How to Create Tiled Graphs in GAUSS

by aptech · Published August 4, 2020 · Updated August 12, 2020

Introduction

Placing graphs next to each other can be a great way to present information. Today we will learn how to create tiled graphs in GAUSS using plotLayout.

We will work through two simple examples where you will learn:

• How to created tiled layouts which are uniform and layouts with graphs of different sizes.
• Which graph types can be used with plotLayout.
• How to clear your tiled graph layouts.

How to use plotLayout

In GAUSS, plotLayout allows you to arrange multiple graphs in a tiled layout. It takes the following inputs:

g_rows

The number of rows in the graph grid.

g_cols

The number of columns in the graph grid.

idx

The cell in which to place the next graph, walking along the rows.

---

Therefore, the call:

plotLayout(2, 3, idx);

will:

1. Split the graph canvas into a 2x3 grid.
2. Place the next graph in the cell corresponding to the value of idx as shown below.

Which Graph Types Can be Used with plotLayout?

Below is a partial list of the GAUSS graph functions which can be used with plotLayout. Each cell is independent and may contain a different graph type.

Example 1: Uniform Grid Layout

Now that we have seen the basics of plotLayout, let's put together a simple example placing 4 graphs in a 2x2 grid.

new;

// Create the vector 0.1, 0.2, 0.3...3.0
x = seqa(0.1, 0.1, 30);

/*
** First subplot
*/

// Divide the graph canvas into a 2x2 grid
// and place the next graph in the 1st cell
plotLayout(2, 2, 1);

// Create 'y1' and draw graph
y1 = exp(x);
plotXY(x, y1);

/*
** Second subplot
*/
plotLayout(2, 2, 2);

y2 = sin(x);
plotXY(x, y2);

/*
** Third subplot
*/
plotLayout(2, 2, 3);

y3 = cos(x);
plotXY(x, y3);

/*
** Fourth subplot
*/
plotLayout(2, 2, 4);

y4 = ln(x);
plotXY(x, y4);

After running the above code, you should see a graph that looks like this:

Clearing the Plot Layout

What do you think would happen if we created another plot right after running the code from the previous section? Let's try it with the code below.

// Create new 'y' by adding uniform random
// numbers to the 'x' created above
y = x + rndu(30,1);

// Draw graph
plotScatter(x, y);

This time your graph should look like this:

As we can see, GAUSS remembers the grid we created with our last call to plotLayout as well as the chosen cell index. This state will persist until one of the following statements has been executed:

// Subsequent graphs will fill the entire graph canvas.
plotClearLayout();

// 1. Clear all data from the GAUSS workspace.
// 2. Clear the current plot layout state, so that new graphs will fill the entire graph canvas.
new;

Example 2: Mixed Size Grid Layout

Sometimes your graphs will look better with tiles of different sizes. Fortunately, as we saw earlier, plotLayout only computes and stores coordinates.

Therefore, each call to plotLayout is independent of any previous calls. As long as your graph tiles do not overlap, each call to plotLayout may use a different grid size. This allows you to mix graphs of different sizes in the same graph canvas.

Let's modify our previous example, so that the third graph takes up the entire second row.

new;

// Create the vector 0.1, 0.2, 0.3...3.0
x = seqa(0.1, 0.1, 30);

/*
** First subplot
*/

// Divide the graph canvas into a 2x2 grid
// and place the next graph in the 1st cell
plotLayout(2, 2, 1);

// Create 'y1' and draw graph
y1 = exp(x);
plotXY(x, y1);

/*
** Second subplot
*/
plotLayout(2, 2, 2);

y2 = sin(x);
plotXY(x, y2);

/*
** Third subplot
**
**     Change to interpret the graph canvas
**     as a 2x1 grid and place the next graph
**     in the second cell.
*/
plotLayout(2, 1, 2);

y3 = cos(x);
plotXY(x, y3);

In this code example, we changed the inputs to plotLayout instructing it to:

• Split the graph canvas into a grid with 2 rows and 1 column.
• Place the next graph in the second cell.

This results in the graph below with the third plot taking up the entire second row of the graph canvas.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you now have another tool in your graph creating toolbox! You have learned how to:

1. Create tiled graphics in GAUSS.
2. Create uniform and mixed size layouts.
3. Clear the plot layout grid.

Next Steps

• How to Mix, Match and Style Different Graph Types.
• Five Hacks For Creating Custom GAUSS Graphics.
• How to Interactively Create Reusable Graphics Profiles.