TS Print for Windows
What is TS Print for Windows?
TS Print for Windows is a java based utility for accessing CRSP data. It allows users to extract data from the CRSP binary files into plain text data files that then may be imported into other applications.
Using TS Print for Windows
To run the new version, Windows 95 and 98 users should double-click on the TS_Print for W95 icon on the N: drive while Windows NT and Windows 2000 users should use the TS_Print for NT icon. These icons can also be copied to the Windows desktop for convenience.
Once TS_Print for Windows is launched, it will take a few moments to initialize. The user is then presented with an application window with four tabs across the top: Entities, Data Items, Date, and Report Format. These tabs allow the user to select the desired companies, variables, date range, and output format. Once the desired options are selected, click Process File. A dialog box will appear offering the option to either Process Screen Data or to Process Saved File. Click Process Screen Data, and TS_Print will extract the selected items to the designated file.
TS_Print can also be used to generate traditional TS_Print command files and execute them. To produce a command file, select the desired options and then click Save File. The resulting text file may then be run by the command line version of TS_Print on the asu.edu servers. To edit an existing file, click Load File and use the four option tabs to add and change parameters.
TS Print for Windows Troubleshooting
If TS Print refuses to run, open Windows Explorer and confirm that the local W. P. Carey School of Business network N:\ drive appears. If it does not, then permissions need to be assigned to your W. P. Carey School of Business account to automatically map it when you log in. Contact wpcarey.support@asu.edu
If TS_Print refuses to run and the N:\ drive appears in Windows Explorer, confirm that the proper shortcut for the operating system on the computer is being used. The Windows 95 shortcut will not work on Windows NT/2000 and vice versa. If this does not resolve the problem, the CRSP Environment variables may not be properly configured and you should contact wpcarey.support@asu.edu
If TS Print launches properly but generates an error when a request is processed, the request probably contains data items that are not available for some or all of the entities selected. The error occurs because TS Print for Windows does not audit the validity of a request. Therefore, when an user selects an, it will not block invalid data items. For example, if an index is selected at the entity, it will still permit the user to select "Returns against index" as a data item. Of course, the result would be the returns of an index against itself. Only when the request is processed is a generic error generated. Confirm that all of the data items are available for all the entities selected. If some of the data items are not available for some of the entities, break down the request into two are more requests that pair only the entities with data items that exists for them.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I run TS_Print? TS_Print resides on the N: drive and is executed from a shortcut on the Windows desktop. For more information on using TS_Print, visit http://wpcarey.asu.edu/technology/extra/tsprint.cfm
2. When I click on the TS_Print icon, a block box appears on the screen and goes away but the program does not run. What is wrong? The CRSP environment variables have not been set on the system. These must be set in order for TS_Print for Windows to function. To have these set on your system, contact wpcarey.support@asu.edu
3. When TS_Print runs, its says the Monthly data is missing. What is wrong? TS_Print is working normally. The W. P. Carey School of Business subscribes to the CRSP Daily data but not the Monthly data. TS_Print notes this when it starts up.
4. When I try to process a request, it displays an error. What is wrong? TS_Print does not perform validation checks while data requests are being constructed. Therefore, if data items are selected that are inappropriate for the entities selected, an error occurs when the request is actually processed. Also, the school does not subscribe to the Monthly CRSP data. If Monthly data items are select, either an error will be displayed or the resulting output will be empty.
