Manually set shape by factor

Question

An example dataset:

A <- c('a','b', 'c','d','e')
types <- factor(A)
B <- c(1,2,3,4,5)
C <- c(6,7,8,9,10)
D <- c(1,2,1,2,3)
ABC <- data.frame(B,C,D,types)

library(ggplot2)

ggplot(ABC, aes(x=B ,y=C ,size=D, colour=as.factor(types),label=types, shape=as.factor(types))) +
geom_point()+geom_text(size=2, hjust=0,colour="black", vjust=0) +
scale_size_area(max_size=20, "D", breaks=c(100,500,1000,3000,5000))  +
scale_x_log10(lim=c(0.05,10),breaks=c(0.1,1,10))+ scale_y_continuous(lim=c(0,30000000)) +
scale_shape_manual(values=c(15,18,16,17,19))`

Plotting this you will there are factors a-e that have colours and shapes attributed to them.

In my code I use scale_shape_manual to set the shapes and they are defined by sequence i.e. the order of factors is a,b,c,d,e and my values are 15,18,16,17,19 so a=15 (a square), b=18 etc etc

I would like to set these shapes by factor. My data will be changing each day and the factors will be in different orders but I always want the same factors to have the same shapes.

So obviously this code doesn't work but something like:

scale_shape_manual(values=('a'=15, 'b'=18, 'c'=16, 'd'=17, 'e'=19))

Would be helpful if I could do the same for colour too.

Savage

Answer 1

If I'm understanding you correctly, there will always be (at most) the five categories "a" - "e", and you want the shapes and colors for these to be consistent across datasets. Here is one way (note: gg_color_hue(...) is from here):

# set up shapes
shapes <- c(15,18,16,17,19)
names(shapes) <- letters[1:5]

# set up colors
gg_color_hue <- function(n) { # ggplot default colors
  hues = seq(15, 375, length=n+1)
  hcl(h=hues, l=65, c=100)[1:n]
}
colors <- gg_color_hue(5)
names(colors) <- names(shapes)

# original data
ggplot(ABC, aes(x=B ,y=C ,size=D, colour=types,label=types, shape=types)) +
  geom_point()+geom_text(size=2, hjust=0,colour="black", vjust=0) +
  scale_size_area(max_size=20, "D", breaks=c(100,500,1000,3000,5000))  +
  scale_x_log10(lim=c(0.05,10),breaks=c(0.1,1,10))+ 
  scale_y_continuous(lim=c(0,30000000)) +
  scale_shape_manual(values=shapes) + scale_color_manual(values=colors)

#new data
DEF <- data.frame(B,C,D,types=factor(c("a","a","a","d","e")))
ggplot(DEF, aes(x=B ,y=C ,size=D, colour=types,label=types, shape=types)) +
  geom_point()+geom_text(size=2, hjust=0,colour="black", vjust=0) +
  scale_size_area(max_size=20, "D", breaks=c(100,500,1000,3000,5000))  +
  scale_x_log10(lim=c(0.05,10),breaks=c(0.1,1,10))+ 
  scale_y_continuous(lim=c(0,30000000)) +
  scale_shape_manual(values=shapes) + scale_color_manual(values=colors)

Chiclayo

Thanks, although no the number of factors will fluctuate between 17-19, this is why using the sequence way of doing it wasn't going to work as when one factor isn't included then whole sequence is thrown off. – Savage

No it is not. In the second example, factors "b" and "c" are missing but the sequence is not thrown off; "a" is still square, "d" is still triangle, and "e" is still circle. Are you seriously going to use 19 shapes?? – Chiclayo

^I meant in my original attempt the seq was thrown off. No, I plan on using only the shape values 15,16 and 18. I want to set two of my factors as 16 specifically then the others can been 15,16 or 18. Using a few shapes as well as different colours should be enough variance for each factor. – Savage

So does this answer your question?? – Chiclayo

I think so, let me quickly see if it works. Im not using a data frame, im reading from a csv and the factors are values in a column. I think it might work but let me check first – Savage

you use names(shapes) <- letters[1:5], instead of letters my actual data have names but when I tried to use the names I get Error: unexpected ',' in "names(shapes) <- name1," – Savage

It needs to be a character vector, something like c("name1","name2",...) – Chiclayo

shapes <-c(15,18,16,16,15,18,15,16,18,16,15,16,18,15,16,18,15,18,16) names(shapes) <- c(data$name1, data$name2, ....) There were no shapes when I did this, blank plot – Savage

Are there 19 columns, as is df$name1 through df$name19? If so, then names(shapes) <- paste0("name",1:19) – Chiclayo

No theres a coloumn called names with 1236 rows. I tried length(data$name) but obviously that just gave me the length and the rest of the names were called NA. Of those 1236 rows there are only 19 unique names can I use as.factor(data$name) – Savage

names(shapes) <- test$name Error in names(shapes) <- data$name : 'names' attribute [1249] must be the same length as the vector [19] – Savage

names(shapes) <- sort(unique(data$name) worked Thanks a bunch :) – Savage

The days where one of the names doesnt occur changes the names list and thus shifts all the shapes by 1. Is there a way to set the shapes at the start (and on the day the name isnt there to just ignore the fact its not there and thus keep the same order)?? – Savage

nvm, used data.frame and then write.table to add the name (with 0 for each other value) to the end of each csv thus adding it to the lists where it isn't and making my script work :D – Savage

Answer 2

I'm certain this is no longer relevant for the OP but the best solution I found to this problem is simpler than what is currently posted and is almost written into the question itself.

The OP's wish of assigning a manualy defined shape or colour using something like
"scale_shape_manual(values=('a'=15, 'b'=18, 'c'=16, 'd'=17, 'e'=19))"
only requires the assignments to be passed as a vector as in,
scale_shape_manual(values = c('a'=15, 'b'=18, 'c'=16, 'd'=17, 'e'=19))

jlhoward's answer is better if you want autogenerated colours. Whereas the script I offer bellow requires fewer lines of code. Users choice.

A <- c('a','b', 'c','d','e')
types <- factor(A)
B <- c(1,2,3,4,5)
C <- c(6,7,8,9,10)
D <- c(1,2,1,2,3)
ABC <- data.frame(B,C,D,types)

library(ggplot2)

ggplot(ABC, aes(x=B ,y=C ,size=D, colour=as.factor(types),label=types, shape=as.factor(types))) +
geom_point()+geom_text(size=2, hjust=0,colour="black", vjust=0) +
scale_size_area(max_size=20, "D", breaks=c(100,500,1000,3000,5000))  +
scale_x_log10(lim=c(0.05,10),breaks=c(0.1,1,10))+
scale_y_continuous(lim=c(0,30000000)) +
scale_shape_manual(values = c('a'=15, 'b'=18, 'c'=16, 'd'=17, 'e'=19)) +
scale_colour_manual(values = c('a'="tomato", 'b'="yellow4", 'c'="palegreen2", 'd'="deepskyblue1", 'e'="orchid3"))`

Madelle