Re: st: -spmap- reason for no aspect() option?

[Maurizio Pisati <maurizio.pisati@unimib.it>]

Dear Dan,
the reason why option -aspect()- is preset in -spmap- is exactly that 
outlined by Sergiy. However, as Scott has correctly pointed out, by 
specifying option -freestyle- (introduced in the latest version of 
-spmap) you can gain control over most of the -graph twoway- options. 
Quoting from the -spmap- help file:

freestyle requests that, when drawing the graph, all the formatting 
presets and restrictions built in spmap be
   ignored. By default, spmap presets the values of some graph 
options and restricts the use of some others,
   so as to produce a "nice" graph automatically. By specifying 
option freestyle, the user loses this feature but
   gains full control over most of the graph formatting options.

Best wishes,
Maurizio




At 03.58 27/08/2008, you wrote:

> Hello Dan,
>
> 1. Correct me if I am wrong, but the most probable reason that
> aspect() option is not implemented is the following:
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Map_projection
>
> E.g. Americans commonly use Mercator, while Russians prefer Albers
> projection. The difference can be very large and depends on the
> distance from the equator. The transformation between most (all?)
> projection pairs is non-linear and can't be implemented as
> stretching/squeezing maps. -spmap- (and -tmap-) were developed for GIS
> graphs in Stata.
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