Example 5. Filling the Area between Plot Lines

Features:

AXIS statement option:

ORDER=

SYMBOL statement options:

CO=
CV=
INTERPOL=

Sample library member: GSYFAPL1

This example shows how to fill the area between two plot lines by concatenating two data sets into one to form a polygon with the data points. It uses a SYMBOL statement to specify a pattern to fill the polygon and to determine the color of the area fill and the outline around the area.

The example plots yearly highs and lows for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It separates the dependent variables HIGH and LOW to produce an upper plot line and a lower plot line. The dependent variable is named VALUE and the independent variable is named YEAR. When concatenated into one data set, AREA, the data sets form the polygon.

Set the graphics environment.

 goptions reset=global gunit=pct border cback=white           colors=(black blue green red)           ftext=swissb htitle=6 htext=3;

Create the data set. STOCKS contains yearly highs and lows for the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and the dates of the high and low values each year.

 data stocks;     input year @7 hdate date9. @17 high           @26 ldate date9. @36 low;     format hdate ldate date9.;     datalines;  1955  30DEC1955  488.40  17JAN1955 388.20  1956  06APR1956  521.05  23JAN1956  462.35  ...  more data lines  ...  1994  31JAN1994 3978.36  04APR1994 3593.35  1995  13DEC1995 5216.47  30JAN1995 3832.08  ;

Restructure the data so that it defines a closed area. Create the temporary data sets HIGH and LOW.

 data high(keep=year value)       low(keep=year value);       set stocks;       value=high; output high;       value=low; output low;  run;

Reverse order of the observations in LOW.

 proc sort data=low;     by descending year;

Concatenate HIGH and LOW to create data set AREA.

 data area;     set high low;

Define titles and footnote.

 title1 'Dow Jones Industrial Average';  title2  h=4 'Highs and Lows From 1955 to 1995';  footnote j=l ' Source: 1997 World Almanac'           j=r 'GSYFAPL1  ';

Define symbol characteristics. INTERPOL= specifies a map/plot pattern to fill the polygon formed by the data points. The pattern consists of medium-density parallel lines at 90 degrees. CV= colors the pattern fill. CO= colors the outline of the area. (If CO= were not used, the outline would be the color of the area.)

 symbol interpol=m3n90         cv=red         co=blue;

Define axis characteristics. ORDER= places the major tick marks at 5-year intervals.

 axis1 order=(1955 to 1995 by 5)        label=none        major=(height=2)        minor=(number=4 height=1)        offset=(2,2)        width=3;  axis2 order=(0 to 5500 by 500)        label=none        major=(height=1.5) offset=(0,0)        minor=(number=1 height=1);

Generate the plot using data set AREA.

 proc gplot data=area;     plot value*year / haxis=axis1                       vaxis=axis2                       vref=(1000 3000 5000);  run;  quit;