Area

The Area element

shows a contiguous area that represents the area beneath summary statistic values of a variable across the values or categories of another variable. The Area element can be considered a continuous representation of the Bar element.

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Both variables might be nominal or ordinal. The summary statistic represents the count of observations in a level of the variable on the axis that is not specified as the Response Axis.

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One of the variables might be continuous and the other nominal or ordinal. The summary statistic represents the value of the specified summary statistic for the continuous variable for the corresponding level of the categorical variable.

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If both variables are continuous, the summary statistic is computed for the continuous variable on the axis that is specified as the Response Axis.

Note: The plot is not affected in any way if rows are hidden and not excluded.

For an example of a graph that uses the Area element, see Examples of Area Plots in Graph Builder Examples.

Figure 3.32 Area Options

Area Style

Changes how the area is displayed when there are merged variables on the response axis. For area style descriptions, see Table 3.2.

Response Axis

Specifies the axis for the variable that is used as the response in plotting the areas. Available only when both variables have a Continuous modeling type. If only one variable is Continuous, its axis is the response axis. The Auto setting is the Y axis.

Summary Statistic

Specifies the statistic that is plotted.

Missing Factors

Provides options for connections when all values are missing for a setting of the variable on the X axis:

Skip

Skips over the missing factor value, connecting the previous factor to the next factor.

Treat as Missing

Skips over the missing factor value, connecting the previous factor to the next factor. Draws the connection in the style specified for Missing Values.

Treat as zero

Treats the missing factor values as zero.

Variables

Shows or hides graph elements for variables, or re-orders the display of variables.

Note: These options do not apply to variables in the Group X, Group Y, Wrap, or Page zones.

Check boxes are followed by the zone designation and the name of the variable. Use check boxes to do the following:

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Show or hide the elements corresponding to a variable in a zone.

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Add or remove the effect of applying the Color, Size, Shape, or Freq variable to the variable in the zone.

Tip: If you have multiple graphs, you can color or size each graph by different variables. Drag a second variable to the Color or Size zone, and drop it in a corner. In the Variables option, select the specific color or size variable to apply to each graph.

Use arrows to re-order the display if there are multiple variables in a zone. Highlight a variable name and click an arrow to reposition it.

Table 3.2 Area Styles and Descriptions
Area Style	Description
Stacked	Shows areas that correspond to summary statistics for each of the merged variables. The plots are colored and a legend appears in the Legend zone.
Overlaid	Shows the area plots for the merged variables superimposed over each other. The plots are colored and a legend appears in the Legend zone.
Range	Shows the area corresponding to the difference in the summary statistic for the merged variables.