Graph Bar Stacked for Subset of Variables

[Trevor Andrew]

How can I stack only two variables in the bar graph. I would like to stack var1 and var2 and have var3 and var3 by itself. Here is the data example:

year	var1	var2	var3	var4
2016	100	10	70	20
2017	110	15	60	40
2018	90	20	50	30

[Nick Cox]

clear 
input year    var1    var2    var3    var4
2016    100    10    70    20
2017    110    15    60    40
2018    90    20    50    30
end 

gen var12 = var1 + var2 

gen year_l = year - 0.2 
gen year_r = year + 0.2

twoway bar var1 year_l, barw(0.4) || rbar var1 var12 year_l, barw(0.4)|| bar var3 year_r, barw(0.4) ///
legend(order(1 "var1" 2 "var2" 3 "var3")) xla(2016/2018)

[Trevor Andrew]

Why do the bars start at 40 and not at zero? Is there a way to use bar graph and stack option? I tried it but didn't manage to get it work. Using rbar is quite difficult if I want to use more than three variables that shows you example or rearrange the order of the bars. I was not able to do that.

[Nick Cox]

One thing at a time!

1. You evidently need the extra option base(0) for your data example. Sorry; I didn't check the code all the way through to looking at the graph really carefully: hereabouts, my dinner was ready...

So the code is better as

twoway bar var1 year_l, barw(0.4) base(0) || rbar var1 var12 year_l, barw(0.4)|| bar var3 year_r, barw(0.4) ///
legend(order(1 "var1" 2 "var2" 3 "var3")) xla(2016/2018) yla(0(20)120)

2. I don't see a way to use graph bar with options asyvars stack off-hand. I agree: I would have used such a solution had I seen one.

3. You seem to be saying that your real need is more complicated. I believe that, but the principles to apply appear to be just the same unless you can spell out a specific new difficulty.

[Trevor Andrew]

I wanted to add more variables and change the location of the bars. But I managed to get it to work with your suggestions. Thanks Nick!