Python and matplotlib - simple chart not showing, no errors

Question

Below is about as simple can get with matplotlib.

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([1,2,3,4])
plt.ylabel('some numbers')
plt.show()
print 'done'

When I run, I get no errors, no charts, and goes straight to printing 'done'.

I installed on ubuntu 10.04 using easy_install.

How are you running the code? In a script or in an interpreter? — Isaac
– Isaac, Commented Jul 20, 2012 at 19:24
Well you could try running the code in the python interpreter, or directly as a script. If that doesn't work, you'll know there's something wrong with your installation. — Isaac
– Isaac, Commented Jul 20, 2012 at 19:32

pelson · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-20 19:38:56Z

3

Your backend is probably a non-interactive backend (such as 'Agg'). Have you got the backend setup in your matplotlibrc file?

Try:

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('TkAgg') # or some other backend which you have installed

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
plt.plot([1,2,3,4])
plt.ylabel('some numbers')
plt.show()
print 'done'

You can find the location of your matplotlib rc file with:

import matplotlib
import os

print os.path.join(matplotlib.get_configdir(), 'matplotlibrc')

You should be looking for something like backend: Agg.

answered Jul 20, 2012 at 19:38

pelson

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7 Comments

Tampa Over a year ago

I get this error. import _tkagg ImportError: No module named _tkagg

pelson Over a year ago

Maybe you don't have a TkInter installation. Do you have any other GUI toolkits available? Gtk, Qt4, WxPython etc.?

Tampa Over a year ago

yup..sudo apt-get install python-tk

pelson Over a year ago

If you've just added Tk then it might be worth re-installing/building matplotlib so that it can build the appropriate C library.

Tampa Over a year ago

Just did that...no go. Even when so far as to reboot.

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Emre · Accepted Answer · 2014-03-22 03:07:41Z

0

The backends are probably not installed; try installing the Ubuntu package python-matplotlib. If you're in ipython, try running the cell %matplotlib inline.

answered Mar 22, 2014 at 3:07

Emre

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