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Par Mfrow C 2 2 Not Working

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The Perplexing Case of `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))`: Why Your R Plots Aren't Behaving



Have you ever found yourself staring at a blank R console, your carefully crafted code seemingly ignoring your instructions? The frustration is real, especially when grappling with the seemingly simple task of arranging multiple plots on a single page using `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))`. This seemingly straightforward command, designed to create a 2x2 grid of plots in R, sometimes refuses to cooperate, leaving users puzzled and their plots scattered across the screen. This article dives deep into the common causes of this frustrating behavior, offering troubleshooting steps and illuminating the underlying principles of plotting in R.


Understanding `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))`



The `par()` function in R is a powerful tool for controlling graphical parameters. `mfrow` (which stands for "matrix of figures, rows") is one such parameter. `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` tells R to arrange subsequent plots in a 2x2 matrix – two rows and two columns. This means that the next four plots you generate will be neatly arranged within this grid. It's a crucial function for comparing visualizations side-by-side, efficiently presenting multiple aspects of the same data, or simply making your output more concise and readable.

Crucially, `mfrow` sets the layout before you create your plots. Any plots generated after the `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` command will be placed within the 2x2 grid until the grid is filled or you change the plotting parameters again.


Common Reasons Why `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` Fails



Several issues can prevent `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` from working as expected. Let's examine the most prevalent ones:

1. Incorrect Placement: The `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` command must be placed before the plotting commands. If you place it after creating a plot, it will affect only subsequent plots. The first plot will be displayed separately.

2. Overwriting the Parameter: If you inadvertently call `par(mfrow = ...)` multiple times with different parameters, the last call will overwrite previous settings. Make sure you only set `mfrow` once before generating your plots.

3. Conflicting Graphics Devices: R can use different graphics devices (like the default screen device, a PDF file, or a PNG file). If you switch between devices, your `mfrow` settings might not be retained across devices. It's best to set `mfrow` after opening the graphics device. For example, if you're creating a PDF, use `pdf("myplots.pdf")` before `par(mfrow=c(2,2))`.

4. Hidden Plots: Sometimes plots are created but aren't visible due to overlapping windows or incorrect sizing. Check your R environment for any minimized or hidden plot windows.

5. Incorrect Data or Plotting Functions: The issue might not lie with `par()` but with the data used in your plotting functions or the functions themselves. Errors in data handling or improperly formatted plotting commands can lead to unexpected results. Double-check your data and your plotting code for errors.

6. Namespace Conflicts: If you are using packages that define their own plotting functions, there might be conflicts with base R's plotting functions. Ensure your code is using the intended plotting functions and not inadvertently using functions from a conflicting package.


Troubleshooting and Solutions



Let's tackle some specific scenarios:

Scenario 1: Plot appears alone, not in the grid: Ensure `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` is placed before any plotting commands.

Scenario 2: Only some plots appear in the grid: You might have generated more plots than the grid can accommodate. Either reduce the number of plots or adjust `mfrow` to a larger grid (e.g., `c(3, 2)`).

Scenario 3: Plots appear on separate windows: You might be inadvertently creating new graphics devices. Use `dev.off()` to close existing devices before starting a new plot series.

Scenario 4: The plots are blank or show error messages: Check for errors in your data or plotting functions. Use `print()` statements to inspect the values of your variables before they're used in plotting commands.


Real-life Application



Imagine you're an economist analyzing inflation rates across different sectors. You could use `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` to display four plots simultaneously: inflation in manufacturing, services, agriculture, and overall inflation. This allows for immediate visual comparison, highlighting trends and relationships that might be missed if the plots were displayed separately. Similar applications extend to fields like bioinformatics (comparing gene expression), environmental science (plotting pollutant levels), and finance (displaying stock prices).


Summary



The `par(mfrow = c(2, 2))` function is a vital tool for creating multi-panel plots in R. However, its apparent simplicity can be deceiving. Understanding the order of operations, potential conflicts with other functions and graphics devices, and thoroughly checking your data and code are key to successfully using this powerful plotting parameter. By addressing the common pitfalls discussed here, you can efficiently organize and present your data visualizations in a clear and compelling manner.


FAQs



1. Q: Can I use `mfcol` instead of `mfrow`? A: Yes, `mfcol` arranges plots column-wise instead of row-wise.

2. Q: What if I want a 3x2 grid? A: Use `par(mfrow = c(3, 2))`.

3. Q: How do I reset the plotting parameters to the default? A: Use `par(mfrow = c(1, 1))` to return to a single-plot layout.

4. Q: My plots are too small. How do I adjust their size? A: You can adjust the figure size using parameters like `pin` within the `par()` function or by setting the size of the graphic device when creating it.

5. Q: Can I use `mfrow` with other plotting libraries like `ggplot2`? A: `ggplot2` uses a different approach to arranging plots. It utilizes functions like `grid.arrange()` from the `gridExtra` package or `patchwork` for combining multiple `ggplot2` plots. `par(mfrow=...)` is specifically for base R graphics.

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Search Results:

r - When using par(mfrow=c(2,1)) the graphs are not shown while … 28 Mar 2022 · The problem is not that the plot is closed with dev.off(), the problem is that it nevers shows up when adding the line to save the file. I edited my question to add that I'm using Rstudio and to use an example that can be replicated.

R Graphics: Multiple Graphs and par (mfrow= (A,B)) We use the syntax par(mfrow=(A,B)) . . . where A refers to the number of rows and B to the number of columns (and where each cell will hold a single graph). This syntax sets up a plotting environment of A rows and B columns. First we create four vectors, all of the same length.

