Extension Guides

PhysPlot is designed so common scientific extensions can be added by creating small Python or JSON files in predictable folders. You do not have to write them yourself: every kind of module has a guide file written for AI assistants, and Build Modules with an AI Assistant shows how to get a finished module from ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot or any other assistant, and AI Module Examples shows a tested example of every kind with sample data and the resulting plots. Each page below ends with the same help for its own kind of module.

Module kind	Folder in Documents/PhysPlot/config/	Page
Data importers (file loaders)	data_importers/	File-Loader Plugins
Mathematical transformations	transformations/	Function Plugins
Plotter modules and plot-type presets	plotter_modules/, plot_types/	Plotter Modules and Plot-Type Presets
Protocol sequences, protocol modules and pipelines	sequences/, protocol_modules/, pipelines/	Sequences, Protocol Modules and Pipelines
Figure templates, fit-style presets and Figure Editor plugins	templates/, figureforge_fit_styles/, figureforge_plugins/	Figure Templates, Fit Styles and Figure Editor Plugins
Curve fits (typed models) and legacy fit-model files	fit_functions/ (legacy only)	Curve Fitting and Fit-Model Files

Put your files in Documents/PhysPlot/config/<folder>/: File → Open Config Folder opens it. PhysPlot searches that folder before its built-in one, so a file there with the same name replaces the bundled module. Choose File → Reload Config Modules (Ctrl+Shift+R) to load new or changed files without restarting. Modularity and Auto-Loading Map maps every folder to the code that loads it.

• Modularity and Auto-Loading Map
  • Where Files Live
  • Startup Versus Reload
  • Creating a New File Loader
  • Creating a Loader-Owned Plotter
  • Creating a New Transform Function
  • Creating and Reusing Figure Templates
  • Creating and Reusing Sequences
  • Creating and Reusing Pipelines
  • Creating a Plotter Module
  • Generated Workflow File Format
• File-Loader Plugins
  • How a loader works
  • Example 1: Rigaku SmartLab XRD scan (.ras)
  • Example 2: TA Instruments TGA/DSC export (.txt)
  • Example 3: JCAMP-DX FTIR spectrum (.jdx)
  • Test a loader without the GUI
  • Let an AI assistant write it
  • Write your own
  • When something goes wrong
• Function Plugins
  • What Function Plugins Do
  • Where Functions Appear in the UI
  • Layman Example
  • Required File Location
  • Required Structure
  • Minimal Template
  • Step-by-Step: Build a New Function
  • Let an AI Assistant Write It
  • Function Categories
  • Practical Rules
  • Sequences and Headless Runs
  • Existing Examples
• Plotter Modules and Plot-Type Presets
  • What a Plotter Module Does
  • The File
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Plotter
  • Plot-Type Presets
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Preset
• Sequences, Protocol Modules and Pipelines
  • Sequence Files
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Sequence
  • Protocol Modules
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Protocol Module
  • Pipelines
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Pipeline
• Figure Templates, Fit Styles and Figure Editor Plugins
  • Figure Templates
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Template
  • Fit-Style Presets
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Fit Style
  • Figure Editor Plugins
  • Let an AI Assistant Write a Plugin
• Curve Fitting and Fit-Model Files
  • Fitting Today: Type the Model
  • Let an AI Assistant Set Up a Fit
  • Legacy Fit-Model Files
  • Required File Location
  • Polynomial Template
  • Callable Template
  • Step-by-Step: Build a New Curve-Fit Plugin
  • Required Fields
  • Practical Rules
  • Existing Examples