NTDB: A BASIC SEARCH

Catherine Kaye,
California State University - Fullerton


At MAIN MENU select GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SOURCES.
Select National Trade Data Bank.
Select DISK #1 for the sample searches given below.
Type C to indicate color monitor.

COUNTRY COMMERCIAL GUIDE for MEXICO
	PROGRAM			Use arrow keys to highlight PROGRAM
	Country Commercial Guides	Scroll to this title in the list
	COUNTRY			ENTER to see list of countries
	Mexico				Type mexico right on top of "algeria"
	ENTER				This puts checkmark next to Mexico
	F3  ENTER  F3			You are now viewing first of the 17 reports on Mexico
	ESC				To return to list of reports on Mexico

TO VIEW THE TEXT OF A DOCUMENT:
	1) ENTER to select the document
	2) F3 to view the text of the document

TO SEARCH FOR A KEYWORD IN A DOCUMENT:
	F7 computer			(this will scroll to the first occurrence of computer in the report)
	NOTE:  Search is from the cursor forward so always hit HOME before doing a search.

TO DOWNLOAD A DOCUMENT ONTO DISK:
	F5
	ENTER to COPY TO FILE
	ENTER
	In dialogue box, delete default drive and filename and type in your drive and filename.
		For example, type:     a:mexico        or          b:mexico

ADDITIONAL MAJOR SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON MEXICO:
ESC to PROGRAM and use steps illustrated above to find information in the following publications and databases:
Background Notes
Business America
Country Reports on Economic Policy and Trade Practices
Market Research Reports
The Year in Trade
U.S. Foreign Trade Highlights
U.S. Foreign Trade Update - Monthly Analysis
U.S. Global Trade Outlook : 1995-2000	  (this is new and an excellent source)
World Factbook


NTDB allows you to select terms in several fields before it executes a search.  For example, after selecting Market Research Reports from the PROGRAM list, a menu appears: 
COUNTRY 		    PRODUCT 		    TEXT   		  TITLE
At this time, you can select keywords in any of these categories.  Highlight COUNTRY and type Mexico ENTER.  Hit ESC to return to the menu and highlight PRODUCT and type computers ENTER.  Hit ESC to return to the menu and highlight TITLE and type market ENTER.  This search has retrieved one report:  Mexico - Computer Market Trends - 1995.

NTDB is now issued on 3 disks.  Major titles on  Disk #2 and Disk #3 include:

DISK #2
Export Yellow Pages
Exporter's Guide to the NTDB




State of Origin of Exports (MISER)
DISK #3

Commercial Service International 

     Contacts (CSIC)-- previously called
     Foreign Traders Index


Catherine Kaye, California State University - Fullerton