Skype Control Library – library for MetaTrader 4

In the automatic trading Skype can be used for sending text messages with the necessary information. In this case work with Skype is realized via library Skype4COM, أي. an ActiveX component that represents access to program management. You can download Skype4COM from the official website of developers: http://dev.skype.com/accessories/skype4com

Skype4COM.dll file must be installed and registered.

For an operating system x86:

• Copy to the %systemroot%\System32 folder;
• Run in the command line: %systemroot%\System32\regsvr32.exe %systemroot%\System32\Skype4COM.dll.

For an operating system x64:

• Copy to the %systemroot%\SysWOW64 folder;
• Run in the command line: %systemroot%\SysWOW64\regsvr32.exe %systemroot%\SysWOW64\Skype4COM.dll.

This SkypeMQL.dll library file must be installed in the folder: [terminal directory]\MQL5\Libraries

1. Sending instant messages

كثافة العمليات SkypeSendInstantMessageW(string skype_name,string message,كثافة العمليات status);
كثافة العمليات SkypeSendInstantMessageA(string skype_name,string message,كثافة العمليات status);// for MetaTrader 4

There are several tests in a function before sending instant message:

• The user name cannot be empty or begin with a number.
• The user with the specified name must be in the contact list.
• The message cannot be an empty string.
• The network status of the recipient must coincide with the specified value.

The list of the network status constants:

constant name	قيمة	description
STATUS_OFFLINE	1	Offline
STATUS_ONLINE	2	Online
STATUS_AWAY	4	Out of place
STATUS_DONT_DISTURB	16	Do not disturb

To set several allowed statuses simultaneously bit-by-bit addition of constants is used, على سبيل المثال: STATUS_ONLINE | STATUS_AWAY.

The maximum length of an instant message is ~8000 ANSI symbols, ~4000 Unicode symbols.

The example of a code:

string InpSkypeName     =  "echo123";        // Skype name
string InpTextMessage   =  "مرحبًا :)";       // Text message

string msg;
ENUM_SKYPE_ERROR err=(ENUM_SKYPE_ERROR)SkypeSendInstantMessageW(InpSkypeName,InpTextMessage,STATUS_ONLINE|STATUS_AWAY);

لو(err==ERROR_NO_ERRORS) msg=تنسيق السلسلة("Sent IM to %s, %س",InpSkypeName,InpTextMessage);
else msg=تنسيق السلسلة("Error sending IM to %s, خطأ: %س",InpSkypeName,EnumToString(err));

Print(msg);

2. Sending SMS messages

The service to send SMS messages is fee-paid at the moment!

كثافة العمليات SkypeSendSmsMessageW(string phone_number, string message);
كثافة العمليات SkypeSendSmsMessageA(string phone_number, string message);// для MetaTrader 4

There are several tests before sending SMS message:

• The telephone number must be specified in the international format: + [country code] [city or network code] [telephone number]
• The length of the string which contains the telephone number must be at least 7 symbols and start with a '+' sign
• Text message must not be an empty string

Sending SMS to a non existing number is not an error. The cost for this operation will be charged, but returned after a short time, as the actual message wasn't delivered.

The SMS message is limited to 116 ANSI symbols, 58 Unicode symbols.

The example of a code:

input string InpPhoneNumber   =  "+380123456789";  // Phone number
input string InpTextMessage   =  "مرحبًا :)";       // Text message

string msg;
ENUM_SKYPE_ERROR err==(ENUM_SKYPE_ERROR) SkypeSendSmsMessageW(InpPhoneNumber,InpTextMessage);

لو(err==ERROR_NO_ERRORS) msg=تنسيق السلسلة("Sent SMS to %s, %س",InpPhoneNumber,InpTextMessage);
else msg=تنسيق السلسلة("Error sending SMS to %s, خطأ: %س",InpPhoneNumber,EnumToString(err));

Print(msg);

3. Description of the return values

Both functions return an integer value which can be analyzed, اذا كان ضروري.

4. The first launch

At first connection MetaTrader 5 to Skype a pop up window appears which enables program management access.

After conforming access to Skype, the requesting process enters to the list stored in the program settings: Tools -> خيارات -> Advanced -> Manage other programs' access to Skype.

5. Runtime errors

By unknown reasons, the work with the library compiled for MetaTrader 5 x64 ends with "Stack overflow" خطأ. If it is connected with Skype4COM, then you have to wait for the new messages where this error will be corrected.

The attachment has an archive with library source code (a project for Microsoft Visual C++ 2010) and test script to check its performance.