{smcl}
{* 22 Oct 2001/14 Nov 2005}{...}
{hline}
help for {hi:sqr}
{hline}

{title:Make graphs square {c -} or any other shape} 

{p 8 12}{cmd:sqr}
{it:graph_command} 
{it:varlist}
[{cmd:if} {it:exp}] 
[{cmd:in} {it:range}]
[[{it:weight}]] 
{bind:[ {cmd:,} {cmdab:a:spectratio(}{it:#}{cmd:)}}
{it:graph_command_options} 
] 


{p}Note: This program requires Stata 7 as a minimum. In Stata 8 and 
up, it applies only to old-style graphs produced by {cmd:gr7}. The only 
reason to try to use it in Stata 8 and up is to apply it to such graphs, in 
which case {cmd:graph} here should be understood as {cmd:gr7}. Otherwise, find
the {cmd:aspectratio()} option. 


{title:Description} 

{p}{cmd:sqr} is a command prefix to place before any graph command to make 
graphs square. Optionally, other aspect ratios may be specified. 
For example, many time series plots look better with low aspect ratios 
such that individual line segments are closer to 45 degrees from horizontal. 


{title:Remarks} 


{p}{cmd:sqr} works by using the {cmd:bbox()} option of {cmd:graph}. This will be
possible so long as either (1) {it:graph_command} is itself {cmd:graph} or (2)
it is set up to call {cmd:graph} with any user-specified options of
{cmd:graph}, and does not specify {cmd:bbox()} itself. 

{p}{cmd:sqr} does not control the shape of the data region, but the
shape of the whole graph image. Nor is any adjustment made to (e.g.) 
size or positioning of lettering. 


{title:Options}

{p 0 4}{cmd:aspectratio(}{it:#}{cmd:)} specifies an aspect ratio (height
/ width) for the total graph image. In practice, aspect ratios between 
about 0.2 and 2 are possible. The default is 1 (square). 

{p 0 4}{it:graph_command_options} are whatever options apart 
from {cmd:bbox()} are allowed with {it:graph_command}. 


{title:Examples (Stata 7)}

{p 4 8}{inp:. sqr graph mpg, by(foreign) box} 

{p 4 8}{inp:. sqr tsgraph vol, a(0.4)} 

{p 4 8}{inp:. for num 0.2(0.1)2, pause: sqr graph mpg weight, a(X)}


{title:Author} 

         Nicholas J. Cox, University of Durham, U.K.
         n.j.cox@durham.ac.uk


{title:Also see}

On-line: help for {help gph} 
 Manual: {hi:[G] gph} (Stata 7 only) 
    FAQ: {browse "http://www.stata.com/support/faqs/graphics/sqgraph.html"}