FORMAT=DBF

This is a database format used by dBase and compatible programs. It's a Labeled Table format for both input and output of series.

RATS Instructions

data(format=dbf)	read series from DBF into memory
store(convert=dbf)	copy series from DBF to RATS format
copy(format=dbf)	write series to DBF file
prtdata(format=dbf)	write series from RATS format file to DBF

Interface Operations

Data Wizard

You can read series using Data/Graphics>Data (Other Formats).

Series Window and RATS Data File Window

You can import series using File>Import... or the toolbar button. You can export series using File>Export..., the toolbar button, or the Export operation on the contextual menu.

Details

The data are read from the file based upon the field (column) names. Each record is treated as a separate observation. If the file includes a date field as the first field, RATS will be able to make use of the date information to select a sub-sample, recognize skipped observations, or allow compacting or expanding to a different frequency. The dates can either use the DBF date field format, which codes dates as year/month/day, or be entered as a character field with the standard codings like “year:period”.

For writing data, each series that you write will be a field in the database. The dBase specification allows for at most ten characters in a field name, so longer names will be truncated. If you ask for dates, RATS will either include a date field (for daily or weekly data), or a character field with coded dates.

Example

This reads in several series of stock return data from a DBF file:

calendar(d) 1996:1:2

allocate 2009:12:31

open data stockdat.dbf

data(format=dbf)