Differences between the ODS Graphics Procedures and SAS/GRAPH Procedures

SAS produces graphics using two very distinct systems. SAS/GRAPH produces graphics using a device-based system. The Graph Template Language and ODS Graphics produce graphics through the Output Delivery System (ODS) using a template-based system.

Though the ODS Graphics procedures do not require SAS/GRAPH, you might have SAS/GRAPH installed. For more information about SAS/GRAPH, see SAS/GRAPH: Reference.

The following table lists some of the differences between the ODS Graphics procedures and SAS/GRAPH:

ODS Graphics Procedures	SAS/GRAPH Procedures
Creates image files. GRSEGs and device drivers are not used. You can select your image format by using the OUTPUTFMT= option in the ODS GRAPHICS statement.	Most SAS/GRAPH procedures produce 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.
User control over visual properties is set with statements or options within the procedure.	Properties for text, markers, and lines can be set with global statements such as GOPTIONS, AXIS, LEGEND, PATTERN, SYMBOL, and NOTE.
The plot type is determined by the plot statement only.	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 size, format, and name of output images can be controlled with the HEIGHT=, WIDTH=, OUTPUTFMT=, 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 ODS Graphics procedures only.	The size and format of graphical output is controlled with options such as the HSIZE=, VSIZE=, and DEVICE= options in the GOPTIONS statement.
All of the ODS destinations are supported. For the LISTING destination, an image node is created for the graph in the Results tree.	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.
Some options for the TITLE and FOOTNOTE statements are not supported. See TITLE and FOOTNOTE Statements.	All options for the TITLE and FOOTNOTE statements are supported.
Only system fonts are supported.	SAS/GRAPH supports SAS/GRAPH fonts (such as SWISSB), device-resident fonts, and system fonts (such as Arial).
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 SAS/GRAPH.	Marker symbols can be either created from fonts or selected from a predefined set of named marker symbols.
Area fills can use solid colors only. Transparent fills are supported.	Area fills can use either solid colors or patterns such as crosshatching.
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.	Scaling of fonts and markers is not supported.
RUN-group processing is not supported.	Some procedures support RUN-group processing.
An SG Annotation facility is supported. The ODS Graphics procedures do not support the SAS/GRAPH Annotate facility. You can also use the ODS Graphics Editor to annotate your graphs.	The SAS/GRAPH Annotate facility is supported.