DATABASES : DATASTREAM FAQsBusiness & Economics Information Services (BEIS) |
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| Getting Started | ||||
Who produces Datastream? Where can I find access to a Datastream terminal? There is online help available under Help (in Advance) and Datastream-AFO > Help > User Guide. How do I sign on? To set up access to Datastream: Follow the signon instruction beside terminals in the
Business Information Centre.
Where can I obtain a User guide? You can find excellent online user manuals on both the Excel and Advance interfaces. In Advance In Excel Which is best interface to use - Advance or Excel access? This is a matter of personal preference. In Excel the data come straight into your spreadsheet and so are dynamic and refreshable. You use the Static Request, Time Series Request or Company Accounts Request (accessed from<Other/Manage Requests> menu) to construct your search. What sort of data will I find on Datastream? Financial data Economic data Economic data includes national accounts, money and finance, prices, labour market indicators, consumer sector data, industry sector data, and government sector financials. How can I find data for older or delisted New Zealand companies ? To find continuous share prices for listed companies, make sure you have their company history and understand name changes which may have taken place. Companies merge and delist, so check these in a current printed resource such as New Zealand Company Register (General Library 338.740995 N56 NZ&P) or Investment Yearbook from IRG (General Library 332.60995 N27 NZ&P) or run a search on Newztext Plus to find more information about recent developments. The New Zealand stock exchange website can also help, as can NZX Company research database. A Time Series search using the code deadnz will find all previously listed New Zealand companies. How do I search for data on Datastream? Datastream is searched by using codes. There are three modes of searching, Static, Time Series and Company Account Request. These each have different request boxes. The first code you will need is for the time series or company you require. First, select the type of search you are doing - either static, time series or company account request. In the pop-up search box you being by finding the Series/List code by using the Navigator button, in Excel this is a red button, In the new Advance version a blue Search button |
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| Finding codes | ||||
How do I find the series codes on Datastream? In the search box the Navigator will show you a search screen
(Criteria Search) . You can enter a company name or select a series such as NZSX, and then choose the appropriate code for your search. The symbol Make sure the settings in "Data category" at the top of the screen are the correct ones for the series you are seeking, such as Equities, Equity indices or Exchange rates. How do I find company accounts and financial information? In a Company Account Request use the Navigator to choose Equities as the Data Category, then type in the name of the company. You can enter part of a company name and change the search box to "contains" or "starts with" etc so that you get all variations of the company's name. You can select the company from the list which appears. You will need to select a format code, using either pre-defined formats such as Industrials Balance Sheet Assets - Detailed or you can define your own format. How do I find the lists of research stocks? In Navigator, go to Constituent lists as the Data Category. Enter in the name field Contains the word research. How do I find codes for exchange rates or economics codes? Under Time series, change the Data Category on the Navigator to Exchange Rates or Economics etc and carry out a search for relevant codes using the Explorer. Does Datastream recognize tickers and SEDOL codes ? You can use Datastream codes, SEDOLs, ISINs, or other codes that Datastream recognises displayed in a request in the request table to create a Datastream or Local list of companies. You can then use your created list to make further data requests. To create a new list from external codes displayed in the request table, select the codes you want to use in the request table and click the List button. (over the frequency column) Datastream will accept ticker number modified U: for NYSE and AMEX or @ for NASDAQ Datastream does recognise IBES tickers. You can do a static search in Excel and download the DS code (DSCD), mnemonic (MNEM) or SEDOL code (SECD) for the list. |
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| Datatypes | ||||
How do I select datatypes / expressions? These are also codes, for the financial items you wish to obtain. Once you have chosen your series code, click on the Datatypes button How can I find out how the datatypes are calculated? Click on the small open book icons to the left of the Datatype to find a definition and explanation of how these are calculated. There are more definitions in the Help > Definitions. Can I use Worldscope datatypes? These appear in the Navigator so just prefix them with an X and brackets e.g. Total debt x(wc03255). Not all are available however. Selecting key items will limit to those datatypes which are available to you. How can I automatically update my data to current values? If you tick the 'Embed' option in the Request box your data will automatically refresh each time you load it. It will update itself to today's value. Can I make a list of datatypes for a Company account request? (Creating "User Created Company Account Formats") To create a list of company account items for use in Excel Company Account Request follow these steps:
Can I find Beta measures on Datastream? You can get Beta measures from Datastream. To do this, import your list into the time series and select the beta measure from the datatype button marked fx. This screen can be searched using “beta” and the various measures will appear. |
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| Company lists | ||||
How can I find out which companies are listed on a particular stock exchange or index ? (Finding constituent companies)
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| Excel capacity | ||||
How can I limit the size of the file- (10 years max-by date) ? You are limited in your download by the capacity of Excel. The best way to make sure you have all the data is to limit the amount by the date, for example for a ten year period, break the search into two time periods of five years. You can also transpose the data to fit, and obtain all the company names down a left hand column, and the dates across the page. Just tick "Transpose data" on the Time Series Request box. |
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| Help | ||||
Who can I contact for help? The subject librarians are now located in the General Library on Level M. On Mon-Fri, 9.00am - 5.00pm there is a business librarian available in the Business Information Centre, Please email us for an appointment before coming to see us as we may not be available.
OR The Datastream Helpdesk usually gives a rapid reply (within 1 hour). |
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| Copyright©The
University of Auckland Library Comments and suggestions to: Julie Sibthorpe Last updated: 13 April, 2011 |
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shows you can display a list of available values to search and select from. For example, you can display all the Markets and then select those to include in your search. When you double-click the code it pastes into your search box. 