topic Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG in SAS Procedures

ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

AndreaVianello — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 14:41:29 GMT

I have a program that prepares a map

proc gmap  map=mappaRMV 
           data=tblTOT   all; 
  id pro_com__t; 
 choro percent  / COUTLINE=green levels=5 ;
 format percent 6.2 ;
 run;

The coloring of the areas is done in shades of blue (Enterprise guide)

If I direct the output with ODS PDF and SAS 9.04.01M8 for Windows I get

While if I direct the output with ODS PDF and same SAS 9.4 for Linux I get

The sas code is EXACTLY THE SAME

Why? Solutions?

Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

antonbcristina — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:10:46 GMT

Hi @AndreaVianello, SAS uses different styles depending on the destination. For complete control with PROG GMAP, I suggest you create a style yourself to control the colour gradient. Here is an example:

/*   DEFINE STYLE   */
%let color1=vligb; /*very light greenish blue  */
%let color2=vigb;  /*vivid greenish blue*/

proc template; 
    define style styles.grad1; 
    parent=styles.listing; 
        style twocolorramp / startcolor=&color1 endcolor=&color2; 
    end; 
run;

You can then use this style in your ODS statements:

ods pdf file="..../choro.pdf" style=grad1;
proc gmap  map=toronto data=pop all; 
  id cfsauid; 
  choro pop  / COUTLINE=green levels=5 ;
  format pop 6.2 ;
run; 
ods pdf close;

This is the resulting choropleth map:

Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

sbxkoenk — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 16:35:11 GMT

Hello,

Why don't you use PROC SGMAP (instead of proc gmap)?

The prefix SG is for Statistical Graphics.

See here:

New SGmap features in SAS 9.4m7
By Robert Allison on Graphically Speaking
September 25, 2020
https://blogs.sas.com/content/graphicallyspeaking/2020/09/25/new-sgmap-features-in-sas-9-4m7/

Ciao,

Koen

Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

ballardw — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:02:06 GMT

If you like the appearance that EG gives you then the steps are

1) determine the current ODS STYLE in effect for your session (might be HTMLBlue)

2) on the code that defines the PDF file add the STYLE= option to use the same style. Or if using the EG interface to set the PDF file options there should be a STYLE option somewhere.

Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

Ksharp — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 06:34:13 GMT

As ballardw suggested, add option STYLE= in your code:

ods pdf file=... style=htmlblue;
proc gmap;
....
run;
ods pdf close;

Re: ods pdf and gmap: PDF output different than EG

AndreaVianello — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:36:21 GMT

Thanks everyone for your help. I was wrong to think the problem was in the proc gmap when it was actually in the ods pdf style.

I also learned how to define a style!

I'll definitely also look into the new features of the proc SGmap .