ODS

The output delivery system

SAS Lecture 6 ODS and

graphs

Aidan McDermott,
May 2, 2006
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The output delivery system

The output delivery system

During the 1990s SAS introduced a more extensive
way of dealing with SAS output called the output
delivery system or ODS for short. Until then:
Each procedure decided what tables to print and in what
format.
And this created difficulties:
Inconsistency in output formats between different procedures
Some procedures did not produce certain output datasets
Output was designed largely for line-printers (except for
graphics output) and used monospace fonts.

The ODS combines raw data with table definitions to

produce output objects
These objects can be sent to ODS destinations:
traditional monospace output
output for high-resolution printers
datasets
HTML
LaTeX etc.

The ODS provides table definitions that define the

structure of the output. You can customize these
definitions or create your own.
Procedures no longer handle output but pass the raw
data and a table name to the ODS.

The output delivery system

The output delivery system

Destination Examples:
Destination

Produces

listing
output

Listing output
SAS datasets

HTML
printer
latex

HTML output
Postscript, pdf,
LaTeX source

Numeric data is stored at

machine precision.
You can change the
default table definition.

Extendable to new destinations in the future

You use the ODS statement to specify one or more
destinations.

ODS creates output objects.

Each output object contains the results of a
procedure or DATA step (the data component)
and may also contain information about how to
render the results (the table definition).

This is somewhat
reminiscent of variable
values and formats. 6

The output delivery system

The output delivery system

ODS creates a link to each output object in the
Results window and identifies each output
object by the appropriate icon.

The ODS statement

PDF output

ODS is a global statement -- can go anywhere

used to choose a destination
used to choose which objects to send to the destination
and which to exclude
options nodate nonumber;
ods printer pdf file = odsprinter.pdf;
proc reg data=mydata;
model y = x;
run;
ods printer close;
will produce a pdf file for printing. (Use PS for a
postscript file.)

Producing HTML

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HTML example

One the most important features of the ODS is its

ability to produce HTML
The ODS HTML statement can create:
a body file containing the results from procedures
a table of contents that links to the body file
a table of pages that links to the body file
a frame that displays the table of contents, the table of
pages and the body file

ods html file = odshtml-body.htm

contents=odshtml-contents.htm
page=odshtml-page.htm
frame=odshtml-frame.htm;
proc univariate data=infant;
var rate98 rate99;
title;
run;
ods html close;

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ODS

HTML example

ods html
file = body.htm
contents= contents.htm
page= page.htm
frame= frame.htm;

You can control which objects get printed to the

html files by naming them.
Proc univariate produces five output objects, to
find out what they are called you can use the
trace statement (or look in the help):
ods trace on;

this will write a list of objects to the log:

ods trace on;
proc univariate data=infant;
var rate98 rate99;
run
ods trace off;

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Log

HTML example
ods html file = odshtml-body.htm
contents=odshtml-contents.htm
page=odshtml-page.htm
frame=odshtml-frame.htm;
ods select BasicMeasures Quantiles;
proc univariate data=infant;
var rate98 rate99;
title;
run;
ods html close;
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HTML example

You can control the format of the output by using proc

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template to change the default template.

HTML example

ods html body = c:\myhtml\admit.htm;

You can, of course, output the body only if you

wish:
ods html body = c:\myhtml\admit.htm;
proc print data=clinic.admit label;
var sex age height weight actlevel;
label actlevel=Activity Level;
run;

proc print data=clinic.admit label;

var sex age height weight actlevel;
label actlevel=Activity Level;
run;
ods html close;

ods html close;

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Default destination

ODS - creating datasets

By default the listing destination is open.