[R] par() function does not work - ETH Z Hi Fabio Works OK for me. > par (mfrow=c (2,2)) > par ("mfrow") [1] 2 2 > But then I am using Windows ... > sessionInfo () R version 2.7.1 (2008-06-23) i386-pc-mingw32 locale: LC_COLLATE=English_United Kingdom.1252;LC_CTYPE=English_United Kingdom.1252;LC_MONETARY=English_United …

How to Use Par Function in R? - GeeksforGeeks 20 Dec 2021 · We can use the par () function in R to create multiple plots at once. This helps us to create a figure arrangement with fine control. To create multiple plots in the same window in the R Language, we first divide the frame into the desired grid by using the mfrow argument of the par () …

ggplot2 - par (mfrow) in R for ggplot - Stack Overflow I tried doing a par(mfrow= c(3,3)) to get all 9 plots in 1 screen but it doesn't work. I have to use ggplot.

Use par mfrow to split screen – the R Graph Gallery The par() function allows to set parameters to the plot. The mfrow() parameter allows to split the screen in several panels. Subsequent charts will be drawn in panels. You have to provide a vector of length 2 to mfrow(): number of rows and number of columns.

par Function in R (3 Examples) | How to Apply mfrow, mar & bg … In this R tutorial you’ll learn how to set or query graphical parameters using the par function. Table of contents: Let’s dig in. In Example 1, I’ll illustrate how to draw a graphic containing multiple plot windows in R. For this task, we have to use the mfrow argument of the par function: Now, we can draw multiple plots in the same graphic:

12.3 Arranging plots with par(mfrow) and layout() | YaRrr 12.3 Arranging plots with par(mfrow) and layout() R makes it easy to arrange multiple plots in the same plotting space. The most common ways to do this is with the par(mfrow) parameter, and the layout() function. Let’s go over each in turn:

How to Use the par() Function in R - Statology 14 Jul 2021 · You can use the par() function in R to create multiple plots at once. This function uses the following basic syntax: #define plot area as four rows and two columns par(mfrow = c(4, 2)) #create plots plot(1:5) plot(1:20) ...

par(mfrow) doesn't work : r/RStudio - Reddit 27 May 2024 · I'm trying to plot 4 plots together with par function and plot. If i try to plot something random it works, but when i try these 4 it doesn't work. I already tried using graphics.off().

How do I reset mfrow? - Medium 27 Mar 2022 · To do that we can simply reset the value of the mfrow parameter to c(1, 1). par(mfrow = c(1, 1)) We could alternatively shut down our graphics device by calling the function dev.off() .

Why is `par(mfrow=c(3,2))` not working here with `densityplot()`? 21 Mar 2014 · par(mfrow=c(A,B)) not plotting: Density and QQ plots using the package ggpubr and ggdensity() and ggqqplot() functions

par (mfrow) not creating multiple graphs in single plot 15 Jul 2020 · par(mfrow=c(1,2)) is a command for base R plotting and will not work in interplay with the {ggplot2} package. If you want to combine ggplots, have a look at the patchwork and cowplot packages.

plot - How to reset par(mfrow) in R - Stack Overflow 23 Sep 2011 · Just add par(mfrow=c(1, 1)) after running those functions and you're good to go. You can reset the plot by doing this: This works when working interactively but can break document generation systems like knitr\pandoc. If you do not check if there is anything to close, you will have an error. It is better to use: if(dev.cur() > 1) dev.off()

par(mfrow=c(1,2)) not displaying side-by-side densityplots 28 Jun 2015 · However, when I try to do a side-by-side densityplot the plots get output seperately: Why is par(mfrow=c(1,2)) not working for the density plots? Note: densityplot is not documented in UsingR but does exist. There is also DensityPlot but it uses base graphics. densityplot is also not in the namespace so I'm not sure how it is exposed.

par(mfrow=c(2,2)) not working anymore with plotHeatmap #136 - GitHub 22 May 2016 · It should work with aheatmap, but probably because I monkeyed with something in the viewport. May be related to problems in Travis Ci in running examples. This appears to be a problem in adding the labels of the factors to the side (my hack in dealing with the grid). I believe I have fixed this. to join this conversation on GitHub .

par(mfrow) do not work with sf::plot · Issue #877 · r-spatial/sf - GitHub 25 Oct 2018 · I'm trying to organize better my multi-plot using the par(mfrow) methods as stated in the help file: For more control over individual maps, set parameter mfrow with par prior to plotting, and plot single maps one by one. But it is not working:

par (mfrow = c (x, y)) not working in Rmd inline output I started working in Rmd as I prefer it's output after chunks to the console of an R script. par(mfrow = c(x, y)) however is not working for inline output. So an R chunk with. etc. does not show multiple plots. boxplot() is base R. Is there a resource explaining why? The x and y in par(mfrow = c(x, y)) designate the rows and columns, not the plots.

Chapter 51 Laying out multiple plots for Baseplot and ggplot # store the previous plot settings opar <-par (no.readonly = TRUE) # set 2 x 2 layout par (mfrow = c (2, 2)) # First plot: line chart plot (c (7, 12, 28, 3, 41), type = 'o') # Second plot: scatter plot plot (iris $ Sepal.Length, iris $ Sepal.Width, main = 'scatter plot', xlab = 'Sepal length', ylab = 'Sepal width') # Third plot: histgram chart ...

If I want a graph using "par ()" function, it didn't run 1 May 2023 · I use a Mac data(mtcars) str(mtcars) m1=lm(mpg~hp+wt+am,data=mtcars); summary(m1) par(mfrow=c(1,2)) I know it is a stupid problem but when I run this function for this graph, RStudio don't show me it.