Question
On some machines:
-print preview or copy report hangs up Demetra
-print report only prints graphs
-print preview of a table shows a blank page
-print of a table prints a black page

Answer
It occurs only on some machines. Since the problem has not been reproduced on any of our configurations, users who have this problem should contact the helpdesk ( bertrand.berlemont@hendyplan.com ) for further testing.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Aberrations in .fa result series

Question
Aberrations in .fa result series in Automated Module. When different SA parameters (TDA, Outlier detection) are used for some series, the corresponding .fa series contain aberrations such as -99999.0 values or values which do not equal original values divided by final seasonal factors.

Answer
Before a correction is done in the code, it is advised to use as far as possible the same SA parameters (Number of regressors, Easter Effect, Outlier detection) for all the series, which is also a good thing on a methodological point of view.
When such strange results occur, a re-run of the adjustment (without re-starting Demetra) sometimes fix the problem.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to obtain .omce series in Automated module ?

Question
How to obtain .omce series in Automated module ?

Answer
Upgrade Demetra

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: Fixed in version 2.04

SAS Error:"Error while loading time series"

Question
Problem with SAS: error message "Error while loading time series: Incorrect date information or too short time span (<8 periods). Verify the date column/row!" though the input database looks correct.

Answer
This problem occurs only on non-english configurations. Until correction in Demetra, the workaround is to switch to English (US) in Windows Regional Settings.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Overwriting of database settings in automated module

Question
The time series update function in the Automated module overwrites the output database settings with the settings for the input database. This of course has a negative impact only when the results should not be saved to the input database but to a different one.

Answer
Upgrade Demetra

Added/modified: 18/12/2003

Demetra version: Fixed in version 2.04

FAME database selection, screen freeze

Question
For FAME databases, the selection of the output database does not work and blocks the user when the current directory contains more than nine *.db files: Demetra starts looping, and the user can re-gain the control over the programme only by killing the "Demetra Fame Server" (e.g. famentsvc.exe on WinNT)

Answer
Work in a directory with fewer *.db files or upgrade Demetra

Added/modified: 18/12/2003

Demetra version: Fixed in version 2.04

Different results in Automated Module and in Detailed Analysis Module

Question
Results are not exactly the same in Automated Module and in Detailed Analysis Module without changing any parameter.

Answer
Disable the option "Stability Analysis" until a correction in a new version of Demetra. If disabling this option does not fix the problem, please e-mail the helpdesk ( bertrand.berlemont@hendyplan.com )

Added/modified: 18/12/2003

Demetra version: All versions

User-defined regressors and forecasting

Question
Problem with the forecasted trend series when working with user-defined regressors: the forecasts of the original (uncorrected) series and the forecasts of the trend do not take into account the trend regression effect factor.

Answer
This bug comes from TRAMO, not from Demetra. It has been corrected in more recent version of TRAMO, not yet implemented in Demetra. Workarounds: Divide the "FINAL TREND" by "TREND REGRESSION EFFECT FACTORS" and multiply by 100 or Multiply the "FORECAST OF FINAL TREND" by the forecasts of the "TREND REGRESSION EFFECT FACTORS" and divide by 100. The forecasts of the "TREND REGRESSION EFFECT FACTORS" can be obtained by multiplying your user-defined regression variable by the corresponding regression coefficient.

Added/modified: 05/11/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Automatic logarithmic scale

Question
Sometimes forecast results appear in logarithm and trend is multiplied by 100

Answer
This bug comes from TRAMO, not from Demetra. It has been corrected in more recent version of TRAMO, not yet implemented in Demetra.

Added/modified: 05/11/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Some values are not saved

Question
I calculated trend figures for a number of time series; all data were accepted by Demetra but when trying to export them to an Excel file, not all figures were saved: for some series the value of the most recent month was missing, for others all was fine.

Answer
This problem occurs only when working on a shared network drive, in specific configurations.
Workarounds: Work on local hard drive or redo the command that failed (the second time the problem disappears).

Added/modified: 24/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

"The date chosen is outside the modelling time span ! More recent dates are not allowed !" error

Question
Error message "The date chosen is outside the modelling time span ! More recent dates are not allowed !" when trying to add an outlier in custom mode. The time span looks strange (-32767/-32767)

Answer
Before correction in a future version of Demetra, use another mode like the Detailed Analysis Module.

Added/modified: 09/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

"Access to unnamed file denied" error

Question
On some rare network configurations, "Access to unnamed file denied" error when first trying to save Demetra project

Answer
Try to save it again and from this time, everything works fine.

