About This Manual
1.1
About This Manual This manual is intended to be a supplement to the User Guide which provides in depth discussions and examples for EViews and its operation. This manual provides a quick resource to guide in choosing parameters of which options to use.
1.1.1
Navigation Menu The Navigation Menu lets you access most of the pages used to control EViews. NAME
DESCRIPTION
Action Button
A command button that performs a specific, pre-programmed task.
Command button
A screen button usually associated with changes in the operating parameters. Using the mouse, point to the button, and click the left mouse button.
Command Window Dialog box
A small window that appears with information or command choices.
Drop-Down menu
A menu with a list of commands or options. To display a dropdown menu, select the downward-pointing arrow that accompanies some text fields, and click on the left mouse button.
Edit field
A screen box that allows you to alter the data in the box. Examples: • Text field • Selection field (with a down arrow to reveal a drop-down menu)
Function group
A group of command buttons or icons with related actions. The group is usually surrounded by a box.
Icon
A graphic button that accesses a specific function to change a program. Using the mouse, point to the icon, and click the left button.
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About This Manual
Information or Data field
Shows labels you can read but not edit. The unit updates the information.
Navigation Menu
A directory with branches that are used to access parameter edit screens. This program tree is located on the right-hand side of the screen.
Option buttons
Circular or square button that appear in pairs or groups. Only one button can be selected at a time. A selected button deselects when you select another button
1.1.2
Main Screen
Title Bar
Status line
Main Menu
Command Window
Work area
Figure 1-1 Main Screen 1.1.2.1
The Status Line At the very bottom of the window is a status line which is divided into several sections.
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About This Manual
•
The left section will sometimes contain status messages sent to you by EViews. These status messages can be cleared manually by clicking on the box at the far left of the status line.
•
The next section shows the default directory that EViews will use to look for data and programs.
•
The last two sections display the names of the default database and workfile. In later chapters, we will show you how to change both defaults.
Figure 1-2 Status Line 1.1.2.2
The Work Area There are several key techniques to know when using the windows; •
they can overlap each other with the foremost window being in focus or active
•
or are only the active window has a darkened titlebar.l
•
move a window by clicking on its title bar and dragging the window to a new location.
•
change the size of a window by clicking on any corner and dragging the corner to a new location.
When a window is partly covered, you can;
1.1.2.3
•
bring it to the top by clicking on its titlebar or on a visible portion of the window.
•
cycle through the displayed windows by pressing the F6 or CTRL-TAB keys.
•
select a window by clicking on the Window menu item, and selecting the desired name.
Command Editing The command window supports Windows cut-and-paste so that you can easily move text between the command window, other EViews text windows, and other Windows programs. •
The contents of the command area may also be saved directly into a text file for later use: make certain that the command window is active by clicking anywhere in the window, and then select File/Save As… from the main menu.
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1.1.2.3.1
•
If you have entered more commands than will fit in your command window, EViews turns the window into a standard scrollable window. Use the scroll bar or up and down arrows on the right-hand side of the window to see various parts of the list of previously executed commands.
•
You may move the insertion point to previously executed commands, edit the existing command, and then press ENTER to execute the edited version of the command.
Command Display To display a list of previous commands in the order in which they were entered; 1.
press the Control key and the UP arrow (CTRL+UP). The last command will be entered into the command window.
2.
Holding down the CTRL key and pressing UP repeatedly will display the next prior commands.
3.
Repeat until the desired command is recalled.
To examine a history of the last 30 commands: 1.
Press the Control Key and the J key (CTRL+J).
2.
In the popup window you may use the UP and DOWN arrows to select the desired command and then press the ENTER key to add it to the command window, or simply double click on the command.
3.
To close the history window without selecting a command, click elsewhere in the command window or press the Escape (ESC) key.
Table 1-1:
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