Build and backtest your first Flow

At the end of this guide you will have a Flow built from a template, backtested with the costs you chose, and running your own rules on your MT5 DEMO account.

Backtest needs only a PipLoop account. Running the Flow needs an MT5 account connected through the EA (Connect an MT5 account).

1. Start from a template

Open Flow Builder in the sidebar and select + New Workflow.
On New flow, check the Symbol field. Backtest uses PipLoop’s tick data for that symbol.
Pick a template and select Use template. Session range breakout is marked Recommended. Start from scratch (tag Blank, button Create) opens empty steps with safe defaults.

Every template opens on the canvas, fully editable.

2. Read the five steps

The canvas always has five steps, from left to right:

Entry signal: when to look for a trade, for example Bar close, Time range or Moving average cross.
Risk checks: am I allowed to trade? For example Max open positions, One trade per day or Daily loss lock.
Position size: Fixed lots, Risk % of balance or Fixed money risk.
Order & protection: the entry order, such as Stop orders at level or Market order, with Stop loss, Take profit, Break-even and Trailing stop.
Exit: the first one closes the trade, for example Close at time or Opposite signal.

Select a node to open its settings. Add nodes with Add condition, Add check, Add node or Add exit, or from the nodes panel (Search nodes). Read as text shows the whole Flow In plain words, a quick way to check it says what you mean.

In the toolbar, set Timeframe, Direction (Buy and sell, Buy only or Sell only) and the broker’s server time (Server UTC). Times inside nodes are broker server time.

3. Save until it reads “Ready to test”

Select Save. The toolbar shows ● Unsaved, Saving… or Saved. Next to it, PipLoop checks the Flow: Save to check, Checking…, a number followed by to fix, or ✓ Ready to test. Select a node with a problem to see what to change.

4. Set the costs and run the backtest

Select ⚙ Settings to open Backtest settings.
Choose a Period (All history, a recent number of months, or Choose dates) and a Start balance.
Set the costs. Spread uses Recorded in the data unless you choose Fixed. Commission per lot and Slippage per side start at 0. Enter what your broker really charges and a realistic slippage, or the results will look better than the market allows.
Select Run backtest. Later, Backtest in the toolbar reuses these settings.

A Flow that starts with Webhook alert can’t be back-tested. Test it on a DEMO account instead: while it runs, the node’s settings offer Test buy and Test sell. Keep its Webhook URL secret.

5. Read the results

The header repeats the symbol, dates and costs used.
The top row shows Net profit, Trades, Win rate, Profit factor, Max drawdown and Average R, then the equity curve.
Under Chart, step through the days. Select a row in Trades to see that trade on the chart, then Show path on canvas to see which nodes it went through.
Days without a trade shows where the Flow stopped on each quiet day and why.
When a trade hit its stop and target in the same bar, a note says the stop was assumed.

Simulated (backtested) results. They do not reflect actual trading, were designed with the benefit of hindsight, and do not guarantee future results.

Look at the drawdown and the worst days, not only the net result. Change one thing, save, test again. Back to canvas returns to editing.

6. Run it on your MT5 DEMO account

In ACCOUNT, pick your DEMO account. It should show EA connected.
Select Run live and pick the account’s symbol. Brokers often name the same market a little differently.
If PipLoop lists a problem, fix it first. A warning can be accepted with Run anyway. On a real-money account you must also type REAL. Practise on DEMO first.
The toolbar shows ● Live. Trades opens Positions, Orders, History and Activity.
To stop, select ■ Stop, then Stop · keep position or Stop · close all.

If something goes wrong

EA not connected. Attach the EA in MT5, then try again. See Troubleshooting connection states.
The broker server time differs from the Flow’s: change Server UTC in the toolbar to match.
No local history for … yet. PipLoop has no tick data for that symbol. Pick another symbol.

A running Flow still needs watching. Keep MT5 running, check Activity, and stop the Flow when the market or your plan changes.