Draw line with matplotlib (timeseries)

Question

Im plotting a big timeserie with matplotlib, the x-axis is a list of datetime.datetime objects (the way matplotlib wants its x-axis) and a list of float values, I mean, a normal timeserie.

Using plot_date(dates,values) I get this plot, I checked the values are consecutive and its fine, enter image description here

Now I want to draw a line instead, using the same as above but plot_date(dates,values,fmt="-"): enter image description here

What is happening? Is it a bug? Im doing something wrong?

Your data should be sorted by date, I think...

YXD
– YXD

2013-09-05 14:13:36 +00:00
Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:13 — YXD
– YXD, Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:13
So, what is happening? Are you getting zig zags?

doctorlove
– doctorlove

2013-09-05 14:15:20 +00:00
Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:15 — doctorlove
– doctorlove, Commented Sep 5, 2013 at 14:15

unutbu · Accepted Answer · 2013-09-05 14:21:02Z

2

zip the dates and values into a list of tuples, sort the (date, value) pairs, unzip the pairs with zip(*...), then plot:

dates, values = zip(*sorted(zip(dates,values)))
plot_date(dates,values, '-')

answered Sep 5, 2013 at 14:21

unutbu

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