corresponding commands for manually adjusting graph

[River Huang]

Dear All, As requested by Nick Cox, I start this new thread. The original one is here (https://www.statalist.org/forums/for...er-looking-bar).
I have this dataset,

* Example generated by -dataex-. To install: ssc install dataex
clear
input int(year kb78etrica kh01jep)
1994   41   .
1995   36   .
1996   35   .
1997   56   .
1998   60   .
1999   67   .
2000   82   .
2001  106   .
2002  123  32
2003  142  50
2004  182  64
2005  268 123
2006  325 191
2007  343 282
2008  468 384
2009  532 511
2010  581 589
2011  625 597
2012  737 720
2013  821 761
2014  890 830
2015  937 897
2016 1103 928
2017 1058 947
2018 1039 928
end

and using these commands

twoway bar kb78etrica kh01jep year, xtitle("") xla(1994(4)2018) /// 
blcolor(red blue) bfcolor(red*0.2 blue*0.2) legend(col(1) pos(11) ring(0)) yla(0(250)1000, ang(h))

The graph is

Then, I manually adjust the graph using the Graph Editor (Bar properties: Opacity from 100 to 80), and have (Note the year 2010)

I know that there is a recording function when we manually adjust the graph. But, I wonder if that there is similar function like importing an excel file manually and a corresponding command appearing in the results window, say:

import excel "D:\R_Quantile\raw\Quantile-citation.xlsx", sheet("工作表1") firstrow clear

After all, most people are not that familiar with all graph options, and want to include the modification in their code.

[Nick Cox]

I don't think I understand the question at all. import excel is for importing data in spreadsheet files. What does have to do with editing a graph in Stata?

[River Huang]

Dear Nick, When we manually import excel file like

and

and

The corresponding command appears (in the results window) as

.

So my question is that when we manually adjust graph in the graph editor, how can we have similar commands that can be readily copied into the do file (so that I don't need to manually adjust next time). I hope this explanation is clear to you.

[Martyn Sherriff]

Why not use the 'recorder' in the Graph Editor. You can then run the recorder the next time you want to modify a plot, or you can copy the relevant commands from the recorder file, it is a straight forward text file, into your do file.

Martyn

[Nick Cox]

I see. You've answered your own question in #1 in so far as there is a graph recording function. The major difficulty here is that not all graph edits correspond to distinct graph syntax. I don't think you're missing anything that exists.

[ericmelse]

Dear Ho-Chuan,

Indeed, it is possible to include code in your do file to have Stata 'manually' edit your graph. For your example that is:

gr_edit plotregion1.plot2.EditCustomStyle , j(17) style(area(shadestyle(color("%80"))))

Note that you have to first use the graph editor and use the recorder (i.e. from within a graph window, trigger menu File, option Start Graph Editor, next trigger menu Tools, option Recorder, option Begin, or, alternatively use the button Play recording).

Make your edits and save the recording. Next you will have to open the recoding file (*.grec), which is saved in the then current PERSONAL directory (to learn where that might be, use: sysdir). You can load such grec file in the Stata Do-file editor (but look for All files (*.*) in your PERSONAL directory).
You will find there the required code that needs to be put after gr_edit in your do file.

[ I learned about this very helpful option from Scott Merryman in this post. ]

[River Huang]

Dear @Martyn Sherriff, @Nick Cox, and @ericmelse, Thank you for the helpful suggestions. I will give it a try.