In SAS 9.2, the default appearance of all graphs is determined
by the ODS style that is currently in use. In general, this provides an effective
default graph with minimal coding. When SAS/GRAPH coding is added to modify
fonts, colors, line properties, or marker properties, it overrides the defaults
that are defined by the style. This is true for both traditional SAS/GRAPH
procedures and the statistical graphics procedures.
The following table lists some of the differences between traditional
SAS/GRAPH and statistical graphics procedures:
|
Traditional SAS/GRAPH |
Statistical Graphics Procedures |
|
Properties for text, markers, and lines can be set with global statements
such as GOPTIONS, AXIS, LEGEND, PATTERN, SYMBOL, and NOTE. |
User control over visual properties is set with statements or options
within the procedure. |
|
For some graphs, the plot type is determined by global options. For
example, the INTERPOL= option in the SYMBOL statement might determine whether
a graph is a scatter plot or a box plot. |
The plot type is determined by the plot statement only. |
|
The default graph output is produced as a GRSEG entry in a SAS catalog.
Other output formats, such as an image or metagraphics file, can be created
by selecting an appropriate device driver. |
Only image files are created--GRSEGs and device drivers are not
used. You can select your image format by using the IMAGEFMT= option in the
ODS GRAPHICS statement. |
|
The size and format of graphical output is controlled with options such
as the HSIZE=, VSIZE=, and DEVICE= options in the GOPTIONS statement. |
The size, format, and name of output images can be controlled with the
HEIGHT=, WIDTH=, IMAGEFMT=, and IMAGENAME= options in the ODS GRAPHICS statement.
The ODS GRAPHICS statement is similar in purpose to the GOPTIONS statement,
but it is used with the Statistical Graphics procedures only. |
|
All of the ODS destinations are supported. For the LISTING destination,
a GRSEG node is created in the Results tree and the image appears in the Graph
window. |
All of the ODS destinations are supported. For the LISTING destination,
an image node is created for the graph in the Results tree. You can open the
graph in an external viewer or in the ODS Graphics Editor. |
|
All options for the TITLE and FOOTNOTE statements are supported. |
Some options for the TITLE and FOOTNOTE statements are not supported.
See TITLE and FOOTNOTE Statements. |
|
Both SAS/GRAPH fonts (such as SWISSB) and system fonts (such as Arial)
are supported. |
Only system fonts are supported. |
|
Marker symbols can be either created from fonts or selected from a predefined
set of named marker symbols. |
Marker symbols can be selected only from a predefined set of named marker
symbols. The named marker symbols are different from the named marker symbols
in traditional SAS/GRAPH. |
|
Area fills can use either solid colors or patterns such as crosshatching. |
Area fills can use solid colors only. Transparent fills are supported. |
|
Anti-aliasing is not supported. |
Anti-aliasing is used for text and lines by default. You can disable
anti-aliasing by using the NOANTIALIAS option in the ODS GRAPHICS statement. |
|
Transparency is not supported. |
You can specify the degree of transparency for many graphics elements. |
|
Scaling of fonts and markers is not supported. |
Scaling of fonts and markers is on by default. This means that the sizes
of fonts and markers are adjusted as appropriate to the size of your graph.
You can disable scaling by using the NOSCALE option in the ODS GRAPHICS statement. |
|
Some procedures support RUN-group processing. |
RUN-group processing is not supported. |
|
The Annotate facility is supported. |
The Annotate facility is not supported. However, you can use the ODS
Graphics Editor to annotate your graphs. |
