Rotate By/X Axis Labels of slideplot

[Ben Zhu]

Hello,

I am currently using slideplot to make stacked bar graphs but my current problem is that the category by labels (x axis) run into each other. Below is a quick example

use http://www.stata-press.com/data/r8/voter.dta
slideplot bar candidat [w=frac], neg(2) pos(3 4) by(inc)

Which outputs the following graph.

In this example, because there are a relatively small amount of categories, the x axis labels don't touch and the graph is easily readable. However, in my other dataset there are a larger amount of categories and the x axis labels blend in to each other. I've looked around and can't seem to figure it out. I've tried using the xlab(,angle(90)) but that doesn't work because I assume the x axis is technically not an x axis and I've also tried label(angle(90)) but that seems to also not be a valid option.

Ultimately, I would like to output a stacked twoway bar chart and am open to other suggestions, but it seems that, so far, slideplot is the easiest and doesnt require a lot of work calculating boundaries if I could just get this label issue resolved.

use http://www.stata-press.com/data/r8/voter.dta
catplot candidat inc [w=frac], stack asyvars recast(bar)

I have also figured out how to do it in catplot but am stuck in the same part of rotating the x axis labels.

[Nick Cox]

slideplot and catplot are both from SSC, as you are asked to explain (FAQ Advice #12). Both are wrappers for graph bar or graph hbar in your context.

slideplot dates from 2003 and is little used by me. I think you've stumbled across a limitation in that the by() option is a wrapper for calls to over() options in graph bar but there is no way to pass options as well. I do not have any intentions at this time to revise the program. If I did, I would rewrite it completely as a wrapper for twoway bar.

If axis labels run into each other, my strong advice is to use horizontal bars so that this does not happen. Otherwise,

use http://www.stata-press.com/data/r8/voter.dta, clear 

catplot candidat inc [w=frac], stack asyvars recast(bar) var2opts(label(ang(v)))

embodies my next best advice.

[Ben Zhu]

Thanks so much!