When creating plots in R, it’s common to encounter an error message stating "Error in plot.new() : figure margins too large." This issue arises when the margins of the plot exceed the available space, preventing the plot from being rendered correctly. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to customize plot margins in R to avoid such errors.
Understanding Plot Margins
In R, plot margins are controlled by the par() function, which sets or retrieves graphical parameters. The mar argument within par() specifies the margin sizes in lines of text. By default, the margin sizes are set to c(5.1, 4.1, 4.1, 2.1), representing the bottom, left, top, and right margins, respectively.
To check the current margin settings, use the command par("mar"). This will output the current margin sizes:
> par("mar")
[1] 5.1 4.1 4.1 2.1
Adjusting Plot Margins
To adjust the plot margins, you can use the par() function with the mar argument. For example, to set all margins to 1 line of text, use:
par(mar = c(1, 1, 1, 1))
This will reduce the margin sizes, allowing more space for the plot itself.
Resolving the "Figure Margins Too Large" Error
When encountering the "Error in plot.new() : figure margins too large" error, try one of the following solutions:
- Adjust the plot margins: Use
par(mar = c(1, 1, 1, 1))to reduce the margin sizes. - Expand the plot panel: If using RStudio, try expanding the plot panel to provide more space for the plot.
- Clear all plots: Use
graphics.off()or click the "Clear All Plots" button in the Plots tab to remove any existing plots and start fresh.
By customizing plot margins and taking these steps, you can avoid the "figure margins too large" error and successfully create plots in R.
Example Code
Here’s an example code snippet that demonstrates how to adjust plot margins:
# Set margin sizes to 1 line of text
par(mar = c(1, 1, 1, 1))
# Create a sample plot
plot(rnorm(100), main = "Sample Plot")
This code sets the margin sizes to 1 line of text and creates a simple scatter plot.