ggplot and rshiny plot is not refreshed

Question

I have an output plot that is dependent on a reactive function called datasetInput. Whenever I change the input variable the output function updates, but the plot I see on the client does not end up changing. I output the data used by ggplot to generate the plot and the data is changing. I'm not sure whats going on.

datasetInput <- reactive({    
    data <- input$globalData
    table <- c()
    ...
    table
})

output$plot <- renderPlot({    
    table <- datasetInput()   
    cat('32hr: ',unlist(table[which(table$group=='32hr'),3]),'\n')     
    cat('24hr: ',unlist(table[which(table$group=='24hr'),3]),'\n')     
    range <- max(table$centroidDistances.RG) - min(table$centroidDistances.RG)
    cat('range: ',range,'\n')
    plot <- ggplot(table,aes(x=table$centroidDistances.RG,fill=table$group)) + 
        geom_histogram(aes(y=..density..),pos="dodge") +
        geom_density(alpha=0.2)
    print(plot)
},height=300,width=600)

I have not seen this problem before, how can I get the client to change its output when output$plot changes (is this a specific problem to ggplot?)

Guessing the output from your cat statements is interfering with the renderPlot plot output. Can you move them outside of the statement and see if the plot changes? Also, I was not aware you could call height and weight outside of the curly braces. I thought you had to close a reactive output with })? — intra
I think the cat statements do not impact the output at all, same behavior with them in or out of curly braces. — Thomas Luechtefeld
Also height and width can be outside the closing brace. They are just more arguments for renderPlot. — Thomas Luechtefeld

Thomas Luechtefeld Thomas Luechtefeld · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-16T18:29:14

This problem appears to be fixed by setting environment = environment() within ggplot:

ggplot(table,aes(x=table$centroidDistances.RG,fill=table$group),environment=environment()) + 
  geom_histogram(aes(y=..density..),pos="dodge",binwidth=range/30,minx=0,width=600) +
  geom_density(alpha=0.2)

Not sure why this fixes things, but including this environment setting makes the graph update as expected on the client side.

ggplot and rshiny plot is not refreshed

1 Answers