Faculty of Business, Economics and

Social Sciences
Department of Social Sciences

University of Bern Social Sciences Working Paper No. 1

Plotting regression coefficients and other

estimates in Stata
Ben Jann
source: https://doi.org/10.7892/boris.48527 | downloaded: 13.3.2017

Current version: January 31, 2014

First version: August 25, 2013

http://ideas.repec.org/p/bss/wpaper/1.html
http://econpapers.repec.org/paper/bsswpaper/1.htm

University of Bern Tel. +41 (0)31 631 48 11

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 Plotting regression coefficients and other estimates in Stata
Ben Jann
Institute of Sociology
University of Bern
[email protected]

January 31, 2014

Abstract
Graphical presentation of regression results has become increasingly popular in the scientific
literature, as graphs are much easier to read than tables in many cases. In Stata such plots can be
produced by the marginsplot command ([R] marginsplot). However, while marginsplot is very
versatile and flexible, it has two major limitations: it can only process results left behind by margins
([R] margins) and it can only handle one set of results at the time. In this article I introduce a new
command called coefplot that overcomes these limitations. It plots results from any estimation
command and combines results from several models into a single graph. The default behavior of
coefplot is to plot markers for coefficients and horizontal spikes for confidence intervals. However,
coefplot can also produce various other types of graphs. The capabilities of coefplot are illustrated
in this article using a series of examples.
Keywords: coefplot, marginsplot, margins, regression plot, coefficients plot

Contents
1 Introduction 2

2 Syntax 3
2.1 Model options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
2.2 Plot options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2.3 Subgraph options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2.4 Global options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

3 Examples 8
3.1 Plotting a single model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
3.2 Plotting multiple models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2.1 Models as plots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.2.2 Subgraphs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
3.2.3 Appending models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.2.4 How coefficients and equations are matched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.2.5 How coefficients are ordered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.3 Labeling the categorical axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.3.1 Custom coefficient labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3.3.2 Headings and groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
 3.3.3 Equation labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3.3.4 Labels on opposite side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3.4 Confidence intervals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3.5 Alternate plot types and advanced examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.5.1 Vertical mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
3.5.2 Using the recast() option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
3.5.3 Adding marker labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
3.5.4 Arranging subgraphs by coefficients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3.5.5 Using a continuous axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3.5.6 Plotting results from matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

1 Introduction
Tabulating regression coefficients has long been the preferred way of communicating results from sta-
tistical models. However, researchers now more and more employ graphs to present regression results.
This has several reasons. On the one hand, interpretation of regression tables can be very challenging,
especially if there are interaction effects, categorical variables, or nonlinear functional forms. Moreover,
in nonlinear models, the original regression coefficients are often not the primary interest of researchers.
For example, in logistic regression the raw coefficients represent effects on log odds. However, most peo-
ple would be more comfortable with effects expressed on the probability scale. Since probability effects
are not constant in such a model, it can be helpful, for example, to plot effect functions. On the other
hand, and more fundamentally, it has been recognized that presentation of results in form of graphs can
me much more effective than tabulation.
While graphics have always been very present in science, one type of plot has become increasingly
popular. In such a plot, regression coefficients or other statistics of interest are displayed as markers
accompanied by spikes indicating confidence intervals. See Kastellec and Leoni (2007) for some examples.
Creating such graphs in Stata is tedious (although see Newson, 2003). The coefficients and variances
have to be gathered from the e()-returns, confidence intervals have to be computed, and the results have
to be appropriately stored as variables in the data set. Then a suitable variable for the category axis
has to be generated and coefficient labels have to be defined. Finally, a complicated graph command
has to be issued to plot the coefficients and confidence intervals. With the introduction of marginsplot
([R] marginsplot) in Stata 12 this task has been greatly simplified. It is now possible to plot coefficients
and confidence intervals with just a few lines of code. For example, consider the following linear regression
model ([R] regress):
. sysuse auto, clear
(1978 Automobile Data)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
Source SS df MS Number of obs = 74
F( 4, 69) = 5.79
Model 159570047 4 39892511.8 Prob > F = 0.0004
Residual 475495349 69 6891236.94 R-squared = 0.2513
Adj R-squared = 0.2079
Total 635065396 73 8699525.97 Root MSE = 2625.1

price Coef. Std. Err. t P>|t| [95% Conf. Interval]

mpg -186.8417 88.17601 -2.12 0.038 -362.748 -10.93533

trunk -12.72642 104.8785 -0.12 0.904 -221.9534 196.5005
length 54.55294 35.56248 1.53 0.130 -16.39227 125.4981
turn -200.3248 140.0166 -1.43 0.157 -479.6502 79.00066
_cons 8009.893 6205.538 1.29 0.201 -4369.817 20389.6

2
 To plot the regression coefficients (which, in this case, are equal to the average marginals effects), we
could type:

. margins, dydx(*) Average Marginal Effects with 95% CIs

mpg
(output omitted )
. marginsplot, horizontal xline(0)
> yscale(reverse) recast(scatter)
(output omitted )

Effects with Respect to

trunk

length

turn
-600 -400 -200 0 200
Effects on Linear Prediction

marginsplot is a very versatile command that can do much more than what is shown above, espe-
cially when plotting predictive margins, the area of application marginsplot was primarily designed for.
However, two main drawbacks prevent marginsplot from being easily employed as a general tool for
plotting coefficients or other estimation results. First, marginsplot can only process results left behind
by margins ([R] margins). Second, marginsplot can only deal with one set of results at the time (i.e.
the results from one call of margins).
I therefore wrote a command that can be applied to any estimation results and can combine results
from several estimation sets into one graph. The new coefplot command can be seen as a graphical
equivalent to popular tabulation programs such as outreg (Gallup, 2012) or estout (Jann, 2007).
To install the coefplot package, type
. ssc install coefplot, replace

Stata 11 or newer is required. After installation, type

. help coefplot

to view the help file.

2 Syntax
The basic syntax of coefplot is:
⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot subgraph || subgraph ... , globalopts

where subgraph is defined as

⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
(plot) (plot) ... , subgropts

and plot is either _skip (to skip a plot) or

⇥ ⇤⇥ ⇤
model \ model ... , plotopts

and model is either

⇥ ⇤
name , modelopts

where name is the name of a stored model (see [R] estimates; type . or leave blank to refer to the
active model) or

3
 ⇥ ⇤
matrix(mspec) , modelopts

to plot results from a matrix (see [P] matrix) where mspec may be:
name to use the first row of matrix name
name[#,.] to use row # of matrix name; may also type name[#,] or name[#]
name[.,#] to use column # of matrix name; may also type name[,#]
Parentheses around plot can be omitted if plot does not contain spaces.
coefplot has four levels of options: (1) modelopts are options that apply to a single model (or
matrix). They specify the information to be collected and displayed. (2) plotopts are options that apply
to a single plot, possibly containing results from multiple models. They affect the rendition of markers
and confidence intervals and provide a label for the plot. (3) subgropts are options that apply to a single
subgraph, possibly containing multiple plots. (4) globalopts are options that apply to the overall graph.
The options levels are nested in the sense that upper level options include all lower level options. That
is, globalopts includes subgropts, plotopts, and modelopts; subgropts includes plotopts and modelopts;
plotopts includes modelopts. If lower level options are specified at an upper level, they serve as defaults
for all included lower levels elements. These defaults, however, are overwritten by options specified at a
lower level.
The following sections give a brief overview of the available options. For a more detailed description
see the see the online help.

