About the Graph Builder :: SAS(R) Visual Analytics 6.4: User's Guide

SAS Visual Analytics Graph Builder (the graph builder) enables you to create graph objects, which then become available in the SAS Visual Analytics Designer (the designer) for use in reports. You do not associate real data with the graph objects in the graph builder. Rather, you build graph objects or templates using sample data that is shipped with the graph builder. Report designers assign data when they include your graph objects in their reports.

The graph objects that you build have a consistent appearance that is compatible with the designer’s graph objects. The graph builder enables you to produce a wide array of graph objects with more options for layouts and visual properties. Using the graph objects that you build, report designers can create simple or complex graphical views of their data.

You can do the following in the graph builder:

drag and drop graph elements onto the canvas. Graph elements include the plots, charts, and maps that are available from the Graph Elements pane.

For a definition and a picture of each available graph element, see Graphs, Charts, and Plots.
combine and arrange the graph elements as needed. For example, you can layer multiple graph elements in a cell, create a lattice of cells in rows and columns, or combine these layouts.

There are two types of lattice graphs:
- A data-driven lattice is a multi-cell graph in which the cell data is determined by the values of one or more class variables. The number of cells is determined by the unique values of the class variables. Each cell of the lattice has the same graph elements. However, these graph elements have different values of the class variables.
- A user-defined lattice is a multi-cell graph in which you create each cell independently. Each cell can contain different types of plots.
determine and configure which data roles become available for assignment. For more information, see Working with Roles.
specify the visual attributes of the graph elements. You can specify properties for the graph, the graph cells, for individual graph elements, for the axes, and for legends. For more information, see Working with Properties.