The PLOT Procedure

Example 11: Adjusting Labels on a Plot with the PLACEMENT= Option

Procedure features:

PLOT statement options

	label variable in plot request
	LIST=
	PLACEMENT=

Other features:

RUN group processing

This example illustrates the default placement of labels and how to adjust the placement of labels on a crowded plot. The labels are values of variable in the data set.(footnote 1)

This example also shows RUN group processing in PROC PLOT.

Program

options nodate pageno=1 linesize=120 pagesize=37;

data census;
   input Density CrimeRate State $ 14-27 PostalCode $ 29-30;
   datalines;
263.3 4575.3 Ohio           OH
62.1 7017.1  Washington     WA

...more data lines...

111.6 4665.6 Tennessee      TN
120.4 4649.9 North Carolina NC
;

proc plot data=census;
   plot density*crimerate=state $ state / box list=1
        haxis=by 1000 vaxis=by 250;
   title 'A Plot of Population Density and Crime Rates';
run;

The labels `Tennessee`, `South Carolina`, `Arkansas`, `Minnesota`, and `South Dakota` have penalties. The default placement states do not provide enough possibilities for PROC PLOT to avoid penalties given the proximity of the points. Seven label characters are hidden.

      plot density*crimerate=state $ state / box list=1
           haxis=by 1000 vaxis=by 250

           placement=((v=2 1 : l=2 1)
                 ((l=2 2 1 : v=0 1 0) * (s=right left : h=2 -2))
                 (s=center right left * l=2 1 * v=0 1 -1 2 *
                  h=0 1 to 5 by alt));
   title 'A Plot of Population Density and Crime Rates';
   run;

Output

No collisions occur in the plot.

Chapter Contents
Previous
Next
Top of Page