DataStream Excel Add-in

DataStream is a powerful source for data that covers a number of different statistical categories--including equities, indices, economics, options, exchange rates, interest rates, futures, and bonds. This guide shows how to use the DataStream Excel Add-in , the easiest method for extracting data from this huge database. As we will see, this method allows us to drop data directly into Excel.

Even though the example used in this guide will show how to obtain a time series of economic data, the same technique can be used for other types of statistics. Specifically, our example in this guide will show us how to find the nominal GDP for Argentina.

1. To start off, we open up Excel from the desktop. Once Excel is opened, we click on the Datastream-AFO on the menu line.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. When the pull-down menu opens up, we select Time Series Request.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. The Time Series Request window is now open. The first item that we must choose is the Series. Click on the icon to the right of the Series box.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Next, we select the category of data that is needed. In this case we click on the category pull-down menu and select Economic [1]. Once Economic is selected, we see all of the data series available in this category [2]. At this point, we can scroll through thousands of series descriptions [3] or use the Filter to view only the series that apply to Argentina. Click on Filter [4].
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. The Filter allows us to restrict the data options based on various Filter Types. Since we want economic data on Argentina, we select the Market (country) Filter Type [1] and Argentina from the Filter By box [2]. Other filtering types include Frequency, Source, Adjustment, and Classification.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Once we have selected Argentina, we click on the + sign [1] to add that country to the filtering criteria. If we wanted to, we could add other critera to place more restrictions on the available codes. In this case, we will just use a single critera and click on OK [2] to get back to our Times Series search screen.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Back at the Series Selection form, we pick the data series that we want in our spreadsheet. Only data for Argentina is now showing because of our filtering by market (country). We can scroll through the hundreds of series for Argentina [1]. Or better yet, we can use the type ahead function in the Find box and type in GDP to take us directly to the part of the list that we need [2]. Once we have found the correct data series, GDP (NOMINAL, US $) and highlighted it [3], we click on OK [4] to insert this selection into the search form. Note that the Series Selection forms will often have columns that give information on starting date of the series, its frequency, and country.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. We are now back at the main Time Series Request window. We select the time period that we want covered by either typing in start and end dates or by putting in a relative start date that will give us data back so many years from today. In this case, we want to go back 10 years, so we type in -10y [1]. We also need to select the frequency of the data. We use the pull down menu to select Quarterly [2]. Next, we make sure that the boxes labeled Row Titles, Col Titles, Headings, and Currency are checked so our spreadsheet will have all of the information in the column and row headers [3]. Finally, we click on Submit to start our search [4].
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. The result is a worksheet with our GDP data for Argentina. We can now save this sheet to a floppy or to our network drive. Please do not save on the hard drive.