About This Book

Using This Document

Prerequisites

This document is written for users who are experienced in using the SAS System. You should understand the concepts of programming in the SAS language. The following table summarizes the SAS System concepts that you need to understand in order to use SAS/GRAPH.

To learn how to	Refer to
invoke the SAS System at your site	instructions provided by the on-site SAS support personnel
use Base SAS software use the DATA step to create and manipulate SAS data sets use the SAS windowing environment or SAS Enterprise Guide to enter, edit, and submit program code	Base documentation library: SAS Language Reference: Concepts SAS Data Set Options: Reference SAS Formats and Informats: Reference SAS Functions and CALL Routines: Reference SAS Statements: Reference SAS System Options: Reference Base SAS Utilities: Reference
allocate SAS libraries and assign librefs create external files and assign filerefs	documentation for using the SAS System in your operating environment: SAS Companion for Windows SAS Companion for UNIX Environments SAS Companion for z/OS
manipulate SAS data sets using SAS procedures	Base SAS Procedures Guide

Particular fonts have special meanings when used in the presentation of SAS/GRAPH syntax in this document. For example, items presented in italics identify arguments or values that you supply. Angle brackets (< >) indicate optional arguments. The conventions used in this document are the same conventions used in Base SAS documentation. For a complete explanation, see the Base SAS documentation listed above.

Map Data Sets

To draw maps, you need to know where the map data sets are stored on your system. Depending on your installation, the map data set might automatically be assigned a libref. Ask your on-site SAS support personnel or system administrator where the map data sets are stored for your site.

Annotate Macros Data Set

To use Annotate macros, you need to know where the Annotate macro data set is stored on your system. Depending on your installation, the Annotate macro data set might automatically be assigned a fileref. Ask your on-site SAS support personnel or system administrator where the Annotate macro data set is stored for your site.

Conventions for Examples and Output

Most of the chapters in this document include examples that illustrate some of the features of a procedure or its statements. The output that is shown for the examples was generated in a Windows operating environment. If you are using a different operating environment, you might need to make some minor adjustments to the example programs.

In most cases, the output was sent to the HTML destination and generated using the default style and device for that destination. Exceptions are noted in the text.

The dimensions of the graphics output area vary across devices and when using the GRAPH windows. The dimensions can affect aspects of the graphics output – for example, the appearance of axes or the position of graphics elements that use explicit coordinates in units other than percent. You might need to adjust the dimensions of your graphics output area or the size of graphics elements to correct any differences that you see. Most of the images of output in this document were generated with a GOPTIONS statement. This statement generally specified a size approximately equal 5.5 inches by 4.2 inches. However, some images might be larger, if necessary, to accommodate the content of the graph.

goptions hsize=5.5inin vsize=4.2in;

These HSIZE= and VSIZE= settings are not shown in the example code and are not necessary for generating the output. However you might want to use similar settings if your output looks significantly different from the output that is shown in the document.

Most examples specify these options:

RESET=ALL

sets all graphics options to default values and cancels all global statements.

BORDER

draws a border around the graphics output area.