Search Datastream Advance in four quick steps:
Step 1: Select category and click the Navigator button to choose category series in the Data Categories area
Step 2: From the icon bar, select format for your output results and choose report type for your series in the Data Series area
Step 3: Refine your selections by setting dates, frequency, datatype, and currency as applicable in the Settings area. Choose datatype if applicable for times series requests by clicking the Datatype Navigator button in the Datatype Setup area
Step 4: Run search by clicking the Run Now button and view results in the Output window Save, download results to the appropriate Microsoft office program: Excel, Word, PowerPoint.

Step 1: Selecting a category and choosing a category series
Datastream series is a particular set of financial data over time, e.g. company equities, bonds, indices etc. All Datastream series are grouped into the following 15 data categories accessible from the Category drop down list: Equities • Equity Indices • Constituent Lists •Unit Trust • Investment Trusts • Bonds & Convertibles • Bond Indices • Warrants • Economics • Economic Reports/Charts • Exchange Rates • Interest Rates • Futures • Options • Commodities. By selecting a category, you gain access to all data series stored within that category. You have the following options to select data series:

• Using Navigator:
  Navigator Quick Search- enter a keyword in a Series box and click the , then click on DS Mnemonic or DS code link from the list of matching entries
  Navigator Power Search-click on the  Navigator button and enter your criteria in the available fields as shown on the figure on the right. Click the  button to select series from the list when available.
  Navigator Drill Search-click on the Drilldown link on top menu bar and find data series through the menu-driven method. For economics, use the Explorer option instead of Drilldown.
  
• Using Datastream mnemonic
  Click the Expert entry check box, and enter the mnemonic in the Series box.
  
• Using Recent Series search
  Click the Recent Series and select data series from the drop down list of your previous requests

Step 2: Selecting format for output data and selecting data request
In the Data Series area, select the format of your output data and then select a report or request type from the list. Depending on the category, the output format tabs and the contents in the data series window will differ.

Overview on a single series. Select report from the list of preformatted reports available for most of the data categories: equity, commodity, warrant, trust, and bonds from different sources, e.g. Thomson, I/B/E/S etc.	Summary for list of series. This format is available only for list categories such as Constituents and Local lists. Values for Datastream constituents are displayed in one summary report, or as a chart, or as a data report depending on category series.
Chart of a single series. Select from the list of available charts, e.g. Line chart, Moving Average Chart, Price and Volume Chart etc.	Findcompany mnemonics. Use this function tosearch for mnemonics for both "live" and "dead" stocks held in Datastream. Remember to check the Expert Entry box.
Reporton a single series. Select from the list ofpreformatted reports. Reports are different for different categories.	Comparisonone or more series. Create reports on multiple series and compare across different data categories e.g. compare a company's performance against an index.
Data for a single series (in spreadsheet format). Select time series, static data, and company accounts data reports. Customize reports with additional criteria. All reports can be exported to Excel spreadsheet.

Step 3: Refine selections by setting dates, datatype, frequency, currency in the Settings area
In the Settings area, you can refine your request by selecting frequency, dates, datatype, and currency as applied to your data series.
NOTE: The contents of the Settings will be different for different data series and output formats.

• Frequency: Click the Settings to set up frequency for Time Series data (daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly).
• Dates: Select time period by one of the following options: by relative dates (-1Y, -10Y, -6M etc.), or click the  and enter a fixed date or a date range.
  
• Datatype: Find datatype for your series using the Datatype Navigator. When you create a request for Time Series data, click the  Datatype Navigator button in the lower left area of the screen. For Static data requests, click the  and then click the Datatype Navigator button to open a Datatype Search screen similar to the one shown on the right.Datatypes are grouped by their types and sources, e.g. from the drop down list in the Type box you can select Static or Time Series; in the Group box, you can select Key Datatypes. To broaden you search, select All in both or either category. In addition, you can use the drop down lists in the Find section of the screen. Enter the name or the code (depending on your setting) in the Find text box.Once you have specified your search criteria, click the Search. To add datatype to your request, click on the mnemonic link from the list ofmatching entries. You can select up to nine datatypes for each request.
• Currency: Select currency from the drop down list in the Currency box.

