Input with matplotlib

Question

I've got a little problem with matplotlib.

I made an input function which allows me to decide whether I want to print my plot, save it or do both. The problem is with setting variables in my code:

I use input command:

Save_Print_SavPrin = input('Press s = Save, p = Print, b = Both: ')

But for that I need those variables s, p and b. The problem is that I cannot define them before I start defining my plots.

If I do something like this:

p = plt.show()
b = savefig1, savefig2, plt.show()
s = savefig1, savefig2
Save_Print_SavPrin = input('Press s = Save, p = Print, b = Both: ')

I'll get an obivous error that python doesn't know what is savefig1 etc. and it will also prompt plt.show() too soon.

If I take this part of code to the last lines of my code and use this loop, so it will look like this:

Here goes code for plotting things, I have two figures so after fig1 I have savefig1, and after fig2 is this code, almost same, but different output file name.

savefig2 = plt.savefig('S:\Data\Python\Results\PlotB2.png', format='png', dpi=600)


p = plt.show()
b = savefig1, savefig2, plt.show()
s = savefig1, savefig2
Save_Print_SavPrin = input('Press s = Save, p = Print, b = Both: ')


if Save_Print_SavPrin == p:
    plt.show()
elif Save_Print_SavPrin == s:
    savefig1, savefig2
elif Save_Print_SavPrin == b:
    savefig1, savefig2, plt.show()

The problem here that when I put it in the last place in my code, every function will execute, then I will be asked by input what I want and I do those things again, which is pointless. Do you have any idea?

Why not just move every call to plt.savefig() and plt.show() inside your if statements? — DavidG
– DavidG, Commented Mar 7, 2018 at 11:55

DavidG · Accepted Answer · 2018-03-07 12:13:27Z

1

You should not define a variable to plt.show() or plt.savefig() as those functions will be called at that point (and they return None). Instead, put those calls inside your if statements:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

fig1 = plt.figure()
# plot something here

fig2 = plt.figure()
# plot something else here

Save_Print_SavPrin = input('Press s = Save, p = Print, b = Both: ')
# If using Python 2.x, use raw_input()

if Save_Print_SavPrin == "p":
    print("Show figure")
    plt.show()

elif Save_Print_SavPrin == "s":
    print("Saving")
    fig1.savefig("Test1.png")
    fig2.savefig("Test2.png")

elif Save_Print_SavPrin == "b":
    print("Both")
    fig1.savefig("Test1.png")
    fig2.savefig("Test2.png")
    plt.show()

edited Mar 7, 2018 at 12:13

answered Mar 7, 2018 at 12:01

DavidG

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4 Comments

Hiddenguy Over a year ago

It looks like a great idea, but when I press any key p, s or b i got an error that they are not defined.

DavidG Over a year ago

Ah, you are using python2, then yes use raw_input. I will update my answer

Hiddenguy Over a year ago

Perfect everything works great exept one, as I have mentioned before, I have two figures, how to make in a loop so it will save figure 1 and figure 2?

DavidG Over a year ago

@Hiddenguy I've updated my answer for saving multiple figures

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