Problem with loop in pgfplots

Question

I am trying to loop through a parameter to produce shifted graphs in grouppplots, as in the following MWE, however the value of \k doesn't seem to be recognized in the argument of sin, i.e. the black lines are not shifted. I inserted a red line with shift 0.25 manually for comparison. What did I do wrong?

\documentclass{standalone}

\usepackage{pgfplots}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{groupplot}[group style={group size=1 by 3},width=\textwidth,height=4cm,xmin=0,xmax=2,samples=200]
\pgfplotsforeachungrouped \k in {0,0.25,0.5}{
  \nextgroupplot
  \addplot[domain=0:2] gnuplot {sin(2*pi*(x - \k))} node[above,pos=0.5]{\k};
  \addplot[domain=0:2,red,dashed] gnuplot {sin(2*pi*(x - 0.25))} node[above,pos=0.5]{\k};
}
\end{groupplot}
\end{tikzpicture}

\end{document}

Output:

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 12 '18 at 18:46

Welcome to the expanding universe! (Yes, these expansion tricks can easily drive one close to madness. ;-))

\documentclass{standalone}

\usepackage{pgfplots}
\usepgfplotslibrary{groupplots}
\begin{document}

\begin{tikzpicture}
\begin{groupplot}[group style={group size=1 by 3},width=\textwidth,height=4cm,xmin=0,xmax=2,samples=200]
\pgfplotsinvokeforeach{0,0.25,0.5}{
  \nextgroupplot
  \edef\temp{\noexpand\addplot[domain=0:2] gnuplot {sin(2*pi*(x - #1))}
  node[above,pos=0.5]{#1};}
  \temp
  \edef\temp{\noexpand\addplot[domain=0:2,red,dashed] gnuplot {sin(2*pi*(x -
  0.25))} node[above,pos=0.5]{#1};}
  \temp
}
\end{groupplot}
\end{tikzpicture}
\end{document}

"EXPLANATION": When playing with pgfplots for a while, one comes across some standard tricks which one applies until one gets the desired result. ;-)

Problem with loop in pgfplots

1 Answers1