Added/modified: 11/02/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Odd modification of default options

Question
In Automated Module, Custom Mode, to check Easter Effect resets some of the options above.

Answer
After selecting Easter Effect, do not forget to check if the options above ("Try to reduce number of regressors", …) are as you want.

Added/modified: 05/02/2003

Demetra version: All versions

"Printer error" without any printer installed

Question
When trying to work with Quality Reports, I get an error "The (default or current) printer device is not correctly initialized. Please choose a (different) printer."

Answer
It is probably because there is no printer driver installed on your PC. The workaround for this bug is to install a printer driver, even if you do not intend to ever connect a printer to this PC. You do it as you would do for a real printer installation, there is no need to have a real printer connected to the PC to be able to install printer drivers.

Added/modified: 26/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Circa use

Changing personal details

Question
How to change my personal details (e-mail address,…) in Circa ?

Answer
You can do it only from the "welcome screen" of Circa (the one that lists all the interest groups (IG) availables), so if you are already in an IG, you have to click first on the arrow sign in the lower right end of the screen (Exit).
There, in the "welcome screen", you have a list of options in the upper right section. Click on Personal Information.

Added/modified: 11/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Visualisation of old messages

Question
I cannot see all the messages of a Circa Newsgroup because some are too old. How do I change that ?

Answer
In the bottom right part of the window, there is an "Edit Preferences" icon you have to click. Then in the "Preferences" window, change the value in row "Newsgroups", column "Max shown".

Added/modified: 05/12/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Demetra use

Combined seasonal factors and forward combined seasonal factors for X12 in Demetra ?

Question
How to produce combined seasonal factors and forward combined seasonal factors for X12 in Demetra ?

Answer
"Final Seasonal Factors/Component" (.fs) and "Forecasted Final Seasonal Factors (Comp.)" (.fs_f) correspond to X12 table D10. Table D16 is not directly availbale in Demetra so the user has to deduce it from A1 and D11 (original series and .fa series)

Added/modified: 13/06/2007

Demetra version: All versions

How to obtain WDA series ?

Question
How to obtain WDA series ?

Answer
Select the .omce series (Interp. Series corr. for Calendar Effects, in the Preliminary result series list)

Added/modified: 13/06/2007

Demetra version: 2.04 and above

Change of default values ?

Question
Some parameters of the seasonal adjustment engines have seen their default value change along the years. How is it treated in Demetra ?

Answer
Demetra only saves in the SAIP string of parameters the values that differ from the default value of the engine. To emphasize the change of the default value for some parameters and to provide compatibility with file saved with older versions of Demetra, the value for these parameters are now always saved in the SAIP string, even if they are equal to the default value. These parameters are for TRAMO/SEATS: LAM, PC and XL and for X12: maxiter

Added/modified: 13/06/2007

Demetra version: Demetra 2.1.0 and above

Error "DETB zero or negative"

Question
In the automated module, I get an error "DETB zero or negative"

Answer
Checking the dates in the input file may solve this issue.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to indicate missing values ?

Question
How to indicate missing values in my input file ?

Answer
The Excel cells before the real start and after the real end of time series should be left empty. Only the missing values inside the time series span should be marked with "-99999.0", ".", "#N/A" or "ND".
When there are not many Missing Observations (MO), it is better to use the Additive Outlier (AO) approach. In the AO approch, the total number of MO is limited by the number of regression variables allowed by the program (around 22 to 25). With more MO, you have to use the skipping approach.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

For some series, working day adjusted series are not calculated.

Question
For some series, working day adjusted series are not calculated.

Answer
You have to force working day adjustment in the options to have the working day adjusted series for every series.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Demetra cannot open an Excel file that seems correct.

Question
Demetra cannot open an Excel file that seems correct. In fact, the dates in the first column are not understood as dates by Excel (maybe due to regional configuration issues specific to some countries eg. Japan)

Answer
Re-write the first column with dates as Excel understands them.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

What stands behind the expression "trading day adjustment" ?

Question
In the documentation of Demetra : "Remark: The bias correction procedure is not recommended if the seasonal pattern is changing or if trading day adjustment is performed." What stands behind the expression "trading day adjustment" ?

Answer
It refers to both working day adjustment (1, 2 regressors) and trading day adjustment (6, 7 regressors)

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How many trading days and easter effect days are assigned to each quarter ?

Question
I want to know how many trading days and easter effect days are assigned by TRAMO/SEATS to each quarter.

Answer
No such output is available in Demetra but the file containing all the count of WD since 1905 may help you. You can ask it directly to bertrand.berlemont@hendyplan.com if needed.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to work with daily time series in Demetra ?

