Matplotlib Table's Font Size

Question

Working with Matplotlib in Python (2.7.9). I have to plot a table in a subplot (in this case subplot name is tab) but I can't seem to find a way to change the font size of the table (http://imgur.com/0Ttvzee - bottom left). Antman is happy about the results, I am not. This is the code I've been using.

EDIT: Added full code

def stat_chart(self):

DN      = self.diff
ij      = self.ij_list
mcont   = self.mcont
ocont   = self.ocont
ucont   = self.ucont
dist    = self.widths
clon    = '%1.2f' %self.mclon
clat    = '%1.2f' %self.mclat
clonlat = "{0}/{1}".format(clon,clat)
area    = self.area
perim   = self.perimeter
mdist   = np.array(self.widths)
mdist   = mdist[:,0]*10
mdist   = np.mean(mdist)
pstat   = self.polygon_status
if pstat == 1:
  status = "Overestimation"
else:
  status = "Underestimation"

# Setting up the plot (2x2) and subplots
fig   = plt.figure()
gs    = gridspec.GridSpec(2,2,width_ratios=[2,1],height_ratios=[4,1])
main  = plt.subplot(gs[0,0])
polyf = plt.subplot(gs[0,1])
tab   = plt.subplot(gs[1,0])
leg   = plt.subplot(gs[1,1])
tab.set_xticks([])
leg.set_xticks([])
tab.set_yticks([])
leg.set_yticks([])
tab.set_frame_on(False)
leg.set_frame_on(False)

# Main image on the top left
main.imshow(DN[::-1],cmap='winter')
x1,x2,y1,y2 = np.min(ij[:,1])-15,np.max(ij[:,1])+15,np.min(ij[:,0])-15,np.max(ij[:,0])+15
main.axvspan(x1,x2,ymin=1-((y1-320)/float(len(DN)-320)),ymax=1-((y2-320)/float(len(DN)-320)),color='red',alpha=0.3)
main.axis([0,760,0,800])

# Polygon image on the top right
polyf.imshow(DN,cmap='winter')
polyf.axis([x1,x2,y2,y1])
polyf.plot(mcont[:,1],mcont[:,0],'ro',markersize=4)
polyf.plot(ocont[:,1],ocont[:,0],'yo',markersize=4)
polyf.plot(ucont[:,1],ucont[:,0],'go',markersize=4)
for n,en in enumerate(dist):
  polyf.plot([en[2],en[4]],[en[1],en[3]],color='grey',alpha=0.3)

# Legend on the bottom right
mc = mlines.Line2D([],[],color='red',marker='o')
oc = mlines.Line2D([],[],color='yellow',marker='o')
uc = mlines.Line2D([],[],color='green',marker='o')
ed = mlines.Line2D([],[],color='black',alpha=0.5)
pos_p = mpatches.Patch(color='lightgreen')
neg_p = mpatches.Patch(color='royalblue')
leg.legend([mc,oc,uc,ed,pos_p,neg_p],("Model Cont.","Osisaf Cont.","Unknown Cont.","Dist. Mdl to Osi", \
  'Model Overestimate','Model Underestimate'),loc='center')

# Statistics table on the bottom left
stats = [[clonlat+' degrees' ,'%1.4E km^2' %area,'%1.4E km' %perim,'%1.4f km' %mdist,status]]
columns = ('Center Lon/Lat','Area','Perimeter','Mean Width','Status')
rows = ['TODOpolyname']
cwid = [0.1,0.1,0.1,0.1,0.1,0.1]
the_table = tab.table(cellText=stats,colWidths=cwid,rowLabels=rows,colLabels=columns,loc='center')
table_props = the_table.properties()
table_cells = table_props['child_artists']
for cell in table_cells: cell.set_height(0.5)
plt.show()

return

EDIT2: Eventually (un)solved plotting text instead of table. Good enough.

Answer 1

I had a similar issue in changing the fontsize. Try the following

the_table.auto_set_font_size(False)
the_table.set_fontsize(5.5)

Worked for me.

Answer 2

According to the docs, table has a kwarg called fontsize, a float value for the size in points.

In your example from above, for a fontsize of 5 points you would use:

    the_table =tab.table(cellText=stats,colWidths=cwid,rowLabels=rows,colLabels=columns,loc='center',fontsize=5)

If you require greater control, you can pass a FontManager instance to the cell.set_text_props() method as described in this example. That would enable you to set the family, spacing, style etc, in addition to the size.

EDIT: Playing around with Matplotlib's example, it seems that just passing fontsize to the table has no effect. However, importing

    from matplotlib.font_manager import FontProperties

and then looping through the cells and running

    cell.set_text_props(fontproperties=FontProperties(size = 5))

does have the desired effect. It is unclear why the documented kwarg fontsize does not work in this (or apparently in your) case.