You can create an output dataset by using the

OUTPUT destination:
ODS OUTPUT output-object=SAS-data-set;
/* close the listing */
ods listing close;

You can close it by typing:

ods listing close;
Or by setting the results tab in the preferences window

/* Ask for the dataset measures to be made */

ods output BasicMeasures=measures;
proc univariate data=infant;
var rate98 rate99;
title ;
run;
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ODS - creating datasets

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URLs
ods html body=c:\records\data.html
contents= c:\records\toc.html
frame=c:\records\frame.html;

/* Open HTML */
ods html body=measutes-body.htm
contents=measures-contents.htm
frame=measures-frame.htm;
proc print data=measures noobs
headings=horizontal;
title Output dataset produced from univariate;
run;
/*Reset the destinations to their defaults */
ods html close;
ods listing ;

toc.html contains a
reference to
c:\records\data.html
frame.html contains a
reference to
c:\records\toc.html
and
c:\records\data.html

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URLs

Path option

If you move the web pages to a new location or put

them on a web server you would need to update all the
references.
Instead use a URL specification:
ods html body='c:\records\data.html' (url='data.html')
contents='c:\records\toc.html' (url='toc.html')
frame='c:\records\frame.html';

Ok if data.html and toc.html are at the same location as

frame.html
ods html body='c:\records\data.html'
(url='http://mysite.com/myreports/data.html')
contents='c:\records\toc.html'
(url='http://mysite.com/mycontents/toc.html')
frame='c:\records\frame.html';

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Putting the full pathname in each of the body, contents,

and frame is not a good idea. Instead you can use the
path otpions:
ods html path = c:\records (url=none)
body='data.html' (url='data.html')
contents='toc.html' (url='toc.html')
frame='frame.html';

Using relative paths is usually a good idea.

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Style

Word and Excel

You can change the appearance of the html by using the

style option.
ods listing close; ods html
body='c:\records\data.html'(url='data.html')
contents='c:\records\toc.html'(url='toc.html')
frame='c:\records\frame.html'

The html destination is an excellent way to transfer

your SAS output to Microsoft Word or Excel.
Some things to note:
Use a gif device driver to translate graphic output.
Use colors and fonts compatible with Word and Excel.
Colors may be given in cxRRGGBB format where RR is
for red GG for green and BB for blue, so cxFF0000 is
pure red (numbers are in hexadecimal).

style=brick;

Other styles:
beige, brick, brown, D3D,
default, minimal

goptions device = gif570 colors=(cxAAAA00,cx555500);

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Example

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Example

We have two causes of mortality data for two U.S.

cities by sex, agegroup for the years 1987 to 2000.
We wish to make a plot and a table and transfer the
results to Excel say. The data looks like this:

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Example

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Example

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Two types of graph maker

SAS/GRAPH
There are a small number of graphic types
commonly used in public health presentations
and publication.
These basic types are either used alone or
mixed together to form a composite graphic.
Here we will look at how to build some of these
basic types of graph.
Golden Rule: Everybody is a graph critic.

If you are using SAS for statistics and data management

then it seems natural to use it to produce your graphs as
well. Sometimes a statistical procedure will produce the
graph you are looking for anyway.
Need a one-off graph for a presentation versus
production line graphs.
To produce quick and dirty graphs you can use
Graph-n-go.
Very easy to use; not bad for putting multiple graphs on one
page; data viewer is a graph type; only a small number of
graph types available; not all options available; labor intensive
so not suitable for production line graphs.

Use SAS/Graph procedures

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Very flexible; complete control over graphic elements; less

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labor intensive in the long run; harder to learn; same control
can be used for SAS/STAT graphics output.

