Important Issues when Producing Graphics Files

How to Make a Picture File

After producing a plot you may want to save it to a picture file for 
further review or inclusion in a document. One way to do this is to 
right-click on the graph, choose "File", and the "Export as image...". You 
will have the option to save the graph as a bmp file to a directory and 
file name of your choice.

You may also want to produce a gif file of the graph. One file can easily 
be produced as shown below. You need to add a few options with a GOPTIONS 
statement. After inserting statements as shown below, PROC GPLOT will 
produce a file called mygraph.gif that is a picture file of the graph. You 
can then insert it directly into a Word document or save it for future 
viewing, making it much easier to adjust the size and layout of the graph 
on the printed page.

GOPTIONS ___ ;

* add these options to produce a gif file;

GOPTIONS GSFNAME=plot GSFMODE=replace DEVICE=gif;
FILENAME plot "c:\plots\mygraph.gif";
  
PROC GPLOT DATA=measurements;
< insert statements >
RUN;


Mass Produce Graphs

Many graphs can be produced within a GPLOT step with adding a BY statement 
or by embedding the process within a SAS macro. Before you run either 
method, it is often wise to clear out the graph window:

* clear graph window;

PROC GREPLAY igout = work.Gseg nofs; DELETE _all_; run; quit;

PC SAS may freeze if too many plots accumulate in the default directory.


The presence of a BY statement will make a separate graph for each level 
or combinations of levels with 2 or more variables. If you have multiple 
values for each subject, an separate plot can help diagnosis potential 
data problems:

PROC SORT DATA=measurements;
BY subject;
RUN;

GOPTIONS .. ;
SYMBOL ..;
AXIS ..;

PROC GPLOT DATA=measurements;
BY subject;
< insert relevant plot statements >
RUN;