After this new Stata blog was released, I wanted to experiment a little with two of my latest blogs on Stata. If you have already installed Python on your computer, follow the Stata blog and do not forget to uninstall the old version of the openai library in Python and reinstall the new version. Besides, you may have to buy some credit from OpenAI.
The first blog is on removing headers for Ben Jann’s heatmap legend with Stata. Here’s the result:
If you are using Ben Jann's `heatplot` command in Stata and want to remove or customize the headers in the legend, here is how you can handle it.
### Background
Ben Jann's `heatplot` creates a heatmap of values and by default adds a legend with a title — this legend title might correspond to the variable name or a default label. Sometimes you might want to remove this header or customize it.
### How to remove or customize legend titles in `heatplot`
1. **Check for a legend option in `heatplot`**
Ben Jann's `heatplot` wraps around `twoway` graphs in Stata and allows passing options to the legend.
2. **Remove the legend header/title**
- The legend title corresponds to the legend's `title()` suboption.
- To **remove** the legend title, you add `legend(title(""))` to your `heatplot` command.
Example:
```stata
heatplot x y z, legend(title(""))
```
This removes the legend header/title, so the legend will only contain the color boxes without any header text.
3. **Alternatively, customize legend title**
If you want to set a custom header instead of completely removing it, just set the title to whatever you want, e.g.,
```stata
heatplot x y z, legend(title("My Custom Legend"))
```
### Additional Legend Customizations
If you want to tweak the legend further, such as its position, rows, or columns, you can pass more options within the `legend()` option:
```stata
heatplot x y z, legend(position(6) rows(1) title(""))
```
`position(6)` places the legend bottom-center, `rows(1)` makes the legend items horizontal, etc.
---
### Summary
- To **remove** legend headers in Ben Jann's `heatplot`, use `legend(title(""))`.
- To **customize** legend headers, use `legend(title("Your Title Here"))`.
- Other legend options can be passed inside the same `legend()` option.
---
If this is not working as expected, ensure you use the latest version of `heatplot` by updating it:
```stata
ssc install heatplot, replace
```
---
Let me know if you want help with an exact example or have further questions!
The second blog is on removing headers in impulse response function graphs with Stata. Here’s the result:
The article "Removing Headers in Impulse Response Function Graphs with Stata" by Jamel Saadaoui addresses a common formatting issue in Stata graphs generated after estimating impulse response functions (IRFs). Typically, when you estimate IRFs in Stata using commands like `irf create` and `irf graph`, the resulting graphs include automatic headers (titles) that might be redundant or undesired, especially when creating multiple graphs for presentations or publications.
### Problem:
By default, Stata includes automatic headers (graph titles) in IRF graphs, such as the variable name or the response name, which cannot always be easily suppressed with usual options like `title("")`. This can clutter the graph or interfere with custom formatting.
### The Solution:
1. **Understanding the graph structure**:
The automatic headers are generated as part of the graph’s title or text elements. Recognizing this is key to removing them.
2. **Using `graph combine` with `title("")` and `note("")`:**
While `irf graph` itself does not have an option to suppress the title, you can utilize the standard graph manipulation methods in Stata.
3. **Using `graph export` and post-processing**:
You can export the graphs in a format like SVG or EMF and remove headers externally, though this is cumbersome and not elegant.
4. **The best approach - editing the graph before saving or combining**:
Saadaoui suggests a small trick:
- Use `irf graph, name(irf1, replace)` to save the graph in memory under a name.
- Then use `graph use` and edit the graph title:
```stata
graph use irf1.gph, name(irf1, replace)
graph edit, title("")
graph save irf1.gph, replace
graph display irf1
```
- While the `graph edit` command is interactive, you can do similar operations with `graph set` or `graph combine` to remove titles in batch.
5. **Automating the removal of headers in IRF graphs:**
Because `irf graph` does not provide direct options to remove the header, you can:
- Store the IRF graph with `name()`
- Use `graph combine` with `title("")` to combine multiple IRF graphs without headers
- Or programmatically edit graph titles using `graph set` or by saving and reloading graphs without titles
### Example workflow:
```stata
// Estimate VAR or similar model and create IRF
var y x, lags(1)
irf create irfname, replace
irf graph oirf, name(irf1, replace)
// Combine graphs without titles
graph combine irf1, title("")
```
If `graph combine` still shows titles, you can try:
```stata
graph use irf1.gph, name(irf1, replace)
graph display irf1, title("")
```
Or make sure to specify `title("")` in `graph combine`.
---
### Summary:
- Stata’s `irf graph` includes automatic headers by default.
- You cannot remove them directly via a simple option in `irf graph`.
- Use `name()` to store the graph, then use `graph combine` with `title("")` to remove headers.
- Alternatively, edit graphs after saving or reloading.
For more detailed steps and code snippets, see [Jamel Saadaoui’s article](https://www.jamelsaadaoui.com/removing-headers-in-impulse-response-function-graphs-with-stata/).
If you want, I can help you with a concrete Stata script tailored to your data or issue!The full code is reproduced below for educational purposes:
/*
shell
pip -V
pip uninstall openai
pip install openai
*/
cd C:\Users\jamel\Dropbox\stata\chatgpt
chatgpt "What do you think about EconMacro (Jamel Saadaoui website)"
chatgpt "How to program a loop in Stata?"
chatgpt "Removing Headers in Ben Jann's Heatmap Legend with Stata (https://www.jamelsaadaoui.com/removing-headers-in-heatmap-legend-with-stata/)"
chatgpt "Removing Headers in Impulse Response Function Graphs with Stata (https://www.jamelsaadaoui.com/removing-headers-in-impulse-response-function-graphs-with-stata/)"