4.0. Overview

The graphics procedures accessible from the Graph menu are explained in this chapter. For graphics tools common to all graphics procedures see 2.3. Graphics Editor.

The data plotting options will first ask for the variables to be plotted, by means of the usual Variable Selection Dialogue. After this, an automatically scaled and annotated graph is displayed. Choices made by the program include scaling of axes (see Scale Type) and estimating initial values for the minimum, maximum and minor and major interval values for each axis, and, where appropriate, filling in the legend fields with the label of the selected variables. In most cases the program’s choices will generate a satisfactory graph. However, the graphs can be fully customised by the user.

Some inputs are transportable between different graph procedures. For instance, font selections, the main title, sub title, axis titles and Row Labels are not deleted when a particular graphics procedure is exited. This feature is particularly useful when the same data set is to be plotted using different graph types.

UNISTAT’s Graphics Editor supports full on-screen object editing of graphs. All text labels, legends, and the graph itself can be drag-dropped and resized and new text and shape objects added (see 2.3.2. On-Screen Editing).

A second toolbar contains controls for adding new text and line, rectangle, rounded rectangle and ellipse (circle) objects. There are also controls for changing all aspects of shape objects. These include border colour, fill colour, border style, fill style and border thickness.

Another useful feature of the Graphics Editor is the Chart Gallery, which provides access to 29 graph types using the same data set. The selected graph types from the gallery will be drawn immediately with the already selected variables, without going through the variable selection process again.

Any information entered or edited by the user can be saved in graphics template files, which can store all graphics objects (text and shapes) and their positions. The graphics template files can be opened subsequently to apply a particular style to different data sets. Graphs can also be exported to other applications in either bitmap or enhanced metafile formats, either via the Windows clipboard or by saving to a file first.