v0.13 WIP
Setup API (see #272)
Previously, setting up a plot and its axes was done by passing several args to BeginPlot and leveraging a handful of preceding SetNextXXX functions. The former was becoming unwieldy with BeginPlot requiring additional args for each newly introduced feature, while the latter was always awkward and a bit of a nightmare to manage under the hood. Neither approach offered room to scale the API gracefully.
Taking a page out of ImGui's Tables API, plots and axes can now be configured by calling a host of optional SetupXXX functions immediately after BeginPlot. With this, the signature of BeginPlot has be greatly simplified. Here's a quick example:
if (BeginPlot("My Plot",ImVec2(-1,-1),ImPlotFlags_Crosshairs) { // 1) begin a new plot
SetupAxis(ImAxis_X1, "Time", ImPlotAxisFlags_Time); // 2) make Setup calls
SetupAxis(ImAxis_Y1, "My Y-Axis");
SetupAxisLimits(ImAxis_Y1, 0, 1000);
SetupAxisFormat(ImAxis_Y1, "$%.0f");
SetupLegend(ImPlotLocation_North);
...
SetupFinish(); // 3) [optional] explicitly finish setup
PlotLine(...); // 4) plot items
...
EndPlot(); // 5) end the plot
}
All of the functionality you previously had with the original signature of BeginPlot and SetNextXXX is now available through the Setup API:
// Begin a new plot.
bool BeginPlot(const char* title_id, const ImVec2& size = ImVec2(-1,0), ImPlotFlags flags = ImPlotFlags_None);
// Enables an axis or sets the label and/or flags for an existing axis. Leave #label = NULL for no label.
void SetupAxis(ImAxis axis, const char* label = NULL, ImPlotAxisFlags flags = ImPlotAxisFlags_None);
// Sets an axis range limits. If ImPlotCond_Always is used, the axes limits will be locked.
void SetupAxisLimits(ImAxis axis, double v_min, double v_max, ImPlotCond cond = ImPlotCond_Once);
// Links an axis range limits to external values. Set to NULL for no linkage. The pointer data must remain valid until EndPlot.
void SetupAxisLinks(ImAxis axis, double* link_min, double* link_max);
// Sets the format of numeric axis labels via formater specifier (default="%g"). Formated values will be double (i.e. use %f).
void SetupAxisFormat(ImAxis axis, const char* fmt);
// Sets the format of numeric axis labels via formatter callback. Given #value, write a label into #buff. Optionally pass user data.
void SetupAxisFormat(ImAxis axis, ImPlotFormatter formatter, void* data = NULL);
// Sets an axis' ticks and optionally the labels. To keep the default ticks, set #keep_default=true.
void SetupAxisTicks(ImAxis axis, const double* values, int n_ticks, const char* const labels[] = NULL, bool keep_default = false);
// Sets an axis' ticks and optionally the labels for the next plot. To keep the default ticks, set #keep_default=true.
void SetupAxisTicks(ImAxis axis, double v_min, double v_max, int n_ticks, const char* const labels[] = NULL, bool keep_default = false);
// Sets the label and/or flags for primary X and Y axes (shorthand for two calls to SetupAxis).
void SetupAxes(const char* x_label, const char* y_label, ImPlotAxisFlags x_flags = ImPlotAxisFlags_None, ImPlotAxisFlags y_flags = ImPlotAxisFlags_None);
// Sets the primary X and Y axes range limits. If ImPlotCond_Always is used, the axes limits will be locked (shorthand for two calls to SetupAxisLimits).
void SetupAxesLimits(double x_min, double x_max, double y_min, double y_max, ImPlotCond cond = ImPlotCond_Once);
// Sets up the plot legend.
void SetupLegend(ImPlotLocation location, ImPlotLegendFlags flags = ImPlotLegendFlags_None);
// Set the location of the current plot's mouse position text (default = South|East).
void SetupMouseText(ImPlotLocation location, ImPlotMouseTextFlags flags = ImPlotMouseTextFlags_None);
// Explicitly finalize plot setup. Once you call this, you cannot make anymore Setup calls for the current plot!
// Note that calling this function is OPTIONAL; it will be called by the first subsequent setup-locking API call.
void SetupFinish();
A few notes:
- Always call Setup code at the top of your
BeginPlotconditional statement. - Setup is locked once you start plotting or explicitly call
SetupFinish. Do NOT call Setup code after you begin plotting or after you make any non-Setup API calls (e.g. utils likePlotToPixelsalso lock Setup) - Calling
SetupFinishis OPTIONAL, but probably good practice. If you do not all it yourself, then the first subsequent plotting or utility function will call it for you. - The primary X and Y axis (
ImAxis_X1andImAxis_Y1) are always enabled. To enable auxiliary axes, you must call, e.g.SetupAxis(ImAxis_Y2,...). This replaces the existing method of enabling auxiliary axes, i.e. passingImPlotFlags_YAxis2/3. - Some
SetNextXXXAPI has been removed or renamed; check the top ofimplot.cppfor changelogs - The original
BeginPlotsignature has been deprecated, and usage will result in compiler warnings. Please begin transitioning your code before its removal v1.0! You can defineIMPLOT_DISABLE_OBSOLETE_FUNCTIONSto remove it now.
New Axes Features
The new Setup API allows us to easily extend and add functionality to axes. Here are a few new features you can start using today, with more expected to come in the near future.
- support for multiple x-axes (up to 3 x-axes, and 3 y-axes)
ImAxis_enums replaceImPlotYAxis_SetAxisreplacesSetPlotYAxis
- place axes on opposite side with
ImPlotAxisFlags_Oppositeor simply by dragging the axis to the other side - new style colors:
ImPlotCol_AxisBgHoveredandImPlotCol_AxisBgActive - when multiple x or y axes are enabled, hovering an item legend icon highlights the axes it is plotted on
- axes use
ImGui::ButtonBehaviorunder the hood for more robust interaction

