R Graphics (Computer Science and Data Analysis) (Hardcover)

by Paul Murrell (Author)
Key Phrases: trellis graphics, lattice package, graphical parameter settings, Customizing Traditional Graphics, The Grid Graphics Model, Graphics Figure (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
R Graphics is exactly the sort of documentation that R needs. It is written clearly, with many examples, and will be useful for any level of R expertise from novice upwards. It contains more than a hundred figures containing model code and its output. There are extensive cross-references that make finding detailed information easy. My copy of the book is from the first printing, but it is exceptionally free of typographical and other errors.
I've been using traditional S graphics in S-PLUS and R for 17 years, so I am very familiar with the system. However, there are some details that I've never memorized, so I've often needed to consult the manual page for the par() function. R Graphics will now be the first place to look for those sorts of details, specifically Chapter 3, which contains a series of diagrams and tables illustrating the choices. Being such an old-time user, I was not so familiar with some of the newer functions, such as layout() and xyz.coords(), and I have already modified some of my own code to make use of them.
I was also very impressed with the book's descriptions of the grid and lattice packages. I have not studied the grid system before, though I have heard Murrell speak about it at conferences. The description in this book is perfect. It takes the reader from the basics through to development of new types of graphics. After reading it, I feel that I understand the philosophy behind the design of grid, and am eager to make use of it in my own work. I especially appreciated the design advice in Chapter 7; I will be making use of it, and referring my students to it.
I think every R user who uses graphics (which is essentially every R user) should have a copy of this book. The grid graphics package was a wonderful development, and this book is another one. Murrell is to be congratulated.
-Duncan Murdoch, University of Western Ontario, Canada

R Graphics is exactly the sort of documentation that R needs. It is written clearly, with many examples, and will be useful for any level of R expertise from novice upwards. It contains more than a hundred figures containing model code and its output. There are extensive cross-references that make finding detailed information easy. My copy of the book is from the first printing, but it is exceptionally free of typographical and other errors.
Ive been using traditional S graphics in S-PLUS and R for 17 years, so I am very familiar with the system. However, there are some details that Ive never memorized, so Ive often needed to consult the manual page for the par() function. R Graphics will now be the first place to look for those sorts of details, specifically Chapter 3, which contains a series of diagrams and tables illustrating the choices. Being such an old-time user, I was not so familiar with some of the newer functions, such as layout() and xyz.coords(), and I have already modified some of my own code to make use of them.
I was also very impressed with the books descriptions of the grid and lattice packages. I have not studied the grid system before, though I have heard Murrell speak about it at conferences. The description in this book is perfect. It takes the reader from the basics through to development of new types of graphics. After reading it, I feel that I understand the philosophy behind the design of grid, and am eager to make use of it in my own work. I especially appreciated the design advice in Chapter 7; I will be making use of it, and referring my students to it.
I think every R user who uses graphics (which is essentially every R user) should have a copy of this book. The grid graphics package was a wonderful development, and this book is another one. Murrell is to be congratulated.
-Duncan Murdoch, University of Western Ontario, Canada

Thanks to Paul Murrell's new book, the secrets of both traditional graphics and the new, modern grid system get unveiled, preventing useRs from writing 'ugly'
code. … [His] book is the first publication entirely
devoted to R graphics, written by the authoritative
expert in the field. It is definitely a must-have for
novices and professionals alike, the ultimate guide to
the power (and beauty) of R graphics.
-David Meyer, Vienna
University of Economics and Business Administration, in R News 6(2), 2006

Thanks to Paul Murrells new book, the secrets of both traditional graphics and the new, modern grid system get unveiled, preventing useRs from writing ugly
code. … [His] book is the first publication entirely
devoted to R graphics, written by the authoritative
expert in the field. It is definitely a must-have for
novices and professionals alike, the ultimate guide to
the power (and beauty) of R graphics.
-David Meyer, Vienna
University of Economics and Business Administration, in R News 6(2), 2006