Some common types of graph

Charts
Histograms
Stem and leaf plots
Boxplots
Plots
Contour plots / 3-dimensional plots
Maps
Gantt charts
Trellis plots
Trees / pedigrees / dendograms
(mathematical) graphs / networks
Flow charts / entity-relationship diagrams

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Graph basics

Graphic output within SAS

You have already seen some graphic output
from within SAS.
proc means, proc univariate, proc genmod,
proc lifetest etc. all produce graphs
Other procedures in SAS specifically produce
graphs, even some procedures that are not part
of SAS/Graph (proc boxplot is an example)
Here our aim is to produce
publication/presentation-- quality graphs.
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SAS stores graphs in catalogs (an entity similar to a

folder in windows).
Graphs are stored in a SAS proprietary format.
By default graphs are stored in a catalog called Gseg
in the work library.
Graphs can be translated to postscript, gif, jpeg, and
a number of other commonly used formats for
printing or including in other documents (Word,
html, etc.).
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GOPTIONS

Graphic control

set the environment for a graphics program to

run and send output

There are three ways to control the look of a

sas/graph.

independent of the program

remain in effect for the entire SAS session
unless changed or reset

1. Use options within the procedure

2. Use global commands
3. Use goptions

control appearance of graphic elements by

specifying default fonts, colors, text heights
etc.
Useful when you want the same options in
multiple procs

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PROC GOPTIONS

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GOPTIONS
GOPTIONS options-list
ROTATE= portrait or landscape
(will override the setting in the print dialog
box)

used to review current GOPTIONS

lists alphabetically all of the current
GOPTIONS in the LOG window

RESET=ALL resets all options to

defaults including all
global statements

proc goptions;
run;
Can also type goptions at the command
line

RESET=GOPTIONS resets only goptions

statements
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Data

COLORS=device dependent default

color list for device driver

From the SAS samples folder.

Three Californian pollutant monitoring
stations (AZU, LIV, SFO)
One monthly measurement (taken on the
15th of the month) for CO, O3, SO4,
temperature etc. for each station.

GUNIT= unit of measurement for

height in global statements, such as
TITLE and FOOTNOTE
cell - character cells
pct - percent of graphics area
in - inches

36 observations in all

Month is a numeric variable taking the

value 1 for January, 2 for February, etc.
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Californian Air pollutant Data

ca88air

Charts
Examples
Look for graphic elements in each chart
Look for common data types
Look for similarities among the examples

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Charts
All the examples used a small number of
graphic elements
Main difference between plots is the
polygon/area type
Most involved a categorical/discrete
variable and a numeric variable.
A histogram uses a continuous variable to
create categories. The counts of a categorical
variable can be used to create the numeric
variable.
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Proc GCHART

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Proc GCHART example

proc format; value seas 1 = Win 2 = Spr
3 = Sum 4 = Fal;

produces charts based on the values of one or

more chart variables.

data ca88air;
set vol1.ca88air(where=(station=SFO));

produces vertical and horizontal bar charts,

block charts, pie charts etc.
graphs based on statistics - counts, percentages,
sums, or means
run-group processing
numeric and character variables
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if ( month in (12,1,2) ) then season = 1;

else if ( month in (3,4,5) ) then season = 2;
else if ( month in (6,7,8) ) then season = 3;
else if ( month in (9,10,11)) then season = 4;
format season seas.;
format month mth.;
run;

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Proc GCHART example

title1 h=4
Mean seasonal carbon monoxide for station SFO;
footnote j=l h=4 f=simplex
'Bar Chart - vertical;
proc gchart data=ca88air;
vbar season / sumvar=co type=mean
discrete
ctext=black clm=95 ;
run;
quit;
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Proc GCHART syntax

VBAR
separate bar chart for each chart
variable

PROC GCHART data=data set name;

One of the following:
VBAR variables
HBAR variables
STAR variables
PIE
variables
BLOCK variables

/
/
/
/
/

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each bar represents the statistic selected

for a value of the chart variable

options;
options;
options;
options;
options;

response axis (vertical) provides a scale

for statistic graphed
midpoint axis - horizontal axis

run;
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VBAR SYNTAX

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VBAR
midpoints are the values of the chart
variable that identify categories of data.
By default, midpoints are selected or
calculated by the procedure. The way
the procedure handles the midpoints
depends on whether the values of the
chart variable are character, discrete
numeric, or continuous numeric.
character chart variables- separate bar
is drawn for each value

VBAR chart variables/ options;

chart-variable(s)
specifies one or more variables that
define the categories of data to chart.
options
specifies appearance, statistics, axes
and midpoint options

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VBAR

VBAR OPTIONS

numeric chart variables - each bar represents

a range of values
- DISCRETE option generates a midpoint
for each unique value of the chart variable.

