The LIFEREG Procedure

Plot Options Superseded by ODS Graphics

You can select one of the following two types of graphics in PROC LIFEREG: ODS and traditional. ODS Graphics is the preferred method of creating graphs, superseding traditional graphs.

When ODS Graphics is enabled, you can use the PLOTS= option in the PROC LIFEREG statement to create plots by using ODS Graphics. For more information about ODS Graphics options, see the PLOTS= option. If ODS Graphics is not enabled, then traditional graphics are produced.

You can specify the following option in the PROC LIFEREG statement:

GOUT=graphics-catalog

specifies a graphics catalog in which to save traditional graphical output.

The following options control the appearance of the box in the INSET statement when you use traditional graphics. These options are not available if ODS Graphics is enabled. Table 11 summarizes the options available in the INSET statement.

Table 11: INSET Statement Options

Option Description
CFILL= Specifies the color for the filling box
CFILLH= Specifies the color for the filling box header
CFRAME= Specifies the color for the frame
CHEADER= Specifies the color for text in the header
CTEXT= Specifies the color for the text
FONT= Specifies the software font for the text
HEADER= Specifies the text for the header or box title
HEIGHT= Specifies the height of the text
NOFRAME Omits the frame around the box
POS= Determines the position of the inset
REFPOINT= Specifies the reference point for an inset


All options are specified after the slash (/) in the INSET statement.

CFILL=color

specifies the color for the filling box.

CFILLH=color

specifies the color for the filling box header.

CFRAME=color

specifies the color for the frame.

CHEADER=color

specifies the color for text in the header.

CTEXT=color

specifies the color for the text.

FONT=font

specifies the software font for the text.

HEADER=’quoted string’

specifies the text for the header or box title.

HEIGHT=value

specifies the height of the text.

NOFRAME

omits the frame around the box.

POS=value <DATA | PERCENT>

determines the position of the inset. The value can be a compass point (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW) or a pair of coordinates (x, y) enclosed in parentheses. The coordinates can be specified in screen percentage units or axis data units. The default is screen percentage units.

REFPOINT=name

specifies the reference point for an inset that is positioned by a pair of coordinates with the POS= option. You use the REFPOINT= option in conjunction with the POS= coordinates. The REFPOINT= option specifies which corner of the inset frame you have specified with coordinates (x, y), and it can take the value of BR (bottom right), BL (bottom left), TR (top right), or TL (top left). The default is REFPOINT=BL. If the inset position is specified as a compass point, then the REFPOINT= option is ignored.

Table 12 summarizes the options available in the PROBPLOT statement for traditional graphics.

Table 12: PROBPLOT Statement Options

Option Description
Traditional Graphics
ANNOTATE= Specifies an Annotate data set
CAXIS= Specifies the color for the axes and tick marks
CCENSOR= Specifies the color for filling the censor plot area
CENBIN Plots censored data as frequency counts
CENCOLOR= Specifies the color for the censor symbol
CENSYMBOL= Specifies symbols for censored values
CFIT= Specifies the color for the fitted probability line and confidence curves
CFRAME= Specifies the color for the area enclosed by the axes and frame
CGRID= Specifies the color for grid lines
CHREF= Specifies the color for lines requested by the HREF= option
CTEXT= Specifies the color for tick mark values and axis labels
CVREF= Specifies the color for lines requested by the VREF= option
DESCRIPTION= Specifies a description that appears in the PROC GREPLAY master menu
FONT= Specifies a software font for reference line and axis labels
HCL Computes and draws confidence limits
HEIGHT= Specifies the height of text used outside framed areas
HLOWER= Specifies the lower limit on the lifetime axis scale
HOFFSET= Specifies the offset for the horizontal axis
HREF Draws reference lines perpendicular to the horizontal axis
HREFLABELS= Specifies labels for the lines requested by the HREF= option
HREFLABPOS= Specifies the vertical position of labels for HREF= lines
HUPPER= Specifies value as the upper lifetime axis tick mark
INBORDER Requests a border around probability plots
INTERTILE= Specifies the distance between tiles
ITPRINTEM Displays the iteration history for the Turnbull algorithm
JITTER= Specifies the amount to jitter overlaid plot symbols, in units of symbol width
LFIT= Specifies a line style for fitted curves and confidence limits
LGRID= Specifies a line style for all grid lines
LHREF= Specifies the line type for lines requested by the HREF= option
LVREF= Specifies the line type for lines requested by the VREF= option
MAXITEM= Specifies the maximum number of iterations for the Turnbull algorithm
NAME= Specifies a name for the plot
NOCENPLOT Suppresses the plotting of censored data points
NOCONF Suppresses the default confidence bands
NODATA Suppresses plotting of the estimated empirical probability plot
NOFIT Suppresses the fitted probability (percentile) line and confidence bands
NOFRAME Suppresses the frame around plotting areas
NOGRID Suppresses grid lines
NOHLABEL Suppresses horizontal label
NOHTICK Suppresses horizontal tick marks
NOPOLISH Suppresses setting small interval probabilities to zero
NOVLABEL Suppresses vertical labels
NOVTICK Suppresses vertical tick marks
NPINTERVALS= Displays one of the two kinds of confidence limit
PCTLIST= Specifies the list of percentages for which to compute percentile estimates
PLOWER= Specifies the lower limit on the probability axis scale
PPOS= Specifies the plotting position type
PPOUT Displays a table of the cumulative probabilities
PRINTPROBS Displays intervals and associated probabilities for the Turnbull algorithm
PROBLIST= Specifies the list of initial values for the Turnbull algorithm
PUPPER= Specifies the upper limit on the probability axis scale
ROTATE Requests probability plots with probability scale on the horizontal axis
SQUARE Makes the layout of the probability plots square
TOLLIKE= Specifies the criterion for convergence in the Turnbull algorithm
TOLPROB= Specifies the criterion for setting the interval probability to zero in the Turnbull algorithm
VAXISLABEL= Specifies a label for the vertical axis
VREF Draws reference lines perpendicular to the vertical axis
VREFLABELS= Specifies labels for the lines requested by the VREF= option
VREFLABPOS= Specifies the horizontal position of labels for VREF= lines
WAXIS= Specifies line thickness for axes and frame
WFIT= Specifies line thickness for fitted curves
WGRID= Specifies line thickness for grids
WREFL= Specifies line thickness for reference lines


