make panels with same margins when combining ggplot and base graphics

Question

I have generated a figure that combines ggplot and base graphics:

t <- c(1:(24*14)) 
P <- 24
A <- 10 
y <- A*sin(2*pi*t/P)+20 
#*****************************************************************************
par(mfrow = c(2,1))
plot(y,type = "l",xlab = "Time (hours)",ylab = "Amplitude")
aa <- par("mai")
plot.new()

require(gridBase)
vps <- baseViewports()
pushViewport(vps$figure)
pushViewport(plotViewport(margins = aa)) ## I use 'aa' to set the margins 
#*******************************************************************************
require(ggplot2)
acz <- acf(y, plot = FALSE)
acd <- data.frame(Lag = acz$lag, ACF = acz$acf)
p <- ggplot(acd, aes(Lag, ACF)) + geom_area(fill = "grey") +
  geom_hline(yintercept = c(0.05, -0.05), linetype = "dashed") +
  theme_bw()
grid.draw(ggplotGrob(p)) ## draw the figure

I use the plotViewport command and set the dimensions of the panel according to the dimensions of the first panel, obtained by par("mai"). The figure attached shows the outcome. However, the dimensions of both panels do not match, i.e. the second panel seems to be slightly wider than the first. How can I overcome this without having to manually set the margins with

pushViewport(plotViewport(c(4,1.2,0,1.2)))

Answer 1

This should give you some hints:

library(grid)
library(ggplot2)
require(gridBase)

par(mfrow = c(2,1))
plot(1:10)
a <- par("mai")
plot.new()
vps <- baseViewports()
pushViewport(vps$figure)

p = qplot(1:10, 1:10) + theme_bw() 
g <- ggplotGrob(p)

lw = unit(a[2], "inch") - sum(g$widths[1:3]) 

g$widths[[2]] <- as.list(lw + g$widths[[2]])
g$widths[[4]] <- as.list(unit(1, "npc") - unit(a[2] + a[4], "inch"))
g$widths[[5]] <- unit(a[4], "inch")
grid.draw(g)

# draw a shaded vertical band to test the alignment
grid.rect(unit(a[2], "inch"), unit(0, "inch"), 
          unit(1,"npc") - unit(a[2] + a[4], "inch"), 
          unit(2,"npc"),
          gp=gpar(lty=2, fill="red", alpha=0.1), hjust=0, vjust=0)

upViewport()

but, really, why would you not do everything in ggplot2?

Answer 2

Th main idea is to push 2 viewports of baseviewports to get the dimensions of the plot panel. The solution is not general.

First I plot my basic plot

t <- c(1:(24*14)) 
P <- 24
A <- 10 
y <- A*sin(2*pi*t/P)+20 
#*****************************************************************************
par(mfrow = c(2,1))
plot(t,y,type = "l",xlab = "Time (hours)",ylab = "Amplitude")
plot.new()

Second I get the dimensions of the plot panel. vpp will be used just for dimensions of ggplot grobs(similar to the idea of baptiste above)

require(gridBase)
vps <- baseViewports()
vpp <- pushViewport(vps$figure,vps$plot) ## here I add a new viewport
vpp <- current.viewport()
upViewport(2)

ggplot2 plot savec as a grob table:

require(ggplot2)
p <- ggplot(acd, aes(Lag, ACF)) + geom_area(fill = "grey") +
  geom_hline(yintercept = c(0.05, -0.05), linetype = "dashed") +
  theme_bw()
data <- ggplot_build(p)
gtable <- ggplot_gtable(data)

I change the dimensions of the grobs. (Here why the solution is not general)

gtable$heights[[2]] <- vpp$height
gtable$heights[[4]] <- vpp$height
gtable$widths[[4]]  <- vpp$width

I plot

grid.draw(gtable)