Step 4: Running requests and obtaining results.After you select data series in the Data Series window and add settings if applicable, click the  located in the Settings Area. Your search results: graphs, reports, or data will open in the Output window as shown below. You can resize the window by clicking the arrow in the lower right corner. You can also add annotations to your data report (highlight text, insert comments, arrows etc.) before you save your report in Word orPowerPoint. To display/hide Annotations toolbar, click the  icon from the top icon toolbar. Saving and exporting results: Click the icons from the top icon bar to export results to Excel or to save results as file. To save results in Excel, Word, or PowerPoint using the top menu, select Tools>Transfer> Excel (or Word or Powerpoint) Sample SearchesHistorical Stock Prices: Find the daily stock price for Genentech for the past 5 years.

1. In Category, select the Equities. Enter genentech in the Series box. Click the Navigator button.
   
2. Click the D:GT6 (DS mnemonic) from the series list.
   
3. Click the Data format tab (spreadsheet) and highlight Time Series Data.
   
4. Click the Settings button. Move the frequency bar to daily. Click OK.
   
5. Select -5Y to get the daily rate for the last 5 years.
   
6. Click the Run Now. The results will display in the Output Window.
   
7. View, print or export the results.

Economic Data Sample Search

1. Economic Data: In Category, select Economics.
2. Click on the Navigator button, and either enter criteria in the search boxes or use Explorer to find the desired codes using the expandable trees.
3. Click on the desired code from results list.
4. Click the Data format tab in the upper right hand corner of the screen and select the desired format. (The Time Series format looks like a waffle).
5. Click the settings button. Move to desired frequency and click OK.
6. Select the desired Time Period, for example 20 yrs.
7. Click Run Now.
8. View or Export the Results.

Exchange Rates: Find the daily exchange rates between Indian Rupee and U.S. Dollar for the past year.

1. In Category, select Exchange Rates. Enter Indian in the Series box. Click the Navigator button.
2. Click the USINDNR mnemonic for Indian Rupee to US$ from the series list.
3. Click the Data format tab (spreadsheet) and highlight Time Series Data.
4. Click the Settings button and move the frequency bar to daily. Click OK.
5. Select -1Y to get the daily data for the past year.
6. Click the Run Now. The result will appear in the Output Window.
7. View, print or export the results.

Commodity Prices: Find weekly prices for shelled almonds for the past 90 days.

1. In Category, select Commodities. Enter almond in the Series box. Click the Navigator button.
2. Click the ALMUSSS mnemonic for Almonds Shelled US Standard Run from the series list.
3. Click the Data format tab (spreadsheet) and highlight Time Series Data.
4. Click the Settings button and move the frequency bar to weekly. Click OK.
5. Select -3M to get the weekly data for the last 90 days.
6. Click the Run Now. The result will appear in the Output Window.
7. View, print or export the results.

Compare One or More Data Series. Display a comparison chart or Genentech and GlaxoSmithKine.

1. Select the Comparison-one or more series tab and highlight the Comparison Line Chart (rebased).
2. In Category, select Equities. Enter genentech in the Series box. Click the Navigator button.
3. Click the U:DNA mnemonic from the series list.
4. Click the + button to add the first company to your list.
5. Repeat steps 2-3 for GlaxoSmithKline.
6. Click the -5Y button. Click the Run Now. The result will appear in the Output Window.
7. View, print or export the results.

Index Performance Report: Find the dividend yield and the market value for the FTSE100.

1. In Category, select Constituent lists. Enter ftse 100 in the Series box. Click the Navigator button.
2. Click the LFTSE100 mnemonic for FTSE100 Constituents from the series list.
3. Click the Summary for lists of series tab and highlight Static Data.
4. Click the Settings. Click the Datatype Navigator button .
5. In Type, select All; in Group select Key Datatypes; in Find, select Name-Contains and enter dividend in the text box. Click the Search.
6. Click the DY mnemonic for Dividend yield.
7. Repeat steps 4-6 for market value. Click OK.
8. Click the Run Now.
9. View, print or export the results.

Interest Rates (or any other category) using Advance for Office (AFO) for downloading multiple series: Find daily rates for 90-day Treasury Bill, Fed Funds, and 6-month LIBOR for the past year.