This book starts where the graphics sections of other books on using S for data analysis typically end: high-level plots and their default settings. If everything you want to do to visualize your data can be done using the standard settings, then this book is not for you. But if you ever wanted to go beyond that line, from changing bits and pieces of a graph to writing your own visualization functions, then ``R Graphics has all you need to know (and much more). Starting with the basic plotting commands most users are familiar with from introductory texts, the book gives a comprehensive overview of the current state and design principles of visualizing data with R.
Paul Murrell is one of the main authors of Rs graphical facilities, and inventor of completely new features like the grid system or expressions for annotation of plots with mathematical formulae. His book is written in the spirit of S itself: It takes the reader on a journey, where beginners gradually are turned into programmers while learning the language, having ample material for both novices and experts. It will certainly claim its place on the bookshelf of reference guides next to my desktop.
-Friedrich Leisch, Institute for Statistics, Technical University of Vienna, Austria

This book starts where the graphics sections of other books on using S for data analysis typically end: high-level plots and their default settings. If everything you want to do to visualize your data can be done using the standard settings, then this book is not for you. But if you ever wanted to go beyond that line, from changing bits and pieces of a graph to writing your own visualization functions, then ``R Graphics'' has all you need to know (and much more). Starting with the basic plotting commands most users are familiar with from introductory texts, the book gives a comprehensive overview of the current state and design principles of visualizing data with R.
Paul Murrell is one of the main authors of R's graphical facilities, and inventor of completely new features like the grid system or expressions for annotation of plots with mathematical formulae. His book is written in the spirit of S itself: It takes the reader on a journey, where beginners gradually are turned into programmers while learningthe language, having ample material for both novices and experts. It will certainly claim its place on the bookshelf of reference guides next to my desktop.
-Friedrich Leisch, Institute for Statistics, Technical University of Vienna, Austria

With R having become the lingua franca of statistics, 'R Graphics' is a must for many useRs and programmmeRs: Flexible programmable graphics having been a major strength of S from its beginning; this is even more true for R which has both improved the traditional graphics from S and introduced the new much more flexible 'grid' graphics system. Paul Murrell, a member of the R Core Development Team, has not only been the main author of 'grid' but has also been responsible for several recent enhancements to the underlying R graphics engine. Together with its online companion web site, this book will be an indispensable resource for almost everyone interested in how to produce R graphics efficiently and intelligently.
-Dr. Martin Maechler, Seminar for Statistics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland

With R having become the lingua franca of statistics, R Graphics is a must for many useRs and programmmeRs: Flexible programmable graphics having been a major strength of S from its beginning; this is even more true for R which has both improved the traditional graphics from S and introduced the new much more flexible grid graphics system. Paul Murrell, a member of the R Core Development Team, has not only been the main author of grid but has also been responsible for several recent enhancements to the underlying R graphics engine. Together with its online companion web site, this book will be an indispensable resource for almost everyone interested in how to produce R graphics efficiently and intelligently.
-Dr. Martin Maechler, Seminar for Statistics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Switzerland

Product Description
In today's world of statistical computing, R is the program of choice for tens of thousands of statisticians, which is why R Graphics is sure to become an instant classic. Considered the leading expert on the use of R graphics, Murrell gives statisticians the first complete reference on the R graphical system. An in-depth text that takes nothing for granted, it helps both neophytes and seasoned statisticians master the intricacies of R. No other published volume contains information on R's grid graphics, and much of the information the author provides is original material not to be found anywhere else. Ahead of the curve, this volume defines the direction for the future of statistical graphical development. ---------------------Features--------------------- · Answers such a need that the field of statistics is already abuzz with anticipation · Contains numerous code examples as well as the plots that the examples produce · Offers readers an online resource with all the code and datasets used in the book as well as future developments · Includes an intro to R graphics that will fill in many of the gaps that have limited users · Provides base information that will remain current for years to come ---------------------Contents--------------------- An Introduction to R Graphics R graphics examples The organization of R graphics Graphical output formats

