Datasets and plots

The package uses standard representation of the data in R: data frames, matrices and vectors. However, there are several additional methods and attributes, which make the use of datasets a bit more efficient. There is also support for images. But if you are used to simple datasets and standard procedures and do not want any complications, you can simply skip this chapter.

The package also uses its own set of plotting tools, which is a sort of add-on for the R basic plotting system, extending its possibilities. From this point of view, learning how these tools work will simplify understanding of model plots a lot. The main improvements compared to the basic plotting system are:

1. Much easier way to make plots with groups of objects (points, lines, bars, etc.)
2. Much easier way of adding a legend to the group plots.
3. Much easier way of adding labels to data points, bars, etc.
4. Automatic axis limits when a plot contains several groups of objects.
5. Possibility to color points and lines according to values of a specific numerical variable or a factor.
6. Several built-in color palettes and an easy way to use a user-specific set of colors.
7. Much more!

This chapter explains most of the details.