SAS/AF Software: Class Dictionary

Specifying Variables and a Viewing Mode in a Scatter Control

Scatter controls let you specify three categories of variables:

axes variables. For a scatter plot, at least two axes variables are required : one independent (x) and one dependent (y). For a surface plot, all three axes variables (x, y, and z) are required, and the plot's viewMode must be 3DPerspective.
a color variable, which makes color part of the analysis (see Using a Color Variable in a Scatter Control). The color is applied to plot markers in a scatter plot, or to the plot surface in a surface plot.
shape and size variables, which affect the plot markers in a scatter plot. For information on controlling plot markers, see Controlling Markers in Scatter Plots.

The Scatter control supports long variable names, and mixed-case variable names.

To specify the axes variables, use the XVariable attribute to specify the independent variable, and YVariable to specify the dependent variable. To specify a second independent variable, use the ZVariable attribute. The axes-variable specification must be coordinated with the visual dimensions, which you set with the control's viewMode attribute. The viewing mode affects which actions are available for interacting with the control.

The following table defines the viewing modes and shows how to coordinate their use with the analysis variables:

viewMode Description

2D creates a two-dimensional view that has height and width but no depth. Requires one independent variable (X) and one dependent variable (Y). This mode is not available for surface plots.

3D creates a view that has height and width and uses shading to create the illusion of depth. Requires only one independent variable (X), but allows a second independent variable (Z). Also requires one dependent variable (Y). This mode is not available for surface plots.

3DPerspective creates a true 3D view that has depth. Requires two independent variables (X and Z) and one dependent variable (Y). If you set the viewMode to 3DPerspective with only one independent variable, the control uses a viewMode of 3D.

viewMode	Description
2D	creates a two-dimensional view that has height and width but no depth. Requires one independent variable (X) and one dependent variable (Y). This mode is not available for surface plots.
3D	creates a view that has height and width and uses shading to create the illusion of depth. Requires only one independent variable (X), but allows a second independent variable (Z). Also requires one dependent variable (Y). This mode is not available for surface plots.
3DPerspective	creates a true 3D view that has depth. Requires two independent variables (X and Z) and one dependent variable (Y). If you set the viewMode to 3DPerspective with only one independent variable, the control uses a viewMode of 3D.

For a Scatter control named scatter1, the following code sets X and Y variables for a two-dimensional analysis:

scatter1.viewMode = '2d';
scatter1.xvariable = 'country';
scatter1.yvariable = 'sales';

Chapter Contents
Previous
Next
Top of Page