Using Global Development Finance on CD-ROM: Part 3

Displaying the Data

From the main query menu, once the countries and series and years have been selected, you can use the availability button at the bottom of the screen to learn the percentage of available data points for the selections you have made. (Remember, not every series is available for every country, for every year.)

Main Query Page, Selections Made

From the main query page, you can display the data either by clicking the Show Data button, or clicking the Result tab. Either approach will display a spreadsheet of the requested data.

The spreadsheet display defaults to one spreadsheet per series, with countries down the side and years across the top. The Orientation box allows you to change the display, specifying which item you want on each axis of the spreadsheet. The drop-down menu at the upper left (that says "Average interest" in the graphic below) allows you to switch between spreadsheets.

From the Result screen, you can Export (Save), Chart or Map your selections.

Result Display

Export (Save)

The Export function can be found on the File menu, or by clicking the button. You will be given the following choices for Export formats on the Data Translator Utility screen: Excel, ASCII (with a variety of delimiters), SAS, MS Access, dBASE or text. (See graphic below). You can choose to export the entire dataset, or the data on the displayed sheet only.

Click OK to proceed with exporting/saving the data. You will then return to the Result screen.

Export: Data Translator Utility Screen

Charting the Data

To create a chart at the Result screen, first highlight the fields in the spreadsheet that you wish to chart. Then click on the button. A two-dimensional bar graph will be displayed. If the selected series have different scales, the smaller scale will be converted to the larger scale before the graph is displayed. Numbers that are too large to fit in the available space on the left side of the graph will be converted to scientific notation.

There are a number of options available for type of graph, number of dimensions, and what aspects to display.

• To choose a type of graph (bar graph, line graph, pie chart, etc.) click with the right mouse button, and choose Wizard from the drop-down menu. The Wizard will display various options among which to choose.
• To specify a two- or three-dimensional graph, click on the appropriate option.
• The Up and Dn buttons and the cursor arrows are enabled only for three-dimensional graphs and allow you to change the size and angle of the graph.
• The Close button returns you to the Result screen.

Chart:

The Map Function

The map can be used to identify or locate a country and to provide graphic display of a series. When series are mapped through the button on the Result screen, you can choose whether to map all series or only the series from the displayed result. Mapping series through the Map function tab at the top of any screen will map all countries in the database.

In the Map window, you can select a country, view tables, or map a series. You can select a country on the map by moving the mouse cursor and clicking to highlight the country you want (the country name will be displayed on the lower-left corner of the screen). A message box will appear with a list of the tables available for the country. Alternatively, you can use the lower-left scroll box to select the country that you want. You can also click on the button to obtain a list of key indicators that you can map.

Map Screen:

Tables

The Tables screen, available from the Tables tab on the main menu, offers sets of ready-made tables. The data is drawn from the same database as the Query function but is presented in various, pre-defined formats.

• Volume 1 Analysis Text contains analysis and commentary on recent developments in international finance for developing countries.
• Volume 1 Group Tables present tables showing reported or estimated data on the total external debt for selected regional and analytical groups comprising 150 developing countries. The format of these tables is an abridged version of the Country Tables format for individual countries and includes graphical presentations.
• Privatization Transactions are from the World Bank Privatization Database. Most of the information in this database is obtained from privatization agencies, other official sources, and other internal World Bank Group databases.
• Volume 2 Summary Tables contain summary country tables showing selected debt and resource flow statistics for the individual reporting countries and income groups. Group totals include estimates for the twelve low- and middle-income countries that do not report to the World Bank's Debtor Reporting System. The totals also include Republic of Korea, a high-income country.
• Volume 2 Group Tables contain group tables showing reported or estimated data on the total external debt for selected regional and income groups comprising 150 low- and middle-income countries. The totals also include Republic of Korea, a high-income country. The format of these tables draws on the Country Tables format for individual countries and includes graphical presentations. · Volume 2 Country Tables present reported or estimated data on total external debt for the 138 individual countries that report to the World Bank's Debtor Reporting System. The tables are presented in a four-page layout containing ten sections.

Tables Screen:

If you have further questions about Global Development Finance, try the Help function within the CD-ROM or ask a librarian.

Back to Global Development Finance: Creating Queries

Back to Table of Contents

Email: disc@mailplus.wisc.edu
Last updated 17 May, 2000.