1. Advance for Office. On the top menu, click the Datastream-AFO and select Time Series Request.
2. Enter -1Y in Start date, select Daily in Freq[uency]; click the following options: Row Titles, Col Titles, Headings, Currency, Embed, and Visible Button as applied.
3. Click the Navigator button. On the Navigator screen, in Categories, select Interest rates
4. On top of the navigator screen click on the Help Browse link. The Help menu screen will open. NOTE: Click the Home at the bottom of the screen if the first page is not displayed.
5. Follow the menu choices to find data series mnemonics. For example, to find the 90-day Treasury Bill mnemonic, do the following:
   • From the main menu, double click option 2 under National Interest Rates; double click 25 for USA; scroll down the screen to Interest rates: United States Government securities: Treasury bills, secondary market, discount basis category and double click FRTBS3M mnemonic for 90 days (3 months) T-bills.
   • Enter codes into series box seperated by commas
6. Click submit
7. View, print or save the results.
   NOTE: If you know the mnemonics for your data series you can enter the mnemonic codes, separated by a comma, e.g. (USTBL3M, USFEDFD, BBUSD6M), then click the Submit.
8. Click the Refresh button (cell A1) to obtain the latest rates.

Dead companies information: Find the prices for companies no longer traded.

1. In Category, select Equities. Click the Expert entry check box.
   
2. Enter dead company's name or part of the name in the Series box and click the Find tab (flashlight).
   
3. Highlight the Datastream Remote Search-Dead series. Click the Run Now.
   
4. In the Output window, click on the name of the company. NOTE: View which data is available for a dead series.
   
5. Click the Data format tab (spreadsheet) and highlight Time Series Data.
   
6. Click the Run Now. The results will display in the Output Window.
   
7. View, print or export the results.

Print/Download
With search results displayed in the Data Output window, you can print or download your output results

• To print output results: Select File > Print from the top menu bar.
• To save results in Excel, Word, or PowerPoint: Click the Excel icon from the toolbar , or from the top menu, select Tools > Export, or select Tools > Transfer > Excel (or Word or Powerpoint)

Documentation
Datastream Online Manual and Tutorial can be accessed from the Help button.

Using the Request Table

What is the Request Table?

If your use of Excel involves transferring and presenting large amounts of data from DataStream on a regular basis for the same series, you can use the Request Table to create batches of refreshable data requests. The request table is an Excel template with additional facilities for entering request parameters as individual Excel rows. These parameters include:

Creating and storing regularly used DataStream data or chart requests in the form of a table enables you to:

• Enable/disable individual requests when they are required/not required.
• View the details of all requests in one glance.
• Reference request input parameters from other worksheets.
• List requests in the table in the order they need to processed (to use values as input parameters in subsequent requests).
• Specify different cell and worksheet reference for individual requests.
• Schedule the request table to be processed in the future and 'out of hours'.
• Continue processing, even if a datatype within a list of datatypes is invalid.
• Add a description against each row in the table.
• Copy a code button onto work sheets to access the series/datatype lookup.
• Link to charts and data.

Creating a batch of requests

You can create a batch of requests using the Request table and insert the resulting data, using Data Destination, into other worksheets within the same or different workbooks.

To create a batch of requests using the Request Table:

1. Select the New Request Table option from the DataStream AFO>Request Table menu.
2. You are now prompted to save the request table under a new name. Click Yes, supply the Request Table name and directory location, and click Save. (It is important that you do not overwrite the default Request Table template (Adv_xl.xlt) as this will form the basis for all your Request Table generation. We recommend that you make a back up of the template, which is installed with Advance in the location: C\ProgramFiles\Datastream\Datastream Advance. )

   Creating the requests - Repeat the following steps for each request you wish to add:

3. Click in the first cell beneath the Yes/No button. Click the Yes/No button to select Yes to refresh this request. Click the Yes/No button again to select No to refresh this request.
4. Select a Request Type by clicking the appropriate button. The buttons are:
   • S= Static data request
   • TS=Time series data request
   • TSL = Time series list data request
   • CAF= Company accounts data request
   • CH= Chart request
5. Select format options from the dropdown list. You can select:
   

   Format options	Worksheet Codes
   Headings	X
   Row titles	R
   Column titles	C
   Transpose	T
   Annualise (for company accounts)	A
   Display express title as title	N
   Display expression 1st series as title	E

   In addition to the above formats, you can display the currency of the series selected in your request table. This format option is selected by clicking the Always Return Currency check box above the Format column. If the Always Return Currency option is selected, any format options selected will have the currency symbol ($) appended to the worksheet code; for example RC$.

