SAS Component Language: Reference

Attributes for Writing Image Files

Writer Attributes for Supported File Types describes the attributes that you can specify for the image writers.

When you are writing images, you must specify the FORMAT= attribute. You can specify this attribute either directly as an argument for the WRITE command or as part of the image-path (if you use the LNAMEMK function to specify the pathname). For example:

/* Specify the FORMAT= attribute directly */
/* as an argument to the WRITE command.   */
rc=imgop(task-id,'WRITE','/user/images/sign.tif', 'format=tiff');

/* Use the LNAMEMK function to specify the image-path, */
/* and include the FORMAT= attribute as part of the path. */
path=lnamemk(5,'mine.images.sign','format=cat');
rc = imgop(task-id,'WRITE',path);

Writer Attributes for Supported File Types
File Type Writer Attributes Comment

BMP FORMAT=BMP

CAT FORMAT=CAT

COMPRESS=G3FAX FAX CCITT Group 3 for monochrome black-and-white images (depth of 1) only.

COMPRESS=G4FAX FAX CCITT Group 4 for monochrome black-and-white images (depth of 1) only.

DESC=desc Desc is a catalog description.

DIB FORMAT=DIB Supported only under the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and OS/2 operating systems.

EMF FORMAT=EMF Supported only under Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT.

EPSI FORMAT=EPSI

GIF FORMAT=GIF

JFIF FORMAT=JFIF Required for writing JPEG files that use the JPEG File Interchange Format.

DCT=mode
Specifies which type of Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to use when processing the image. Mode can be

INT an integer DCT

FAST a faster and less accurate integer DCT

FLOAT a slightly more accurate method that can be much slower unless the host has very fast floating-point hardware.

The results of the floating-point method can vary across host machines, whereas the integer methods should give the same results on all hosts.

GRAYSCALE Produces a gray-scale image even if the JPEG file is in color. This option is useful for viewing on monochrome displays. The reader runs noticeably faster in this mode.

VERSION Writes to the SAS log the version number and copyright messages for the Independent JPEG Group's JFIF software.

BASELINE Generates a baseline JPEG file even for low-quality settings.

OPTIMIZE Optimizes the entropy encoding parameters. This usually results in a smaller JPEG file, but writer processing is longer and more memory is needed. Image quality and speed of decompression are not affected.

PROGRESSIVE Produces a progressive JPEG file in which the data is stored in multiple scans of increasing quality. This option is useful if the file is being transmitted over a slow communications link and the decoder can display each scan as it is received.

QUALITY=n
Scales the quantization tables to adjust for image quality. N must be in the range 0...100. 0 is worst; 100 is best; the default is 75. This option lets you trade file size for quality of the reconstructed image. Normally, you want to use the lowest quality setting that results in an image that is visually indistinguishable from the original image. The optimal value will vary from image to image.

SMOOTH=n
Specifies the strength of the smoothing filter to eliminate dithering noise. N must be in the range 0...100. The default is 0, which disables smoothing. A smoothing factor that is too large blurs the image.

MET FORMAT=MET Supported only under OS/2.

PBM FORMAT=PBM

COMPRESS=NONE Text PBM file (default).

COMPRESS=BINARY Binary PBM file.

COMPRESS=RAW Binary PBM file.

PCL FORMAT=PCL

DPI=num Number of dots per inch to be used in the output file.

EPS Does not reset the printer margins. You can use this option to embed an image into another PCL document.

PICT FORMAT=PICT Supported only in the Macintosh environment.

PNG FORMAT=PNG

PS FORMAT=PS

COMPRESS=NONE Default for color images.

COMPRESS=RLE Run-length encoded; default for gray-scale images.

DPI=num
Number of dots per inch to be used in the output file.

EPS Does not reset the printer margins. You can use this option to embed an image in another PCL document.

PREVIEW Specifies whether a scaled-down, 1-bit, black-and-white preview image is written into the encapsulation header. The preview image enables this file to be read by software (such as SAS) that does not support a real PostScript reader.

PREWIDTH=xPREHEIGHT=y Size of the preview image in pixels if PREVIEW is specified (default: 25% of original size).

XSCALE Directly sets width scaling (default: calculate it).

YSCALE Directly sets height scaling (default: calculate it).

PAGEX Sets the output page width in pixels (default: 612, typical 8.5-inch page).

PAGEY Sets the output page height in pixels (default: 792, typical 11-inch page).

NOFIT Turns off the default of scaling down an oversized image to fit the page. Must be used with XSCALE and YSCALE.

TIFF FORMAT=TIFF

COMPRESS=NONE Default.

COMPRESS=G3FAX FAX CCITT Group 3 for monochrome black-and-white (depth of 1) images only.

COMPRESS=G4FAX FAX CCITT Group 4 for monochrome black-and-white (depth of 1) images only.

