Library Help: Teaching and learning

The Library is introducing a new way to access the most popular LSEG Refinitiv databases, bringing many improvements. If you or your students use Datastream, Eikon or SDC Platinum, you will be directed to use the new LSEG Refinitiv Workspace from 31 August 2023.  [Edit: now 25 September 2023]

• Workspace replaces Eikon. It is again available through Web, Desktop and Excel interfaces.  

• Datastream is available within the Workspace Excel add-in. 

• SDC Platinum is available as part of Workspace, available through Web, Desktop and Excel. 

Signing in 

To sign into Workspace (and therefore Datastream and SDC), you must register for a MyRefinitiv ID. This ID stays with you throughout your career at Manchester, saving your search history and preferences. We have 100 Workspace permissions which expire at the end of every calendar month (subject to change), then you must reapply for permissions. The initial registration is immediate, except the Datastream permission make take up to 4 hours to apply.  

We will have an overlap period of 4 weeks with both Eikon and Workspace, except for SDC Platinum which will only be available via Workspace from 31 August. 

Finance Zone 

The Eddie Davies Finance Zone in the AMBS Hive is being upgraded with new PCs, each of which will have Workspace installed. Students (and staff) will be able to use Workspace, Datastream and SDC Platinum whenever the building is open. The remote Finance Zone service will resume when the response to the cyber incident permits VPN access. For the first time, SDC Platinum will be accessible on the web, without VPN or remote cluster requirements, where you can schedule large queries to run at a convenient time and download a zip file later. We say goodbye to the 1990s standalone SDC software with its telnet connection, perhaps the last of its era. 

Content 

In terms of content, Workspace has everything Eikon has, with improvements for searching for private companies and synonyms when searching for text within analyst reports. The ‘Aftermarket Research’ reports quota has slightly increased, though the deals screener export limit has significantly decreased. We recommend all students to use SDC Platinum for deals analysis now, which has the complete data sets and ‘heritage’ items, though they are organised slightly differently. Any saved sessions and item codes from the standalone SDC can be converted. Datastream has exactly the same content and Navigator, all the old formulas and request tables you have will work. The formula builder for Datastream has improved; now there is one form for static and time series requests which has improved quick searching for securities and datatypes. There is a monthly download limit for Datastream formulas which will reset on the first day of the calendar month; we are waiting to learn more about this. The formulas used in Eikon Excel will need to be converted to Workspace formulas; this should be simple.  

API access 

We will keep the Eikon Data API which lets you query many Eikon/Workspace variables with Python. You can access this via the Workspace desktop application, and also within the ‘Codebook’ app in Workspace Web, saving you the trouble of setting up a local Jupyter Notebook environment and API key.  

Researcher extras 

There are some additional features for research staff, and PGR candidates on request. You will be able to install the Workspace application to your Windows 10 University Managed Desktop via the Software Center, and Windows 11 will follow. This will include the full Desktop and Excel features for Workspace, Datastream and SDC Platinum, though you still need to register for the MyRefinitiv ID. There is also a macOS version of Workspace and SDC, without the Excel add-in or Datastream. There are limited “professor” Workspace IDs which offer unmetered Datastream downloads and greater Aftermarket Research reports downloads. The details on how these work will be released a little later; we hope to include them in the Resource Booker website which will otherwise no longer be required for Refinitiv access.  

Training and support 

The Library is refreshing its Introduction to Datastream open workshop, with a pilot session running in October and due to be available to students later. We are launching a new ‘Start to Finish’ resource for business data soon. We will not get access to new Workspace until the same time as you, so it will take us a few weeks or months to refresh all our content. In the meantime, you are always welcome to request training as part of your taught modules under My Learning Essentials, and we have a range of pages on Library Help with frequently asked questions, including Getting help in Workspace, Getting help in Datastream and Getting help in SDC Platinum. These three posts include links to the training documents and videos from Refinitiv. Finally, you can always contact the Specialist Library Support team by email on uml.teachingandlearning@manchester.ac.uk with any questions.