Pliny Fisk Library: Using Global Insight (DRI University Program)

Princeton University Library
Pliny Fisk Library of Economics & Finance

USING Global Insight (formerly DRI UNIVERSITY PROGRAM)

Installed at SSRC and Stokes, or follow instructions below to download.

First determine if Global Insight is the right database for you. Basic comparisons of it and Datastream International can be found at http://firestone.princeton.edu/econlib/dsvsdri.html.

If Global Insight is the right program for you, then you can download the software from http://firestone.princeton.edu/econlib/dri/Webstract.zip.

This is a zipped file. Unzip the file.

After unzipping, execute the program and accept all defaults.

Follow the instructions on the screen. You may be asked to grant permissions. Grant permissions. The only things you need to know that are not given on the screen are the user ID and password. You will also be asked to supply a charge code. You can enter anything you choose in this box. You will not be charged but you do have to supply some word. For the connection method, choose the 2nd option.

If you are installing on a Windows NT Machine you must have administrator privileges. You must install first on the administrator side and then once that is done again under your regular logon ID. You must also have Java and Javascript enabled in your browser.

Click on START

Click on BASIC SEARCH

Click on Database Selection(s) - We have access to selected databanks in Global Insight; however they all show up. If you try to obtain data from databanks to which we do not have access, you will get an error message. A listing of databanks available to Princeton University can be found at http://firestone.princeton.edu/econlib/dribanks.html

Choose your data bank(s). You can go back and choose additional databanks.

Click on Search at the top of the screen.

Type in your keyword(s) in the search box. If you check off the "show details" box, dates and frequency of coverage will be given. For more information, click on "Get Description".

Double click on each item you need. When finished selecting your data items, click on "Add Selections to Order".

Once you have added your selections to your "order" click on Layout at the top of the page.

Click on Destination.

Choose your format (for most this will be Excel)

Specify your filename and drive. Leave the extension as .csv. This will give you a text, comma delimited file which can be read in EXCEL, STATA, or any major statistical package.

Click on Interval and Freq.

Specify your interval and frequency. Frequency must be no greater than that of the data. For example, if data frequency is quarterly, you can request a less frequent interval such as annual but not a more frequent interval such as monthly.

Click on Format.

Make sure you have Series Name, Series Description, and Data Values selected.

Make sure you have Include Labels checked off.

Order should be down.

Click on Retrieve.

Documentation is available online at the Global Insight site. For the documentation password, see http://firestone.princeton.edu/econlib/dri/dridoc.html (Princeton Only).

Last updated July 27, 2005