backend not being reset by matplotlibrc.py

Question

I'm having trouble getting matplotlib plots to appear in front of my other windows - this is apparently a macosx backend problem. However, after making the following changes in ~/.matplotlib/matplotlibrc.py:

#backend      : macosx
backend : TkAgg

I run this command in python

import matplotlib            
print matplotlib.rcParams['backend']

and it returns:

MacOSX
[Finished in 4.1s]

What's going wrong? Or rather, how do I get plots to appear in front of other windows?

Other information:

osx 10.9 (mavericks) python --version -> Python 2.7.9 :: Anaconda 2.2.0 (x86_64) using sublime text 3, build 3083

hitzg · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-22 12:30:08Z

1

As outlined in the documentation the rc file has no .py extension:

On Linux, it looks in .config/matplotlib/matplotlibrc [...]

On other platforms, it looks in .matplotlib/matplotlibrc.

In fact it does not have python syntax but rather uses a yaml-like dictionary structure. So it is likely that matplotlib does not use your file at all.

You can use this:

import matplotlib
matplotlib.matplotlib_fname()

to figure out which configuration file matplotlib uses (and by that confirm that matplotlib acutally reads the file that you want to be read).

edited Jun 22, 2015 at 12:30

answered Jun 22, 2015 at 7:49

hitzg

12.8k57 silver badges55 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

anon01 Over a year ago

Config file is being read after removing the .py extension. I still "cmd tab" to get to the image, but at least they're not hiding now. Thanks!

hitzg Over a year ago

As per your window focus problem, this seems to be relevant: github.com/matplotlib/matplotlib/issues/665 Maybe updateing matplotlib will help

physicalattraction · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-21 10:13:37Z

0

What worked for me was putting the following in the top of your module where you want to use matplotlib:

import matplotlib
matplotlib.use('TkAgg')

answered Jun 21, 2015 at 10:13

physicalattraction

6,93811 gold badges71 silver badges125 bronze badges

1 Comment

anon01 Over a year ago

Well, I guess I'd really like a more permanent solution; I don't understand why altering matplotlibrc.py isn't changing the backend...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

backend not being reset by matplotlibrc.py

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

2 Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related