A Quick Look at the SAS Graphing Software

A Quick Overview of ODS Graphics

SAS ODS Graphics, sometimes called SAS ODS Statistical Graphics, is an extension of the SAS Output Delivery System (ODS). ODS Graphics provides SAS analytical procedures to create complex analytical graphs that deliver the analysis results with clarity and without clutter. ODS Graphics provides relevant graphs automatically as part of these analytical procedures. In addition, you have easy-to-use tools for creating related graphs for previewing the data or for creating graphs from the results of multiple analyses.

ODS Graphics is driven by the Graph Template Language (GTL), which provides the power and flexibility to create many complex graphs. For SAS analytical procedures that support ODS Graphics, standard GTL templates that generate graphics output are delivered with SAS. You can modify these templates in order to customize the appearance of the graphics output of these procedures. You can also use GTL to create your own templates for creating custom graphics. Because of the power and flexibility of the GTL language, modifying or creating template code can be a complex task. Typically, working with GTL is a task for advanced graph programmers.

You can use ODS Graphics software to generate commonly used graphs independent of SAS analytical procedures. Although ODS Graphics software was initially designed to facilitate the production of statistical graphs, its capabilities are also well suited for the production of non-statistical, business graphs. These graphs can be used for the preliminary exploration of data and the construction of specialized displays for analyses.

ODS Graphics Software

The ODS Graphics system contains the following software:

ODS GRAPHICS statement

controls the graphics capabilities of SAS analytical and Base procedures that support ODS Graphics. The statement enables or disables ODS Graphics processing and sets graphics environment options. ODS Graphics is enabled by default on all platforms except z/OS.

You can use the ODS GRAPHICS statement options to control many aspects of your graphics. For example, you can use options to specify the size and format of your output images. The settings that you specify remain in effect for all graphics until you exit the session. Within the session, they remain in effect until you change them or reset these settings with another ODS GRAPHICS statement.

SAS ODS Graphics procedures

provide a concise syntax for creating effective statistical graphs. The SGPLOT, SGPANEL, and SGSCATTER procedures provide access to the most commonly used features of the SAS Graph Template Language. These procedures enable you to create single-cell plots and charts, multi-page classification panels, comparative scatter plots, and scatter plot matrices. The procedures provide many options for customizing the appearance of your graphs.

The SGPIE procedure enables you to create pie and donut charts. This procedure is preproduction.

The ODS Graphics software includes the capability to render maps. The SGMAP procedure is based on the functionality of ODS Graphics. Use the SGMAP procedure to create maps and then overlay plots such as text, scatter, or bubble plots.

Graph Template Language (GTL)

provides the power and flexibility to create advanced statistical graphics. Advanced graph programmers can create customized layouts and graphs with Graph Template Language.

Automatic ODS Graphics from SAS Analytical Procedures

The SAS analytical procedures that support ODS Graphics can produce graphs automatically when ODS Graphics is enabled in SAS code. When ODS Graphics is enabled, the graphs specified as part of any procedure's output are written to the active ODS destinations. You can control the specific graphs that are produced by using the PLOTS= options in the procedure statement or by using the ODS SELECT and ODS EXCLUDE statements. When ODS Graphics is disabled, these procedures do not produce graphs.

ODS Graphics is enabled by default. To disable automatic graphics, use the following statement:

ods graphics off ;

To re-enable automatic graphics, use the following statement:

ods graphics <on> </ options >;

Base SAS statistical procedures CORR, FREQ, and UNIVARIATE support ODS Graphics. See Base SAS Procedures Guide: Statistical Procedures for more information. Many other SAS procedures also support ODS Graphics. To determine whether the procedures that you are using support ODS Graphics, refer to the procedure documentation.