The Data Library Service has acquired an account with Datastream International which provides the University with access to a remote database of circa 1.5 billion time-series of financial and economic statistics, covering all countries of the world. The Datastream database covers company, financial and economic data from all major markets in the world. The data are grouped as: equities, bonds, company accounts, stock market indices, interest and exachange rates, economic statistics, futures and options, warrants, and commodities.

The data are restricted access, for University of Toronto faculty, students, and staff, for purposes of academic university research and teaching only.

The Datastream service agreement requires that users cite Datastream as the source of all data from that source used in publications etc. The bibliographic citation of Datastream data should follow these guidelines:

Example:

Datastream International Ltd./ Datastream database [computer file]: BBDEM1F, BBDM3F, VWCAD3F. London: Datastream International Ltd., retrieved August 6, 1999.

In order to access Datastream at the University of Toronto, you must use specific computers that have the proprietary Datastream interface software installed and are authorized to access the Datastream network.

Workstations with the Datastream software are available in the following locations:

• Walk-in use:
  • Business Information Centre (BIC), Rotman School of Management [2 workstations]
  • Data Library Service (DLS), Robarts Library, 5th Floor [2 workstations]
• Restricted access:
  • Rotman School of Management. Ph.D. students lab
  • Rotman School of Management. Financial lab [2 workstations]

Because the University has only one account with which to access Datastream, only one user can access the Datastream database at any one time. The following schedule has been agreed upon between the BIC and the DLS, to avoid problems of clashing simultaneous users at different locations.

When the access is needed at another location, the scheduled location should be notified; to notify the BIC call 978-3421, and to notify the DLS call 978-5365 or 978-5589.

The Datastream database can be accessed via three different retrieval interfaces. All three programs access the main Datastream database, but all have different strengths and weaknesses. The following table outlines some of those strengths and weaknesses:

A number of macros are included with the Datastream installation. They are to be found, on the harddrive of a computer with the Datatream software installed, normally in the subdirectory: c:\dswindows\files\ and have extension .mac.

The bulk of the Datastream documentation is in print format. A non-circulating copy of each of the following titles is available for consultation in the Data Library Service (5th Floor, Robarts Library) as well as in the Business Information Centre, Irving Rotman School of Management:

In addition, some brief guides to using Datastream are available on the WWW at the following locations:

Question: When and where can I get training on using Datastream.