EViews Basics: Getting Started

EViews Basics

• EViews is an easy-to-use statistical, econometric, and economic modeling package.
• There are three ways to work in EViews: graphical user interface, single commands, and program files.
• Data and workfiles for examples in this tutorial are: Data.xlsx and Results.wf1.

EViews Desktop

• EViews desktop consists of Command Window, Object Window/Work Area, and Main Menu.
• The main menu has path/database/workfile options that can be changed by double-clicking.

EViews Workfile and Objects

• EViews does not open with a "blank" generic document, unlike Word or Excel.
• EViews documents (workfiles) need to be created and contain information about the data.
• Workfiles are holders of "objects" which are collections of information related to a particular analysis.
• Objects can be series, groups, equations, graphs, tables.

EViews Workfile Structure

• A workfile contains at least one page, and each page contains a list of objects.
• The workfile title bar shows the name of the workfile (e.g., Tutorial1_results).
• The structure of the workfile includes data, range, and sample information.

Object Types

• Series, groups, and equations are the most common objects in EViews.
• Series objects have a yellow icon and contain one column of data.
• Group objects have a yellow icon with a capital G and contain multiple columns of data.
• Equation objects have a blue icon with an equal (=) sign and are used for estimation.
• View objects have a green icon and are used to "freeze" a view of another object in time.

Opening and Working with Objects

• To open an object, double-click on the object icon.
• Each object has its own menu, and the menus in EViews change to represent the features available for that object.
• The "Details" view can be accessed by clicking on View → Details or double-clicking the button on the workfile toolbar.
• Objects can be sorted by attribute (e.g., Name, Type) by clicking on the column header.

The Object Window and Toolbars

• The object window has its own toolbar and menu.
• The main menu, workfile toolbar, and object toolbar are all accessible.

The Series Object

• The series object is the main data object and has a yellow icon with a little line graph.
• Opening a series reveals a spreadsheet view with a single column showing the data.
• The View and Proc menus are available for actions on a single column of data.

The Group Object

• The group object is a collection of series objects and has a yellow icon with a capital G.
• Opening a group displays a spreadsheet view with multiple columns showing the data in each series.
• The View and Proc menus are available for actions on multiple columns of data.

The Equation Object

• The equation object is a single equation estimation object and has a blue icon with an equal (=) sign.
• Opening an equation reveals the main results of the estimation.
• The View and Proc menus are available for actions on the equation, depending on the type of equation estimated.

Views Objects

• Views objects hold "views" of data or estimation objects and have a green icon.
• To create a view, press the Freeze button on another object, use the Name button to save it, and click OK.

Commands

• The command pane provides a scrollable record of the commands typed.
• Previously executed commands can be scrolled up to view.
• Hitting Enter in any previous lines will copy the line where the cursor is and execute that command again.
• To recall a list of previous commands, use "CTRL+UP" or press "CTRL+J" for a record of the last 30 commands.