[R] update an array of plots in 'real-time' without drawing lags

[David Winsemius]

On May 17, 2013, at 7:04 AM, Martin Batholdy wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I know R is not made for this, but I still wanted to ask if there are possibilities to do this;
> 
> 
> I repeatedly collect data from a database for a given time interval.
> Now I would like to monitor the change of this data with some nice plots.
> 
> I actually have to draw 15 plots to get the whole picture.
> Now I can write a loop that, for a given time interval, updates the data and plots them using one quartz window that is split into subparts with the layout function.
> 
> However, since I redraw every plot every time, the drawing takes some time and it is not an "instant update" that I see.

It is not clear whether this is an asynchronous process that uses new data to draw some of the plots but not others. 

> The plots are slowly redrawn from the upper left corner of the quartz window to the bottom right.
> 
> 
> That makes me wonder;
> Is there a way to buffer the graphical device before updating it?
> Or are there any other solutions for R that enables to smoothly plot / visualize data in 'real-time'?

You can split 'screens' on a graphics device to which you can send plotting output. You already know that you can construct 'layout's. You can have multiple interactive output devices.

The split-screen method is incompatible with layout.

?Devices
?dev.cur
?screen

-- 

David Winsemius
Alameda, CA, USA