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tikz.dev / PGFplots Manual

Manual for Package pgfplots
2D/3D Plots in LA, Version 1.18.1
http://sourceforge.net/projects/pgfplots

The Reference

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4.28Technical Internals

This section describes keys which are usually set by internal routines – it is typically unnecessary to use them. However, they may impose limitations or influence performance. Such cases are documented clearly in other sections of this manual. This here is the reference on the involved internals.

  • /pgfplots/cell picture=true|false|if necessary (initially true)

    • This key is set automatically by pgfplots if necessary (for example by set layers).

    Typically, pgfplots creates a so-called “cell picture”. A cell picture is a separate picture which is typeset into a node. Finally, the node is shifted to fulfill special anchor requirements. The necessity for a cell picture is given if the anchor of an axis is only known after the complete axis has been drawn.

    The initial choice true means that pgfplots will create a cell picture for every axis. This allows all anchors, but it is unsuited if multiple graphics layers are desired or if one wants SVG export. In order to create a cell picture, pgfplots interrupts the embedding tikzpicture, draws a new tikzpicture, and finally typesets the result into a node.

    The choice false tells pgfplots to draw its paths directly into the embedding tikzpicture. Such an approach is necessary if the axis shall use layers of the embedding tikzpicture. This is possible if and only if the anchor can be determined without actually drawing the complete axis. If so, pgfplots will modify the transformation matrix in advance. Note that axes with cell picture=false will contain all the usual anchors – the only difference is that the axis itself can only use one of the following anchors for its alignment: north, north west, west, south west, south, south east, east, north east, north, center, origin, above origin, left of origin, right of origin, below origin.

    The choice if necessary will check if the chosen anchor is one of the list above. If so, it will use cell picture=false. Otherwise, it will use cell picture=true.

  • /pgfplots/compat/show suggested version=true|false (initially true)

    • If enabled, pgfplots will show you which value for compat=(math image)version(math image) results in the largest active feature set and highest quality.

    This key will generate a warning if the current version is so old that the quality degrades seriously.

    The notification will be printed to your .log file (during \end{document}).

  • /pgfplots/enable tick line clipping=true|false (initially false)

    • This is compatibility code to ensure that files generated by compat=1.10 or earlier use

    enable tick line clipping=true.

    There is no need to modify this setting. Please write compat=... in your preamble instead.