dmcdougall · September 17, 2012 11:05
diff --git a/email.txt b/email.txt
 Dear matplotlib developers, 

 I am attaching an updated boxplot method for axes.py that I would like 
 to suggest as a replacement for the present one in 0.90. My code does 
 not change any of the existing functionality, and simply adds a few 
 options to the existing code: 

 * I wanted to be able to draw boxplots entirely in black. 

 * When plotting several boxes on the same axes, where some boxes are 
 very small in comparison to others, the box outline and notch can 
 totally mask the median line information. So I added an option to draw 
 *no* box if the box is sufficiently small so that the median line is 
 clear. The inner whisker limits provide the only information about q1 
 and q3 in this case. 

 * I personally don't find the adaptive notch size very attractive for 
 publication-quality plots. I added a feature to keep the notch size 
 fixed (notch==2). This means that very small boxes will foul up, so if 
 the fixed notch size is smaller than the box height then the "no box" 
 option is automatically forced on. Fixed notch size is set using the 
 'notchsize' parameter. 

 * I wanted to include an additional (and optional) line in the box for 
 the mean average of the data (but not associated with an additional 
 notch). 

 * I wanted to make the boxes white-fillable in case they are placed 
 over background lines. 

 * I wanted to set my own axes limits externally, and prevent ticks on 
 the plot so that I can label the graphs myself and add additional 
 info. 

 The attached PNG graphic exemplifies these suggestions with the new 
 code for a plot that is appearing in an IEEE journal article (please 
 ignore the black triangle that has nothing to do with the 
 boxplotting). All the new features involve optional parameters to the 
 method signature, defaulting in their absence to the existing 
 functionality. 

 The code for the method includes an updated docstring that reflects 
 how these features are used. Note that I've also made a few minor 
 edits to the existing parts of the docstring text for clarity: in 
 particular, regarding the return value, as the existing statement 
 apparently was not updated when the method was changed to return a 
 dictionary. 

 Please feel to discuss these ideas with me. 
 Regards, 
 Rob
	Dear matplotlib developers,

	I am attaching an updated boxplot method for axes.py that I would like
	to suggest as a replacement for the present one in 0.90. My code does
	not change any of the existing functionality, and simply adds a few
	options to the existing code:

	* I wanted to be able to draw boxplots entirely in black.

	* When plotting several boxes on the same axes, where some boxes are
	very small in comparison to others, the box outline and notch can
	totally mask the median line information. So I added an option to draw
	no box if the box is sufficiently small so that the median line is
	clear. The inner whisker limits provide the only information about q1
	and q3 in this case.

	* I personally don't find the adaptive notch size very attractive for
	publication-quality plots. I added a feature to keep the notch size
	fixed (notch==2). This means that very small boxes will foul up, so if
	the fixed notch size is smaller than the box height then the "no box"
	option is automatically forced on. Fixed notch size is set using the
	'notchsize' parameter.

	* I wanted to include an additional (and optional) line in the box for
	the mean average of the data (but not associated with an additional
	notch).

	* I wanted to make the boxes white-fillable in case they are placed
	over background lines.

	* I wanted to set my own axes limits externally, and prevent ticks on
	the plot so that I can label the graphs myself and add additional
	info.

	The attached PNG graphic exemplifies these suggestions with the new
	code for a plot that is appearing in an IEEE journal article (please
	ignore the black triangle that has nothing to do with the
	boxplotting). All the new features involve optional parameters to the
	method signature, defaulting in their absence to the existing
	functionality.

	The code for the method includes an updated docstring that reflects
	how these features are used. Note that I've also made a few minor
	edits to the existing parts of the docstring text for clarity: in
	particular, regarding the return value, as the existing statement
	apparently was not updated when the method was changed to return a
	dictionary.

	Please feel to discuss these ideas with me.
	Regards,
	Rob