If you wish to output a graph on any ITS-supported printer and you're using SAS for UNIX, a Graphics Stream File will be essential, even if no transfer to another operating system is anticipated. (Patrons using SAS for Macintosh or SAS for Windows have the option of printing graphs directly from the Graphics window by clicking File>Print; this method isn't recommended for UNIX SAS/Graph.) Most ITS printers accept PostScript files, and special drivers have been set up in the UNIX environment for PostScript use. These drivers are listed and documented below, as is the procedure for creating and sending a PostScript Graphics Stream File to an ITS printer from a UNIX session.

GSFs are created by specifying the appropriate output device driver to the DEVICE= parameter of the GOPTIONS statement (the GOPTIONS statement is discussed below) and by directing the output of the batch or interactive job to a file, rather than to a screen or other hardcopy device. The ITS documentation on SAS in each operating system has examples and instructions. This documentation can be found at:

http://www.usc.edu/its/doc/statistics/sas/

For full details on creating Graphics Stream Files see the SAS/Graph manuals listed in the References section at the end of this document. For more information on the GOPTIONS statement, see below, and the References.

In summary, to generate a graph in interactive SAS to be printed at a PostScript printer from a UNIX SAS/Graph session, write a program that includes a FILENAME statement that points to a file to hold the PostScript output, and a GOPTIONS statement as in the following example:

FILENAME NICKNAME '<--file specifications for UNIX, Mac or  PC-->';
GOPTIONS  RESET=ALL  DEVICE=PSUSCSM  GSFNAME=NICKNAME
   GSFLEN=80  HSIZE=7  VSIZE=9  BORDER  NOPROMPT;
data temp; input a b;
cards;
56 87
56 89
57 89
57 90
57 91
58 92
68 94
79 98
;
title1 f=duplex c=green 'This is my test graph';
symbol1 c=red i=join v=star;
proc gplot; plot a*b;
run;

It is also possible, of course, to send Graphics Stream Files to printers other than those known to the system you are using to generate the graphs -- indeed, virtually any printer anywhere -- and to create GSFs in systems other than UNIX, Windows or Macintosh. When generating a graph that is to be transferred for printing to a system other than the one on which it was generated, keep in mind that the file containing the graph output must be sent in BINARY mode in whatever file transfer process you use. Also, the outside printer will have certain requirements for the format (usually PostScript, but this varies) and the medium (diskette, tape, ftp, etc.) used for the file that is to be printed as a graph.

USC's Print Center at the Bookstore is an example of an outside place to print graphs generated by SAS. They have color printers up to 11"x14" which will print graphs encoded in PostScript, using the drivers described in this document (e.g., PSUSCSM and PSUSCLG). Please note, however, that it is strongly recommended that you test your graph output on cheap, monochrome printers such as ps_lvlg40, as many outside printing establishments can be expensive. For a list of printers like ps_lvlg40 that your account can access, type printers at your UNIX prompt.