6. Select series or lists (i.e. Local Lists, DataStream mainframe lists and constituent lists) using the Serial Navigator or List Picker buttons. If the Request Type you selected is S or TS, click the Naviagator button (see Selecting Series, page 10). You can select any number of series. If the Request Type you selected is TSL, click the list Picker button to display the List Picker (see Selecting lists, page 11).
7. Select a datatype, expression or company accounts format (CAF) by clicking the appropriate button. If you have selected Request Type S, you can select datatypes (see page 6) and expressions (see page 8). If you have selected Request Types TS and TSL you can only select datatypes. If you have selected Request Type CAF, you can select company account formats (see page 12).
8. Type a Start date, either a fixed start date in the form dd/mm/yy, a relative start date in the form -nY (that is n years ago from the End Date), or -nYE to retrieve accounts data for n year ends.
   For static data requests, this field is used to specify the date for which the data is to be requested. When requesting latest values for static data for company account items (i.e. 104) and economic codes, you must enter a space in the Start Date field.
9. Type an End Date, either a fixed date or relative end date format. This date is only needed for time series and company accounts requests and can be left blank to specify previous day values.
10. Select a data frequency from the dropdown list. The options are:
    • Daily
    • Weekly
    • Monthly
    • Quarterly
    • Yearly
11. Specify where the results of the data request are to be inserted. This can be a specific cell location in any new worksheet within the same workbook, or a specific cell location in a different workbook. If you leave it blank, a new worksheet is created for the results:To specify a cell location in another workbook:
    • Insert a new worksheet from the Insert menu
    • Click on the Request Table tab
    • With the cursor in the data destination column, click the Data Destination button. The Create Destination Reference screen is displayed. Navigate to the required worksheet and click in the required cell to automatically paste the cell reference into the cell reference into the dialog, for example:
      
    • Click OK to insert the cell reference into the request table.
    To specify a cell reference in another workbook:
    
    • Click the Data Destination button, open the required workbook, click in the required cell, and click OK on the Create Destination Reference dialog.
12. Select the data destination cell location to be displayed as either plain text reference or as a dynamic Excel formula. If you select the Display Destination as reference option, this enables the position of the data results to be moved in the worksheet (e.g. after inserting a new row or column).
    If you select this option, any future processing of the Request Table will take into account the new cell location. If you do not select this option, the data will always be inserted at the same cell location.If the destination reference is to a closed external workbook, you must ensure that the Display Destination as reference check box is selected to enable the request table to open the workbook. This is particularly important if you are scheduling the Request Table to be refreshed "out of hours' and the Request Table contains reference to external workbooks that will be closed when the process is run.
13. Skip the cell column for Status as this is used by DataStream to inform you of the statues of the latest update of this request. OK indicates the update has been successful.
14. Place the cursor in the Description column, and type a short description for the request (optional).
15. To add a chart request to the table, click the CH button. This displays all charts in open workbooks. Select the chart required and the request string will be entered in the Series Lookup cell and the nearest cell entered in the destination cell.
    Note the series used in the request string can be linked via a cell reference.
16. From the Excel File menu, select Save to save the details of your Request Table. The request is now ready to be processed.
17. Click the Process Table button to process the request.

Note:
It is important that you do not overwrite the default Request Table template (Adv_xl.xlt) as this will form the basis for all your Request Table generation. We recommend that you make a back up of the template which is installed with Advance in the location: C;\programFiles\Datastream\Datastream Advance.

Request Table options

The Request Table can be configured to always display the currency of the selected series and show your own entered text (e.g. N/A) where data is not available from DataStream. The Always Include Currency option is provided to ensure compatibility with data tables created with previous versions of the Request Table, i.e. DSDDE tables. Selecting this option makes it possible to use DSDDE tables where the currency is always returned. You are also able to define which AFO Index you would like to add your table to.To configure these options, click the Options button to display the Options dialog. Select your Request Table options and click OK.