The following options are available in the PROBPLOT statement if you use traditional graphics—that is, if ODS Graphics is not enabled.

ANNOTATE=SAS-data-set
ANNO=SAS-data-set

specifies an Annotate data set, as described in SAS/GRAPH: Reference, that enables you to add features to the probability plot. The data set you specify with the ANNOTATE= option in the PROBPLOT statement provides the Annotate data set for all plots created by the statement.

CAXIS=color
CAXES=color

specifies the color for the axes and tick marks. This option overrides any COLOR= specifications in an AXIS statement. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CCENSOR=color

specifies the color for filling the censor plot area. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CENBIN

plots censored data as frequency counts (rounding for noninteger frequency) rather than as individual points.

CENCOLOR=color

specifies the color for the censor symbol. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CENSYMBOL=symbol | (symbol list)

specifies symbols for censored values. The symbol is one of the symbol names (plus, star, square, diamond, triangle, hash, paw, point, dot, and circle) or a letter (A–Z). If you do not specify the CENSYMBOL= option, the symbol used for censored values is the same as for failures.

CFIT=color

specifies the color for the fitted probability line and confidence curves. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CFRAME=color
CFR=color

specifies the color for the area enclosed by the axes and frame. This area is not shaded by default.

CGRID=color

specifies the color for grid lines. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CHREF=color
CH=color

specifies the color for lines requested by the HREF= option. The default is the first color in the device color list.

CTEXT=color

specifies the color for tick mark values and axis labels. The default is the color specified for the CTEXT= option in the most recent GOPTIONS statement.

CVREF=color
CV=color

specifies the color for lines requested by the VREF= option. The default is the first color in the device color list.

DESCRIPTION=’string
DES=’string

specifies a description, up to 40 characters, that appears in the PROC GREPLAY master menu. The default is the variable name.

FONT=font

specifies a software font for reference line and axis labels. You can also specify fonts for axis labels in an AXIS statement. The FONT= font takes precedence over the FTEXT= font specified in the most recent GOPTIONS statement. Hardware characters are used by default.

HCL

computes and draws confidence limits for the predicted probabilities based on distribution percentiles instead of the default CDF limits. See the section Confidence Limits for Percentiles for details of the computation.

HEIGHT=value

specifies the height of text outside framed areas. The default value is 3.846 (in percentage).

HLOWER=value

specifies the lower limit on the lifetime axis scale. The HLOWER= option specifies value as the lower lifetime axis tick mark. The tick mark interval and the upper axis limit are determined automatically.

HOFFSET=value

specifies the offset for the horizontal axis. The default value is 1.

HUPPER=value

specifies value as the upper lifetime axis tick mark. The tick mark interval and the lower axis limit are determined automatically.

HREF <(INTERSECT)> =value-list

requests that reference lines perpendicular to the horizontal axis be drawn at horizontal axis values in the value-list. If (INTERSECT) is specified, a second reference line perpendicular to the vertical axis is drawn that intersects the fit line at the same point as the horizontal axis reference line. If a horizontal axis reference line label is specified with the HREFLABELS= option, the intersecting vertical axis reference line is labeled with the vertical axis value. See also the CHREF=, HREFLABELS=, and LHREF= options.

HREFLABELS=’label1’’labeln’
HREFLABEL=’label1’’labeln’
HREFLAB=’label1’’labeln’

specifies labels for the lines requested by the HREF= option. The number of labels must equal the number of lines. Enclose each label in quotes. Labels can be up to 16 characters.

HREFLABPOS=n

specifies the vertical position of labels for HREF= lines. The following table shows the valid values for n and the corresponding label placements.

n Label Placement
1 Top
2 Staggered from top
3 Bottom
4 Staggered from bottom
5 Alternating from top
6 Alternating from bottom

INBORDER

requests a border around probability plots.

