title:: plot
summary:: Plot data in a graph
categories:: Common methods, GUI


section:: Description
The link::Overviews/Methods#plot#plot method:: provides the ability to plot data in a GUI window. The method is implemented in the link::Classes/ArrayedCollection:: class but is also available for other classes for convenience, including link::Classes/Function::, link::Classes/Bus::, link::Classes/Env::, link::Classes/Buffer::, link::Classes/SoundFile::, link::Classes/Wavetable::.

method:: plot
All arguments are optional.
note::The arguments available vary from object to object. The below list is only for explanation of possible arguments.::


argument:: name
The name to be used as the GUI window title.

argument:: bounds
A link::Classes/Rect:: providing coordinates for the GUI location.

argument:: discrete
Plots are line-plots by default. Set this to code::true:: for bar charts.

argument:: numChannels
The number of interleaved channels that an array represents. For Buffers this argument is not available, since it's filled in automatically.

argument:: minval
Minimum value(s) for the display range. For a Buffer this defaults to code::-1:: but can be changed.

argument:: maxval
Maximum value(s) for the display range. For a Buffer this defaults to code::+1:: but can be changed.

argument:: separately
When finding the right display range in multi channel plots, do this together for all or keep them separate.

argument:: parent
By default the plot is placed in a new GUI window. This argument can be used to specify an existing GUI container to send the plot to.

argument:: labels
By default labels appear at the top left of the plot giving a data readout based on mouse position. Set this argument to code::false:: to prevent them appearing.


discussion::
If code::minval:: and/or code::maxval:: are set to code::nil:: (this is default, except for link::Classes/Buffer::s), they will be automatically calculated from the dataset minimum and/or maximum. For multi-channel data, code::minval:: and code::maxval:: may be arrays, specifying the range independently for each channel (including use of code::nil::, in which case the min/max will be calculated for the specific channel rather than for the overall dataset). When the receiver contains code::nil:: items, the plot fails with an error.

Hitting the strong::E-key:: on the keyboard when the window is focussed toggles the lock, and the window can be used to edit the data.

section:: Examples

note:: See some of the classes linked above for more examples ::

code::
// Arrays
[5, 6, 7, 6.5, 4.5, 3.5].plot("Some data")
[5, 6, 7, 6.5, 4.5, 3.5].plot("Some data, in stereo", numChannels:2)
[5, 6, 7, 6.5, 4.5, 3.5].plot("Some data, in stereo", numChannels:2, discrete: true)

{ |i| { |j| j + 1 * (i + 1) % 6 }.dup(100) }.dup(5).plot("Some 2-d data");

// 3-channel interlaced data
b = [{1.0.rand}.dup(50), { 20.0.rand - 30 }.dup(50),{ 10.0.rand }.dup(50)].lace(150);
b.plot(numChannels:3); // Common rescaling
b.plot(numChannels:3, separately: false);
b.plot(numChannels:3, minval: [nil, -100, nil], maxval: [nil, nil, 10]); // multichannel range parameters

// Envelopes
Env.adsr(0.4, 0.4, 0.8, 0.9).plot

// Buffers
s.boot;
b = Buffer.read(s, ExampleFiles.child);
b.plot; // +-1 range
b.plot(minval: nil, maxval: nil); // auto range
b.plot(minval: 0, maxval: nil); // semi-auto range

// UGen functions
{ LFDNoise3.ar(XLine.ar(1000, 100, 0.1) ! 3) }.plot(0.1);
::
