Format tick labels in a pandas.DataFrame.plot() without importing matplotlib

Question

Is it possible to format the tick labels in a pandas.DataFrame.plot() without importing the matplotlib.ticker library?

I've come to realise that pandas has many native functions I'm unaware of and I like to use them where possible — if only to simplify my code. And yes, pandas leans on matplotlib anyway, but I want to know to what extent I can style plots without directly invoking matplotlib functions.

For example, can I change the tick labels on this chart to percentages without matplotlib.ticker.Percentformatter()?

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
import matplotlib as plt

df = pd.DataFrame(columns=["value"], data=np.random.rand(5))
ax = df.plot.barh()
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(plt.ticker.PercentFormatter(1))
plt.show()

bar pot

akocz · Accepted Answer · 2021-04-20 14:30:37Z

1

You can set a custom function as a string formatter with set_major_formatter.

For example:

import pandas as pd
import numpy as np
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

df = pd.DataFrame(columns=["value"], data=np.random.rand(5))
ax = df.plot.barh()
func = lambda x, pos: f"{int(x*100)}%"
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(func)
plt.show()

answered Apr 20, 2021 at 14:30

akocz

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5 Comments

BigBen Over a year ago

... but (note to OP), this is re-inventing the wheel.

Markus Over a year ago

@BigBen, it's a straightforward answer but, yes, it's not less effort/code. I was wondering whether pandas has its own tick formatting functions/methods.

BigBen Over a year ago

@Markus - note that ax.set_major_formatter is matplotlib, not pandas.

Markus Over a year ago

@BigBen, yes. I'd prefer a pandas-only solution, but it might not exist.

Patrick FitzGerald Over a year ago

@Markus I am quite sure pandas does not provide any convenient function/plotting parameter for this. I believe this is as simple as it can get: ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter('{x:.0%}')

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