# Common Functions

General-purpose functions not included into any specialized group are listed here.

| Function | Action |
| --- | --- |
| Alert | Displays a message in a separate window |
| CheckPointer | Returns the type of the object pointer |
| Comment | Outputs a comment in the left top corner of the chart |
| CryptEncode | Transforms the data from array with the specified method |
| CryptDecode | Performs the inverse transformation of the data from array |
| DebugBreak | Program breakpoint in debugging |
| ExpertRemove | Stops Expert Advisor and unloads it from the chart |
| GetPointer | Returns the object  pointer |
| GetTickCount | Returns the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since the system was started |
| GetTickCount64 | Returns the number of milliseconds that have elapsed since the system was started |
| GetMicrosecondCount | Returns the number of microseconds that have elapsed since the start of MQL5 program |
| MessageBox | Creates, displays a message box and manages it |
| PeriodSeconds | Returns the number of seconds in the period |
| PlaySound | Plays a sound file |
| Print | Displays a message in the log |
| PrintFormat | Formats and prints the sets of symbols and values in a log file in accordance with a preset format |
| ResetLastError | Sets the value of a predetermined variable  _LastError  to zero |
| ResourceCreate | Creates an image resource based on a data set |
| ResourceFree | Deletes  dynamically created resource  (freeing the memory allocated for it) |
| ResourceReadImage | Reads data from the graphical resource  created by ResourceCreate() function  or  saved in EX5 file during compilation |
| ResourceSave | Saves a resource into the specified file |
| SetUserError | Sets the predefined variable _LastError into the value equal to ERR_USER_ERROR_FIRST + user_error |
| SetReturnError | Sets the code that returns the terminal process when completing the operation. |
| Sleep | Suspends execution of the current Expert Advisor or script within a specified interval |
| TerminalClose | Commands the terminal to complete operation |
| TesterHideIndicators | Sets the mode of displaying/hiding indicators used in an EA |
| TesterStatistics | It returns the value of a specified statistic calculated based on testing results |
| TesterStop | Gives program operation completion command when  testing |
| TesterDeposit | Emulates depositing funds during a test. It can be used in some money management systems |
| TesterWithdrawal | Emulates the operation of money withdrawal in the process of testing |
| TranslateKey | Returns a Unicode character by a virtual key code |
| ZeroMemory | Resets a variable passed to it by reference. The variable can be of any type, except for classes and structures that have constructors. |