Customizing Stata Graphs made Easy (Part 1)

Abstract

The overall look of Stata's graphs is determined by so-called scheme files. Scheme files are system components; that is, they are part of the local Stata installation. In this article, I argue that style settings deviating from default schemes should be part of the script producing the graphs, rather than being kept in separate scheme files, and I present a simple tool called grstyle that supports such practice.

Keywords

gr0073 grstyle graph graphics scheme files

References

Atz

2011. scheme_tufte: Stata module to provide a Tufte-inspired graphics scheme. Statistical Software Components S457285, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s457285.html.

Bischof

2017a. g538schemes: Stata module to provide graphics schemes for http://fivethirtyeight.com. Statistical Software Components S458404, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s458404.html.

Bischof

2017b. New graphic schemes for Stata: plotplain and plottig. Stata Journal 17: 748–759.

Briatte

2013. scheme-burd: Stata module to provide a ColorBrewer-inspired graphics scheme with qualitative and blue-to-red diverging colors. Statistical Software Components S457623, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s457623.html.

Buchanan

2015. brewscheme: Stata module for generating customized graph scheme files. Statistical Software Components S458050, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s458050.html.

Jann

Forthcoming. Customizing Stata graphs made easy (part 2). Stata Journal.

Juul

2003. Lean mainstream schemes for Stata 8 graphics. Stata Journal 3: 295–301.

Morris

2013. scheme-mrc: Stata module to provide graphics scheme for UK Medical Research Council. Statistical Software Components S457703, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s457703.html.

Morris

2015. scheme-tfl: Stata module to provide graph scheme, based on Transport for London's corporate colour pallette. Statistical Software Components S458103, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s458103.html.

10.

Newson

2005. scheme rbn1mono: Stata module to provide minimal monochrome graphics schemes. Statistical Software Components S456505, Department of Economics, Boston College. https://ideas.repec.org/c/boc/bocode/s456505.html.