2.1 Model options

Main

omitted includes omitted coefficients.

baselevels includes base levels of factor variables.
b(mspec) specifies the source to be plotted; default is to plot e(b); mspec may be:
name to use the first row of e(name)
name[#,.] to use row # of e(name); may also type name[#,] or name[#]
name[.,#] to use column # of e(name); may also type name[,#]
⇥ ⇤
at (mspec) retrieves plot positions from e(at) or as specified by mspec, where mspec is:
name to use the first row of e(name)
name[#,.] to use row # of e(name); may also type name[#,] or name[#]
name[.,#] to use column # of e(name); may also type name[,#]
# to use the #th at-dimension (for results from margins only)
matrix(mspec) to read from a matrix instead of e()
_coef to use coefficient names as plot positions
_eq to use equation names as plot positions
keep(coeflist) keeps specified coefficients, where coeflist is a space-separated list of elements such as:
coef coefficient coef
eq: all coefficients from equation eq
eq:coef coefficient coef from equation eq
eq and coef may contain * (any string) and ? (any nonzero character) wildcards.
drop(coeflist) drops specified coefficients, where coeflist is as above for keep().
rename(matchlist) renames coefficients, where matchlist is
⇥ ⇤
coeflist = newname coeflist = newname ...
and coeflist is as above for keep(), except that wildcards are only allowed in eq and coef can be
specified as prefix * to replace a prefix or *suffix to replace a suffix.
eqrename(matchlist) renames equations, where matchlist is

4
 ⇥ ⇤
eqlist = newname eqlist = newname ...
and eqlist is a space separated list of equation names; type equation names as prefix * to replace a
prefix or *suffix to replace a suffix.
asequation(string) sets the equation for all coefficients to string.
⇥ ⇤
eform (coeflist) plots exponentiated coefficients, where coeflist is as above for keep().
rescale(spec) rescales coefficients; spec is either # or
⇥ ⇤
coeflist = # coeflist = # ...
where coeflist is as above for keep().
swapnames swaps coefficient names and equation names.

Confidence intervals

noci omits confidence intervals.

levels(numlist) sets level(s) for conficence intervals; default is level(95) or as set by set level (see
[R] level).
ci(spec) provides confidence intervals, where spec is
⇥ ⇤
cispec cispec ...
and cispec is either name to use rows 1 and 2 of e(name) or (mspec mspec) (identifying lower
and upper bounds, respectively) with mspec as above for b(). cispec may also be # for a specific
confidence level as in levels() above.
v(name) retrieves variances from the diagonal of e(name); default is to use e(V).
se(mspec) provides standard errors, where mspec is as above for b().
df(spec) provides degrees of freedom, where spec is either # or mspec as above for b().
citype(logit|normal) determines the method to compute confidence intervals; default is
citype(normal). Type citype(logit) to use the logit transformation to compute confidence inter-
vals (only relevant for proportions).

2.2 Plot options

Main

modelopts are plot-specific model options as described above.

label(string) specifies a label to be used for the plot in the legend.
offset(#) provides a custom offset for the plot positions.
pstyle(pstyle) determines overall style of the plot; see [G] pstyle.
axis(#) specifies the scale axis to be used for the plot, where 1  #  9.

Rendition of coefficient markers

marker_options change the look of markers (color, size, etc.); see [G] marker_options.
mlabel adds coefficient values as marker labels.
marker_label_options change the look and position of marker labels; see [G] marker_label_options.
recast(plottype) plots the markers using plottype; supported plot types are scatter (default), line,
connected, area, bar, spike, dropline, and dot.

5
Rendition of confidence intervals

cionly plots confidence intervals only (i.e. omits coefficient markers).

citop draws confidence intervals in front of markers.
ciopts(options) affect the rendition of confidence intervals; options are line_options to change the look
of the spikes (see [G] line_options), pstyle(pstyle) to set the overall style, and recast(plottype) to
set the plot type; supported plot types are rspike (default), rarea, rbar, rcap, rcapsym, rscatter,
rline, and rconnected. [G] stylelists may be used within options in case of multiple confidence
intervals.
⇥ ⇤
cismooth (options) adds smoothed confidence intervals. options are n(#) to set the number of
(equally) spaced confidence levels, default is n(50); lwidth(min max ) to set the range of (relative)
line widths, default is lwidth(2 15); and intensity(min max ) to set the range of color intensities,
default is intensity(min 100), where min depends on n() and is about 14 for n(50).

2.3 Subgraph options

modelopts and plotopts are subgraph-specific model and plot options as described above.
bylabel(string) specifies a label to be used for the subgraph.

2.4 Global options

Main

modelopts, plotopts, and subgropts are global model, plot, and subgraph options as described above.
horizontal places coefficient values on the X axis; this is the general default.
vertical places coefficient values on the Y axis; this is the default with at().
order(coeflist) orders coefficients, where coeflist is as above for keep(); may specify . instead of coef
to introduce gaps; not allowed with at().
relocate(spec) repositions coefficients, where spec is
⇥ ⇤ ⇥⇥ ⇤ ⇤
eq: coef = # eq: coef = # ...
bycoefs arranges subgraphs by coefficients; not allowed with at().
norecycle increments plot styles across subgraphs.
grid(spec) determines where grid lines are placed; not allowed with at(); spec may be between (grid
lines between coefficients), within (grid lines within coefficients), or none (omit grid lines).
nooffsets suppresses automatic offsets of plot positions.
format(format) sets the display format for coefficient values; format may be a numeric format or a date
format as described in [D] format.

Labels

nolabels uses variable names instead of labels.

coeflabels(spec) specifies custom labels for coefficients; not allowed with at(); spec is
⇥ ⇥ ⇤⇤ ⇥
coeflist = label⇤ coeflist = label ... , truncate(#) wrap(#) nobreak
suboptions
where coeflist is as above for keep(), truncate(#) truncates coefficient labels to a maximum length
of # characters, wrap(#) divides coefficient labels into multiple lines with a maximum length of
# characters, nobreak prevents splitting long words, and suboptions are axis label suboptions as
described in [G] axis_label_options.

6
noeqlabels suppresses equation labels.
eqlabels(spec) specifies custom labels for equations; not allowed with at(); spec is
⇥ ⇥ ⇤⇤ ⇥ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
label label ... , no gap (#) asheadings offset(#) truncate(#) wrap(#)
⇤
nobreak suboptions
gap() specifies the gap between equations; default is gap(1). asheadings treats equation labels
as headings; see headings(). offset(#) offsets the labels by # (only allowed with asheadings).
truncate(), wrap(), and nobreak are as described above under coeflabels(). suboptions are axis
label suboptions as described in [G] axis_label_options.
eqstrict specifies to be strict about equations.
headings(spec) adds headings between coefficients; not allowed with at(); spec is
⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coeflist = label coeflist = label ... , no gap (#) offset(#) truncate(#) wrap(#)
⇤
nobreak suboptions
where coeflist is as above for keep(). gap() specifies the gap before headings; default is gap(1).
offset(#) offsets the headings by #. truncate(), wrap(), and nobreak are as described above
under coeflabels(). suboptions are axis label suboptions as described in [G] axis_label_options.
groups(spec) adds labels for groups of coefficients; not allowed with at(); spec is
⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coeflist = label coeflist = label ... , no gap (#) truncate(#) wrap(#) nobreak
⇤
suboptions
where coeflist is as above for keep(). gap() specifies the size of the gaps before and after the groups;
default is gap(1). truncate(), wrap(), and nobreak are as described above under coeflabels().
suboptions are axis label suboptions as described in [G] axis_label_options.
plotlabels(spec) specifies labels for the plots to be used in the legend; spec is
⇥ ⇥ ⇤⇤ ⇥ ⇤
label label ... , truncate(#) wrap(#) nobreak
where truncate(), wrap(), and nobreak are as described above under coeflabels().
bylabels(spec) specifies labels for the subgraphs; spec is
⇥ ⇥ ⇤⇤ ⇥ ⇤
label label ... , truncate(#) wrap(#) nobreak
where truncate(), wrap(), and nobreak are as described above under coeflabels().

Save results
⇥ ⇤
generate (prefix ) generates variables containing the graph data; default prefix is coefplot_.
replace overwrites existing variables.

Add plots

addplot(plot) adds other plots to the graph; see [G] addplot_option.

Y axis, X axis, Titles, Legend, Overall, By

twoway_options are twoway options, other than by(), as documented in [G] twoway_options.
byopts(byopts) determines how subgraphs are combined; byopts are as described in [G] by_option.

7
3 Examples
3.1 Plotting a single model
The syntax to produce a plot of the coefficients of a single model is
⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot name , options

where name is the name of a stored model (see [R] estimates), or . or empty string for the active
model.
For example, to plot coefficients and 95% confidence intervals for the most recent model, type:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
Trunk space (cu. ft.)
. coefplot

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

_cons

-5000 0 5000 10000 15000 20000

We may not be interested in the constant, so we can add drop(_cons) to remove it. Furthermore,
xline(0) will add a reference line at zero so we can better see which coefficients are significantly different
from zero:

. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0)

Mileage (mpg)

Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200

coefplot can graph results from almost any estimation command. For example, to plot coefficients
from a logit model ([R] logit), type:

8
 . sysuse auto, clear
(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. logit foreign mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0) Trunk space (cu. ft.)
> xtitle(Log odds)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-.8 -.6 -.4 -.2 0 .2

Log odds

With logit models one is often interested in odds ratios instead of the raw coefficients. To plot
odds ratios instead of log odds, use the eform option that causes coefplot to compute exponents of
coefficients and confidence intervals:

. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(1) eform

> xtitle(Odds ratio) Mileage (mpg)

Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

.4 .6 .8 1 1.2
Odds ratio

Furthermore, if you want to plot average marginal effects instead of log odd or odds ratios, you can
apply margins (see [R] margins):

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. logit foreign mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
. margins, dydx(*) post Trunk space (cu. ft.)
(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0)
> xtitle(Average maginal effects)
Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-.08 -.06 -.04 -.02 0 .02

Average maginal effects

It is essential to specify the post option with margins so that it posts its results in e(), from where
coefplot collects the results to be displayed. If you do not specify the post option then margins leaves

9
e() unchanged and coefplot uses the raw coefficients from the logit model that still reside in e().

3.2 Plotting multiple models

To include results from several commands in one graph save the results from each command using
estimates store (see [R] estimates) and then provide the names of the stored estimation sets to
coefplot. Three options to include multiple results in the graph are offered. First, models can be
included as different “plots” in the same graph. By a “plot” I mean a set of markers and confidence spikes
using same plot style. Second, separate subgraphs can be created, each containing one or more plots.
Third, multiple models can be appended into the same “plot”.

3.2.1 Models as plots

The syntax to include multiple models as separate plots is

⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot ( name , plotopts) (name, plotopts) ... , globalopts

where name is again the name of a stored model, or . or empty string for the active model. plotopts are
options that apply to a single plot. They specify the information to be collected, affect the rendition of
the plot, and provide a label for the plot in the legend. globalopts are options that apply to the overall
graph, such as titles or axis labels, but may also contain any options allowed as plot options to provide
defaults for the single plots.
A basic example is as follows:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
> if foreign==0
(output omitted ) Trunk space (cu. ft.)
. estimates store D
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
> turn if for==1
Length (in.)
(output omitted )
. estimates store F
. coefplot D F, drop(_cons) xline(0) Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 1000

D F

To specify separate options for an individual model, enclose the model and its options in parentheses.
For example, to add a label for each plot in the legend, to use alternative plot styles, and to change the
marker symbol, you could type:

10
 . coefplot (D, label(Domestic Cars)
> pstyle(p3)) Mileage (mpg)
> (F, label(Foreign Cars)
> pstyle(p4))
> , msymbol(S) drop(_cons) xline(0)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 1000

Domestic Cars Foreign Cars

I specified msymbol() as a global option so that the same symbol is used for in both plots. To use
different symbols, include an individual msymbol() option for each plot.
coefplot offsets the plot positions of the coefficients so that the confidence spikes do not overlap. To
deactivate the automatic offsets, you can specify global option nooffsets. Alternatively, custom offsets
may be specified by the offset() option (if offset() is specified for at least one model, automatic
offsets are disabled). The spacing between coefficients is one unit, so usually offsets between 0.5 and
0.5 make sense. For example, if you want to use smaller offsets than the default, you could type:

. coefplot (D, label(Domestic Cars)

> pstyle(p3) offset(0.05)) Mileage (mpg)
> (F, label(Foreign Cars)
> pstyle(p4) offset(-0.05))
> , msymbol(S) drop(_cons) xline(0)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 1000

Domestic Cars Foreign Cars

If the dependent variables of the models you want to include in the graph have different scales, it
can be useful to employ the axis() plot option to assign specific axes to the models. For example, to
include a regression on price and a regression on weight in the same graph, type:

11
 . sysuse auto, clear Weight
-40 -20 0 20 40 60
(1978 Automobile Data)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
Mileage (mpg)
(output omitted )
. estimates store Price
. regress weight mpg trunk length turn Trunk space (cu. ft.)

(output omitted )
. estimates store Weight Length (in.)
. coefplot Price (Weight, axis(2)),
> drop(_cons)
> xtitle(Price) xtitle(Weight, axis(2)) Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200

Price

Price Weight

3.2.2 Subgraphs

The syntax to create subgraphs is

⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot plotlist , subgropts || plotlist, subgropts || ... , globalopts

where plotlist is a list of plots as in section 3.2.1 and subgropts are options that apply to a single subgraph.
An example with one model per subgraph is:

. sysuse auto, clear Domestic Cars Foreign Cars

(1978 Automobile Data)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn Mileage (mpg)
> if foreign==0
(output omitted )
. estimates store D Trunk space (cu. ft.)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
> turn if for==1
(output omitted )
Length (in.)
. estimates store F
. coefplot D, bylabel(Domestic Cars)
> || F, bylabel(Foreign Cars)
> ||, drop(_cons) xline(0) Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 -1000 -500 0 500

An example with multiple models per subgraph is:

12
 . regress weight mpg trunk length turn Price Weight
> if foreign==0
(output omitted ) Mileage (mpg)

. estimates store wD
. regress weight mpg trunk length turn
Trunk space (cu. ft.)
> if foreign==1
(output omitted )
. estimates store wF
Length (in.)
. coefplot
> (D, label(Domestic))
> (F, label(Foreign)), bylabel(Price)
Turn Circle (ft.)
> || wD wF, bylabel(Weight)
> ||, drop(_cons) xline(0)
> byopts(xrescale) -1000 -500 0 500 -100 -50 0 50 100

Domestic Foreign

Option byopts(xrescale) was specified so that each subgraph can have its own scale.
In the example above, plot labels for the legend were set within the first subgraph. They could also
have been specified within the second subgraph, as plot styles are recycled with each new subgraph
and plot options are collected across subgraphs. To prevent recycling of plot styles, add the norecycle
option:

. coefplot D F, bylabel(A) A B
> || wD wF, bylabel(B)
> ||, drop(_cons) xline(0) Mileage (mpg)
> norecycle byopts(xrescale)
> legend(rows(1))
Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 -100 -50 0 50 100

D F wD wF

Furthermore, to leave a plot position empty in one of the subgraphs, you can specify _skip in place
of a plot:

. coefplot Price Weight

> (D, label(Domestic))
> (F, label(Foreign)), bylabel(Price) Mileage (mpg)
> || _skip wF, bylabel(Weight)
> ||, drop(_cons) xline(0)
> byopts(xrescale)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500 -100 -50 0 50 100

Domestic Foreign

13
3.2.3 Appending models

The syntax to append models within the same plot is

⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot (name , modelopts \ name, modelopts \ ... , plotopts ) ...

where name is again the name of a stored model, or . or empty string for the active model, and modelopts
are options that apply to a single model.
For example, if you want to draw a graph comparing bivariate and multivariate effects, you could
type:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
. estimates store multivariate Trunk space (cu. ft.)
. foreach var in mpg trunk length turn {
2. quietly regress price `var´
3. estimates store `var´
Length (in.)
4. }
. coefplot (mpg \ trunk \ length \ turn,
> label(bivariate)) (multivariate)
> , drop(_cons) xline(0) Turn Circle (ft.)

-400 -200 0 200 400

bivariate multivariate

3.2.4 How coefficients and equations are matched

The default for coefplot is to use the first (nonzero) equation from each model and match coefficients
across models by their names (ignoring equation names). For example, regress returns one (unnamed)
equation containing the regression coefficients whereas tobit ([R] tobit) returns two equations, equation
“model” containing the regression coefficients and equation “sigma” containing the standard error of the
regression. Hence, the default for coefplot is to match the regression coefficients from the two models
and ignore equation “sigma” from the Tobit model:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)

. foreach v of var price mpg trunk length

> turn {
Trunk space (cu. ft.)
2. quietly summarize `v´
3. quietly replace `v´ =
> (`v´ - r(mean)) / r(sd)
Length (in.)
4. }
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted ) Turn Circle (ft.)

. estimate store regress

. tobit price mpg trunk length turn, ll(-.5) _cons
(output omitted )
. estimate store tobit -1 -.5 0 .5 1 1.5

. coefplot regress tobit, xline(0) regress tobit

Even though the collected results from regress and tobit have different equation names (“_” and
“model”, respectively), coefplot matches their coefficients, that is, the equation names are ignored.
This is the default if only one equation per model is collected. If you want to take equation names into
account nonetheless, you can specify the eqstrict option:

14
 . coefplot regress tobit, xline(0) Mileage (mpg)
> eqstrict Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

_
Turn Circle (ft.)

_cons

Mileage (mpg)

Trunk space (cu. ft.)

model
Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

_cons
-1 -.5 0 .5 1 1.5

regress tobit

Although eqstrict causes equation names to be relevant, the second equation from the tobit model
is still ignored. To include all equations, type:

. coefplot regress tobit, xline(0) Mileage (mpg)

> keep(*:) Trunk space (cu. ft.)
Length (in.)
_

Turn Circle (ft.)

_cons

Mileage (mpg)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)
model

Length (in.)
Turn Circle (ft.)
_cons
sigma

_cons
-1 -.5 0 .5 1 1.5

regress tobit

Furthermore, to match the coefficients from regress with the first equation from tobit and also
print the second equation from tobit, you can use asequation() to set the equation name of regress
to “model”:

. coefplot (regress, asequation(model)) Mileage (mpg)

> (tobit, keep(*:))
> , xline(0)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)
model

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

_cons
sigma

_cons

-1 -.5 0 .5 1 1.5

regress tobit

Alternatively, you could also use eqrename(_ = model) to rename equation “_” to “model” or
eqrename(model = _) to rename equation “model” to “_”.

15
 Another application of the asequation() option is when you want to assign equations to results from
margins. The following example shows how to plot log odds of a multinomial logit ([R] mlogit) along
with average marginal effects:

. sysuse auto, clear Log Odds AME

(1978 Automobile Data) Miles per pint
. gen mpp = mpg/8

3
. label variable mpp "Miles per pint" Car type

. mlogit rep78 mpp foreign if rep>=3

(output omitted )
Miles per pint
. estimates store mlogit

4
. forvalues i = 3/5 { Car type
2. quietly margins, dydx(*)
> predict(outcome(`i´)) post
3. estimates store ame`i´
4. quietly estimates restore mlogit Miles per pint
5. }

5
. coefplot mlogit, keep(*:) drop(_cons) Car type

> omitted bylabel(Log Odds) 0 2 4 6 -.5 0 .5

> || (ame3, aseq(3) \ ame4, aseq(4)
> \ ame5, aseq(5)), bylabel(AME)
> ||, xline(0) byopts(xrescale)

Finally, if you want to match coefficients that have different names in the input models, you can apply
the rename() option. Here is an example that illustrates the effect of measurement error in regression
models:

. drop _all
. matrix C = ( 1, .5, 0 \ .5, 1, .3 x1
> \ 0, .3, 1 )
. drawnorm x1 x2 x3, n(10000) corr(C)
(obs 10000) x2
. generate y = 1 + x1 + x2 + x3 +
> 5 * invnorm(uniform())
. regress y x1 x2 x3
x3
(output omitted )
. estimates store m1
. generate x1err = x1 + _cons
> 2 * invnorm(uniform())
. regress y x1err x2 x3 0 .5 1 1.5
(output omitted )
Without error With error
. estimates store m2
. coefplot (m1, label(Without error))
> (m2, label(With error)), xline(1) rename(x1err = x1)

We can see how measurement error on x1 distorts all slope coefficients in the model, even for variable
x3 that is uncorrelated with x1 (due to the indirect correlation through x2).

3.2.5 How coefficients are ordered

In general, coefficients are plotted in the same order (from top to bottom) as they appear in the input
models. However, coefficients appearing only in later models are placed after coefficients from earlier
models (with the exception of _cons, which is always placed last). Have a look at the following example:

16
 . sysuse auto, clear m1 m2 m3
(1978 Automobile Data)
. label variable mpg "1. mpg" 1. mpg

. label variable trunk "{bf:2. trunk}"

. label variable length "{bf:3. length}"
. label variable turn "4. turn" 3. length

. regress price mpg length

(output omitted )
. estimate store m1 2. trunk

. regress price mpg trunk turn

(output omitted )
. estimate store m2 4. turn

. regress price mpg trunk length turn

(output omitted ) -400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200

. estimate store m3
. coefplot m1 || m2 || m3, xline(0) drop(_cons) byopts(row(1))

Even though in the full model (m3) trunk comes before length, the order of the two coefficients is
reversed in the plot. This is because length but not trunk is part of the first model. That is, because
trunk only appears in the later models, it is placed after length that appears already in the first model.
To establish an order as in model m3, you can use the order() option:

. coefplot m1 || m2 || m3, xline(0) m1 m2 m3

> drop(_cons) byopts(row(1))
> order(mpg trunk length) 1. mpg

2. trunk

3. length

4. turn

-400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200

Within order(), you can use the * (any string) and ? (any nonzero character) wildcards. Further-
more, you can type . to insert gaps (but also see the section on headings and groups below). Example:

17
 . label variable mpg m1 m2 m3

. label variable trunk

. label variable length
mpg
. label variable turn
. coefplot m1 || m2 || m3, xline(0)
> drop(_cons) byopts(row(1))
> order(. mpg . t* . length .) trunk

turn

length

-400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200 -400 -200 0 200

In case of multiple equation models, the default is to order coefficients by equations:

. sysuse auto, clear Car type

(1978 Automobile Data)
. mlogit rep78 headroom gear_ratio foreign Gear Ratio
> if rep>=3
4

Headroom (in.)
(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0) keep(*:) _cons
> order(foreign gear* head*)

Car type

Gear Ratio
5

Headroom (in.)

_cons

-10 -5 0 5 10 15

To reorder equations, to apply different orderings within equations, or to break equations apart,
specify equation names within order(), as in the following examples:

. coefplot, xline(0) keep(*:) order(5: 4:) Headroom (in.)

Gear Ratio
5

Car type

_cons

Headroom (in.)

Gear Ratio
4

Car type

_cons

-10 -5 0 5 10 15

18
 . coefplot, xline(0) keep(*:) Car type

5
> order(5:foreign 4:foreign gear*
> 5:_cons *)
Car type

4
Gear Ratio

_cons

Headroom (in.)

5
Gear Ratio

Headroom (in.)

4
_cons

-10 -5 0 5 10 15

In the second example, headroom and _cons from equation 4 are placed last because they are re-
maining coefficients that have not been listed in order().
Note that equation names have to be specified either for all elements in order() or for none. Hence,
for example, typing order(foreign 4:_cons) would be invalid.
By default, coefficients (and gaps, if specified) are placed at integer values on the categorical axis
(starting with 1 from top to bottom). If you want to place coefficients at nonstandard values, you can
apply the relocate() option. relocate() is an end-of-pipe option, that is, after the categorical axis
has been set up in the usual way, relocate() moves the specified coefficients, leaving empty the original
positions. Here is an example:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn 1
(output omitted ) Trunk space (cu. ft.)

. coefplot, xline(0) drop(_cons)

> ylabel(1(1)4, add) 2
> relocate(mpg = 0.5 trunk = 1.25
> length = 2.7 turn = 4.6) Length (in.)
3

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200

To illustrate the effect of relocate() the original plot positions have been marked with labels “1”,
“2”, “3”, and “4” in the example.

3.3 Labeling the categorical axis

coefplot looks for variables corresponding to the collected coefficient names and then uses their variable
labels for the categorical axis. For factor variables, coefplot additionally takes value labels into account
(the rule is to print the value label, if a value label is defined, and otherwise print the variable label or
name along with the level). Here is an example with categorical variables and interaction terms:

19
 . sysuse auto, clear
Headroom (in.)
(1978 Automobile Data)
. keep if rep78>=3
Repair Record 1978=4
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign
Repair Record 1978=5
(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0) Foreign

Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign

Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign

_cons

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

To use coefficient names instead of variable labels, specify the nolabels option:

. coefplot, xline(0) nolabels

headroom

4.rep78

5.rep78

1.foreign

4.rep78#1.foreign

5.rep78#1.foreign

_cons

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

3.3.1 Custom coefficient labels

An easy way to provide labels for the coefficients is to define appropriate variable and value labels
before applying coefplot (see [R] label). However, not all coefficients have corresponding variables
(e.g. _cons). To provide labels for such coefficients or to assign custom labels to coefficients without
manipulating variable labels, use the coeflabels() option:

20
 . sysuse auto, clear
Headroom (in.)
(1978 Automobile Data)
. keep if rep78>=3
Repair Record 1978=4
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign
Repair Record 1978=5
(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0) Foreign Car
> coeflabel(1.foreign = "Foreign Car"
> _cons = "Constant")
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign

Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign

Constant

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

coeflabels() has a wrap() and a truncate() suboption to deal with long labels. These sub-
options apply to all coefficient labels, whether they are automatically generated or provided within
coeflabels(). For example, to limit the line with to 20 characters and wrap long labels to multiple
lines, type:

. coefplot, xline(0) coeflabel(, wrap(20)) Headroom (in.)

Repair Record 1978=4

Repair Record 1978=5

Foreign

Repair Record 1978=4

# Foreign

Repair Record 1978=5

# Foreign

_cons

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

Multiline labels can also be created explicitly using compound double quotes within coeflabels().
Such labels will not be altered by wrap() or truncate():

. coefplot, xline(0) coeflabel(4.rep78 = Headroom (in.)

> `""Repair Record" "1978 = 4""´
> , wrap(20))
Repair Record
1978 = 4

Repair Record 1978=5

Foreign

Repair Record 1978=4

# Foreign

Repair Record 1978=5

# Foreign

_cons

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

21
3.3.2 Headings and groups

Sometimes it is useful to add headings between coefficients to better arrange a graph. This can be
achieved by the headings() option:

. sysuse auto, clear Headroom (in.)

(1978 Automobile Data)
Repair Record
. keep if rep78>=3 Repair Record 1978=3
(10 observations deleted) Repair Record 1978=4
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign Repair Record 1978=5

(output omitted ) Car Type

. coefplot, xline(0) omitted baselevels Domestic
> headings( Foreign
> 3.rep78 = "{bf:Repair Record}"
> 0.foreign = "{bf:Car Type}" Interaction Effects
> 3.rep78#0.foreign = Repair Record 1978=3 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=3 # Foreign
> "{bf:Interaction Effects}")
Repair Record 1978=4 # Domestic
> drop(_cons)
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign
-20 -10 0 10 20

In this example, omit requests to plot omitted coefficients and baselevels requests to plot base level
coefficients. Omitted coefficients and base levels coefficients are always equal to zero, but in some cases
it can be helpful to include them in a graph for reasons of clarity. The {bf} tag changes text to bold;
see [G] text for details on text in graphs.
Instead of adding headings you can also define groups of coefficients and add group labels using the
groups() option:

. coefplot, xline(0) omitted base Headroom (in.)

> groups(?.rep78 =
> `""{bf:Repair}" "{bf:Record}""´ Repair Record 1978=3
Record
Repair

> ?.foreign = "{bf:Car Type}" Repair Record 1978=4

> ?.rep78#?.foreign = Repair Record 1978=5
> "{bf:Interaction Effects}")
> drop(_cons)
Car Type

Domestic
Foreign

Repair Record 1978=3 # Domestic

Interaction Effects

Repair Record 1978=3 # Foreign

Repair Record 1978=4 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign
-20 -10 0 10 20

Furthermore, headings() and groups() can be combined:

22
 . coefplot, xline(0) omitted base Headroom (in.)
> headings( Repair record:
> 3.rep78 = "{it:Repair record:}"

Main Effects
Repair Record 1978=3
> 0.foreign = "{it:Car type:}", nogap) Repair Record 1978=4
> groups(headroom 1.foreign = Repair Record 1978=5
> "{bf:Main Effects}"
Car type:
> ?.rep78#?.foreign =
Domestic
> "{bf:Interaction Effects}")
> drop(_cons) Foreign

Repair Record 1978=3 # Domestic

Interaction Effects
Repair Record 1978=3 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=4 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign
-20 -10 0 10 20

In this example, the nogap suboption was specified within headings() to prevent adding extra space
before the headings.

3.3.3 Equation labels

Equation labels provide yet another layer of labels. The default is to place the equation labels on the
right hand side, similar to group labels:

. sysuse auto, clear Milage

Equation 1

(1978 Automobile Data)

Foreign
. gen mpp = mpg/8
_cons
. mlogit rep78 mpp i.foreign if rep>=3
(output omitted )
. coefplot, omitted keep(*:) Milage
Equation 2

> coeflabels(mpp = "Milage") Foreign

> eqlabels("Equation 1" "Equation 2"
> "Equation 3") _cons

Milage
Equation 3

Foreign

_cons

-10 -5 0 5

However, you can also set the equation labels as headings between equations using the asheadings
suboption:

23
 . coefplot, omitted keep(*:) Equation 1
> coeflabels(mpg = "Milage") mpp
> eqlabels("{bf:Equation 1}" Foreign
> "{bf:Equation 2}"
_cons
> "{bf:Equation 3}", asheadings)

Equation 2
mpp
Foreign
_cons

Equation 3
mpp
Foreign
_cons
-10 -5 0 5

Note that, in this case, the headings() option is not allowed.

3.3.4 Labels on opposite side

The default is to plot all labels on the left of the plot region. Use option yscale(alt) to move labels to
the right (see [G] twoway_options):

. sysuse auto, clear Headroom (in.)

(1978 Automobile Data)
Repair Record
. keep if rep78>=3 Repair Record 1978=3
(10 observations deleted) Repair Record 1978=4
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign Repair Record 1978=5

(output omitted ) Car Type

. coefplot, xline(0) omitted baselevels Domestic
> headings( Foreign
> 3.rep78 = "{bf:Repair Record}"
> 0.foreign = "{bf:Car Type}" Interaction Effects
> 3.rep78#0.foreign = Repair Record 1978=3 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=3 # Foreign
> "{bf:Interaction Effects}")
Repair Record 1978=4 # Domestic
> drop(_cons) yscale(alt)
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign
-20 -10 0 10 20

Group labels and equation labels are rendered as additional axes (axis 2 for group labels; axis 2 or
3 for equation labels, depending on whether groups were specified), so you have to employ the axis()
suboption to move these:

24
 . coefplot, xline(0) omitted base Headroom (in.)
> groups(?.rep78 =
> `""{bf:Repair}" "{bf:Record}""´ Repair Record 1978=3

Record
Repair
> ?.foreign = "{bf:Car Type}" Repair Record 1978=4
> ?.rep78#?.foreign = Repair Record 1978=5
> "{bf:Interaction Effects}",
> angle(rvertical))

Car Type
Domestic
> drop(_cons) yscale(alt axis(2))
Foreign

Repair Record 1978=3 # Domestic

Interaction Effects
Repair Record 1978=3 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=4 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 # Domestic
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign
-20 -10 0 10 20

Moving group labels to the right can also be useful if you want to add an extra set of individual
coefficient labels, without actually forming groups. Here is an example in which groups() is used to add
information on the sample sizes of factor levels:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data) Repair Record 1978=3 N = 30
. keep if rep78>=3
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg i.rep i.foreign Repair Record 1978=4 N = 18

(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0) omitted baselevels Repair Record 1978=5 N = 11
> groups(3.rep78 = "N = 30"
> 4.rep78 = "N = 18"
> 5.rep78 = "N = 11"
> 0.foreign = "N = 38" Domestic N = 38
> 1.foreign = "N = 21"
> , nogap angle(horizontal))
> drop(_cons) yscale(alt axis(2)) Foreign N = 21

-5 0 5 10

3.4 Confidence intervals

The default for coefplot is to draw spikes for 95% confidence intervals (or as set by [R] level). To
specify a different level or to include multiple confidence intervals, use the levels() option. Here is an
example with 99.9%, 99%, and 95% confidence intervals:

25
 . sysuse auto, clear
(1978 Automobile Data) Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0) Trunk space (cu. ft.)
> msymbol(s) mfcolor(white)
> levels(99.9 99 95)
> legend(order(1 "99.9" 2 "99" 3 "95")
> row(1)) Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200 400

99.9 99 95

Line widths are (logarithmically) increased across the confidence intervals. To use different line widths
specify the lwidth() suboption within ciopts():

. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0)

> msymbol(s) mfcolor(white) Mileage (mpg)
> levels(99.9 99 95)
> legend(order(1 "99.9" 2 "99" 3 "95")
> row(1))
> ciopts(lwidth(*1 *2 *4)) Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200 400

99.9 99 95

To compute confidence intervals, coefplot collects the variances of the coefficients from the diag-
onal of e(V) and then, depending on whether degrees of freedom are available in scalar e(df_r) (or,
for estimates from [MI] mi, in matrix e(df_mi)), applies the standard formulas for confidence inter-
vals based on the t-distribution or the normal distribution, respectively. If e(V) is not available, then
coefplot looks for standard errors in vector e(se) and uses these for confidence interval computation.
If a model does not provide degrees of freedom but you want to compute confidence intervals based on
the t-distribution, you can provide the degrees of freedom through option df() (see the online help). If
variances are stored in a matrix other than e(V), use the v() option to provide the appropriate matrix
name, or, alternatively use option se() to provide custom standard errors (in which case variances from
e(V) will be ignored). Likewise, if your estimation command provides precomputed confidence intervals,
use the ci() option to include them in the plot. For example, to plot the normal-approximation, per-
centile, and bias-corrected confidence intervals that are provided in e(ci_normal), e(ci_percentile),
and e(ci_bc) by the bootstrap method, you could type:

26
 . regress price mpg trunk length turn,
> vce(bootstrap) Mileage (mpg)
(output omitted )
. coefplot
> (, ci(ci_normal) label(normal)) Trunk space (cu. ft.)
> (, ci(ci_percentile) label(percent))
> (, ci(ci_bc) label(bc))
> , drop(_cons) xline(0) legend(row(1))
Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200

normal percent bc

In addition to level() and ci() you can also use option cismooth to add smoothed confidence
intervals.1 By default, cismooth generates confidence intervals for 50 equally spaced levels (1, 3, . . . ,
99) width graduated color intensities and varying line widths, as illustrated in the following example:

. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0)

> cismooth grid(none) Mileage (mpg)

Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-1000 -500 0 500

The smoothed confidence intervals are produced independently from levels() and ci() and are not
affected by ciopts(). Their appearance, however, can be set by a number of suboptions (see the online
help). If cismooth is specified together with levels() or ci(), then the smoothed confidence intervals
are placed behind the confidence intervals from levels() or ci().

3.5 Alternate plot types and advanced examples

3.5.1 Vertical mode

By default, coefplot produces a horizontal graph with labels on the Y axis and values on the X axis.
To flip axes specify the vertical option:
1 The cismooth option has been inspired by code form David B. Sparks to produce smoothed confidence interval plots

in R (see http://dsparks.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/choropleth-tutorial-and-regression-coefficient-plots/).

27
 200
. sysuse auto, clear
(1978 Automobile Data)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )

0
. coefplot, drop(_cons) vertical yline(0)

-200
-400
-600
Mileage (mpg) Trunk space (cu. ft.) Length (in.) Turn Circle (ft.)

When changing from horizontal to vertical mode, options referring to specific axes need to be adjusted.
This is why yline(0) was used in the example instead of xline(0) to draw the zero line.

3.5.2 Using the recast() option

To change the plot types used for coefficient markers and confidence intervals, you can use the recast()
option. Available plot types for markers are standard twoway plots such as scatter (the default), line,
dot, or bar. For confidence intervals use range plots such as rspike (the default), rline, rcap, or rbar.

Capped spikes for confidence intervals For example, to display confidence intervals using capped
spikes, you could type:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data)
Mileage (mpg)
. regress price mpg trunk length turn
(output omitted )
. coefplot, drop(_cons) xline(0)
> ciopts(recast(rcap)) Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Length (in.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

-600 -400 -200 0 200

Bar charts of proportions Furthermore, a bar chart of proportions with capped confidence spikes
can be produced as follows:

28
 . sysuse auto, clear

.8
(1978 Automobile Data)
. proportion rep if foreign==0

.6
(output omitted )
. estimates store domestic

Proportion
. proportion rep if foreign==1

.4
(output omitted )
. estimates store foreign

.2
. coefplot domestic foreign,
> vertical recast(bar)
> barwidth(0.25) fcolor(*.5)

0
> ciopts(recast(rcap)) citop
> xtitle(Repair Record 1978) 1 2 3 4 5
> ytitle(Proportion) Repair Record 1978

domestic foreign

In this example the citop option was used to prevent the lower limits of the confidence intervals from
being hidden behind the bars.

Bars and lines Different plot types can be mixed, as the following example illustrates:

. proportion rep
.8

(output omitted )
. estimates store total
.6

. coefplot
> (domestic, offset(-.15) recast(bar)
Proportion

> barwidth(0.3) fcolor(*.5)

.4

> ciopts(recast(rcap)) citop)

> (foreign, offset(.15) recast(bar)
> barwidth(0.3) fcolor(*.5)
.2

> ciopts(recast(rcap)) citop)

> (total, offset(0) recast(line)
> lwidth(*2) ciopts(recast(rline)
0

> lpattern(dash)))
1 2 3 4 5
> , xtitle(Repair Record 1978) Repair Record 1978
> ytitle(Proportion) vertical
domestic foreign
total

3.5.3 Adding marker labels

To add the values of the coefficients as marker labels, use the mlabel option, possibly together with
format() to set the display format:

29
 . sysuse auto, clear -1.1
Headroom (in.)
(1978 Automobile Data)
. keep if rep78>=3 -.31
Repair Record 1978=4
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign 12
Repair Record 1978=5
(output omitted )
. coefplot, xline(0) mlabel format(%9.2g) Foreign
3.7

> mlabposition(12) mlabgap(*2)

1.7
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign

-9
Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign

23
_cons

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

Stata graphs do not support background colors for marker labels, which makes labels unreadably if
you place them on top of the markers using mlabposition(0). However, here is a workaround. The
trick is to add a second “confidence interval” that is a bar of fixed width (the dot in the suboptions within
ciopts() specifies the “default” style; see [G] stylelists):

. sysuse auto, clear

Headroom (in.) -1.1
(1978 Automobile Data)
. keep if rep78>=3
Repair Record 1978=4 -.31
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 12
(output omitted )
. mata: st_matrix("e(box)", Foreign 3.7
> (st_matrix("e(b)") :- 2 \
> st_matrix("e(b)") :+ 2))
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign 1.7
. coefplot, xline(0) mlabel format(%9.2g)
> mlabposition(0) msymbol(i)
> ci(95 box) ciopts(recast(. rbar) Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign -9

> barwidth(. 0.35) color(. white))

_cons 23

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

Here is a further example where a box is placed around the numbers:

. coefplot, xline(0) mlabel format(%9.2g)

Headroom (in.) -1.1
> mlabposition(0) msymbol(i)
> ci(95 box) ciopts(recast(. rbar)
> barwidth(. 0.35) fcolor(. white) Repair Record 1978=4 -.31

> lwidth(. medium))

Repair Record 1978=5 12

Foreign 3.7

Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign 1.7

Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign -9

_cons 23

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

A bit unfortunate might be that due to the box the exact location of the coefficient can no longer
be seen in the graph. Here is an example where an additional vertical spike is added to mark the point

30
estimates.

. sysuse auto, clear

Headroom (in.) -1.1
(1978 Automobile Data)
. keep if rep78>=3
Repair Record 1978=4 -.31
(10 observations deleted)
. regress mpg headroom i.rep##i.foreign
Repair Record 1978=5 12
(output omitted )
. mata: st_matrix("e(box)", Foreign 3.7
> (st_matrix("e(b)") :- 2 \
> st_matrix("e(b)") :+ 2))
Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign 1.7
. mata: st_matrix("e(spike)",
> (st_matrix("e(b)") :- 1e-9 \
> st_matrix("e(b)") :+ 1e-9 )) Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign -9

. coefplot, xline(0) mlabel format(%9.2g)

> mlabposition(0) msymbol(i) _cons 23

> ci(95 spike box)

> ciopts(recast(. rbar rbar) -20 -10 0 10 20 30
> barwidth(. 0.6 0.35)
> fcolor(. . white)
> lwidth(. medium medium))

In the example, bars of close-to-zero width are used produce the vertical spikes. Zero width bars
would be invisible. By adding tiny offsets of ±10 9 the bars become visible.
The plot might still not be optimal since for the first coefficient, the confidence interval is hidden
behind the marker label box. Plotting the confidence intervals as bars can, for example, solve this
problem (“..” in recast() specifies to repeat style rbar until end; see [G] stylelists):

. coefplot, xline(0) mlabel format(%9.2g)

Headroom (in.) -1.1
> mlabposition(0) msymbol(i)
> ci(95 spike box)
> ciopts(recast(rbar ..) Repair Record 1978=4 -.31

> barwidth(0.5 0.5 0.35)

> fcolor(. . white) bstyle(ci2) Repair Record 1978=5 12
> lwidth(. medium medium))
Foreign 3.7

Repair Record 1978=4 # Foreign 1.7

Repair Record 1978=5 # Foreign -9

_cons 23

-20 -10 0 10 20 30

3.5.4 Arranging subgraphs by coefficients

In some situations it is sensible to have a separate subgraph for each coefficient. This can be achieved
by the bycoefs option. Technically, bycoefs flips coefficients and subgraphs, that is, the coefficients
are treated as “subgraphs” and what was specified as subgraphs is treated as “coefficients”. This seems
difficult to understand, but should become clear in the following example:

31
 . sysuse auto, clear Mileage (mpg) Headroom (in.)
(1978 Automobile Data)
rep78_3
. forv i = 3/5 {
2. quietly regress price mpg rep78_4
> headroom weight turn
> if rep78==`i´
rep78_5
3. estimate store rep78_`i´
4. } -500 0 500 -2000 0 2000 4000
. coefplot rep78_3 || rep78_4 || rep78_5, Weight (lbs.) Turn Circle (ft.)
> drop(_cons) xline(0)
> bycoefs byopts(xrescale) rep78_3

rep78_4

rep78_5

0 5 10 15 -1000 -500 0 500 1000

In the example, option byopts(xrescale) was specified so that each coefficient can have its own
scale. As some people prefer vertical mode for such a graph, you might want to specify the vertical
option:

. coefplot rep78_3 || rep78_4 || rep78_5, Mileage (mpg) Headroom (in.)

4000
> drop(_cons) yline(0) vertical
500

> bycoefs byopts(yrescale)

2000
0

0
-2000
-500

Weight (lbs.) Turn Circle (ft.)

15

500 1000
10

0
5

-1000 -500
0

rep78_3 rep78_4 rep78_5 rep78_3 rep78_4 rep78_5

If bycoefs is specified, options relocate(), headings(), groups() apply to the elements on the
categorical axis (instead of coefficients). To address the elements use integer numbers, 1, 2, 3 etc., as in
the following example:

32
 . sysuse auto, clear Mileage (mpg) Headroom (in.)

1000 2000
(1978 Automobile Data)

400
. regress price mpg headroom weight turn

200
(output omitted )

0
. estimates store Total

-1000
. regress price mpg headroom weight turn

-200
> if foreign==0
Weight (lbs.) Turn Circle (ft.)
(output omitted )

1000
8
. estimates store Domestic

500
. regress price mpg headroom weight turn

4
> if foreign==1

0
(output omitted )

-500
. estimates store Foreign

0
Domestic Foreign Total Domestic Foreign Total
. coefplot Domestic || Foreign || Total, Subgroup results Subgroup results
> drop(_cons) yline(0) vertical
> bycoefs byopts(yrescale)
> group(1 2 = "Subgroup results", nogap) ylabel(0, add)

Option ylabel(0, add) has been added to ensure that zero is included in each subgraph.

3.5.5 Using a continuous axis

Coefficients provided to coefplot may represent estimates along a continuous dimension. Examples are
predictive margins or marginal effects computed over values of a continuous variable. In such a case, use
the at() option to provide the plot positions to coefplot. Here is an example where predictive margins
of foreign are computed by level of mpg, once from a bivariate model and once from a multivariate
model:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data)
1

. logit foreign mpg

.8

(output omitted )
. margins, at(mpg=(10(2)40)) post
Pr(foreign=1)
.6

(output omitted )
. estimates store bivariate
.4

. logit foreign mpg turn price

(output omitted )
.2

. margins, at(mpg=(10(2)40)) post

(output omitted )
0

. estimates store multivariate 10 20 30 40

Miles per Gallon
. coefplot bivariate multivariate, at
> ytitle(Pr(foreign=1)) bivariate multivariate
> xtitle(Miles per Gallon)

at() causes coefplot to use a continuous axis with default labeling for the plotted estimates instead
of compiling a categorical axis. It also causes coefplot to switch to vertical mode, as this is the more
common way to display such results. As no categorical axis is constructed if at() is specified, options
order(), relocate(), grid() coeflabels(), eqlabels(), headings(), groups(), and bycoefs are
not allowed. Furthermore, note that continuous and categorical mode cannot be mixed. That is, at()
has to be specified for all models or for none. In the example above, at was used without argument.
This is suitable for results provided by margins, as coefplot contains some special code to retrieve the
plot positions in this case. See the online help for alternative applications of at().
coefplot does not change the plot type for markers and confidence intervals and hence still draws
dots and spikes. Use the recast() option to change this, e.g., as follows:

33
 . coefplot bivariate multivariate, at
> ytitle(Pr(foreign=1))

1
> xtitle(Miles per Gallon)
> recast(line) lwidth(*2)

.8
> ciopts(recast(rline) lpattern(dash))

Pr(foreign=1)
.4 .2
0 .6
10 20 30 40
Miles per Gallon

bivariate multivariate

3.5.6 Plotting results from matrices

Finally, to plot results from a matrix ([P] matrix) instead of the e()-returns, use syntax
⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤⇥ ⇤ ⇥ ⇤
coefplot ( matrix(mspec) , modelopts ... ) ...

where mspec is:

name get point estimates from first row of matrix name
name[#,.] get point estimates from row # of matrix name
name[.,#] get point estimates from column # of matrix name
In this case, names given in at(), v(), se(), df(), and ci() will also be interpreted as matrix names.
For example, to plot medians and their confidence intervals as computed by centile ([R] centile) you
could type:

. sysuse auto, clear

(1978 Automobile Data)
. matrix res = J(3,3,.) Mileage (mpg)

. matrix coln res = median ll95 ul95

. matrix rown res = mpg trunk turn
. local i 0
. foreach v of var mpg trunk turn { Trunk space (cu. ft.)
2. local ++ i
3. quietly centile `v´
4. matrix res[`i´,1] = r(c_1),
> r(lb_1), r(ub_1)
5. }
Turn Circle (ft.)
. matrix list res
res[3,3]
median ll95 ul95
10 20 30 40
mpg 20 19 22
trunk 14 12 16
turn 40 37.078729 42
. coefplot matrix(res[.,1]), ci((res[.,2] res[.,3]))

A single coefplot command can contain both regular syntax and matrix() syntax. For example, to
add means to the graph above you could proceed as follows:

34
 . mean mpg trunk turn
(output omitted )
Mileage (mpg)
. estimates store mean
. coefplot (matrix(res[,1]), label(median)
> ci((res[,2] res[,3])))
> (mean)
Trunk space (cu. ft.)

Turn Circle (ft.)

10 20 30 40

median mean

References
Gallup, J. L. 2012. A new system for formatting estimation tables. The Stata Journal 12(1): 3–28.
Jann, B. 2007. Making regression tables simplified. The Stata Journal 7(2): 227–244.
Kastellec, J. P., and E. L. Leoni. 2007. Using Graphs Instead of Tables in Political Science. Perspectives
on Politics 5(4): 755–771.
Newson, R. 2003. Confidence intervals and p-values for delivery to the end user. The Stata Journal 3(3):
245–269.

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