Using Spatial Data with SAS/GIS Software

Building Census Tract Maps

Beginning with Version 7, SAS/GIS software includes a facility for building Census Tract maps for counties in the United States from modified TIGER data that are supplied with SAS/GIS software.

To build Census Tract maps, follow these steps:

Define the libref GISMAPS to point to the location where the Census Tract map data were installed by your SAS administrator. For PC or UNIX systems, this libname may point to a CD-ROM.
Note: Your site administrator may have already assigned the libref for you.
Start SAS/GIS, then select

File Build Census Tract Maps...
to open the Build Census Tract Map window.
With the Geography tab selected, select a state in the State list box. When you select a state, the Available Counties list box is updated to list the state's counties. Build Census Tract Map Window's Geography Tab shows the window with the Geography tab selected.

Build Census Tract Map Window's Geography Tab
To select a county map to build, select the county name in the Available Counties list box and select the right arrow to place the name in the Selected Counties list box.
You can select multiple counties or you can use the right double arrow to select all counties. Note, however, that a large map consisting of several counties requires significant processing time.
Select the Features tab, as shown in Build Census Tract Map Window's Features Tab.

Build Census Tract Map Window's Features Tab
Select the features that you want to include in the map in the Available Features list box, and then select the right arrow to place the feature in the Selected Features list box. By default, the only selected features are the County Boundaries and Census Tract Boundaries. Select the right double arrow to place all available features in the Selected Features list.
Select the Output tab, as shown in Build Census Tract Map Window's Output Tab.

Build Census Tract Map Window's Output Tab
Enter the output location for the map entries and spatial data set entries and specify whether you are creating new entries or overwriting existing entries. These fields contain default values, but you can modify them.
When you have typed information in all the fields, click on [Create]. SAS/GIS builds the selected map and returns a message when it successfully completes.
After the data have been imported, click on [Display] to view the map in SAS/GIS.
When you have finished building maps, click on [Close] to close the Build Census Tract map window.

Chapter Contents
Previous
Next
Top of Page