topic Re: How to plot "A" outside of the plotting area in base graphics? in Graphics Programming

How to plot "A" outside of the plotting area in base graphics?

nancy6 — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:34:21 GMT

proc sgplot data=lsmeans_cog_plot noautolegend;
styleattrs
datacolors=(steelblue darkorange forestgreen crimson)
datacontrastcolors=(steelblue darkorange forestgreen crimson);
band x=year lower=lower upper=upper /
group=group
transparency=0.7
name="band";
series x=year y=estimate /
group=group
markers
markerattrs=(symbol=circlefilled size=9)
lineattrs=(thickness=2.5)
name="line"
legendlabel=" ";
xaxis label="Year"
values=(2008 to 2020 by 2)
labelattrs=(size=12pt)
valueattrs=(size=11pt);
yaxis label="cognitive score"
labelattrs=(size=12pt)
valueattrs=(size=11pt);
keylegend "line" /
title="self-report hearing loss"
titleattrs=(size=11pt)
valueattrs=(size=10pt)
location=inside
position=bottomleft
noborder;
run;

I tried using
inset "A" / position=topleft textattrs=(size=16pt weight=bold) backcolor=white noborder;,
but this places the “A” inside the plotting area. I also tried
title j=left h=16pt bold "A";,
which positions the “A” outside the graph entirely.

Ideally, I would like the panel label to appear —the “A” positioned just outside the plotting area but within the overall figure boundary (above yaxis label).

Re: How to plot "A" outside of the plotting area in base graphics?

PaigeMiller — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:48:05 GMT

I would think the TEXT command in PROC SGPLOT would work, that's what it was designed to do (but I have not tried it).

Re: How to plot "A" outside of the plotting area in base graphics?

DanH_sas — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:55:57 GMT

Titles normally go within the graph but outside the plot area. However, if you are using the NOGTITLE option on the ODS HTML statement, the the title will be pulled outside of the graph.

Re: How to plot "A" outside of the plotting area in base graphics?

Ksharp — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 06:53:40 GMT

/*****************************/
%let label1=A(*ESC*){sup 'mw -1'}  ;
data _anno;
length label $ 200;
 drawspace="graphpercent"; function="text"; textweight="normal"; textsize=12;textcolor="black"; width=200;
 x1=5; y1=95;label="&label1."; output;
 run;
proc sgplot data=sashelp.class sganno=_anno;   
scatter x=weight y=height;   
xaxis label=' ';
yaxis label=' ';
run;