Function ECWB (Economic Workbench) is used to standardize and manipulate economic data and build macroeconomic charts to analyze different time series. However, the function is not limited to such data — we can include data such as stock and bond prices and more.
We can either create our own chart from scratch using the Scratchpad tab, but in other available tabs we can find various charts that are already prepared for us to use or modify according to our needs.
The chart is interactive and it shows some information about a plot when the mouse cursor is moved over it. Below the displayed chart, we can also find a table with values used to draw it.
Right-clicking on the chart's canvas, a menu opens which offers us options to customize the chart using annotations, shapes and trend lines, changing the colors and styles, and more.
Some additional customization settings, such as changing the axis intervals, legend text, bar type, background etc., can also be found in the Properties tab from Edit Graph -> Property Manager on the left above the chart.
To include economic events to the chart, use the Events / Recession tab from the same window.
There are different ways to add the data to the chart:
a) by entering the desired metric in the amber box shown below and then selecting it from the auto-complete list that appears.
Upon selection, the series appears in the side panel on the left and the data is displayed both in the chart and in the data table below.
b) when using the function ECST (World Economic Statistics), right click on an indicator and choose Export to Workbench.
Note that you can export multiple indicators by selecting them while holding Ctrl key and then doing the same.
c) by dragging and dropping from other Bloomberg functions/windows.
To delete edit or delete a certain indicator, use the pencil or the encircled "x" symbol, respectively.
After adding the data, we will probably need to transform the data according to our requirements. Above the table, we can set the displayed period.
To transform the data, choose Add Transformation for a metric from the side panel.
This opens a window, from which we can select the category and transformation that we want to add. Choose, determine properties if needed, and then click Select.
To edit a transformation, use the pencil symbol next to the transformation you want to edit (and to delete it, use its adjacent encircled "x" symbol). The window seen above will open again, and we can modify the selection from it.
Use Actions -> Save a Copy to save the chart you have created. To access a saved chart, use Actions -> Manage Charts and find the one you want from the window that opens.
In the same window, a saved chart can be renamed or deleted by right clicking on it and from the menu that appears then choosing Rename Chart or Delete Chart, respectively.
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To export a chart, use the red Export button. We can choose between:
