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The NETDRAW Procedure

Variables in the Network Data Set

The NETDRAW procedure expects all the network information to be contained in the Network input data set named by the DATA= option. The network information is contained in the ACTIVITY and SUCCESSOR variables. In addition, the procedure uses default variable names in the Network data set for specific purposes. For example, the _X_ and _Y_ variables, if they are present in the Network data set, represent the coordinates of the nodes, the _SEQ_ variable indexes the turning points of each arc of the network, and so on.

In addition to the network precedence information, the Network data set may also contain other variables that can be used to change the default layout of the network. For example, the nodes of the network can be aligned in the horizontal direction using the ALIGN= specification, or they can be divided into horizontal bands (or zones) using a ZONE variable.

Table 9.15 lists all of the variables associated with the Network data set and their interpretations by the NETDRAW procedure. Note that all the variables are identified to the procedure in the ACTNET statement. Some of the variables use default names that are recognized by the procedure to denote specific information, as explained previously. The table indicates if the variable is default or needs to be identified in the ACTNET statement.

Table 9.15 Network Data Set and Associated Variables

Statement

Variable Name

Interpretation

ACTNET

ACTIVITY

Activity or node name

 

ALIGN

Align variable for time-scaled network

 

DURATION

Duration of activity

 

ID

Additional variables to be displayed

 

PATTERN

Pattern number

 

SUCCESSOR

Immediate successor

 

WEB

HTML page corresponding to activity

 

ZONE

Zone variable for dividing network

Default

A_FINISH

Default ID variable

Variable

A_START

Default ID variable

Names

E_FINISH

Default ID variable

 

E_START

Default ID variable

 

F_FLOAT

Default ID variable

 

L_FINISH

Default ID variable

 

L_START

Default ID variable

 

S_FINISH

Default ID variable

 

S_START

Default ID variable

 

T_FLOAT

Default ID variable

 

_FROM_

Supersedes ACTIVITY= specification

 

_PATTERN

Supersedes PATTERN= specification

 

_SEQ_

Index of turning point in arc

 

_TO_

Supersedes SUCCESSOR= specification

 

_X_

coordinate of node or arc turning point

 

_Y_

coordinate of node or arc turning point

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