CCIS facilities for SAS/GRAPH

The graphics devices supported on the CMS, VAX and MVS systems at York are the two Zeta plotters: the Zeta8 and the Zeta836. On CMS, you can use a variety of graphics terminals, or an IBM/PC (with YTERM or KERMIT software) as a preview device.

The Zeta plotters are 8-pen devices which produce high resolution multicolor plots on a variety of media, including fan-fold paper, translucent continuous roll paper, mylar, and transparent foils. The details of how to use the plotters from VM/CMS, VAX/VMS, and MVS are described in the YCS Tech. Specs. note, York University's Zeta Plotters. Please refer to this document for specific information on plotting from different systems at York. The information below is meant to supplement this.

Zeta plotters
In the machine room in Steacie. Produces pen-drawn plots in up to 8 colors on either 11" (Zeta8) or 30" (Zeta836) wide paper, so this is a handy way to do posters. Requires the DEVICE=ZETA option when SAS is invoked, i.e., SAS fname ( DEVICE=ZETA or include %GSTART(ZETA); in your SAS job.

IBMPC with YTERM ver.1.4 - 2.2
The newer versions of YTERM emulate a Tektronics 4013 for an IBM PC/XT/AT with a CGA or EGA graphics card. The YTERM program can be obtained from YCS. The %GSTART macro provides the proper control codes for to cause YTERM to switch from text to graphics mode automatically. [The keystrokes <Ctrl-F2> and <Ctrl-F3> can be used manually to cause YTERM to switch into graphics, and back to text, respectively.] Use the %GSTART macro to set the GOPTIONS DEVICE to YTERM: except use:
      %GSTART(YTERM);¢set up for YTERM

      

With an IBMPC, it is possible to obtain hardcopy plots on your local printer if you have the proper graphics software to copy a graphics screen to your printer with (e.g., GRAPHICS.COM or equivalent for your printer and graphics card).

IBMPC with KERMIT, ver. 2.30+
The newer versions of KERMIT also emulate a Tektronics 4013 for an IBM PC/XT/AT with a CGA or EGA graphics card. The KERMIT program can be obtained from YCS. The %GSTART macro provides the proper control codes for KERMIT. Use like the Keynote, except use:
      %GSTART(KERMIT);¢set up for KERMIT

      

Using the %GSTART macro with multiple devices on CMS

In developing graphs with SAS/GRAPH on CMS it is convenient to display the graphs on a graphics-capable terminal while you are developing them, and then obtain a hardcopy plot on a plotter when you are happy with the result. To do this effectively it is useful to understand how GSTART works.

The GSTART macro gets information about which graphics device you are using from two sources:

  1. The GOPTIONS DEVICE value, if this is defined in your job, or
  2. The device keyword passed as the argument to %GSTART.
The GOPTIONS DEVICE value is set either by the GOPTIONS statement in your SAS job, or it can be typed as a program option when you run SAS, e.g.,
SAS myjob (DEVICE=ZETA
If the GOPTIONS DEVICE has a value, then the DEVICE keyword is ignored by GSTART.

Therefore, if you usually use a Keynote terminal to preview your plots, you can code your program:

%GSTART(KEYNOTE);
   ...
proc G____ ...
   ...
%GFINISH;
Then when you want to send the plot to the Zeta, you need not change the program at all, if you invoke SAS with the DEVICE=ZETA option.

Note: The %GFINISH; after the last SAS/GRAPH Proc is necessary to have the plot sent to the Zeta plotter.

© 1995 Michael Friendly

Author Michael Friendly
Email<Friendly>
Last Updated:Friday, July 19, 1995

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