Providing software solutions since 1976
| TEMPLATE Procedure: Plot Statements (Preproduction) |
CONTOURPARM Statement
Displays a contour plot representing a response variable evaluated over a grid of X and Y values, and typically is used to add a contour of a bivariate density estimate to a scatter plot.
CONTOURPARM X= numeric-column
| expression Y=
numeric-column |
expression Z=
numeric-column |
expression
|
| Usage Information |
Contour Plot
![[Contour Plot]](./images/contour.gif)
| Tip: |
By default, the CONTOURPARM statement assumes that the X-Y grid is complete and does not contain any missing or irregular values. If the grid is not complete, then set the GRIDDED= option to FALSE so that the plot calculates the values needed to complete into a grid with a bounding rectangle. |
| Required Arguments |
- X
-
specifies the X coordinates for the grid.
- Y
-
specifies the Y coordinates for the grid.
- Z
-
specifies the contour response values.
| Options |
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| BACKGROUND= color | style-reference | Specifies the background color of the graph. |
| BACKTRANSPARENCY= number | Specifies the degree of the transparency of the background color. |
| DISPLAY= LINE | FILL | BLOCK | GRADIENT | Specifies the type of contour display. |
| GRIDDED= boolean | Specifies whether the X and Y values are equally spaced in a rectangular grid. |
| NAME= 'string' | Assigns a name to a plot statement for reference in other template statements. |
| = integer | Specifies the suggested number of contour levels for the Z variable. |
| NLEVELS= integer | Specifies the actual number of contour levels for the Z variable. |
| XAXIS= X | X2 | Specifies whether data is mapped to the primary X axis or the secondary X (X2) axis. |
| YAXIS= Y | Y2 | Specifies whether data is mapped to the primary Y axis or the secondary Y (Y2) axis. |
- BACKGROUND= color | style-reference
-
specifies the background color of the graph.
Default: Specified by the GraphBackground:Background style reference. Interaction: Ignored in a LAYOUT OVERLAY block. For information, see Ignored Plot Options in a LAYOUT OVERLAY Block. - BACKTRANSPARENCY= number
-
specifies the degree of the transparency of the background color.
Default: 0 Range: 0 (opaque) to 1 (entirely transparent) Interaction: The BACKTRANSPARENCY= option overrides the TRANSPARENCY= option for the background. Interaction: Ignored in a LAYOUT OVERLAY block. For information, see Ignored Plot Options in a LAYOUT OVERLAY Block. See also: TRANSPARENCY= option - DISPLAY= LINE | FILL | BLOCK | GRADIENT
-
specifies the type of contour display.
LINE specifies simple contour lines.
FILL specifies that the space between the contours is filled and has no lines.
BLOCK displays blocks of color at each coordinate.
GRADIENT displays a smooth gradient of color between contour levels. The colors of the gradient are specified by the ThreeColorRamp style element.
Default: LINE - GRIDDED= boolean
-
specifies whether X and Y values are equally spaced in a rectangular grid.
Default: TRUE Tip: If GRIDDED=FALSE, then additional calculations are performed. Tip: For information on the algorithm used to calculate the grid, see Barnes, Stanley L., "Mesoscale Objective Map Analysis Using Weighted Time-Series Observations," United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Environmental Research Labs, Norman, OK, Technical Memorandum (NOAA TM ERLNSSL-62), March 1973. - NAME= 'string'
-
assigns a name to a plot statement for reference in other template statements.
Restriction: The string specified by the NAME= option must be unique within the template. Restriction: The string specified by the NAME= option cannot contain embedded spaces. Tip: The NAME= option is used mostly in the DISCRETELEGEND statement in order to coordinate the use of colors, marker symbols, and line patterns between the graph and the legend. Tip: string is case sensitive. - NHINT= integer
-
specifies the suggested number of contour levels for the Z variable.
Default: 5 Tip: The actual number of levels is adjusted to provide an appropriate number of levels for the data. - NLEVELS= integer
-
specifies the actual number of contour levels for the Z variable.
Interaction: The NLEVELS= option overrides the NHINT= option. - XAXIS= X | X2
-
specifies whether data is mapped to the primary X axis or to the secondary X (X2) axis.
Default: X Interaction: Within a LAYOUT OVERLAY block, multiple plots can share a primary axis and a secondary axis. The primary and secondary axes can have different scales, and the XAXIS= option for a particular plot can map data to either axis. The XAXISOPTS= and X2AXISOPTS= options of a LAYOUT OVERLAY statement specify whether the axes are displayed, and specify the axis characteristics. - YAXIS= Y | Y2
-
specifies whether data is mapped to the primary Y axis or to the secondary Y (Y2) axis.
Default: Y Interaction: Within a LAYOUT OVERLAY block, multiple plots can share a primary axis and a secondary axis. The primary and secondary axes can have different scales, and the YAXIS= option for a particular plot can map data to either axis. The YAXISOPTS= and Y2AXISOPTS= options of a LAYOUT OVERLAY statement specify whether the axes are displayed, and specify the axis characteristics.
