Category: FAQ

Application’s functions

How to add/sum up series?

If you want to sum values across few series, there are two main ways to achieve this:

1. Formula language

You can sum multiple series by typing a simple expression with the '+' sign.

It will add up only common part for all series.

2. Cross Section analysis

Use the Cross section analysis to calculate a sum across series. This is a good option if you want to summarize a lot of series since you can easily include several series at once.

Cross section Sum option works the same as adding series using '+' sign. However, it is worth noting that the result will differ if you untick 'Include only observation where there are values for all series' option. Then Cross section will add values at all available points in time.

Sum(series) formula

In case you want to sum values of one series Sum(series) formula will be helpful. It only sums the values of one series, the output would be a repeated value for all observations, because it returns the sum of all the numbers in the series.

For more about this check:

Cross section analysis

Formula analysis

How to specify date in formula language?

You should refer to a date using the Date() formula.

Date(year, month, day)

It returns the observation number of the specified date. Make sure you input the components of the date in the right order. For example:

Date(2017, 01, 01)

For more information:

Formula analysis

Can I display series with different frequencies on the same chart?

In Macrobond, a chart can only display series with the same amount of observations per year. When adding several time series with different frequencies, if no settings are changed, the document will harmonize the frequency of each series to the highest available one. Time series with a lower frequency will be converted to the higher frequency.

In Series list, you may change the frequency of the document by using the drop-down menu for frequency. To adjust the frequency conversion settings, go to series list and click on the Conversion Settings tab.

A typical case is to keep the highest frequency available, and convert the series with lower frequency using Linear Interpolation. Visually, these series will look like they are displayed in their original frequency.

For more information:

Frequency conversion analysis

How can I mimic frequency conversions using formula language?

How to aggregate a series?

There are two main possibilities to aggregate series:

1. Aggregate analysis

Specify the period over which you want to aggregate the series. You also have the option of making this a rolling sum.

2. Formulas

AggregateSum(series)

Sums up all values from the start of the series.

AggregateSumAnnual(series)

Sums up values of a series on a yearly basis.

Sum(series)

Sums up all values of a series. The output is a single figure, the total sum.

Sum(series, window)

Sums up series over a rolling window.

For more information see:

Aggregate analysis

Formula analysis

How to change how time range is displayed on the x-axis?

Click on the x-axis and open the Presentation properties tab at the top of the window. In the Labels group you can manipulate the scaling of the axis.

The automatic setting will label the scale with the frequency that allows for the best view. Unchecking it will enable you to use the manual step option which lets you specify another frequency for the axis.

For more information:

Time chart

Elements of the chart

How to calculate percentage change (Y/Y, Q/Q, P/P, M/M)?

There are two main possibilities to calculate percentage changes:

1. The Rate of Change analysis

Set the Method as 'Change over period %', and then choose the length.

2. Formula

You can also calculate percentage change over period with the formula:

cop(series, length)

Examples for Y/Y, M/M and Q/Q changes, respectively:

cop(segdp, YearsLength(1))

cop(segdp, MonthsLength(1))

cop(segdp, QuartersLength(1))

For more information see:

Rate of change analysis

Formula analysis