Interactive Plots in Console Applications

Interactive plot controls can be created and launched from console applications.

Launch an Interactive FormsPlot

Step 1: Add both the ScottPlot and ScottPlot.WinForms NuGet packages

Step 2: Modify your .csproj TargetFramework to target Windows (e.g., net8.0-windows)

Step 3: Modify your .csproj file to add <UseWindowsForms>true</UseWindowsForms>

Step 4: Create a plot, add some data, and launch it interactively:

// create a plot
ScottPlot.Plot myPlot = new();
myPlot.Add.Signal(ScottPlot.Generate.Sin());
myPlot.Add.Signal(ScottPlot.Generate.Cos());

// launch the plot in an interactive plot window
ScottPlot.WinForms.FormsPlotViewer.Launch(myPlot);

Launch an Interactive WpfPlot

Step 1: Add both the ScottPlot and ScottPlot.WPF NuGet packages

Step 2: Modify your .csproj TargetFramework to target Windows (e.g., net8.0-windows)

Step 3: Modify your .csproj file to add <UseWPF>true</UseWPF>

Step 4: Ensure your calling application has the STAThread attribute

Step 5: Create a plot, add some data, and launch it interactively:

public static class Program
{
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        // create a plot
        ScottPlot.Plot myPlot = new();
        myPlot.Add.Signal(ScottPlot.Generate.Sin());
        myPlot.Add.Signal(ScottPlot.Generate.Cos());

        // launch the plot in an interactive plot window
        ScottPlot.WPF.WpfPlotViewer.Launch(myPlot);
    }
}

Create Interactive Plot Windows Programmatically

Users desiring advanced customization may benefit from creating a control from scratch, styling it as desired, adding a plot control, then launching it programmatically.

Windows Forms

FormsPlot formsPlot = new() { Dock = DockStyle.Fill };
formsPlot.Reset(plot);
Form form = new();
form.Controls.Add(formsPlot);
/* additional customization goes here */
form.ShowDialog();

WPF

Users desiring advanced customization may benefit from creating a Window from scratch, styling it as desired, and adding a WpfPlot, then launching it programmatically:

ScottPlot.WPF.WpfPlot wpfPlot = new();
wpfPlot.Reset(plt);
System.Windows.Window win = new() { Content = wpfPlot };
/* additional customization goes here */
win.ShowDialog();