Skip to content

Months in alphabetical order rather than chronological order in graph

5 messages · Kurt_Helf at nps.gov, Don McKenzie, David Winsemius +2 more

Kurt_Helf at nps.gov
# 
Greetings
     Though I have months in chronological order in my data table, the data
were sampled every other month (i.e., February, April, June, August,
October, December), every time I try to plot them (on the x-axis) they are
plotted in alphabetical order.  What am I missing?
Cheers
Kurt

***************************************************************
Kurt Lewis Helf, Ph.D.
Ecologist
EEO Counselor
National Park Service
Cumberland Piedmont Network
P.O. Box 8
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
Ph: 270-758-2163
Lab: 270-758-2151
Fax: 270-758-2609
****************************************************************
Science, in constantly seeking real explanations, reveals the true majesty
of our world in all its complexity.
-Richard Dawkins

The scientific tradition is distinguished from the pre-scientific tradition
in having two layers.  Like the latter it passes on its theories but it
also passes on a critical attitude towards them.  The theories are passed
on not as dogmas but rather with the challenge to discuss them and improve
upon them.
-Karl Popper

...consider yourself a guest in the home of other creatures as significant
as yourself.
-Wayside at Wilderness Threshold in McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe Mountains
National Park, TX

Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) Homepage:
http://tiny.cc/e7cdx

CUPN Forest Pest Monitoring Website:
http://bit.ly/9rhUZQ

CUPN Cave Cricket Monitoring Website:
http://tiny.cc/ntcql

CUPN Cave Aquatic Biota Monitoring Website:
http://tiny.cc/n2z1o
Don McKenzie
# 
Kurt

You need to give us more information if you want good advice.  For example, what sort of plot are you trying to make?
A barplot?   A time series?

A reproducible example is always best.  Please see the R-news posting guide for hints on a successful query.
On Jan 28, 2011, at 1:53 PM, Kurt_Helf at nps.gov wrote:

            

      
      
      
    

        

      
      
    

        
Don McKenzie
Research Ecologist
Pacific Wildland Fire Sciences Lab
US Forest Service

Affiliate Professor
School of Forest Resources and CSES Climate Impacts Group
University of Washington

phone: 206-732-7824
cell: 206-321-5966
dmck at uw.edu

  
  


  


      

    

    

      
      

        


  

        

      David Winsemius
    

    

      
      #
    

  


  

      
On Jan 28, 2011, at 4:53 PM, Kurt_Helf at nps.gov wrote:

            

      
      
      
    

        
A reproducible example for one thing. A short sig for another.

 > monfac <- factor(month.name[sample(1:100)])
 > plot(monfac)
 > plot( factor(monfac, levels=month.name))

            

      
      
      
    

        

  
    

      
      
    

  


  


      

    

    

      
      

        
      

    

    

      
      

        


  

        

      Greg Snow
    

    

      
      #
    

  


  

      
This would be easier if you showed us a sample of your data and what commands you are using.  Without we need to guess.

Probably your month variable is being turned into a factor somewhere and the default for factors is alphabetical.  The best solution depends on how/where/when your months are being factorized.  You need to control the factorizing, maybe turning them into some type of date object instead of a factor, or create the factor, but specify the order that you want.