SAS/GRAPH Output

Specifying the Graphics Output File Type for Your Graph

The SAS ODS sends your graph output to a default destination or a destination that you specify, such as your monitor, a printer, or a graphics output file. Each destination has a default style and graphics output device associated with it. You can use the STYLE= ODS option to specify a different style, and you can use the DEVICE= graphics option to specify a different device that is supported by the ODS destination that you are using.

See Introducing SAS/GRAPH Output for the Web for more information on using the ODS destinations, styles, and supported devices.

About the Graphics Output Devices

The Output that Each Device Generates

By default, the SAS/GRAPH ODS outputs to the LISTING destination, which displays your graph on your monitor and creates a GRSEG in the catalog. You can specify a graphics output device other than your monitor for the ODS LISTING destination, or you can specify a different ODS destination and device. For information on the ODS destinations and the devices that each supports, see Introducing SAS/GRAPH Output for the Web.

The following table lists the common graphics output devices, and the default output that each generates.

SAS/GRAPH Devices and the Output They Generate
Device	External Files
ACTIVEX	This device is used with the ODS HTML and ODS RTF destinations. It generates an HTML or RTF file that contains XML code that is consumed by the ActiveX control. When the HTML or RTF file is viewed in a browser, the SAS/GRAPH output is displayed as an interactive ActiveX control.
ACTXIMG	A PNG file that contains a static image of the graph that is generated with the ACTIVEX device.
BMP	A BMP file that contains the graph
CGM	A CGM file that contains the graph.
CGMOF97L	A CGM file suitable for inserting into Microsoft Word or PowerPoint presentations.
EMF	An EMF file that contains the graph.
GIF	A GIF file that contains the graph.
JAVA	This device is used with the ODS HTML destination. It generates a JavaScript that ODS includes in the HTML file. When the HTML file is viewed in a browser, the SAS/GRAPH output is displayed as an interactive Java applet.
IBMPCGX	Display device. This device is available on z/OS hosts only.
JAVAIMG	A PNG file that contains a static graph that is generated with the JAVA device.
JPEG	A JPG file that contains the graph.
PCL5	A PCL file that contains the graph.
PDF	A PDF file that contains one or more graphs and tables.
PNG	A PNG file that contains the graph.
PSCOLOR	A PostScript file that contains one or more graphs.
PSL	A PostScript file that contains the graph in gray scale.
SASEMF	An EMF file that contains the graph. This device is the default device for the ODS RTF destination.
SVG	An SVG file that contains the graph.
TIFFP	A TIFF file that contains the graph in color.
WIN	Display device. This device is available on Windows hosts only.
XCOLOR	Display device. This device is available on UNIX hosts only.

Graphics Output Files

When you export SAS/GRAPH output, you run the output through a device that creates a graphics output file. A graphics output file is a file that contains vector or bitmap graphics commands. Typically, you select a device that produces the type of graphics file format that you want, such as PNG, CGM, PS or EPS, GIF, or TIFF. You can select a device that sends the output directly to a printer or other hard-copy device without creating a graphics output file. You can specify the exact name and location of each file or assign a default location to which all files are sent.

You can also use the ODS to generate SAS/GRAPH output as HTML that you can view with a Web browser. Details are discussed in Introducing SAS/GRAPH Output for the Web.

Once you have created a graphics output file, you can do the following:

print the file using host commands
view the file with an appropriate viewer or browser
edit the file with the appropriate editing software
import the file into other software applications

Note: A graphics output file is different from a SAS/GRAPH GRSEG. A graphics output file is a file that is independent of SAS, and a GRSEG is a type of SAS catalog file. Consequently, you use host commands to manipulate a graphics output file independent of the SAS System, whereas you must use the SAS System to manipulate SAS GRSEGs. The GREPLAY procedure can be used to replay graph entries stored in catalogs and display them in the GRAPH window. [cautionend]

About File Extensions

When you send SAS/GRAPH output to an aggregate file storage location, SAS/GRAPH generates the name of the graphics output file. This is done by taking the GRSEG name and adding the appropriate file extension. Most devices provide a default extension. If a device does not generate an extension, then SAS/GRAPH uses the default extension .gsf. To specify a different extension from the one SAS/GRAPH provides, use the EXTENSION= graphics option. (For details, see EXTENSION).

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