- custom tick label formatting via
ImPlotFormattercallbacks passed toSetupAxisFormat - formatting is applied to mouse position text
- context menus now display axis label name, if available

Improved Tooling
Queryhas been removed and replaced with a more flexible tool,DragRect. Unlike the previous query system, these can be resized and multiple can exist in one plot. An example in the demo shows how you can convert plot selections in to new query rects.

TagXandTagYhave been added and allow you to add custom labels to axes. These use either the axis' formatter, or a custom provided string. You can combine these with other tools likeDragLineto create custom interactivity.

DragPointandDragLineno longer take a string ID. Instead they now expect anintID, and as a result no longer display the optional label. Instead, useTagX/YandAnnotationto add labels too these tools if needed.- additional options for drag tools via
ImPlotDragToolFlags
PlotBarGroups
- Bar plots can now be plotted in groups.
- Bar groups can be stacked
// Flags for ImPlot::PlotBarGroups
enum ImPlotBarGroupsFlags_ {
ImPlotBarGroupsFlags_None = 0, // default
ImPlotBarGroupsFlags_Stacked = 1 << 0, // items in a group will be stacked on top of each other
};
// Plots a group of vertical bars. #values is a row-major matrix with #item_count rows and #group_count cols. #label_ids should have #item_count elements.
void PlotBarGroups(const char* const label_ids[], const T* values, int item_count, int group_count, double group_width=0.67, double x0=0, ImPlotBarGroupsFlags flags=ImPlotBarGroupsFlags_None);
// Plots a group of horizontal bars. #values is a row-major matrix with #item_count rows and #group_count cols. #label_ids should have #item_count elements.
void PlotBarGroupsH(const char* const label_ids[], const T* values, int item_count, int group_count, double group_height=0.67, double y0=0, ImPlotBarGroupsFlags flags=ImPlotBarGroupsFlags_None);


Return of ImPlotInputMap
ImPlotInputMaphas been revamped and brought back into the public API, and two presets are now provided:DefaultandReverse
struct ImPlotInputMap {
ImGuiMouseButton Pan; // LMB enables panning when held,
ImGuiKeyModFlags PanMod; // none optional modifier that must be held for panning/fitting
ImGuiMouseButton Fit; // LMB initiates fit when double clicked
ImGuiMouseButton Select; // RMB begins box selection when pressed and confirms selection when released
ImGuiMouseButton SelectCancel; // LMB cancels active box selection when pressed; cannot be same as Select
ImGuiKeyModFlags SelectMod; // none optional modifier that must be held for box selection
ImGuiKeyModFlags SelectHorzMod; // Alt expands active box selection horizontally to plot edge when held
ImGuiKeyModFlags SelectVertMod; // Shift expands active box selection vertically to plot edge when held
ImGuiMouseButton Menu; // RMB opens context menus (if enabled) when clicked
ImGuiKeyModFlags OverrideMod; // Ctrl when held, all input is ignored; used to enable axis/plots as DND sources
ImGuiKeyModFlags ZoomMod; // none optional modifier that must be held for scroll wheel zooming
float ZoomRate; // 0.1f zoom rate for scroll (e.g. 0.1f = 10% plot range every scroll click); make negative to invert
ImPlotInputMap();
};
// Provides access to input mapping structure for permanent modifications to controls for pan, select, etc.
ImPlotInputMap& GetInputMap();
// Default input mapping: pan = LMB drag, box select = RMB drag, fit = LMB double click, context menu = RMB click, zoom = scroll.
void MapInputDefault(ImPlotInputMap* dst = NULL);
// Reverse input mapping: pan = RMB drag, box select = LMB drag, fit = LMB double click, context menu = RMB click, zoom = scroll.
void MapInputReverse(ImPlotInputMap* dst = NULL);
Bug Fixes / Improvementss
- fix Intel compiler warnings (#315)
- replace
sprintf/snprintfcalls withImFormatStringfor overridability (#310) - fix issues with striding when T != float (#303)
- handle
format-nonliteralwarnings (#304) - fix issue with unitialized variables (#313)
- make
PlotTextfitable (#286)