Specifying Style Elements for Plot Properties

ODS styles control the default color schemes and visual attributes for a graph. ODS styles consist of style elements, and each style element has its own attributes. When you modify graphics properties, you often have the option to specify a style element. For example, you can select a style element when you change the properties of plot lines, fills, and markers. The visual properties of the item that you modify are obtained from the specified style element.

The following display shows the default style element for a histogram.

The style element determines the specific attributes of the plot, such as the outline color, pattern, and thickness. The default value for those attributes is Auto, which indicates that the value is automatically derived from the selected style element. If you select a different style element, the automatic attributes change.

In the example, you can select another style element from the list box. Alternatively, you can specify the plot fill and outline attributes explicitly by selecting a value other than Auto from the list boxes.

When you explicitly change an item’s attributes, the change persists regardless of the style. If you later change the style element or the graph's style, your explicit settings override the new style element or style.

After you change attributes, you can later revert back to the original Auto or Group value if desired.

You can also create a custom style and modify the style elements that are contained in that style. The modified style elements are used every time you apply the custom style to a graph.