- generates midpoints that represent ranges

of values. By default, determines the
ranges, calculates the median value of each
range, and displays the median value at
each midpoint on the chart. A value that
falls exactly halfway between two midpoints
is placed in the higher range.

For character or discrete numeric

values, you can use the MIDPOINTS=
option to rearrange the midpoints or to
exclude midpoints from the chart.
For character data
MIDPOINTS= list values in quotes
MIDPOINTS=Sydney Atlanta Paris

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VBAR OPTIONS

VBAR OPTIONS

For continuous numeric variables, use the

MIDPOINTS= option to change the number
of midpoints, to control the range of values
each midpoint represents, or to change the
order of the midpoints. To control the range
of values each midpoint represents, use the
MIDPOINTS= option to specify the median
value of each range. For example, to select
the ranges 20-29, 30-39, and 40-49, specify
MIDPOINTS=25 35 45
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VBAR SYNTAX

Other options;
DISCRETEseparate bar for each value of
numeric variable
TYPE=statistic specifies the chart statistic.
FREQ frequency
PCT
percentage
SUM
sum (the default)
MEAN mean
CLM=confidence-level draws chart confidence
intervals (error bars)

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GLOBAL STATEMENTS
define titles, footnotes

SUMVAR=variable
specifies variable to used for sum or mean
calculations for each midpoint. The
resulting statistics are represented by
the length of the bars along the response
axis, and they are displayed at major tick
marks. REQUIRED if specifying TYPEMEAN or SUM.

used to control axes, symbols, patterns, and

legends
can be defined anywhere
inside a proc or before a proc

in effect until canceled, replaced, or the end

of SAS session
cancel by repeating statement with no
options or using
goptions RESET=ALL;

RAXIS= axisn response axis

MAXIS=axisn midpoint axis
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GLOBAL STATEMENTS

TITLE STATEMENT

TITLE
AXIS

defines titles
defines appearance of axes

FOOTNOTE

defines footnotes

PATTERN

defines patterns used in

graphs (histograms)

LEGEND

defines legends

SYMBOL
NOTE

defines symbols (plotting)

adds text to graph
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Title syntax

PATTERN STATEMENT

TITLE<1,2....10> <options | text> ......

<options-n>| text-n>;
Options:
FONT=font
specifies the font for the
subsequent text.

defines the characteristics of patterns

used in charts
type of fill pattern - solid, empty, lined
color

HEIGHT=
specifies the height of text
H=n<units> characters in number of units
JUSTIFY=
J=R|L|C

specifies the alignment

By default, JUSTIFY=C=center
R=right L=left.
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PATTERN STATEMENT

An example of a global statement

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Proc GCHART example

PATTERN <1....99> options;

pattern1 color=blue value=fill;

pattern2 color=red value=fill;

OPTIONS

COLOR= pattern color

VALUE=
E
S
Ln
Rn
Xn
where n

creates, changes or cancels a title for all

subsequent graphics output in a SAS session
allowed up to 10 titles
keyword TITLE can be followed by
unlimited number of text strings and
options
text strings enclosed in single or double
quotes
most recently created TITLE number
replaces the previous TITLE of the same
number
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fill
empty
solid
left slanting lines
right slanting lines
crosshatched lines
is 1-5
1 indicating the lightest

proc gchart data=ca88air;

star month / sumvar=co type=mean
discrete
ctext=black noheading ;
run;
quit;

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Exporting graphs
Make sure the graphics window has focus,
by clicking on it.
File export as Image
select type of image gif,
open other software program Powerpoint
insert picture

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Saving graphs

PROC GPLOT

Graphs can also be saved in a SAS catalog.

