Is it possible to use python string format method with matplotlibs latex capabilities?

Question

With matplotlib, it is possible to use latex to label axes and plots. i.e.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

data = pandas.DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
                         'B': [6, 7, 8, 9, 10],
                         'C': [11, 12, 13, 14,15]})
data['A/B'] = data['A']/data['B']
plt.plot(data['C'], data['A/B'])
new_name1 = 'new_name'
new_name2 = 'new_name'
plt.title(r'$\frac{A}{B}$')
plt.show()

I would like to combine latex with python's string .format method. (While not necessary in this abstracted example, it is in my own work).

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

data = pandas.DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
                         'B': [6, 7, 8, 9, 10],
                         'C': [11, 12, 13, 14,15]})
data['A/B'] = data['A']/data['B']
plt.plot(data['C'], data['A/B'])
new_name1 = 'new_name1'
new_name2 = 'new_name2'
plt.title(r'$\frac{\{\}}{\{\}}$'.format(new_name1, new_name2))
plt.show()

gives me:

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/home/b3053674/Documents/LargeStudy/large_study/plot_locally.py", line 912, in <module>
    plt.title(r'$\frac{\{\}}{\{\}}$'.format(new_name1, new_name2))
KeyError: '\\{\\}'

and

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

data = pandas.DataFrame({'A': [1, 2, 3, 4, 5],
                         'B': [6, 7, 8, 9, 10],
                         'C': [11, 12, 13, 14,15]})
data['A/B'] = data['A']/data['B']
plt.plot(data['C'], data['A/B'])
new_name1 = 'new_name'
new_name2 = 'new_name'
plt.title(r'$\frac{{}}{{}}$'.format(new_name1, new_name2))
plt.show()

gives me:

ValueError: 
\frac{}{}
     ^
Expected \frac{num}{den} (at char 5), (line:1, col:6)

Is it possible to use string formatting with latex in this way? If so, how do I do it?

Holt · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-15 13:54:53Z

3

You need three braces:

plt.title(r'$\\frac{{{}}}{{{}}}$'.format(new_name1, new_name2))

The inner pair {} will be formatted using the given variables, and the outer {{ and }} are escape sequences for single { and }.

edited Jan 15, 2018 at 13:54

answered Jan 15, 2018 at 13:36

Holt

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2 Comments

CiaranWelsh Over a year ago

Aaah of course, switching to latex means we need to use latex escape characters. Perfect, thanks.

Holt Over a year ago

@CiaranWelsh Not really, {{ is a python string format escape sequence.

ForceBru · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-15 13:37:13Z

1

A simple way is to use printf-like formatting:

data = "\frac{%s}{%s}" % ("A", "B")

answered Jan 15, 2018 at 13:37

ForceBru

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