Question
How can I use the View mode of Data Buffet?
Answer
The View mode allows you to inspect and experiment with a small number of time series before putting them in a saved workpiece (a basket, chart or map) or expanding the retrieval. Each time series appears as a vertical tabulation with two columns, containing date and value. Like the other modules of Data Buffet, each View workpiece appears as a tab in the right-hand pane. You can open, switch between, and close View workpieces; you cannot save them, but can download the contents to a spreadsheet.
How to activate View mode
- From the catalog - Drill down to a concept, pass through the Geo Wizard, and pick "View Data" from the lower-right multi-button.
- From the upper-right search box - Enter a mnemonic, pick View from the adjoining drop-down, and hit the Go button.
Add more series
A View workpiece can show multiple series; each new series is appended to the right, and a horizontal scrollbar will appear. You can mix series of different frequencies; series with a common frequency are grouped together and share a date column.
- From the catalog - Use the Geo Wizard again, but pick "Add Series" to append to the active tab.
- From within the View workpiece - Use the "Add Series" button in the tab's menubar.
What you can view
- Native series
- Formulas based on native series
How series are displayed
- Description metadata and geography name - In the grey header.
- Mnemonic
- Source metadata
- Use the Decimals drop-down to change the number of displayed decimal places.
- For Moody's Analytics estimated and forecast series, forecasted periods will be shown in red.
How to analyze
- Change the data range - Use the controls in the upper-right of the tab's menubar. Similar controls appear in all modes.
- Standard analytic transformations - Use the Transformation drop-down. Only the five simplest transformations are available, whereas Basket and Chart modes provide an "advanced" transformation dialog. Or, "Add series" an explicit formula.
- Convert frequency - Use the Frequency drop-down.
Operate on a single series: the "Actions" icons
- Red magnifying glass - Learn more in the Mnemonic 411 entry for the series.
- Blue basket - Create a Basket workpiece with one series. To convert the entire workpiece, use the "Send to" menu.
- Bar chart - Create a Chart workpiece with one series
- Grey rubbish bin - Delete the series (column) from the View workpiece
Operate on the entire workpiece: the menubar
- Download Data - Exports a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that resembles the View workpiece, with the mnemonic, description, source, transformation, frequency, periods (dates) and values. For more control, create a Basket.
- Sent to » New Chart - Create a new Chart workpiece containing all of the series with default line formatting. Note: Charts are limited to ten series.
- Send to » New Basket - Create a new Basket workpiece containing all of the series.
- Sent to » Open workpiece - Append the series to any Basket or Chart workpiece that is active (i.e., is in an open tab).