4 software interface. As a beginner trader trying to learn how to execute orders in the online market, the main tool for transacting the market is the MetaTrader 4 platform software. This MetaTrader 4 software is the software which you will connect to your broker with and execute trade transactions and monitor your account balance from this MT4 platform.

The MetaTrader 4 software is provided for free through the various xauusd broker websites. This MetaTrader 4 software resembles the example illustrated & explained below:

Main Areas of this MT4 platform as illustrated above are:

1. MetaTrader 4 Navigation Menus
2. Tool-Bars
3. MT4 Gold Chart Window
4. MT4 Navigator Window Panel
5. MT4 Market Watch Window Panel
6. MetaTrader 4 Terminal
7. MT4 Connection Bars

For this MetaTrader 4 guide we shall look at a brief introduction for each of these learn gold MetaTrader 4:

1. Navigation Menus

The MT4 navigation menus are:

1. File Menu
2. View Menu
3. Insert Menu
4. Charts Menu
5. Tools Menu
6. Window Menu
7. Help Menu

These are the main MetaTrader 4 navigation menus which can be used to navigate the MetaTrader 4. As a beginner trader you can start by clicking any of these MT4 navigation menus so as to familiarize yourself with the various MT4 buttons which are arranged as MT4 sub-menus within these MT4 navigation menus.

These Meta Trader 4 navigation menus will be described and covered in details in the next MetaTrader 4 guides about navigation menus.

2. ToolBars

The MetaTrader 4 toolbars are used to manipulate MetaTrader 4 charts, either by placing Meta Trader 4 indicators, MetaTrader 4 line studies, change MetaTrader 4 xauusd chart time frames and load MetaTrader 4 template from a list of saved MetaTrader 4 templates.

These MetaTrader 4 toolbars will be discussed on other MT4 tutorials which will outline each MetaTrader 4 button on this MetaTrader 4 tool-bar & how to add and customize these MetaTrader 4 tool bars.

3. Chart Window Panel

This MT4 chart window is the main area where MT4 xauusd charts are displayed & one can analyze the trend direction of a MetaTrader 4 chart whether up or down, place MetaTrader 4 chart indicators for technical analysis & even place orders from these MetaTrader 4 xauusd charts.

4. Navigator

MT4 Navigator will contain data about MetaTrader 4 accounts, whether practice demo or real, this MetaTrader 4 window panel will also have a list of all MT4 indicators as well as MetaTrader 4 Gold Expert-Advisors & scripts.

A trader can choose which MetaTrader 4 xauusd account to sign in by expanding the Accounts menu, choose a MetaTrader 4 indicator by expanding the MetaTrader 4 indicator menu or choose an MetaTrader 4 Gold Expert-Advisor by expanding the Expert-Advisor menu.

5. MarketWatch

MT4 Market watch window panel is used to show streaming price quotes for MetaTrader 4 gold instruments. This can list as many symbols provided by your MetaTrader 4 broker or few selected by a trader. To save internet band-width, rightclick inside the MetaTrader 4 market watch window and select "Hide All", so as to hide the MetaTrader 4 symbols that you are not transacting on this MetaTrader 4 platform and save on inter-net bandwidth.

6. Terminal

This is MT4 window that's like the bank account trade area for your MT4 trades, on this MT4 window panel you can view your account balance, profit & losses statement, equity, margin used and also retrieve a copy of all your Meta Trader 4 trades history.

This MetaTrader 4 panel also will list all open trade transactions & calculate all the profit & loss in realtime as a charts move up/down.

7. Connectivity Bar

MetaTrader 4 connection bars - Red bars are for no connection, green bars show that there's connection to the servers and MT4 trading orders can be set. These MT4 connection bars should always be green when one logged into their MetaTrader 4 demo trading account or Meta Trader 4 real account.

These MetaTrader 4 software main areas form the MT4 platform interface & will be the main areas to be covered in detail in the next learn Meta Trader 4 tutorials. For now it's best to download MT4 platform software & familiarize yourself with the MetaTrader 4 platform inter-face.

Why Software is Required for Opening XAUUSD Transactions with Trading Brokers

Gold platform is software which's used to access the market and analyze these price movements using charts and xauusd analysis tools. There are various reasons why one requires to use a good platform. A good gold software can determine if a as a trader you make profit or not.

So why does a trader need a good Platform:

To connect to the Broker Server:

To place a trade order one needs to use a software which will connect to the servers of their broker & this will allow them to open and close trade orders. Good trading platforms will connect with ease to the brokers' servers and allow traders to place trade orders at any time from computer.

To analyze charts using trading analysis tools

To open a buy or sell order a trader needs to first analyze the direction of gold using charts. This is why all good softwares provide traders with technical tools such as trading price charts, indicators and various different chart time frames from which one-can analyze price moves using the time frames of their choice.

From the above platform inter-face, the summary of all information required by a trader is provided on this MetaTrader 4 software inter-face

• Connection - connection to the broker servers
• Charts - price graphs which show prices
• ToolBars - tool-bars to add tools and technical analysis indicators on charts
• Market Watch - for displaying available instruments on MetaTrader 4
• Data panel - provides MetaTrader 4 account data & other indicator data
• Exchange rates - shows current market price on a chart
• Menu bar - Shows all menu items on MT4