The Graphics Output Environment

Units

Within the graphics output area, SAS/GRAPH defines an invisible grid of rows and columns. This grid consists of character cells as shown in Rows, Columns, and Cells in the Graphics Output Area.

The size and shape of these cells affect the size and appearance of your graph since each graphic element is drawn using units of cells. The size and shape of the cells are determined by both the size of the graphics output area and by the number of rows and columns that SAS/GRAPH has defined in the grid. You can control the number of rows by specifying the LROWS device parameter (for a landscape orientation) or the PROWS device parameter (for a portrait orientation). Similarly, the number of columns is controlled by the LCOLS (landscape) or PCOLS (portrait) device parameter.

It is not recommended that you change the number of rows and columns in the grid from the default for your device. If you must do so, you can specify the HPOS= and VPOS= graphics options. HPOS= overrides the value of LCOLS or PCOLS and sets the number of columns in the graphics output area. VPOS= overrides the value of LROWS or PROWS and sets the number of rows in the graphics output area.

Rows, Columns, and Cells in the Graphics Output Area illustrates how device parameter settings for the size of the output area relate to the parameter settings for the number of character cells in the output area.

Rows, Columns, and Cells in the Graphics Output Area

[Rows, Columns, and Cells in the Graphics Output Area]

Changing only the outer dimensions of the graphics output area (HSIZE= and VSIZE=) retains the cell size but causes SAS/GRAPH to automatically recalculate the number of rows and columns, as illustrated in Changing HSIZE= and VSIZE= Changes Dimensions and Recalculates the Number of Rows and Columns.

Changing HSIZE= and VSIZE= Changes Dimensions and Recalculates the Number of Rows and Columns

[Changing HSIZE= and VSIZE= Changes Dimensions and Recalculates the Number of Rows and Columns]

Changing only the number of rows and columns (HPOS and VPOS) changes the size of the cells without altering the overall size of the output. Changing HPOS= and VPOS= Changes Cell Size shows how increasing the number of rows and columns reduces the size of the individual cells.

Changing HPOS= and VPOS= Changes Cell Size

[Changing HPOS= and VPOS= Changes Cell Size]

If you use units of CELLS to control the size of the text in your graph while also changing the number of rows and columns, then the size of the text changes. If the cells are large (that is, HPOS= and VPOS= have small values), the text might not fit. If the cells are too small, the text might be too small to read. In this case, you can adjust the size of the text with the HEIGHT= statement option or the HTEXT= graphics option.

To change all the attributes of the graphics output area, specify values for all four options, as shown in Changing HSIZE=, VSIZE=, HPOS=, and VPOS= Changes Dimensions and the Number and Size of Cells.

Changing HSIZE=, VSIZE=, HPOS=, and VPOS= Changes Dimensions and the Number and Size of Cells

[Changing HSIZE=, VSIZE=, HPOS=, and VPOS= Changes Dimensions and the Number and Size of Cells]

Interaction of Graphics Options Affecting Cells summarizes the interaction of the HSIZE=, VSIZE=, HPOS=, and VPOS= graphics options.

Interaction of Graphics Options Affecting Cells
Options Specified	Options Not Specified	Result
HSIZE= and VSIZE=	HPOS= and VPOS= (or specify HPOS=0 and VPOS=0)	changes the external dimensions of the graphics output area and recalculates the number of rows and columns in order to retain cell size and proportions.
HPOS= and VPOS=	HSIZE= and VSIZE=	keeps the external dimensions but changes the cell size according to the number of rows and columns.
HSIZE=, HPOS=, VSIZE=, and VPOS=		changes the dimensions of the graphics output area, the number of rows and columns, and recalculates the cell size.

Other Units

By default, most graphic elements are drawn using units of CELLS to determine their size. For example, the default character height for the TITLE1 definition is two cells; for all other text the default height is one cell.

Changing the cell size to control the size of one element, such as text, can distort other parts of your graph. Instead, you might want to change the type of units that SAS/GRAPH uses to control the size of the graphic elements. In addition to CELLS you can use the following units:

inches (IN)
centimeters (CM)
points (PT)
percent (PCT)

The percent unit specification is often a good choice because it changes the height of the graphic elements in proportion to the size of the graphics output area.

You can specify the unit for individual graphic elements, or you can use the GUNIT= graphics option to set the units for most graphic element heights.

Top of Page