Installation Guide

Understanding NFS Modes

NFS offers two distinct modes to accommodate different trading environments:

DLL Mode (Option A)

✅ Best Performance - Direct API calls
✅ Fastest Updates - Real-time data sync
❌ Requires DLL Permission - Not allowed by some prop firms
🖥️ Windows Only - Uses wininet.dll (MT4) or native sockets (MT5)

No-DLL Mode (Option B)

✅ Prop Firm Safe - No DLL files at all
✅ Mac/Wine Compatible - Works with CrossOver, PlayOnMac
✅ Broker Friendly - Passes all security checks
⚡ Slightly Slower - Uses helper EA/Service for data fetching

MT4 Installation

Option A: DLL Mode (Fastest)

Extract the ZIP package and locate the MT4_DLL folder

Copy files to MT4 Data Folder:

Open MT4 → File → Open Data Folder
Copy files as follows:

MT4_DLL/
├── NFS_Panel.ex4        → MQL4/Indicators/
├── NFS_EaIntegration.mqh → MQL4/Include/
├── wininet.dll          → MQL4/Libraries/
└── data/
    └── nfs_data.dat     → MQL4/Files/

Enable DLL Imports:
- Go to: Tools → Options → Expert Advisors
- ✅ Check “Allow DLL imports”
- ✅ Check “Allow imports of external experts”
Restart MT4
Activate:
- Drag NFS_Panel onto any chart
- Enter your license key when prompted

Option B: No-DLL Mode (Prop Firm Safe)

Extract the ZIP and locate the MT4_NoDLL folder

Copy files to MT4 Data Folder:

MT4_NoDLL/
├── NFS_Panel_NoDLL.ex4        → MQL4/Indicators/
├── NFS_Server.ex4             → MQL4/Experts/
├── NFS_EaIntegration_NoDLL.mqh → MQL4/Include/
└── data/
    └── nfs_data.dat           → MQL4/Files/

Restart MT4
Setup the Helper EA (Critical Step):

The No-DLL mode requires a “helper EA” to run in the background. Without it, the panel won’t update!
- Open any chart (e.g., EURUSD M15)
- Drag NFS_Server EA onto this chart
- You’ll see a small label: “NFS Server Running ✓”
- Keep this chart open while trading
- The EA runs silently and updates data every 30 minutes
Activate the Panel:
- Drag NFS_Panel_NoDLL onto your trading chart
- Enter your license key

MT5 Installation

Option A: DLL Mode (Fastest)

Extract the ZIP and locate the MT5_DLL folder

Copy files to MT5 Data Folder:

Open MT5 → File → Open Data Folder
Copy files as follows:

MT5_DLL/
├── NFS_Panel.ex5        → MQL5/Indicators/
├── NFS_EaIntegration.mqh → MQL5/Include/
└── data/
    └── nfs_data.dat     → MQL5/Files/

Enable Algo Trading:
- Click the AutoTrading button in the toolbar (it should turn green)
Enable DLL Imports:
- Tools → Options → Expert Advisors
- ✅ Check “Allow DLL imports”
Restart MT5
Activate:
- Drag NFS_Panel onto any chart
- Enter your license key

Option B: No-DLL Mode (Service Architecture)

MT5’s No-DLL mode uses a Service instead of a visible EA. The service runs invisibly in the background.

Extract the ZIP and locate the MT5_NoDLL folder

Copy files to MT5 Data Folder:

MT5_NoDLL/
├── NFS_Panel_NoDLL.ex5        → MQL5/Indicators/
├── NFS_Service.ex5            → MQL5/Services/
├── NFS_EaIntegration_NoDLL.mqh → MQL5/Include/
└── data/
    └── nfs_data.dat           → MQL5/Files/

Restart MT5
Install the Service (One-Time Setup):

An MT5 Service is a background program that runs automatically when MT5 starts. It’s invisible (no chart needed) and perfect for prop firms.
- Open Navigator panel (Ctrl+N)
- Expand Services folder
- Right-click on NFS_Service
- Select “Add to Service Manager”
- The service will start automatically
You should see in the Experts log:
```
NFS_Service: Started successfully
NFS_Service: Data sync enabled - checking every 30 minutes
```
Activate the Panel:
- Drag NFS_Panel_NoDLL onto your trading chart
- Enter your license key

Verifying Installation

Check 1: Experts Log

Open the Toolbox (Ctrl+T) → Experts tab.

You should see:

✅ NFS Panel: License validated successfully
✅ NFS Panel: Loaded 15,847 news events
✅ NFS Panel: Next update in 27 minutes

Check 2: Visual Confirmation

Look for:

✅ Panel appears in the corner of your chart
✅ Vertical lines showing upcoming news
✅ Status: “Connected ✓” in green

Check 3: Test News Detection

Hover over a vertical line. You should see a tooltip:

📅 NFP - Non-Farm Payrolls
🔴 Impact: HIGH
⏰ 2026-02-21 13:30 UTC
💱 Currency: USD

Common Installation Issues

”License key invalid”

Make sure you’re using the correct MT4/MT5 account number
Check if the key was sent for MT4 or MT5 (they’re different)
Contact support: @NFS_Support_Bot

”Data file not found”

Ensure nfs_data.dat is in the correct folder:
- MT4: MQL4/Files/
- MT5: MQL5/Files/
Restart MetaTrader after copying files

”DLL function call is not allowed” (MT4)

Go to: Tools → Options → Expert Advisors
✅ Enable “Allow DLL imports”
✅ Enable “Allow imports of external experts”
Restart MT4

No-DLL Mode: Panel shows “Waiting for data…”

For MT4:

Make sure NFS_Server.ex4 is running on at least one chart
Check the Experts log - you should see “NFS Server Running ✓”

For MT5:

Open Navigator (Ctrl+N) → Services
Verify NFS_Service is in the Service Manager
If not, right-click it and select “Add to Service Manager”

Panel not updating

Check your internet connection
Verify AutoTrading is enabled (green button in toolbar)
Check Windows Firewall isn’t blocking MT4/MT5

Account Info Copier Tool

Need to get your exact MetaTrader account details for the license? Use the included tool:

Find the tool: Tools/Account_Info_Copier.ex4 (MT4) or .ex5 (MT5)
Copy to: MQL4/Indicators/ or MQL5/Indicators/
Drag onto chart
One-click copy your account number and server details
Send to support for license generation

This tool ensures you provide the correct account info (no typos).

Next Steps

Installation complete? Head to the Visual Panel Guide to learn about all features! 🚀