Question
How to work with daily time series in Demetra ?

Answer
It is not possible, neither is it in X12a and TRAMO/SEATS

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to work in Demetra with a calendar with very specific moving holidays ?

Question
How to work in Demetra with a calendar with very specific moving holidays which can even count for another month than their real month ?

Answer
Use an external regressor.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Customising ARIMA models in X12

Question
How to work with models other than the 5 default in X12a ?

Answer
You can add or delete models to/from the list of currently 5 default ARIMA models by using the 'Model Types Used' edit field in the 'Automatic Model Selection' group box from the 'Automatic Model Identification/Selection' tab of the 'Modelling Specifications' window. This modifies the contents of the 'x12a.mdl' file (in the Demetra home directory) that is directly used by the X-12-Arima method. For more information about the formatting of the 'x12a.mdl' file, please consult the X-12-Arima Reference Manual available at the website of the US Census Bureau.

Added/modified: 11/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Long term forecasts

Question
How to use Demetra to forecast beyond 2 years ?

Answer
Though it is not recommanded to forecast beyond 2 years, the results of the forecast over 2 years are visible in the log file of X12a (not in Tramo/Seats). In other cases, use the graphical comparison tool.

Added/modified: 11/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

User-defined regressors and forecasting

Question
When working with user-defined regressors, only 8 future values of the regressor are taken into account.

Answer
In menu "Specifications -> Statistical Treatment", go to the tab named "Forecasting", check "Produce (and use) Forecasts" then put another value.

Added/modified: 06/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Autocorrelation graphs and partial autocorrelation graphs

Question
Is it possible to use Demetra to obtain autocorrelation graphs and partial autocorrelation graphs of the original time-series data?

Answer
ACF and PACF are present in the log file, for the differenced series. If you want them for the original series you have to set "Specification -> Modelling -> Data Handling -> Transformation" to None and "ARIMA model specification -> Model Order -> Differencing" to 0 then in the Graphical Comparison Tool, ACF of differenced series (TRAMO) will correspond to ACF of the original series.

Added/modified: 05/12/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Mean-Squared Error (MSE)

Question
Is it possible to use Demetra to obtain the Mean-Squared Error (MSE)?

Answer
TRAMO reports in the log file the MSE of residuals for the regARIMA model. (Result Analysis -> Show Log File)

Added/modified: 05/12/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Excel format

Question
Where can I find help about the preparation of the time series for Demetra in Excel format ?

Answer
From Help menu, choose "Contents and Index" then click on the "Contents" tab then go to "General instructions for the preparation of input and interpretation of output" -> "Format of the MS-Excel files (input and output)".

Added/modified: 27/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Installation

Export user-defined calendars ?

Question
How to export user-defined calendars, especially when moving from one PC to a new one ?

Answer
The calendars are saved in Windows registry. Ask the helpdesk for detailed instructions if you are not familiar with the use of Windows registry.

Added/modified: 13/06/2007

Demetra version: All versions

Crash when trying to add an outlier.

Question
When clicking on "Add outlier" or "User-Defined outliers & Intervention Analysis" Demetra crashes with message "The instruction at " 0x31b15cf6" referenced memory at "0x00000000". The memory could not be "read"."

Answer
From version 2.1.0, Demetra now installs mscal.ocx in Demetra directory and so most users should not have any problem with this. Yet similar conflicts may still happen on some configurations. In this situation, please contact Demetra helpdesk.

Added/modified: 27/09/2006

Demetra version: Fixed in version 2.1.0

Crash with message about FORTRAN.

Question
Using Revision History in X12 causes a crash of Demetra with a message telling that some FORTRAN DLL's cannot be produced

Answer
Upgrade Demetra or update Fortran Runtime DLL's using the file VFRUN66BI.exe that can be found there (http://h18009.www1.hp.com/fortran/visual/redist.html).

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: Fixed in version 2.0.4

Demetra cannot find x12a.mdl

Question
Demetra cannot find x12a.mdl

Answer
This problem can be due to a bad installation of Demetra (eg:directory moved and/or renamed after installation)

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

SAS: only network administrator can connect to SAS with Demetra.

Question
Only network administrator can connect to SAS with Demetra. Even local administrator cannot connect.

Answer
According to http://support.sas.com/techsup/unotes/SN/007/007345.html, only the administrator who installed the odbc driver is able to use User DSN with SAS ODBC driver. Other users have to create and use System DSN only.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Using SAS database

Question
I have problem working with SAS databases. What shall I do ?

