Re: Graphics and DisplayFunction
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg98275] Re: Graphics and DisplayFunction
- From: mark mcclure <mcmcclur at unca.edu>
- Date: Fri, 3 Apr 2009 20:13:21 -0500 (EST)
- References: <gqsn9m$3tr$1@smc.vnet.net> <gr21l6$lq8$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Apr 3, 5:11 am, David Bailey <d... at removedbailey.co.uk> wrote:
> I would forget about the DisplayFunction option - it is more or
> less obsolete.
If DisplayFunction -> f is used as an option to a Plot function
or Show, then f is applied to the result. Since the default
value of DisplayFunction is $DisplayFunction, this makes
$DisplayFunction something like $Post for graphical commands.
This can be quite handy. Here are three example settings for
$DisplayFunction.
* Create a tooltip when hovering over a graph:
$DisplayFunction = Tooltip[#, "On graph!"] &;
* Show graph and also auto-export to a file:
cnt = 0;
$DisplayFunction = (
Export["pic" <> ToString[++cnt] <> ".png",#]; #
)&;
* Send graphics to another program:
df[g_] := Module[
{strm},
strm = OpenWrite["!open -f -a /Applications/Preview.app"];
WriteString[strm, ExportString[g, "EPS"]];
Close[strm]
];
$DisplayFunction = df;
After defining $DisplayFunction by entering any of these
commands, simply enter a graphical command, like
Plot[x^2, {x,-2,2}], to see it in action. The last
example is set up to pipe the output to Preview.app on the
Mac, but I suppose that something similar would work on the
PC. This last one is most interesting if you're running a
text based interface, like the Mac Terminal. To get it to
work in that context you need to install a front end as well
by first entering:
Developer`InstallFrontEnd[];
I actually do this frequently when manipulating Mathematica
from other programs.
So, have fun with DisplayFunction,
Mark McClure