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It seems we'll never have built in two axis plots and list plots in Mathematica but you can make them in R.

Needs["RLink`"]
InstallR[];
REvaluate["{
 x <- 1:5
 y1 <- rnorm(5)
 y2 <- rnorm(5,20)
 par(mar=c(5,4,4,5)+.1)
 plot(x,y1,type=\"l\",col=\"red\")
 par(new=TRUE)
 plot(x,y2,,type=\"l\",col=\"blue\",xaxt=\"n\",yaxt=\"n\",xlab=\"\",\ ylab=\"\")
 axis(4)
 mtext(\"y2\",side=4,line=3)
 legend(\"topleft\",col=c(\"red\",\"blue\"),lty=1,legend=c(\"y1\",\"\
y2\"))}"]

Which returns this plot in a popup window:

enter image description here

How can I get the plot that is generated from this code to appear in an Output cell?

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2
  • $\begingroup$ The answers here mathematica.stackexchange.com/questions/627/1-plot-2-scale-axis show some methods of achieving 2 axis plots in Mathematica, if that is of help. $\endgroup$ – image_doctor Dec 21 '12 at 10:27
  • $\begingroup$ there are plenty of two axis code around. My point was that it is not built in to Mma and not even a package. Linking to R seems like a more sensible alternative since the link is built in and the code is native R. Excel would probably be better but an Excel add on is not built in. $\endgroup$ – Mike Honeychurch Dec 21 '12 at 12:30
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Wolfram website What's New? has quite a few cool examples of new features. We are interested here in

Using Higher-Order Functions and Closures to Structure Code: Flexible Plotting Routines

I will give it here to apply to your specific code.

"This example illustrates some means of code composition supported by RLink, which allow smooth and productive combined R-Mathematica workflows. Load RLink."

Needs["RLink`"]
InstallR[]

"The following creates a generic R wrapper that creates the plot and saves it to a file, and defines certain parameters for the resulting image." 

mathematicaRPlotWrapper = RFunction["function(filename, plotfun){
     pdf(filename)
     plotfun()
     dev.off()
     }"];

"Create a Mathematica counterpart wrapper that automates file import and adds error-checking."

Clear[getRPlot];
getRPlot[plotFun_RFunction] := 
  With[{tempfile = FileNameJoin[{$TemporaryDirectory, "temp.pdf"}]}, 
   If[FileExistsQ[tempfile], DeleteFile[tempfile]];
   mathematicaRPlotWrapper[tempfile, plotFun];
   If[! FileExistsQ[tempfile], Return[$Failed]];
   Import[tempfile]];

Now, the above functions worked with all examples I tried. So I will apply it to your specific case here:

Show[#, ImageSize -> Medium, PlotRange -> All] &@
 getRPlot[RFunction["function(){
     x <- 1:5
    y1 <- rnorm(5)
    y2 <- rnorm(5,20)
    par(mar=c(5,4,4,5)+.1)
    plot(x,y1,type=\"l\",col=\"red\")
    par(new=TRUE)
    plot(x,y2,,type=\"l\",col=\"blue\",xaxt=\"n\",yaxt=\"n\",xlab=\"\"\
,\ ylab=\"\")
    axis(4)
    mtext(\"y2\",side=4,line=3)
    legend(\"topleft\",col=c(\"red\",\"blue\"),lty=1,legend=c(\"y1\",\
\"y2\"))
      }"]]

enter image description here

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17
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ cool. Just installed 9 and am experimenting! $\endgroup$ – Mike Honeychurch Dec 21 '12 at 1:59
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Stack Exchange Eg - Love this link - wolfram.com/mathematica/new-in-9/built-in-integration-with-r/… $\endgroup$ – rselva Dec 21 '12 at 8:36
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    $\begingroup$ Can't resist to upvote this one, +1 :) $\endgroup$ – Leonid Shifrin Dec 21 '12 at 10:13
  • $\begingroup$ I couldn't find this example in the documentation centre. Is it there? It seems like it should be part of the RLink tutorial. $\endgroup$ – Mike Honeychurch Dec 21 '12 at 21:23
  • $\begingroup$ @MikeHoneychurch As far as I know this example lives only on that webpage I linked. $\endgroup$ – Vitaliy Kaurov Dec 21 '12 at 22:04

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