matplotlib x轴时间显示

matplotlib提供基本的接口：

from matplotlib.dates import AutoDateLocator, DateFormatter
autodates = AutoDateLocator()
yearsFmt = DateFormatter('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')
figure.autofmt_xdate()        #设置x轴时间外观
ax.xaxis.set_major_locator(autodates)       #设置时间间隔
ax.xaxis.set_major_formatter(yearsFmt)      #设置时间显示格式
ax.set_xticks() #设置x轴间隔
ax.set_xlim()   #设置x轴范围

在matplotlib里面x轴时间对应一个浮点数。一个单位的浮点数表示一天。

浮点数和时间之间的转换接口：

import matplotlib.dates as dt
dt提供的三个接口
num2date(x, tz=None)
    *x* is a float value which gives the number of days
    (fraction part represents hours, minutes, seconds) since
    0001-01-01 00:00:00 UTC *plus* *one*.
    The addition of one here is a historical artifact.  Also, note
    that the Gregorian calendar is assumed; this is not universal
    practice.  For details, see the module docstring.
    
    Return value is a :class:`datetime` instance in timezone *tz* (default to
    rcparams TZ value).
    
    If *x* is a sequence, a sequence of :class:`datetime` objects will
    be returned.
date2num(d)
    *d* is either a :class:`datetime` instance or a sequence of datetimes.
    
    Return value is a floating point number (or sequence of floats)
    which gives the number of days (fraction part represents hours,
    minutes, seconds) since 0001-01-01 00:00:00 UTC, *plus* *one*.
    The addition of one here is a historical artifact.  Also, note
    that the Gregorian calendar is assumed; this is not universal
    practice.  For details, see the module docstring.
num2date(x, tz=None)
    *x* is a float value which gives the number of days
    (fraction part represents hours, minutes, seconds) since
    0001-01-01 00:00:00 UTC *plus* *one*.
    The addition of one here is a historical artifact.  Also, note
    that the Gregorian calendar is assumed; this is not universal
    practice.  For details, see the module docstring.
    
    Return value is a :class:`datetime` instance in timezone *tz* (default to
    rcparams TZ value).
    
    If *x* is a sequence, a sequence of :class:`datetime` objects will
    be returned.

时间和浮点数的转换最好使用matplotlib.dates里面的接口。

调用python datetime里面的接口生成的浮点数会比较大。matplotlib识别不了，抛出异常。

由于set_xticks和set_xlim的参数都是整数。所以x轴最小间隔是一天。