They are stored in a SAS proprietary format.
They can be viewed with proc greplay.

graphs one variable against another

producing presentation quality plots
coordinates of each point correspond to
the values in one or more observations of
the input data set.

goptions replace;
libname mylib c:\Temp\sasclass\myfiles;
proc gchart data=mydat gout=lib.mygraphs;

run-group processing
- procedure does not end with a run
- submit new statements and produce
more graphs without another PROC
- ends with QUIT or PROC or DATA

proc greplay allows multiple plots on one page.

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VERTICAL AXIS Y variable

Proc GPLOT
produces two-dimensional graphs that
plot one variable against another within
a set of coordinate axes
graphs are automatically scaled to the
values of your data, although scaling
can be controlled with options or with
AXIS statements.
scatterplots, bubble plots plots, plots
with interpolated lines (SYMBOL
statement)
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Tick Marks

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Values

HORIZONTAL AXIS

X variable
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GPLOT SYNTAX

GPLOT SYNTAX
Graphics options on PLOT statement

PROC GPLOT data=data-set-name <options>;

PLOT request list </options list>;

CTEXT= color
LEGEND= LEGENDn

request list is of the form:

(uses nth global LEGEND statement)

vertical*horizontal e.g.
PLOT y*x;

HAXIS=AXISn
(uses nth global AXIS statement)

vertical*horizontal=variable e.g.
PLOT y*x=z;

VAXIS=AXISn
(uses nth global AXIS statement)
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Proc GPLOT example

Suppose we are asked to draw a plot of ozone
by month for the three stations SFO, LIV,
AZU. After consulting the help we might try:
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month;
run;
quit;

which produces:
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Proc GPLOT example

Increase the size of the text

use a format to print out Month names
clear the unwanted footnote
GOPTIONS gunits=pct htext=4;
footnote1;
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month ;
format month mth.;
title1 '1988 Air Quality Data - Ozone';
run;

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Proc GPLOT example

back to the help

you can make a stratified plot by station
x axis too crowded - use a different format
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month = station;
format month mthc.;
title1 '1988 Air Quality Data - Ozone';
run;

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Proc GPLOT example

the symbols in the plot are too small

use symbol global statements!
symbol1 v=dot i=join c=blue h=1.3;
symbol2 v=dot i=join c=green h=1.3;
symbol3 v=dot i=join c=brown h=1.3;
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month = station;
format month mthc.;
title1 '1988 Air Quality Data - Ozone';
run;

Proc GPLOT example

The x-axis is not right - use an axis global statement
axis1 minor = none
label = (f=simplex j=c
'Ozone levels at three locations')
major = (h=1.1)
order = (0 to 13 by 1)
value = (f=simplex h=3.0);
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month = station / haxis=axis1;
format month mthc.;
title1 '1988 Air Quality Data - Ozone';
run;

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Proc GPLOT example

Proc GPLOT example

The x-axis has extra characters - use a new format or

use an axis global statement
y-axis label need to be rotated and placed in center of
axis
legend needs moving - legend global command
axis1 minor = none
label = (f=centb j=c
'Ozone levels at three locations')
major = (h=1.0)
order = (0 to 13 by 1)
value = (f=simplex h=3.0
" " "J" "F" "M" "A" "M" "J
"J" "A" "S" "O" "N" "D" " ");

axis2 label = (f=centb rotate=0 angle=90 j=c 'Ozone')

value = (f=simplex h=3.0) ;
legend1 across=3
position=(bottom center inside)
label=none;
proc gplot data=ca88air;
plot o3 * month = station / haxis=axis1 vaxis=axis2;
format month mthc.;
title1 '1988 Air Quality Data - Ozone';
run;

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proc g3d and proc contour produce

3-dimensional analogs of gplot

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