Gekko User Manual > Gekko statements > Statements overview

Note: You may consult the general overview regarding all statements here:

Introduction

Below, the different Gekko simulation related statements are listed, grouped together by functionality (regarding functions, see the section on these: 'Gekko functions'). The statements listed below are the core statements regarding model simulation. When modeling, you may use sim-mode (cf. MODE), which is focused on solving models, comparing scenarios etc.

Databanks

At startup, Gekko operates with two databanks; 'Work' (first-position, working bank) and 'Ref' (reference bank). There are the following statements related to databanks:

READ	Reads a databank file (typically gbk) into the first-position and reference databanks.
WRITE	Writes the first-position databank to a gbk file
IMPORT	Merges a databank file (typically non-gbk) into the first-position databank
EXPORT	Writes the first-position databank to a non-gbk file
CLONE	Makes the reference databank an exact copy of the first-position databank.
COMPARE	Finds differences between the first-position and reference databanks.
FINDMISSINGDATA	This statement finds timeseries with missing values.
HDG	Inserts a heading (description) into a gbk databank

Timeseries

Timeseries exist as objects in a databank. Frequency can be annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily or undated.

TIME	Sets global time for timeseries operations.
TIMEFILTER	Omits or averages certain periods in output
CREATE	Create a new timeseries
DELETE	Delete an existing timeseries
SERIES	Transform a timeseries using mathematical expressions or data values

Lists, scalars, matrices etc.

Gekko can put names of timeseries into a list, in order to reuse the list for different purposes (or make the program file easier to read). In addition, scalar variables like strings, dates and values can be used.

LIST	Create and delete lists
DATE	Scalar variable of date type
STRING	Scalar variable of string type
VAL	Scalar variable of value type
MEM	Shows a list of scalar variables and their values

Show data

Gekko can show data in several ways, including printing on the screen, graphs, or showing the data in an Excel sheet. In addition, there is a special table-like decomposition window (DECOMP). The DISP statement also functions as an in-built equation browser. You may prefix a variable with '@' to indicate the reference (baseline) databank, for instance @gdp. Or else use colon to indicate a databank, for instance mybank:gdp.

PRT	Prints timeseries or expressions in different ways
MULPRT	Prints multipliers: differences between the first-position and reference databanks.
DISP	Prints info regarding timeseries, and starts equation browser
PLOT	Show a graph of timeseries (using gnuplot)
SHEET	Like PRT, but shows timeseries data in Excel
CLIP	Like PRT, but puts timeseries data on the Windows clipboard
DECOMP	Decompose an equation
FIND	Find a variable in equations
FLOW	Show a flowgraph corresponding to a DECOMP statement
TELL	Prints text strings on the screen

Model

A model can be loaded directly from a .frm file. After the model is loaded, a number of statements can be used:

MODEL	Load, parse and compile a model from file.
SIM	Simulates the model (also if there are goals/means)
ENDO	Endogenize variables (means)
EXO	Exogenize variables (goals)
UNFIX	Removes ENDO/EXO goals/means.
PREDICT	Single-equation prediction
CHECKOFF	Skip convergence check for chosen variables (Gauss)
ITERSHOW	Show iterations in detail for chosen variable (Gauss)
SIGN	For signing models with signatures.

Gekko program files

Larger tasks can be run by means of program files (.gcm). There are the following statements related to such files:

RUN	Runs a .gcm program file. Use the EDIT statement to edit these files.
PIPE	Direct output to an external file instead of screen
INI	Runs gekko.ini if located in the program and/or working folder

Cleanup

The principal cleanup-statement is the following

RESTART	Clears all databanks, lists, scalars, models, etc. and runs any gekko.ini files.
RESET	Same as RESTART, but without running any gekko.ini files.
CLEAR	Clearing databanks
CLOSEALL	Closes all 'named' databanks, and clears Work and Ref.
CLS	Clears main window (short for 'clear screen')
CUT	Closes all PLOT or DECOMP windows

Control flow

Gekko supports basic control flow like loops, conditional statements etc. At the moment the possibilities are quite limited, but will be augmented as the software matures.

RETURN	Returns from the program file.
STOP	Stops execution completely.
EXIT	Stops execution completely, and terminates Gekko.
ACCEPT	Input data interactively
PAUSE	Waiting for the user to click [Enter]

Tables/menus

TABLE	Prints out a predefined table (xml)
MENU	Opens up a menu (html)

Miscellaneous

The following statements did not fall into the above categories, and so are gathered here:

MODE	Set Gekko mode to sim/data/mixed
HELP	Access the help system
OPTION	Sets different options
GEKKO	Indicate a particular Gekko version
EDIT	Edit a file via Notepad
XEDIT	Edit a xml file via XML Notepad.
SYS	Access the system shell if needed
TRANSLATE	Translates syntax from Gekko 1.8 or AREMOS

From the menu items (‘Utilities’), you can also compare two databanks, check residuals, and compare variables in model/databank/varlist.

Modeling statements overview

Modeling statements overview