[IPython-user] ipython help problems

[John Hunter]

with ipython svn and mpl 91.2svn, I can do


In [6]: import matplotlib.lines

In [7]: help matplotlib.lines.Line2D
------> help(matplotlib.lines.Line2D)


and get the right help.  But when I create a line instance

In [8]: l, = plot([1,2,3])

In [9]: help l
------> help(l)

I only get the python object help.


Further, when I do
In [11]: l??

Type:             instance
Base Class:       matplotlib.lines.Line2D
String Form:   Line2D(_line0)
Namespace:        Interactive
Docstring [source file open failed]:
    <no docstring>
Constructor Docstring:
    Create a Line2D instance with x and y data in sequences xdata,
    ydata

I get the  [source file open failed] error, even though the source is installed


In [13]: matplotlib.lines.__file__
Out[13]: '/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/lib/python2.5/site-packages/matplotlib/lines.pyc'

In [14]: !head /Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.5/lib/python2.5/site-packages/matplotlib/lines.py
"""
This module contains all the 2D line class which can draw with a
variety of line styles, markers and colors
"""

# TODO: expose cap and join style attrs
from __future__ import division

import sys, math, warnings


Any ideas?

I'm teaching the mpl tutorial at pycon on Thursday and was preparing
to walk the group through some ipython stuff but realized it is not
working righ on my box (Leopard with the macpython build and ipython
svn)

JDH