Answer
All relevant informations about SAS databases can be found in Demetra User Manual and in section "Software/Demetra software/SAS related documents" of the library.

Added/modified: 15/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Error message "Select install disk - 2"

Question
I am trying to install Demetra after downloading it from Circa website. I get an error message "Select install disk - 2". What should I do ?

Answer
The reason is that the download from Circa site was not complete. You have to download the setup file again and make sure it is the same size as indicated on Circa.

Added/modified: 04/12/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Uninstalling previous versions of Demetra

Question
Is it compulsory to uninstall previous versions of Demetra before a new installation ?

Answer
No. Yet it is recommanded to avoid multiple entries in Windows 'Add/Remove Programs' list

Added/modified: 20/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Data subdirectory

Question
What happens to the Data subdirectory during uninstallation/installation of Demetra ?

Answer
Only files coming with the installation are removed/overwritten. These files names all start with 'Example'.

Added/modified: 20/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Error related to MSVCRT.DLL (bad entry point)

Question
When working with my recently installed Demetra, I always get an error related to MSVCRT.DLL (bad entry point).

Answer
It is because some system files could not be updated during installation of Demetra because the user is not authorized to modify Windows System directory. The solution is to have Demetra reinstalled by an administrator.

Added/modified: 20/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions

Methodology

Automated selection of the best trading day option

Question
When using the option "Allow reducing the number of trading day regressors", what statistics are used to compare models in order to choose the "best" trading day option ?

Answer
Demetra tries all the values and compares the "SA Quality Index" obtained for each try.
This composite index is calculated on the basis of the statistics that you checked in the "Rules for Quality check" windows. The closer this index is to 0, the best. This option is not to be trusted blindly and will never replace a good knowledge of the economic background of the time series. It is also adviced to manually choose a fixed number of regressors for all the series of the same indicator.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to perform Direct vs Indirect adjustment in Demetra ?

Question
How to perform Direct vs Indirect adjustment in Demetra ?

Answer
For the indirect computation, you have to agregate your series yourself first.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to work with time series that are 4-week-periodic ?

Question
How to work with time series that are not monthly but 4-week-periodic ?

Answer
It is not possible in XLS format but possible in ascii format. However, trading day effects will not be available and for easter effect, an external user-defined regressor has to be used.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Users are expecting from the working day adjusted series to be centered on value 1 (or at least not too far from 1).

Question
Users are expecting from the working day adjusted series to be centered on value 1 (or at least not too far from 1).

Answer
Informations and conclusions on the subject of WDA have been gathered. The main conclusion is that there may not be any bug but people should not look at the pt series because they came from TRAMO, before the re-centering by SEATS. The document has been delivered to Eurostat, who are currently reading it.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

What means Eurostat by "TDA series" ?

Question
What means Eurostat by "TDA series" ?

Answer
When Eurostat requires TD adjusted data, it means adjusted data corrected for calendar effect that is TD and Easter (and possibly Leap Year effect). This should be described in the Eurostat recommendations relevant for your sector (STS, LCI, ...)

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

How to ensure time consistency between quarterly and annual datas ?

Question
How to ensure time consistency between quarterly and annual datas in additive decomposition ?

Answer
"Correction for level-bias" option is not available in additive mode for methodological reasons, so the time consistency has to be done by other means. The software "Ecotrim", provided by Mr. Roberto Barcellan at Eurostat (Roberto.barcellan@cec.eu.int) may help doing this.

Added/modified: 23/01/2004

Demetra version: All versions

Automated selection between additive and multiplicative model

Question
The model switched from additive to multiplicative when adding a new data. Is it normal ?

Answer
If you use the "test for log" option, TRAMO will decide which model to use, depending on the contents of your time series (this decision can change when you add a new value, as well as the model can change). If you really want to fix additive or multiplicative model, you have to fix it in the parameters.

Added/modified: 16/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Results differ on screen and in the logfile (confidence interval)

Question
Regarding confidence intervals, why are the values in Demetra 1.02041 higher than the values in Tramo log ?

Answer
Demetra does not use the roughly rounded factor 2 but the more exact value 1.96 in the calculation of the confidence intervals. This value corresponds to the two-sided statistic z(alpha/2) of the normal distribution at a confidence level of 95%.

Added/modified: 15/04/2003

Demetra version: All versions

Customisation of moving holidays

Question
How to work with Demetra when you have to consider non-standard moving holidays ?

Answer
The solution is to use a user-defined regressor.

Added/modified: 20/11/2002

Demetra version: All versions