TRADITIONAL GRAPHICS

SIMPLE USAGE OF TRADITIONAL GRAPHICS The traditional graphics model Plots of one or two variables Plots ofmultiple variables Modern plots and specialized plots Interactive graphics CUSTOMIZING TRADITIONAL GRAPHICS The traditional graphics model in more detail Controlling the appearance of plots Arranging multiple plots Annotating plots Creating new plots

GRID GRAPHICS

TRELLIS GRAPHICS: THE LATTICE PACKAGE The lattice graphics model Lattice plot types Controlling the appearance of lattice plots Arranging lattice plots Annotating lattice plots Creating new lattice plots THE GRID GRAPHICS MODEL A brief overview of grid graphics Graphical primitives Coordinate systems Controlling the appearance of output Viewports Missing values and non-finite values Interactive graphics Customizing lattice plots THE GRID GRAPHICS OBJECT MODEL Working with graphical output Grob lists, trees, and paths Working with graphical objects off-screen Placing and packing grobs in frames Other details about grobs Saving and loading grid graphics Working with lattice grobs DEVELOPING NEW GRAPHICS FUNCTIONS AND OBJECTS An example Simple graphics functions Graphical objects Querying grid

APPENDIX A: A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO R Obtaining and installing R An environment for statistical computing and graphics A programming language

APPENDIX B: COMBINING TRADITIONAL GRAPHICS AND GRID GRAPHICS The gridBase package

Product Details

• Hardcover: 328 pages
• Publisher: Chapman & Hall/CRC; 1 edition (July 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158488486X
• ISBN-13: 978-1584884866
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,806 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A seminal work, September 5, 2005

By	Peter Flom (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Having read material by Dr. Murrell in R news and other places, I was expecting a great book. I was not disappointed. This is the clearest and most complete explanation of graphics in R that I have seen.

It's in 2 parts (or maybe 2 1/2). The first deals with the 'traditional' graphics system, the second with the Grid graphics system. Also included is an discussion of the Lattice package (that's the 1/2), and various other packages.

My only caveat is that you will probably want to be at least a little familiar with R before using this book. There's a brief introduction to R in an appendix, but it isn't, and doesn't pretend to be, comprehensive. However, there are extensive references to material that can help the novice learn more about R.

In my opinion, R is the best program for statistical graphics, and this is the best book on how to get the most out of it.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a how-to or cookbook for R graphics, April 10, 2007

By	Eugene Mah "physics geek" (Charleston, SC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book provides a good introduction to the R graphics system and gives a very good presentation of the kinds of graphs you can generate using R. This book is definitely not a how-to or cookbook for R graphics though. The book assumes the reader is already familiar with R and the graphics related commands, so there's not much explanation of the short code snippets that go along with the figures. If you're new to R, this book won't show you how to create graphs. It will show you the graphing capabilities of R though and possibly get you interested enough to keep using R.

If you do know R, what this book *will* show you is how to do more complex things with R graphics. Half the book covers the traditional graphics model, while the other half covers the Grid and Trellis graphics models. This will be the interesting part of the book because Grid and Trellis look like they let users create really neat graphs and data representations with R.

I would have liked to see some more complete examples in the book, but at least there's an accompanying website that contains all the code used to generate the graphs and errata for the book. This would be a good addition to an R user's bookshelf.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid reference book for a wide audience, August 10, 2006

By	Aaron Weiskittel "uredo" (Corvallis, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Unleashing the power of R, particularly its graphing capabilities can be a daunting task. This is a well written book that covers all aspects of R graphics and gives plently of examples (with code). After using R for nearly 3 years now, I learned quite a bit of new information. Plus, the last 2 chapters of the book are very advanced and will likely require another 3 years before I can actually fully use them. Regardless, this a great book for people new and old to R.