Statalisters
The following program documents a bug that arises when using the point
and click interface to generate scatter graphs with the -by- option.
See comments below.
*********************
* labelbug.do
* Evidence of a bug in the xmlabel option of the twoway command
*
set more on
sysuse auto, clear
twoway scatter mpg weight , xtick(2500 (1000) 4500)
//1
more
twoway (scatter mpg weight) , xmlabel(2500 (1000) 4500, tlength(1.5)
nolabels) //2
more
twoway (scatter mpg weight) ,by(foreign) xtick(2500 (1000) 4500)
//3
more
twoway (scatter mpg weight) ,by(foreign) xmlabel(2500 (1000) 4500,
tlength(1.5) nolabels) //4 (bug)
************************
Comments
//1. This scatter plot created with the -xtick- option works correctly.
//2. This command was generated using the point and click interface to
replicate the first scatter plot. It also works correctly.
//3. Adding the -by(foreign)- option to the first command also works.
//4. Trying to replicate the third command with the point and click
interface gives this command. Here the -nolabels- sub-option of the
-xmlabel- option fails to suppress labels at tick marks 2500 3500 and
4500. This is surely a bug.
In my opinion, the default options of the point and click interface
could be improved. Graphs with unlabeled ticks between axis labels are
very common. The need for labeled minor tick marks is rare. It would
be nice if the point and click interface generated commands like //1
and //3 by default. As it is, one must explicitly lengthen the
intermediate tick marks and suppress their tick labels.
What are your thoughts on these issues?
Bill Dupont
William D. Dupont phone: 615-322-2001 URL
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/prevmed/facstaff/dupont.htm
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