stata: bar stacked percent graph

[Olivia Li]

Hello everyone!
I don't know how to write code when I am trying to graph a stcked bar graph using the following data:

* Example generated by -dataex-. For more info, type help dataex
clear
input float group str6 wage1 float(mean_wage2 mean_wage3 mean_wage4)
1 "230" 1.2 30 1000
2 "180" 1.1 35 2000
3 "290"  .9 25  300
4 "405"   1 40  400
end

What I am trying to do is to draw a graph like this:
( it's a little ugly hhh)

It'd be very nice if you could help me with this !

[Øyvind Snilsberg]

destring(wage1), replace
graph bar *wage* ,over(group) percentage stack

[Nick Cox]

The stacked design showing percents of a total is very popular despite major limitations, including

1. It can be hard to see very small amounts, including zeros.

2. It can be hard to compare amounts or percents for categories across bars, except the top and bottom categories which have a baseline above and below respectively.

3. It is hard to show numeric or other annotation cleanly and clearly.

4. A legend is usually required, which is at best a necessary evil.

An alternative design is implemented in tabplot from the Stata Journal. A fairly quick but also slightly detailed overview can be seen at https://www.statalist.org/forums/for...updated-on-ssc

Øyvind Snilsberg helpfully pointed out that you need to destring one of your variables before you can use it.

This sample code goes a little beyond that.

clear
input float group str6 wage1 float(mean_wage2 mean_wage3 mean_wage4)
1 "230" 1.2 30 1000
2 "180" 1.1 35 2000
3 "290"  .9 25  300
4 "405"   1 40  400
end

destring wage1, replace 
rename mean_* * 
reshape long wage, i(group) j(which)

tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G1, replace) 


tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) percent(group) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G2, replace) subtitle(% for group)

Many details can be changed, including separate colours for row or column entries.

This command was discussed at length in 2016 (see https://www.stata-journal.com/articl...article=gr0066 ), but if interested install the 2020 update.

SJ-20-3 gr0066_2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/20 SJ 20(3):757--758
added new options frame() and frameopts() allowing framing
of bars and so-called thermometer plots or charts

SJ-17-3 gr0066_1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/17 SJ 17(3):779
added options for reversing axis scales; improved handling of
axis labels containing quotation marks

SJ-16-2 gr0066 . . . . . . Speaking Stata: Multiple bar charts in table form
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q2/16 SJ 16(2):491--510
provides multiple bar charts in table form representing
contingency tables for one, two, or three categorical variables

[Olivia Li]

destring(wage1), replace
graph bar *wage* ,over(group) percentage stack

It works! Thanks a lot !

[Olivia Li]

The stacked design showing percents of a total is very popular despite major limitations, including

1. It can be hard to see very small amounts, including zeros.

2. It can be hard to compare amounts or percents for categories across bars, except the top and bottom categories which have a baseline above and below respectively.

3. It is hard to show numeric or other annotation cleanly and clearly.

4. A legend is usually required, which is at best a necessary evil.

An alternative design is implemented in tabplot from the Stata Journal. A fairly quick but also slightly detailed overview can be seen at https://www.statalist.org/forums/for...updated-on-ssc

Øyvind Snilsberg helpfully pointed out that you need to destring one of your variables before you can use it.

This sample code goes a little beyond that.

clear
input float group str6 wage1 float(mean_wage2 mean_wage3 mean_wage4)
1 "230" 1.2 30 1000
2 "180" 1.1 35 2000
3 "290" .9 25 300
4 "405" 1 40 400
end

destring wage1, replace
rename mean_* *
reshape long wage, i(group) j(which)

tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G1, replace)


tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) percent(group) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G2, replace) subtitle(% for group)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1644293[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1644294[/ATTACH]

Many details can be changed, including separate colours for row or column entries.

This command was discussed at length in 2016 (see https://www.stata-journal.com/articl...article=gr0066 ), but if interested install the 2020 update.

SJ-20-3 gr0066_2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/20 SJ 20(3):757--758
added new options frame() and frameopts() allowing framing
of bars and so-called thermometer plots or charts

SJ-17-3 gr0066_1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/17 SJ 17(3):779
added options for reversing axis scales; improved handling of
axis labels containing quotation marks

SJ-16-2 gr0066 . . . . . . Speaking Stata: Multiple bar charts in table form
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q2/16 SJ 16(2):491--510
provides multiple bar charts in table form representing
contingency tables for one, two, or three categorical variables

That is amazing.
Thanks for your instuctive guide!

[Olivia Li]

The stacked design showing percents of a total is very popular despite major limitations, including

1. It can be hard to see very small amounts, including zeros.

2. It can be hard to compare amounts or percents for categories across bars, except the top and bottom categories which have a baseline above and below respectively.

3. It is hard to show numeric or other annotation cleanly and clearly.

4. A legend is usually required, which is at best a necessary evil.

An alternative design is implemented in tabplot from the Stata Journal. A fairly quick but also slightly detailed overview can be seen at https://www.statalist.org/forums/for...updated-on-ssc

Øyvind Snilsberg helpfully pointed out that you need to destring one of your variables before you can use it.

This sample code goes a little beyond that.

clear
input float group str6 wage1 float(mean_wage2 mean_wage3 mean_wage4)
1 "230" 1.2 30 1000
2 "180" 1.1 35 2000
3 "290" .9 25 300
4 "405" 1 40 400
end

destring wage1, replace
rename mean_* *
reshape long wage, i(group) j(which)

tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G1, replace)


tabplot which group [iw=wage], showval scheme(s1color) percent(group) blcolor(blue) bfcolor(blue*0.2) name(G2, replace) subtitle(% for group)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1644293[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1644294[/ATTACH]

Many details can be changed, including separate colours for row or column entries.

This command was discussed at length in 2016 (see https://www.stata-journal.com/articl...article=gr0066 ), but if interested install the 2020 update.

SJ-20-3 gr0066_2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/20 SJ 20(3):757--758
added new options frame() and frameopts() allowing framing
of bars and so-called thermometer plots or charts

SJ-17-3 gr0066_1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Software update for tabplot
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q3/17 SJ 17(3):779
added options for reversing axis scales; improved handling of
axis labels containing quotation marks

SJ-16-2 gr0066 . . . . . . Speaking Stata: Multiple bar charts in table form
(help tabplot if installed) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . N. J. Cox
Q2/16 SJ 16(2):491--510
provides multiple bar charts in table form representing
contingency tables for one, two, or three categorical variables

Could you please tell me what to do to keep the decimal places that I want? Thanks ^-^

[Nick Cox]

What are the "decimal places that I want"? A display format can be specified along with showval().