[RsR] Traditional vs. lattice graphics

[Martin Maechler]

>>>>> "Valentin" == Valentin Todorov <valentin.todorov using chello.at>
>>>>>     on Wed, 11 Jan 2006 00:31:06 +0100 writes:

    Valentin> Thanks a lot. Actually my pragmatic question
    Valentin> concerned the plots in rrcov, which I have
    Valentin> implemented as base graphics. Since some of them
    Valentin> are quite ugly (these that are multipanel,
    Valentin> comparing classic and robust estimates) I
    Valentin> implemented them with lattice/grid but never dared
    Valentin> to release such a mixed version.

aah.  Well in such case, I'd strongly encourage use of
grid/lattice.  Exactly because such plots are cumbersome to
program with traditional graphics, lattice was based on the much
more powerful grid paradigm.

Martin

    Valentin> ----- Original Message ----- 
    Valentin> From: "Nicholas Lewin-Koh" <nikko using hailmail.net>
    Valentin> To: <r-sig-robust using r-project.org>; "Valentin Todorov"
    Valentin> <valentin.todorov using chello.at>
    Valentin> Cc: "Martin Maechler" <maechler using stat.math.ethz.ch>; "Achim Zeileis"
    Valentin> <Achim.Zeileis using wu-wien.ac.at>
    Valentin> Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 5:53 PM
    Valentin> Subject: Re: [RsR] Traditional vs. lattice graphics


    >> Hi,
    >> In general I agree with Martin and Achim except for one small point.
    >> If you construct your basic plots using grid, it is very easy to
    >> incorporate
    >> them into a lattice framework later, since each plot can sit in a
    >> viewport.
    >> Even better would be to use a framework so the plot is constructed as a
    >> layout
    >> and a series of additions to the plot area, then it is very easy to
    >> write panel functions
    >> for lattice, if conditioning is desired later.
    >> 
    >> My experience with base graphics has been that I can only go so far, and
    >> I have
    >> had to switch to grid in the end. Also, grid seems to integrate pretty
    >> well with s4
    >> classes, even though Paul used s3 classes for grid. It is very natural
    >> to
    >> construct s4 graphics classes with a slot for a vieport tree, and
    >> various grobs.
    >> 
    >> That's my 2c
    >> 
    >> Cheers and happy new year
    >> 
    >> Nicholas