R help - Sep 2008 - plot order in multi-panel figure

Hi, 

Does anyone know if there is a way to 'reset the plot number' on a
traditional graphics device?

For instance, I want to have two plots on stacked top of each other
(mfrow=c(2,1)) but with underlying grid lines spanning both figures vertically.
I can put the grid lines on top if I add them last:

par(mfrow=c(2,1))
plot.new()
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
box(bty="L")
rect(0.2,0.2,0.5,0.5,col=8)

plot.new()
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
box(bty="L")

par(mfrow=c(1,1))
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
abline(v=seq(0,1,by=0.2),lty=3)

But ideally I would like to draw the grid lines before drawing other objects on
top of it, but something like

par(mfrow=c(1,1))
plot.new()
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
abline(v=seq(0,1,by=0.2),lty=3)

par(mfrow=c(2,1))
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
box(bty="L")
rect(0.2,0.2,0.5,0.5,col=8)

plot.new()
plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
box(bty="L")

does not work because the first of the two plots appears in the bottom of the
figure and not the top (as it is interpreted as the second of the mfrow=c(2,1)
plots). I've also played around with layout() but I also get the same
behavior.

I suspect I can do this eventually with grid graphics but was wondering if it is
also possible in traditional graphics. I would appreciate any help - thanks very
much!
Stephen

Stephen Tucker <brown_emu <at> yahoo.com> writes:
> Hi, 
> 
> Does anyone know if there is a way to 'reset the plot number' on a 
traditional graphics device?
> 
> For instance, I want to have two plots on stacked top of each other
(mfrow=c
(2,1)) but with underlying grid
> lines spanning both figures vertically.

Below is one approach using split.screen. See ?split.screen for details.
> split.screen(c(1,1))
[1] 1
> screen(1)
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> abline(v=seq(0,1,by=0.2),lty=3)
> split.screen(c(2,1))
[1] 2 3
> screen(2)
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for(i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
> rect(0.2,0.2,0.5,0.5,col=8)
> screen(3)
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
> close.screen()
[1] 1 2 3

Mark Lyman

You can reset the figure number with the 'mfg' parameter to
'par', but to do what you want you may be able to do using other tools. 
Look at the examples for the cnvrt.coords function in the TeachingDemos package
(you can do similar things with the grconvertX and grconvertY functions) or look
at the subplot function in the TeachingDemos package for another possible
approach.

Hope this helps,

--
Gregory (Greg) L. Snow Ph.D.
Statistical Data Center
Intermountain Healthcare
greg.snow at imail.org
801.408.8111

> -----Original Message-----
> From: r-help-bounces at r-project.org [mailto:r-help-bounces at r-
> project.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Tucker
> Sent: Friday, September 19, 2008 8:37 AM
> To: R-help
> Subject: [R] plot order in multi-panel figure
>
> Hi,
>
> Does anyone know if there is a way to 'reset the plot number' on a
> traditional graphics device?
>
> For instance, I want to have two plots on stacked top of each other
> (mfrow=c(2,1)) but with underlying grid lines spanning both figures
> vertically. I can put the grid lines on top if I add them last:
>
> par(mfrow=c(2,1))
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
> rect(0.2,0.2,0.5,0.5,col=8)
>
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
>
> par(mfrow=c(1,1))
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> abline(v=seq(0,1,by=0.2),lty=3)
>
> But ideally I would like to draw the grid lines before drawing other
> objects on top of it, but something like
>
> par(mfrow=c(1,1))
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> abline(v=seq(0,1,by=0.2),lty=3)
>
> par(mfrow=c(2,1))
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
> rect(0.2,0.2,0.5,0.5,col=8)
>
> plot.new()
> plot.window(c(0,1),c(0,1))
> for( i in 1:2) axis(i)
> box(bty="L")
>
> does not work because the first of the two plots appears in the bottom
> of the figure and not the top (as it is interpreted as the second of
> the mfrow=c(2,1) plots). I've also played around with layout() but I
> also get the same behavior.
>
> I suspect I can do this eventually with grid graphics but was wondering
> if it is also possible in traditional graphics. I would appreciate any
> help - thanks very much!
> Stephen
>
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