st: Graph overlay marker labels over bars and lines

["Mills, Michael" <mmills@rti.org>]

I have seen similar questions and replies on overlaying graphs, but nothing that has solved my particular problem, so I apologize if this is already out there.

I have a graph overlaying line graphs (of outcome means) over bar charts (of sample Ns, which works fine (through the xtitle(`:variable label adj_time') line. These graphs are produced for a number of variables (varname shortened to `stub') and thresholds (`thresh') and over various ranges on outcomes (which is by `amin' and `amax' are used to control what portion of the x-axis is displayed/labeled in each graph and similarly `rmin'/`rmax' for the y-axis; atime2 and atime3 are offsets of adj_time to make the bar graphs pretty).

I am adding to this chart labels at the top of the bar charts showing "n = #" (for n <= 5; contained in the barlab... variables). The scatter code below works, however the marker labels ("n = #")that are displayed are displayed underneath the lines (but above the bar charts) limiting readability of the marker labels in instances when lines cross over the marker labels.

Is there a way to get the marker labels to be in front of the lines rather than covered up by the lines? I have tried adjusting the placement/ordering of the scatter... lines within the twoway code to no avail.

twoway bar n_`stub'_`thresh'_s  atime2 if atime2>=`amin'-.5 & atime2<=`amax'+.5 & ``i''>=`thresh', barw(0.3) yaxis(2) color(eltblue)
|| bar n_`stub'_`thresh'_ns atime3 if atime3>=`amin'-.5 & atime3<=`amax'+.5 & ``i''>=`thresh', barw(0.3) yaxis(2) color(erose)
|| line mean_`stub'_`thresh'_s mean_`stub'_`thresh'_ns adj_time if adj_time>=`amin' & adj_time<=`amax' & ``i''>=`thresh',
             lcolor(blue red)
             yaxis(1)
             xaxis(1 2)
             xline(8, lpattern(dash) lcolor(gs12))
             title("Quarterly Mean of `: variable label `var''" "by Quarter Relative to Adjustment Date", size(small))
             xlabel(`amin'(1)`amax', valuelabel angle(60) axis(1) labsize(vsmall))
             xtitle(, axis(1) size(small))
             xlabel("", axis(2))
             xtitle("", axis(2))
             ylabel(, angle(0) labsize(vsmall))
             ytitle("`: variable label `var''", size(small))
             yscale(alt r(`rmin' `rmax'))
             ylab(#6, axis(1) labsize(small))
             yscale(alt axis(2) r(0 40))
             ylab(#6, axis(2) angle(0) labsize(small))
             ytitle("Number of groups" "Included In Each Time Period", axis(2) size(small))
             xtitle(`:variable label adj_time')
|| scatter n_`stub'_`thresh'_ns atime3 if atime3>=`amin'-.5 & atime3<=`amax'+.5 & ``i''>=`thresh' & n_`stub'_`thresh'_ns<= 5,
     ms(none)
     mlab(barlab_`stub'_`thresh'_ns)
     mlabcolor(black)
     mlabgap(*-.5)
     mlabpos(12)
     yaxis(2)
     mlabsize(*.6)
|| scatter n_`stub'_`thresh'_s  atime2 if atime2>=`amin'-.5 & atime2<=`amax'+.5 & ``i''>=`thresh' & n_`stub'_`thresh'_s <= 5,
     ms(none)
     mlab(barlab_`stub'_`thresh'_s)
     mlabcolor(black)
     mlabgap(*-.5)
     mlabpos(12)
     yaxis(2)
     mlabsize(*.6)
     legend(order(5 6 1 2) size(vsmall))

Thanks,

- Mike


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