Axis label offset

Q&A
1

Hello,

Perhaps I have missed something, so forgive me if this has been answered before.

I’m creating a bunch of time series plots that I want stacked in the same figure. However, the label annotations for each plot are of difference sizes. I want to align the y axis labels so they are all the lined up. However, the MAP_LABEL_OFFSET option seems to be relative to the left side of the annotation, rather than being a fixed distance from the axis. Is there an option so that the labels can be aligned, or will I have to manually set MAP_LABEL_OFFSET for each plot? See the attached figure for an illustration of what I mean (i.e. the label “Sliding Mechanism” is much further to the left of the other labels). Thank you for any guidance.

labels
labels278×876 9.81 KB

2

You are correct in your interpretation. Getting what you want here would require us to accept perhaps a signed value for MAP_LABEL_OFFSET to mean absolute distance relative to axis instead of the relative incremental distance relative to the annotation (which vary). I imagine something like --MAP_LABEL_OFFSET=+1.5c. I encourage you to open a feature request on the GMT site for this.

Meanwhile, your workaround would be to place the label via gmt text -N instead so you can place it exactly where you want.

3

Thank you, I will open an issue then and use the text command as a workaround for now.