STATISTICA Blogs

 This blog uses the example datatset, Cat Clinic and explores graph axis labels. To open this dataset in STATISTICA:

Now you are ready to visually explore data. You can generate the graph via the Graph menu, 2D Graphs menu, Line Plots (Variables)... menu. Select variable 8 - Age (2000) and click the OK button.

Where is the clinic's newest patient, Emma Lu? Her name isn't on the x-axis.

STATISTICA automatically tries to fit all the axis labels into the available space. When it isn't possible, it starts skipping values.

It is simple to put Emma Lu on the axis. Double click on Muffin or any label. This opens the Graph Options dialog. You are looking at the Scale Values pane.

You can turn label skipping off. You can skip every 2nd, 4th, etc.. label.  And you can select the Layout of the labels. Should they run parallel or perpendicular to the axis?

I decided to turn skipping off. And I selected Auto for the Layout. STATISTICA will figure out if parallel or perpendicular labels work better.

Emma Lu is now on the x-axis with perpendicular labels. She is only 1 year old.

/aw