How to Get Data into Shazam

ECN201EconometricsHow to read Excel files into ShazamHow to Get Data into ShazamStep by stepStep 1 Get data from ECN201 homepages.You will find all the dataset used in the exercises by clicking on Exercises. Save theappropriate dataset on your computer. This can either be done by opening the link andsaving the file or by clicking on the right hand mouse button and choosing save targetas. As an example you can save the data for Problem set #6 in a file called data2.xlson a diskette. The address of the file is then: a:\data2.xlsNote: It is important that EXCEL data is on a sheet named Sheet1 and that thevariable names are in the first row.Step 2 Read an Excel dataset in Shazam Professional EditionWrite the following program in the Command Editor.sample 1 55read(a:\data2.xls) obs y xThe first line lets Shazam know how many observations to read. The second line tellsit where it can find the file to read (address in parenthesis) and what variables to read.Step 3 Create a Shazam dataset from the data.Write the following line in the Command Editor.write(a:\data2.dat) obs y xThis command is just like read but this time a new file is created. Notice the extensionof the file is .dat which is the extension for Shazam dataset files. The write commandis only necessary when you want to access the data in other Command Editors. If thatis not your intention you may omit this step.Step 4 Check if the file was read correctly.Add the lines:print obsstopto your Command Editor. The line you have added prints the variable obs. You dothis to check if it was read correctly. When you run the Command Editor the outputshould show the observation numbers correctly from 1 to 55.

ECN201EconometricsHow to read text files from the Internet into ExcelMany of you will need to import data into Shazam from a source on the Internet when you doyour term paper. We recommend that you import the data trough Excel. Here is an example ofhow you can do this. Those of you familiar with Excel will know that many other methodsexist. This is just an example.Step 1 As an example you can import data from the Internet on the interest rate ofNorwegian government bonds (Norske obligasjonsrenter). The data is availableon the home page of the Norwegian central bank:http://www.norges-bank.no/stat/renter/pmarked/a_obl_n.htmlCopy only the data lines. They should read:2003 4.24 4.58 5.042002 6.39 6.36 6.382001 6.44 6.31 6.242000 6.61 6.38 6.221999 5.39 5.39 5.521998 5.32 5.34 5.401997 4.62 5.12 5.891996 5.46 5.98 6.78Step 2 Open Word and paste the observations in the document. Save the data as a Text Onlyfile ( .txt) on your diskette. Call it bonds.txt. Close the file.Step 3 Open bonds.txt with Excel. When you try to open a .txt file in Excel the Text ImportWizard (TIW) will appear.Step 1 mark for Fixed With and click Next.Step 2 Excel will now suggest column separation.Step 3 if the separation is OK then click Finish.Step 4 Notice that the workbook only includes one worksheet called bonds. Rename the sheetto Sheet1 by double clicking on the sheet name and write Sheet1.Step 5 The Norwegian government bonds data has no variable names. Add a row at the topand write the variable names year y3 y5 and y10 in the first row of the four datacolumns.Step 6 Save the workbook by using Save As and define it as a Microsoft Excel Workbook.Call the workbook bonds.xls and save it on your diskette.Step 7 Follow the steps 2 to 4 on the previous page to get your Excel dataset into ShazamThe following program in the Command Editor works as long as you have followedthe instructions.sample 1 8read(a:\bonds.xls) year y3 y5 y10print year y3 y5 y10stop

ECN201EconometricsThe problem with decimal point, “.”, versus decimal comma “,”.There are two ways of decimal separators. Europeans use commas, e.g. 1/10=0,1. Americanson the other hand use a decimal point, i.e., 1/10=0.1. This causes problems for example whenyou get data from the Internet. While the Norwegian Central Bank reports data with decimalcomma the American Federal Reserve uses decimal points. We assume that most studentshave their computers configured according to European standards. If you want to get decimalpoint numbers into Shazam you can follow the following instructions. Note: if yourcomputer uses the American configuration you can use these instructions to get decimalcomma data into Shazam by replacing “comma” with “point” in the following steps.Step 1 Assume that you want to get the following data into Shazam:obs x y1 0.36 8.12 0.89 0.93 0.57 1.44 0.16 7.15 0.58 3.06 0.83 6.27 0.41 6.38 0.69 0.6Step 2 Open Word and paste the observations and variable names in the document. ChooseReplace from the Edit menu and put “.” where it says Find what and “,” where it saysReplace with. Then choose Replace all.Step 3 Save the data as a Text Only file ( .txt) on your diskette. Call it test.txt. Close the file.Step 4 Open test.txt with Excel. When you try to open a .txt file in Excel the Text ImportWizard (TIW) will appear.Step 1 mark for Fixed With and click Next.Step 2 Excel will now suggest column separation.Step 3 if the separation is OK then click Finish.Step 5 Notice that the workbook only includes one worksheet called test. Rename the sheet toSheet1 by double clicking on the sheet name and write Sheet1.Step 6 Save the workbook by using Save As and define it as a Microsoft Excel Workbook.Call the workbook test.xls and save it on your diskette.Step 7 Follow the steps 2 to 4 on the previous page to get your Excel dataset into ShazamThe following program in the Command Editor works as long as you have followedthe instructions.sample 1 8read(a:\test.xls) obs x yprint obs x ystop