Applications of the DATA Step Graphics Interface

With the DATA Step Graphics Interface you can

• enhance existing graphs

• create custom graphs.

Enhancing Existing Graphs

You can use DSGI to enhance graphs that were previously generated by using SAS/GRAPH procedures. You can add text and other graphics elements. You can also alter the appearance of the existing graph by scaling or reducing it. To enhance a graph produced by a SAS/GRAPH graphics procedure, you must insert the existing graph into graphics output being generated with DSGI.

To insert a graph, you must provide DSGI with the following information:

• the catalog in which the existing graph is located

• the name of the existing graph

• the coordinates of the place in the graphics output where you want to insert the existing graph

• a square coordinate system ((0,0) to (100,100))

• the statements to draw enhancements to the existing graph.

The coordinates that DSGI uses to position existing graphs, enhancements to that graph, or graphics elements are based on units of percent of the window system currently defined. See Using Viewports and Windows on page 1376.

Creating Custom Graphs

You can produce custom graphs with DSGI without using a data set to produce the graphics output. DSGI enables you to generate

• arcs

• bars

• ellipses

• elliptical arcs

• lines

• markers

• pie slices

• polygons (filled areas)

• text.

To create custom graphs, you must provide the system with the following information:

• DSGI statements to draw graphics elements

• the coordinates of the graphics elements in the output.

In addition, you can specify the color , pattern, size , style, and position of these graphics elements.