An overview of online databases

Article Abstract:

There are over 2000 data bases accessible in Great Britain that could be of use to accountants. Two major technologies for presenting these data bases are videotex and teletype, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. Broadcast videotex or teletext such as Ceefax and Oracle provide one-way communication. Interactive videotex or view data allows two-way communication. Prestel is a leading example of this type and its display and transmission standards have been adopted by others. The teletype format is the one most commonly used in Great Britain. There are a number of ways accountants can use the databases: to obtain credit assessments, company searches, investment analysis, legal research, tax research, market forecasting, and even multi-national financial management. On-line data bases will ensure a more complete search, will reduce time spent on research and reduce the need to refer to outside specialists. Material is either available in reference or bibliographic form or full text. There are a number of database services, such as Dialog, Mead Data Central and Datastar, which will provide telecommunication access to the various databases. Information brokers provide search services for those without the necessary equipment or skills. A table gives a summary of important United Kingdom online data bases.

Data processing and preparation, Information management, Accountants, Online searching

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Sourcing companies information

Article Abstract:

The UK Company Registrar provides access via computer databases to the financial and credit information about the private companies and publicly owned corporations that file with it. Financial data, as opposed to credit data, is supplied by the company itself, usually from publicly issued documents such as annual reports. Credit data provides outside evaluation of the companies' credit-worthiness and is supplied by companies such as Guardian or Dun and Bradstreet. The information is comprehensive, but is limited sometimes by problems of timeliness, accuracy, incomplete data, and interpretation.

United Kingdom, Analysis, Private companies, Corporations, Business information services, Credit ratings, Great Britain

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News databases

Article Abstract:

The use of public databases for business research projects is discussed. The two types of databases are full-text and bibliographic. On-line news databases available in the UK include Textline from Finsbury Data Services; PA On-line, an electronic new service of the Press Association, McCarthy Online, a subsidiary of the Financial Times; World Reporter from Datasolve Ltd.; Nexis from Mead Data Central. The services, search features and fees of the various databases are discussed.

News agencies, Finsbury Data Services Ltd., NEXIS (Information retrieval system)

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