COMMONLY USED COMMANDS
| HELP SCREEN CODES | |
|---|---|
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Help in different subject areas may be obtained online by typing the
word Help followed by the corresponding help code indicated below:
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|
Subject | Command |
| Bond indices | Help BOND? |
| Country codes database | Help CC? |
| Commodity price mnemonics | Help CO? |
| Datastream codes and mnemonics | Help CODE? |
| Currency codes | Help CUCD? |
| Currency lists | Help CULI? |
| Economic Indicators | 150Z |
| Equity lists | Help EQLI? |
| Exchange rate codes | Help ER? |
| Futures codes | Help FUT? |
| Interest rates | Help IR? |
| Stockmarket indices | Help SI? |
| Traded options codes | Help TOCD? |
| I/B/E/S Services | Help IBES? |
COMMONLY USED PROGRAMS | |
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The most commonly used programs are listed below by their code numbers.
To use a program, enter the code numbers at the Datastream command line.
You will then be prompted by the program as to what must then be entered
in order to use that program ( data codes, data types, time periods of
interest, etc. ). | |
|
CODE - Use this program to find data codes by keyword, especially
equities.
900A - Allows retrieval of up to ten items for a list at one date only. 900B - Generates a list of data for a single series over a period of time. This is the most commonly used program among Datastream users. See the section on equities for a quick example of how to use this program. 401A - Make a line chart of up to three series. 150F - Displays economic indicators by country (No Codes Required). 284A - Displays capital issues & changes. 28A - Displays recent values and ranges for up to 3 series. Good for simple summary data. 99Nxxx - Displays additions to the database. Add the first three letters of the month after 99N. For example, for additions in March type 99NMAR | |
COMMONLY USED FUNCTIONS | |
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The most commonly used functions are listed below. CFx#(Expression,MAX) - Finds the maximum value for a specific calendar period (replace x with the desired frequency). For example, CFW#(S&PCOMP(PH),MAX) will find the maximum high price for the calendar week. CFx#(Expression,MIN) - Finds the minimum value for a specific calendar period (replace x with the desired frequency). For example, CFM#(S&PCOMP(PL),MIN ) will find the minimum low price for the calendar month. CxA#(Expression) - Finds the average value for a specific calendar period (replace x with the desired frequency). For example, CWA#(U:XON(RI)) will find the average weekly return index for Exxon. CMA#(S&PCOMP) will find the average monthly prices for the S&P 500. Simply using W,M,Q, or Y for frequencies gives you interval prices not average prices. Therefore, one must use the average function if averages for a frequency that is lower than the default are required. | |
