Introduction to SAS/Graph

How to create and use a SAS Graphic Catalog(1)

By default, the graphics catalog is a temprorary data set, and is erased when your SAS/Graph job completed. However, by specifying certain SAS options you can save the graphics catalog as a permanent file. You can then use Proc GREPLAY later to:

• replay individual plots on the same device or on a different device,
• change the size of a plot or rotate a plot,
• combine several plots into one display using a "template" facility of GREPLAY,
• create a slide show to display a series of plots for a presentation.
• create a logical grouping of graphs within a graphic catalog, or copy graphs from one catalog to another.
• remap the colors used in a plot to another set of colors.

Creating a Graphics Catalog

Proc GPLOT data=EXPER2;
     Plot RT * TRIAL / GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB
                       (other options)  ;

CMS FILEDEF GRAPHS DISK dummy dummy B;

If you specify a one-part name in a GOUT= option, the catalog will be stored in a WORK library. Thus the plot statement,

    Plot RT * TRIAL / GOUT=PLOTLIB;

VAX

     LIBNAME gcat_name 'disk_used';
e.g.,
     LIBNAME PLOTLIB 'A';

Sending plots to a Graphic Catalog

      PROC graphproc  DATA=dataset  GOUT=graphicscatalog ;
e.g.,
      PROC GPLOT      DATA=EXPER2   GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB ;
or
           Plot RT*TRIAL / GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB;

By default, any plots produced are added to the end of the catalog. If a procedure produces several graphs, an entry is made in the catalog for each one.(3)

If you wish to store a series of plots in a catalog, but don't want to have them displayed or plotted now, use the NODISPLAY option on the GOPTIONS statement:

GOPTIONS NODISPLAY;

Generalizing the GOUT= option

PROC G3D data=NORMAL2;
     PLOT Y * X = Z /
              &GOUT
              NAME='NORMAL2'
              DES ='Bivariate normal 3D plot';

%GLOBAL GOUT;

%LET GOUT= GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB;

Documenting the stored plots

GCHART     PIE CHART OF REGION
GMAP       CHOROPLETH MAP OF SPACES

Proc GMAP MAP=MAPS.CANADA
          DATA=DAYCARE
          GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB;
     ID PROVINCE;
     CHORO SPACES /
          NAME = 'SPACEMAP'
          DES  = 'Number of Licensed day care spaces' ;

PROC G3D data=NORMAL2;
     PLOT Y * X = Z /
              GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB
              NAME='NORMAL2'
              DES ='Bivariate normal 3D plot'
             ... (other options) ...   ;
    RUN;

How to retreive plots from the library

• In full-screen mode you fill in appropriate blanks on the screen to specify a graphics device, replay graphs, create templates, etc. interactively.
• In line-mode, GREPLAY executes commands specified in a SAS program which is run non-interactively.

For some applications, such as those described in Introduction to SAS/Graph: Tutorial Examples, (Friendly, 1988), line mode is used to create and display a template containing multiple graphs. However, for managing a graphics catalog, the the full screen GREPLAY editor is more convenient.

Lets assume we have defined a library called "GRAPHS" with the FILEDEF statement. We also stored all the plots in the graphics catalog called "PLOTLIB" by specifying GOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB in SAS/Graph procedures. The following sequence will allow you to get any plot stored in PLOTLIB. Assume you are using a TEK4010 compatible screen and you want SAS to list the plots on the screen. The example below shows how you would run SAS interactively to You type in the lines shown below after the ? prompt. This sequence is equivalent to writing a SAS program on-line. Use PF3 to submit these lines to SAS for execution.

R;
SAS                            * You invoke SAS ;
 
1? %GSTART(KEYNOTE);
2? CMS FILEDEF GRAPHS DISK dummy dummy A;
3? PROC GREPLAY IGOUT=GRAPHS.PLOTLIB FS;
4? LIST IGOUT;              * List all the plots stored in
                              this catalog;

The LIST IGOUT statement displays a list of the graphs in the input catalog. The GREPLAY screen should appear with a listing of the plots stored in the catalog defined, as shown in Figure 1. +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | |

The  Type field in the display indicates whether the graph was
created as a  device-independent (I) graph, or as a 
device-dependent graph. Only device-independent graphs can be
replayed through templates.
 
 At this point you can do any of the following:
 

 
Replay graphs in the list.
  To select plots to replay, type
      an S in the Sel (for SELECT) field beside the name of each
      graph you wish to replay
 
Change name or description information.
  To change the name
      or description for any of your graphs, press the MODIFY
      function key (PF5). Modify these fields by typing the new
      information over the old.  When you have finished making
      changes, press PF5 again, and your changes will be saved.
 
Create logical groupings of your graphs.
  To make it easier
      to manage a collection of graphs, or to prepare a presentation,
      you can arrange the graphs in your catalog in groups that can
      be replayed later.  To create groups, press the GROUP function
      key (PF9). You are given the prompt:
 
SELECT GROUPS, PRESS ENTER TO STOP

 
      Define the groups by typing letters and digits in the Sel field
      beside each name. For example, use A1, A2, A3 to denote group
      "A", with three members ordered by the digits 1, 2,
      3.  After you press ENTER, the plots are reordered in the
      display screen according to the groups.
 
Delete graphs from your catalog.
  Type the letters
      "DEL" in the Sel field next to any graph you want to
      delete.  
 Note: You are  not
      prompted to confirm a request to delete a graph, so be careful.
 
Quit GREPLAY.
  To get out of the GREPLAY screen press PF3.
      The word BYE in the command area of the SAS line editor (or
      pressing PF3 again) returns you to the operating system.