INTERTILE=value

specifies the distance between tiles.

ITPRINTEM

displays the iteration history for the Turnbull algorithm.

JITTER=value

specifies the amount to jitter overlaid plot symbols, in units of symbol width.

LFIT=linetype

specifies a line style for fitted curves and confidence limits. By default, fitted curves are drawn by connecting solid lines (linetype = 1), and confidence limits are drawn by connecting dashed lines (linetype = 3).

LGRID=linetype

specifies a line style for all grid lines; linetype is between 1 and 46. The default is 35.

LHREF=linetype
LH=linetype

specifies the line type for lines requested by the HREF= option. The default is 2, which produces a dashed line.

LVREF=linetype
LV=linetype

specifies the line type for lines requested by the VREF= option. The default is 2, which produces a dashed line.

MAXITEM=n1 <,n2>

specifies the maximum number of iterations for the Turnbull algorithm. Iteration history will be displayed in increments of n2 if requested with the ITPRINTEM option. See the section Arbitrarily Censored Data for details.

NAME=’string’

specifies a name for the plot, up to eight characters, that appears in the PROC GREPLAY master menu. The default is ’LIFEREG’.

NOCENPLOT

suppresses the plotting of censored data points.

NOCONF

suppresses the default confidence bands on the probability plot.

NODATA

suppresses plotting of the estimated empirical probability plot.

NOFIT

suppresses the fitted probability (percentile) line and confidence bands.

NOFRAME

suppresses the frame around plotting areas.

NOGRID

suppresses grid lines.

NOHLABEL

suppresses horizontal labels.

NOHTICK

suppresses horizontal tick marks.

NOPOLISH

suppresses setting small interval probabilities to zero in the Turnbull algorithm.

NOVLABEL

suppresses vertical labels.

NOVTICK

suppresses vertical tick marks.

NPINTERVALS=interval-type

specifies one of the two kinds of confidence limits for the estimated cumulative probabilities, pointwise (NPINTERVALS=POINT) or simultaneous (NPINTERVALS=SIMUL), requested by the PPOUT option to be displayed in the tabular output.

PCTLIST=value-list

specifies the list of percentages for which to compute percentile estimates; value-list must be a list of values separated by blanks or commas. Each value in the list must be between 0 and 100.

PLOWER=value

specifies the lower limit on the probability axis scale. The PLOWER= option specifies value as the lower probability axis tick mark. The tick mark interval and the upper axis limit are determined automatically.

PPOS=character-list

specifies the plotting position type. See the section Probability Plotting for details.

PPOS= Method
EXPRANK Expected ranks
MEDRANK Median ranks
MEDRANK1 Median ranks (exact formula)
KM Kaplan-Meier
MKM Modified Kaplan-Meier (default)

PPOUT

specifies that a table of the cumulative probabilities plotted on the probability plot be displayed. Kaplan-Meier estimates of the cumulative probabilities are also displayed, along with standard errors and confidence limits. The confidence limits can be pointwise or simultaneous, as specified by the NPINTERVALS= option.

PRINTPROBS

displays intervals and associated probabilities for the Turnbull algorithm.

PROBLIST=value-list

specifies the list of initial values for the Turnbull algorithm.

PUPPER=value

specifies the upper limit on the probability axis scale. The PUPPER= option specifies value as the upper probability axis tick mark. The tick mark interval and the lower axis limit are determined automatically.

ROTATE

requests probability plots with probability scale on the horizontal axis.

SQUARE

makes the layout of the probability plots square.

TOLLIKE=value

specifies the criterion for convergence in the Turnbull algorithm.

TOLPROB=value

specifies the criterion for setting the interval probability to zero in the Turnbull algorithm.

VAXISLABEL=‘string

specifies a label for the vertical axis.

VREF<(INTERSECT)>=value-list

requests that reference lines perpendicular to the vertical axis be drawn at vertical axis values in the value-list. If (INTERSECT) is specified, a second reference line perpendicular to the horizontal axis is drawn that intersects the fit line at the same point as the vertical axis reference line. If a vertical axis reference line label is specified with the VREFLABELS= option, the intersecting horizontal axis reference line is labeled with the horizontal axis value. See also the CVREF=, LVREF=, and VREFLABELS= options.

VREFLABELS=’label1’ …’labeln’
VREFLABEL=’label1’ …’labeln’
VREFLAB=’label1’ …’labeln’

specifies labels for the lines requested by the VREF= option. The number of labels must equal the number of lines. Enclose each label in quotes. Labels can be up to 16 characters.

VREFLABPOS=n

specifies the horizontal position of labels for VREF= lines. The valid values for n and the corresponding label placements are shown in the following table.

n Label Placement
1 Left
2 Right

WAXIS=n

specifies line thickness for axes and frame. The default value is 1.

WFIT=n

specifies line thickness for fitted curves. The default value is 1.

WGRID=n

specifies line thickness for grids. The default value is 1.

WREFL=n

specifies line thickness for reference lines. The default value is 1.

Last updated: December 09, 2022