LOWESS <data>,<smooth_level>,<output_matrix> / J.Puranen 1991,1998 smooths a variable activated by `Y' according to the values of another variable activated by `X' using a robust locally weighted regression method (LOWESS = LOcally WEighted Scatterplot Smooth). The smoothened values are saved into a variable activated by `S'. If no `S' variable exists, the smoothened values (as well as the values of `X' and `Y' variables) are saved into a matrix file given by <output_matrix>. The default name of the matrix is SMOOTH.M . The results are saved in increasing order of the `X' values. The smoothened scatterplot can be plotted by using this matrix file as an input (see the example below). The <smooth_level> gives the level of smoothing, specified as how many percents of the observations around each point affects the smoothing. A suitable value is 60, which is also the default. <data> must be sorted by `X' variable before smoothing, if `S' mask is applied. The number of iterations can be given by ITERATIONS=1 or 2. The default value of 2 should be adequate for almost all situations. In addition, the deviances from the smoothened values can be saved into a variable activated by `E'. If there are any missing values in <data>, the `S' and `E' variables must also be initialized with missing values. The IND and CASES specifications can be used to select observations. Reference: Cleveland, W. (1979). Robust Locally Weighted Regression and Smoothing Scatterplots. JASA 74, 829-836. See also SMOOTH? (Example on the next page) ........................................................................ Example: LOWESS <data>,60,SMOOTH.M / VARS=<xvar>(X),<yvar>(Y) .................................................... GPLOT SMOOTH.M,X,Y,S / YLINE=0 SLINE=1 ........................................................................