WMF FORMAT=WMF Supported only under MicroSoft Windows operating systems.

XBM FORMAT=XBM Supported for writing only from interactive windows under UNIX.

XPM FORMAT=XPM Supported only on the X Window System under UNIX.

***Writer Attributes for Supported File Types***
File Type	Writer Attributes	Comment
BMP	FORMAT=BMP
CAT	FORMAT=CAT
	COMPRESS=G3FAX	FAX CCITT Group 3 for monochrome black-and-white images (depth of 1) only.
	COMPRESS=G4FAX	FAX CCITT Group 4 for monochrome black-and-white images (depth of 1) only.
	DESC=desc	Desc is a catalog description.
DIB	FORMAT=DIB	Supported only under the Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, and OS/2 operating systems.
EMF	FORMAT=EMF	Supported only under Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT.
EPSI	FORMAT=EPSI
GIF	FORMAT=GIF
JFIF	FORMAT=JFIF	Required for writing JPEG files that use the JPEG File Interchange Format.
	DCT=mode	Specifies which type of Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) to use when processing the image. Mode can be
		INT	an integer DCT
		FAST	a faster and less accurate integer DCT
		FLOAT	a slightly more accurate method that can be much slower unless the host has very fast floating-point hardware.
		The results of the floating-point method can vary across host machines, whereas the integer methods should give the same results on all hosts.
	GRAYSCALE	Produces a gray-scale image even if the JPEG file is in color. This option is useful for viewing on monochrome displays. The reader runs noticeably faster in this mode.
	VERSION	Writes to the SAS log the version number and copyright messages for the Independent JPEG Group's JFIF software.
	BASELINE	Generates a baseline JPEG file even for low-quality settings.
	OPTIMIZE	Optimizes the entropy encoding parameters. This usually results in a smaller JPEG file, but writer processing is longer and more memory is needed. Image quality and speed of decompression are not affected.
	PROGRESSIVE	Produces a progressive JPEG file in which the data is stored in multiple scans of increasing quality. This option is useful if the file is being transmitted over a slow communications link and the decoder can display each scan as it is received.
	QUALITY=n	Scales the quantization tables to adjust for image quality. N must be in the range 0...100. 0 is worst; 100 is best; the default is 75. This option lets you trade file size for quality of the reconstructed image. Normally, you want to use the lowest quality setting that results in an image that is visually indistinguishable from the original image. The optimal value will vary from image to image.
	SMOOTH=n	Specifies the strength of the smoothing filter to eliminate dithering noise. N must be in the range 0...100. The default is 0, which disables smoothing. A smoothing factor that is too large blurs the image.
MET	FORMAT=MET	Supported only under OS/2.
PBM	FORMAT=PBM
	COMPRESS=NONE	Text PBM file (default).
	COMPRESS=BINARY	Binary PBM file.
	COMPRESS=RAW	Binary PBM file.
PCL	FORMAT=PCL
	DPI=num	Number of dots per inch to be used in the output file.
	EPS	Does not reset the printer margins. You can use this option to embed an image into another PCL document.
PICT	FORMAT=PICT	Supported only in the Macintosh environment.
PNG	FORMAT=PNG
PS	FORMAT=PS
	COMPRESS=NONE	Default for color images.
	COMPRESS=RLE	Run-length encoded; default for gray-scale images.
	DPI=num	Number of dots per inch to be used in the output file.
	EPS	Does not reset the printer margins. You can use this option to embed an image in another PCL document.
	PREVIEW	Specifies whether a scaled-down, 1-bit, black-and-white preview image is written into the encapsulation header. The preview image enables this file to be read by software (such as SAS) that does not support a real PostScript reader.
	PREWIDTH=xPREHEIGHT=y	Size of the preview image in pixels if PREVIEW is specified (default: 25% of original size).
	XSCALE	Directly sets width scaling (default: calculate it).
	YSCALE	Directly sets height scaling (default: calculate it).
	PAGEX	Sets the output page width in pixels (default: 612, typical 8.5-inch page).
	PAGEY	Sets the output page height in pixels (default: 792, typical 11-inch page).
	NOFIT	Turns off the default of scaling down an oversized image to fit the page. Must be used with XSCALE and YSCALE.
TIFF	FORMAT=TIFF
	COMPRESS=NONE	Default.
	COMPRESS=G3FAX	FAX CCITT Group 3 for monochrome black-and-white (depth of 1) images only.
	COMPRESS=G4FAX	FAX CCITT Group 4 for monochrome black-and-white (depth of 1) images only.
WMF	FORMAT=WMF	Supported only under MicroSoft Windows operating systems.
XBM	FORMAT=XBM	Supported for writing only from interactive windows under UNIX.
XPM	FORMAT=XPM	Supported only on the X Window System under UNIX.

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