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The G3D Procedure

PLOT Statement

Creates three-dimensional surface plots using values of three numeric variables from the input data set.

Requirements: Exactly one plot request is required.
Global statements: FOOTNOTE, TITLE


Description

The PLOT statement specifies one plot request that identifies the three numeric variables to plot. This statement automatically

You can use statement options to modify any of the three plot axes as well as the general appearance of the graph, control the viewing angle, and specify characteristics for reference lines.

In addition, you can use global statements to add text to the graph, and an Annotate data set to enhance the plot.

Syntax

PLOT plot-request </option(s)>;

plot-request must be

y*x=z

option(s) can be one or more options from any or all of the following categories:

Required Arguments

y*x=z
specifies three numeric variables from the input data set:

y
is one of the variables that is plotted on the horizontal (x-y) plane.

x
is another of the variables that is plotted on the horizontal (x-y) plane.

z
is the variable that is plotted on the vertical (z) axis.

Options

Options in a PLOT statement affect all graphs that are produced by that statement. You can specify as many options as you want and list them in any order.

ANNOTATE=Annotate-data-set
ANNO=Annotate-data-set
specifies a data set to annotate plots that are produced by the PLOT statement.
See also: The Annotate Data Set

CAXIS=axis-color
specifies a color for axis lines and tick marks. By default, axes are displayed in the second color in the current colors list.

CBOTTOM=bottom-surface-color
specifies a color for the bottom of the plot surface. By default, the bottom surface is displayed in the fourth color in the current colors list.
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

CTEXT=text-color
specifies a color for all text on the axes, including tick mark values and axis labels. If you omit this option, a color specification is searched for in this order:
  1. the CTEXT= option in a GOPTIONS statement

  2. the default, the first color in the colors list.

CTOP=top-surface-color
specifies a color for the top of the plot surface. By default, the top surface is displayed in the third color in the current colors list.
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

DESCRIPTION='entry-description'
DES='entry-description'
specifies the description of the catalog entry for the chart. The maximum length for entry-description is 240 characters. The description does not appear on the chart. By default, the procedure assigns a description of the form PLOT OF y*x=z, where y*x=z is the request that is specified in the PLOT statement.

GRID
draws reference lines at the major tick marks on all axes.
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

NAME='entry-name'
specifies the name of the catalog entry for the graph. The maximum length for entry-name is 8 characters. The default name is G3D. If the specified name duplicates the name of an existing entry, SAS/GRAPH software adds a number to the duplicate name to create a unique entry, for example, G3D1.

NOAXIS
NOAXES
specifies that a plot have no axes, axis labels, or tick mark values.

NOLABEL
specifies that a plot have no axis labels or tick mark values. Use this option if you want to generate axis labels and tick mark values with an Annotate data set.

ROTATE=angle-list
specifies one or more angles at which to rotate the x-y plane about the perpendicular z axis. The units for angle-list are degrees. By default, ROTATE=70. Angle-list is either an explicit list of values, or a starting and an ending value with an interval increment, or a combination of both forms:
n <...n>
n TO n <BY increment>
n <...n> TO n <BY increment > <n <...n> >

The values specified in angle-list can be negative or positive and can be larger than 360°. For example, a rotation angle of 45° can also be expressed as 


rotate=405
rotate=-315

You can specify a sequence of angles to produce separate graphs for each angle. The angles that are specified in the ROTATE= option are paired with any angles that are specified with the TILT= option. If one option contains fewer values than the other, the last value in the shorter list is paired with the remaining values in the longer list.
See also: TILT= option
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

SIDE
produces a surface graph with a side wall.
Featured in: Tilting Surface Plot

TILT=angle-list
specifies one or more angles at which to tilt the graph toward you. The units for angle-list are degrees. By default, TILT=70. Angle-list is either an explicit list of values, or a starting and an ending value with an interval increment, or a combination of both forms:
n <...n>
n TO n <BY increment>
n <...n> TO n <BY increment > <n <...n> >

The values that are specified in angle-list must be 0 through 90.

You can specify a sequence of angles to produce separate graphs for each angle. The angles that are specified in the TILT= option are paired with any angles that are specified with the ROTATE= option. If one option contains fewer values than the other, the last value in the shorter list is paired with the remaining values in the longer list.
See also: ROTATE= option
Featured in: Tilting Surface Plot

XTICKNUM=number-of-ticks
YTICKNUM=number-of-ticks
ZTICKNUM=number-of-ticks
specify the number of major tick marks that are located on a plot's x, y, or z axis, respectively. The value for n must be 2 or greater. By default, XTICKNUM=4, YTICKNUM=4, and ZTICKNUM=4.
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

XYTYPE=1 | 2 | 3
specifies the direction of lines that are used to represent the surface. XYTYPE=1 displays the surface by using lines that represent y axis values. That is, it only draws lines that are parallel to the x axis. XYTYPE=2 displays the surface by using lines that represent x axis values, and draws only lines that are parallel to the y axis. XYTYPE=3 displays the surface by using lines that represent values for both the x and y axes, and creates a fishnet-like surface. By default, XYTYPE=3. See Surface Appearance for Different XYTYPE= Values for an example of the effect of XYTYPE= on the appearance of the surface.

ZMAX=max-value
ZMIN=min-value
specify the maximum and minimum values that are displayed on a plot's z axis. By default, the z axis is defined by the minimum and maximum z values that are in the data set. You can use the ZMIN= and ZMAX= options to extend the z axis beyond this range. The value specified by ZMAX= must be greater than that specified by ZMIN=.

If you specify a ZMAX= or ZMIN= value within the actual range of the z variable values, the plot's data values are clipped at the specified level. For example, if the minimum z value in the data set is 0 and you specify ZMIN=1, the values of z that are less than 1 will be plotted as if they are 1.
Featured in: Rotating a Surface Plot

Changing the Surface Appearance

Use the XYTYPE= option to change the appearance of the plot surface. This option lets you select the direction of the lines that form the surface plot. Surface Appearance for Different XYTYPE= Values shows examples of each type of plot surface.

Surface Appearance for Different XYTYPE= Values

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