plot function (from plotly.offline) does not support (open) file handles as target

[s-m-e]

Currently, the filename parameter of plot only supports filenames (temp-plot.html is default). It does not support open file handles.

The latter is very useful when writing e.g. command line tools with click (or similar tools), which handles opening files specified by a user on the command line transparently and only provides a file handle to the script.

from plotly.offline import plot
help(plot)

plot(figure_or_data, show_link=False, link_text='Export to plot.ly', validate=True, output_type='file', include_plotlyjs
=True, filename='temp-plot.html', auto_open=True, image=None, image_filename='plot_image', image_width=800, image_height
=600, config=None, include_mathjax=False)
[...]

[s-m-e]

Just looked at the relevant source code - it's fairly easy to add. Would you accept a pull request?

The interesting question then becomes how to handle the stuff between subsequent lines 731 and 744. Ignore auto_open == True and include_plotlyjs == 'directory' options or raise exceptions if filename is an open file handle?

[jonmmease]

Hi @s-m-e, thanks for the suggestion. Yes, and pull request would be appreciated! It's fine to raise exceptions for combinations of parameters that don't make sense together.

In case you're interested in how I'd like to see this API refactored in the future, see #1098.

[gvwilson]

Hi - we are currently trying to tidy up Plotly's public repositories to help us focus our efforts on things that will help users most. Since this issue has been sitting for several years, I'm going to close it. If it's still a concern, we'd be grateful if you could open a new issue (with a short reproducible example if appropriate) so that we can add it to our backlog. Thanks for your help - @gvwilson