| SAS/GRAPH Software: Reference |
By default, SAS/GRAPH output
is stored in SAS catalogs as catalog entries of type GRSEG. These entries
can be viewed and manipulated within the SAS System and, in some operating
environments, can be printed directly as hardcopy. However, you may want to
use your SAS/GRAPH output outside of
the SAS System. For example, you may want to
In order to do these kinds of things with your SAS/GRAPH output,
you must export your graphs from SAS/GRAPH,
using a different graphics file format, such as CGM, GIF, or TIFF, and store
them in external files.
For information on creating SAS/GRAPH output
for Web publishing, see Bringing SAS/GRAPH Output to the Web.
For information on SAS/GRAPH language
elements and programs and on how procedure output is generated, see SAS/GRAPH Programs. For information
on using and managing SAS/GRAPH output,
see SAS/GRAPH Output.
When you export SAS/GRAPH output,
you run the output through a device driver that creates a graphics stream
file or GSF. A GSF is an external file that contains graphics commands.
Typically, you select a device driver that produces the type of graphics
file format that you want, such as CGM, PS or EPS, GIF, or TIFF, although
you can select a driver that sends the output directly to a printer or other
hardcopy device without creating an external file. You can specify the exact
name and location of each file or assign a default location to which all files
are sent.
Note:
You can
also use the Output Delivery System (ODS) or SAS/GRAPH device
drivers to generate SAS/GRAPH output
as HTML and GIF files that you can view with a Web browser. Details are discussed
in Using SAS/GRAPH Web Drivers to Create Web Output. ![[cautend]](../common/images/cautend.gif)
Once you have created a GSF, you can
Note:
A GSF is different from a SAS/GRAPH catalog
entry. A GSF is an exteranl file that is independent of SAS, and a catalog
entry is a type of SAS file. Consequently, you use host commands to manipulate
a GSF independent of the SAS System, whereas you must use the SAS System to
manipulate SAS catalog entries. For example, to view graphics output stored
in a catalog you must use the GREPLAY procedure or the GRAPH window.
You can export
your
SAS/GRAPH output
in many different graphics file formats. These are some of the most common
formats that SAS/GRAPH software supports:
The type of
graphics file format
that you choose depends on how you are going to use the output. If you are
planning to import the graph into other software products, such as Microsoft
Excel or Word Perfect, you may prefer to create a CGM file. These vector-based
files are usually smaller than bitmapped files, and they can be edited. In
addition, they use hardware fonts and provide a clear image on high-resolution
devices.
If you want to display the graph on a Web page, or import
it into software that cannot accept vector graphics like CGM, you will need
to create a bitmapped file using a format such as GIF or TIFF.
Note: The HTML and WEBFRAME drivers generate both HTML files and GIF files specifically
for use with a Web browser. For details, see Using SAS/GRAPH Web Drivers to Create Web Output.
Most software packages that process
graphics input can
accept one or more of these file formats. Check the documentation for the
hardware or software product to which you want to send the graph to determine
what file format or formats it can use.
For a complete list of graphics file formats available
with SAS/GRAPH in your operating environment, refer to the Device Help for SAS/GRAPH in
the SAS Help facility.
There are several ways to send SAS/GRAPH output
to an external file in a different graphics file format. You can export graphics
output in these ways:
Copyright © 1999 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.
