Edit line pattern in graph by code

[Janina Apostolou]

Dear Statalisters,

I want to adjust the line patterns and colors in my graph with the following code:

lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="DE", lpattern (dash) lcolor (black) noscatter addplot((lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="UK", lpattern (solid) lcolor (black)) (lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="NL", lpattern (dash_dot) lcolor (black)) (lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="IT", lpattern (shortdash) lcolor (black)) (lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="IE", lpattern (shortdash_dot) lcolor (black)) (lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="HU", lpattern (longdash_dot) lcolor (black))) title (test) legend(label(1 "DE") label(2 "UK") label (3 "UK") label (4 "NL") label(5 "IE") label (6 "HU"))

It works for all lines except the line for the first country "DE". I guess it is probably because I also specified noscatter? But even without that, that line does not change. I have tried various commands like:lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="DE", noscatter connect(l) lpattern (dash) lcolor (black)

Unfortunately, I cnanot find a code to change the pattern and color of that one line.
Does somebody has an idea how that could work?

Thanks in advance for any help!
Janina

[Nick Cox]

Please post following guidelines in Statalist FAQ. Graphs should be shown as .png like this and code should be made readable by using CODE delimiters.

lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="DE", lpattern (dash) lcolor (black) noscatter
addplot((lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="UK", lpattern (solid) lcolor (black))
(lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="NL", lpattern (dash_dot) lcolor (black))
(lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="IT", lpattern (shortdash) lcolor (black))
(lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="IE", lpattern (shortdash_dot) lcolor (black))
(lpoly medPY010G PX020 if PB020=="HU", lpattern (longdash_dot) lcolor (black)))
title (test) legend(label(1 "DE") label(2 "UK") label (3 "UK") label (4 "NL") label(5 "IE") label (6 "HU"))

Elsewhere in computing is the idea of a minimal, complete, verifiable example. We can't test your code because you don't give any of your data but following the principles at https://stackoverflow.com/help/mcve we can agree that

sysuse auto
lpoly mpg weight, lpattern(dash) lcolor(black) noscatter

produces a solid pattern. The reason is that -- as documented -- you need lineopts() here.

lpoly mpg weight, lineopts(lpattern(dash) lcolor(black)) noscatter

Note that the graph command is varying the line pattern but independently of your code. You'll also want to fix the mistake of using UK twice and omitting IT from the legend.

Moral: It's all in the help.