[R] Graphical table in R

[Marc Schwartz]

On Mon, 2005-01-10 at 14:52 +0000, Dan Bolser wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Jan 2005, Marc Schwartz wrote:
> 
> >On Mon, 2005-01-10 at 11:05 +0000, Dan Bolser wrote:
> >> I would like R to produce some tabulated data in a graphical output. When
> >> I say tabulated data, what I mean is a table with rows and columns. This
> >> would be useful when reading in a big file, performing some analysis on
> >> it, and then wanting to display the results as a table.
> >> 
> >> Something like 
> >> 
> >> plot(x,...)
> >> 
> >> where x is a matrix
> >> 
> >> For example, the result could look (approximatly) like...
> >> 
> >> +-------+-----------+
> >> |     A |         B |
> >> +-------+-----------+
> >> |     1 |     33278 |
> >> |     2 |      6790 |
> >> ...
> >> |    10 |         1 |
> >> |    12 |         6 |
> >> +-------+-----------+
> >> 
> >> 
> >> I havent (and cant) see any way to do this. Is there currently any way to
> >> do this? I imagine it could be put together with various other plotting
> >> 'fundamentals', but the syntax of the layout format could be a pain to get
> >> right. 
> >> 
> >> OK, I just found xtable (Export tables to LaTeX or HTML). Any plans to
> >> make a print.xtable(x,type="X",...) or print.xtable(x,type="png",...) function?
> >> 
> >> Any easy way to convert a latex table to an image without actually doing
> >> 
> >> latex latex.table.file.tex
> >> 
> >> dvi2png latex.table.file.dvi
> >> 
> >> ?
> >
> >It is not entirely clear what you want to do with the table once you
> >have created it. That piece of information might be helpful in
> >attempting to offer some ideas.
> >
> >In lieu of that, here are some additional pointers:
> >
> >1. Review the output and code for:
> >
> >demo(plotmath)
> >
> >
> >2. Review the latex() and html() functions in Frank Harrell's Hmisc
> >package, which provide additional functionality along with xtable().
> >
> >
> >3. Review these two posts regarding a general approach to plotting
> >tables:
> >
> >http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/02b/0345.html
> >http://tolstoy.newcastle.edu.au/R/help/02b/0342.html
> 
> Thanks very much.
> 
> I want either an image of a table, or to include a table in an existing
> plot (i.e. to supplement a plot).


OK. Then points 1 and 3 might be most helpful.

One of the other things to consider, is that the legend() function can
also be "tweaked" to create a multi-column table as an inset into an
existing plot. 

As a very simplistic example:

# Create a basic blank plot
plot(1:60, type = "n")

# Construct text for the table
legend.txt <- as.matrix(as.data.frame(UCBAdmissions))

# Format the final column to have 2 decimal places
# and have it be right justified
legend.txt[, 4] <- format(as.numeric(legend.txt[, 4]), nsmall = 2)

# Set a monospace font for table alignment
par(family = "mono")

# Plot the legend in 4 columns
legend(1, 60, legend = legend.txt, ncol = 4)


Take a look at ?legend and the various formatting functions.

And....as Andy just mentioned in his reply, the textplot() function in
the gplots package in the gregmisc bundle, which I always forget
about...  :-)

HTH,

Marc