Proc Tabulate - Borders

[deleted_user]

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a way to add a bold border around each individual cell in a proc tabulate? I can't seem to find an option in the style = help section.

Thanks in advance!

[Bill]

Dave;

There are at least 3 styles that will do that - analysis, rsvp and torn. HOWEVER: using bold outlines emphasizes the table and de-emphasizes the data in the table. The sole purpose of a table (or a graph) is to let the data tell the story that's in it. May I suggest that you cruise around in http://www.perceptualedge.com and read some very good literature on data visualization. You might like to start with this article - http://www.perceptualedge.com/images/Effective_Chart_Design.pdf

[deleted_user]

Thanks Bill! I agree with what you were saying about de-amphasizing the data. However, the powers-that-be have decided they want a report to look a certain way with shading and borders. I think I worked out a way using

[style = [background = std_dev. borderwidth = border.]]

where I set up proc formats to give the shading and border width.

I'm not sure if there's an easier way, but this seems to work ok.

Thanks again for the help!

[Bill]

Sometimes one has to do both - what they want and what they need. Sometimes they see the light!