[R] Editing figure without re-running the plotting code?

[Bert Gunter]

Jim:

Whoaaa...  this is only true for base graphics!

For grid graphics -- on which both lattice and ggplot are built --
there is a defined object structure for graphics complete with
extensive editing capabilities. See, e.g. ?grid.edit in the grid
package.

Both lattice and ggplot can and do take advantage of grid grobs -
graphical objects, e.g. via updating and layering. Whether this is
more or less convenient than editing graphics code is another issue,
but the answer to the query is certainly "yes."

I admit, however, that the modified displayed object must be redrawn
-- you do not work directly and interactively with the display. But
in many ways grid's programmatic editing and redisplay of modified
grobs is more flexible and powerful, I would say. In any case, the
editing capabilities  exist.

-- Bert

On Sun, Mar 10, 2013 at 3:47 PM, Jim Lemon <jim at bitwrit.com.au> wrote:
> On 03/11/2013 02:19 AM, Sherri Heck wrote:
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I am curious if anyone knows of a command/program that would enable one to
>> edit a figure in R once it is created (akin to Matlab).  Currently, if I
>> need to make any changes to the figure I do so and then have to run the
>> plotting portion of the code again.  I have searched the R site mailing
>> lists, etc to no avail.  Any help is greatly appreciated.
>>
> Hi Sherri,
> As Jeff has pointed out, graphics devices in R are almost entirely
> cumulative in operation. You can display something, then add something else,
> but you don't have a buffer for the various objects in a complex plot that
> allows those objects to be altered or deleted.
>
> The playwith package would probably allow you to do what you want, but there
> is a certain amount of learning necessary and you have to navigate the
> complexity that is hidden in most interactive plotting packages. That said,
> if you have to do a lot of this, it is worth the effort.
>
> What most of us do is to build plots up as scripts in an external editor and
> then "source" the scripts. You can make incremental changes and the new plot
> just pops up when you source the code.
>
> Jim
>
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.



-- 

Bert Gunter
Genentech Nonclinical Biostatistics

Internal Contact Info:
Phone: 467-7374
Website:
http://pharmadevelopment.roche.com/index/pdb/pdb-functional-groups/pdb-biostatistics/pdb-ncb-home.htm