# AoG "range step cannot be zero"
**URL:** https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624
**Category:** Visualization
**Tags:** algebraofgraphics
**Created:** [September 22, 2022, 8:28am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624 "2022-09-22T08:28:07Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@jar1](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jar1)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 8:28am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/1 "2022-09-22T08:28:07Z")
I don’t have an MWE but maybe someone has a guess what this means?
```julia
ERROR: ArgumentError: range step cannot be zero
Stacktrace:
[1] (::Colon)(start::Float32, step::Float32, stop::Float32)
@ Base ./twiceprecision.jl:401
[2] get_minor_tickvalues(i::IntervalsBetween, scale::Function, tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, vmin::Float32, vmax::Float32)
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:623
[3] (::Makie.MakieLayout.var"#182#213"{Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Any}, Attributes})(tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, minorticks::IntervalsBetween)
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:239
[4] (::Observables.OnUpdate{Makie.MakieLayout.var"#182#213"{Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Any}, Attributes}, Tuple{Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Any}}})(#unused#::Vector{Float32})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:334
[5] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[6] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[7] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[8] setindex!(observable::Observable{Vector{Float32}}, val::Vector{Float64})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248
[9] (::Makie.MakieLayout.var"#178#209"{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Any}, Attributes})(tickvalues_labels_unfiltered::Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}, reversed::Bool)
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:214
[10] (::Observables.OnUpdate{Makie.MakieLayout.var"#178#209"{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Any}, Attributes}, Tuple{Observable{Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}}, Observable{Any}}})(#unused#::Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:334
[11] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[12] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[13] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[14] setindex!(observable::Observable{Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}}, val::Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248
[15] (::Observables.MapUpdater{Makie.MakieLayout.var"#177#208", Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}})(::Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}, ::Vararg{Any})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:372
[16] (::Observables.OnUpdate{Observables.MapUpdater{Makie.MakieLayout.var"#177#208", Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}}, Tuple{Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Any}, Observable{Any}, Observable{Any}, Observable{Any}}})(#unused#::Tuple{Float32, Float32})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:334
[17] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[18] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[19] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[20] setindex!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248 [inlined]
[21] (::Observables.var"#3#4"{Any, Observable{Any}})(value::Tuple{Float32, Float32})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:58
[22] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[23] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[24] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[25] setindex!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248 [inlined]
[26] (::Makie.MakieLayout.var"#254#285"{Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}})(lims::GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32})
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:207
[27] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[28] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[29] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[30] setindex!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248 [inlined]
[31] adjustlimits!(la::Axis)
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:916
[32] #268
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:447 [inlined]
[33] (::Observables.OnUpdate{Makie.MakieLayout.var"#268#301"{Axis}, Tuple{Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Int64}}, Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32}}}})(#unused#::GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:334
[34] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:716 [inlined]
[35] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:714 [inlined]
[36] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:88 [inlined]
[37] setindex!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/OFj0u/src/Observables.jl:248 [inlined]
[38] reset_limits!(ax::Axis; xauto::Bool, yauto::Bool, zauto::Bool)
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:547
[39] reset_limits!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:472 [inlined]
[40] plot!(::Axis, ::Type{Lines}, ::Attributes, ::Vector{Rational{Int64}}, ::Vararg{Any}; kw_attributes::Base.Pairs{Symbol, Union{}, Tuple{}, NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}}})
@ Makie.MakieLayout ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:664
[41] plot!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:653 [inlined]
[42] #plot!#318
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/NL7Xw/src/makielayout/layoutables/axis.jl:670 [inlined]
[43] plot!(ae::AxisEntries)
@ AlgebraOfGraphics ~/.julia/packages/AlgebraOfGraphics/IVn8U/src/entries.jl:117
[44] foreach(f::typeof(plot!), itr::Matrix{AxisEntries})
@ Base ./abstractarray.jl:2694
[45] plot!(fig::Axis, s::AlgebraOfGraphics.Layers; axis::NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}}, palettes::NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}})
@ AlgebraOfGraphics ~/.julia/packages/AlgebraOfGraphics/IVn8U/src/algebra/layers.jl:151
[46] draw!(fig::Axis, s::AlgebraOfGraphics.Layers; axis::NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}}, palettes::NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}})
@ AlgebraOfGraphics ~/.julia/packages/AlgebraOfGraphics/IVn8U/src/algebra/layers.jl:191
[47] draw!
```
---
### Author:  [@jishnub](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jishnub)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 8:40am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/2 "2022-09-22T08:40:01Z")
It means what it says, that the package is trying to create a range with a step size of zero, which is not possible. A simple reproducer of the error is
```julia
julia> Float32(1):Float32(0):Float32(2)
ERROR: ArgumentError: range step cannot be zero
Stacktrace:
[1] (::Colon)(start::Float32, step::Float32, stop::Float32)
@ Base ./twiceprecision.jl:412
[2] top-level scope
@ REPL[1]:1
```
Clearly you can’t create a range with `start=1`, `stop=2` and `step=0`. How you got here might be clear from an MWE, as this should normally not be reached.
---
### Author:  [@oheil](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/oheil)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 8:47am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/3 "2022-09-22T08:47:47Z")
Check this thread:
> [@Error message when using AoG/Makie with "yscale=log10", for my particular data](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/error-message-when-using-aog-makie-with-yscale-log10-for-my-particular-data/82206):
>
> Hello all, when running the following piece of code, I obtain an error. I have found out that it is due to the fact of using yscale=log10. If I use yscale=log there is no problem. In the x coordinate I have no problem. # %% plt = Vector{Layer}(undef, length(ϵ)) g = ["black", "red", "blue", "green", "cyan"] labels = (e-\>"ϵ=$e").(ϵ) println(labels) length(plt) # %% for i = 1:length(ϵ) ρ\_f = rar[i].mass\_spline.derivative(1) r = rar[i].r ρ=ρ\_f(r) df\_plot = (x=r/rₛ, y=ρ./(4\*…
Perhaps the workaround does it for you too.
---
### Author:  [@Gravlax](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Gravlax)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 11:16am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/4 "2022-09-22T11:16:47Z")
I think it’s basically what happens when you try to plot a constant field with Makie.
It’s unfortunate but it seems that trying to plot a field without spatial variation is (so far) not possible. Since there are no variations in the data, step is becomes 0 and it simply errors. One has to add a trend or a noise to the data… Please correct me if I’m wrong.
---
### Author:  [@jar1](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jar1)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2022, 6:15pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/5 "2022-09-22T18:15:46Z")
I don’t quite understand what you mean. I can plot a constant value like this
```julia
lines(1:10, fill(5, 10))
```
---
### Author:  [@icweaver](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/icweaver)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 3:11am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/6 "2022-09-23T03:11:09Z")
May also be misunderstanding, but plotting constant heatmaps seems to be supported I think:
```julia
using AlgebraOfGraphics, CairoMakie
z = ones(5, 5)
mapping([z]) |> draw # or mapping([z]) * visual(Heatmap) |> draw
```
---
### Author:  [@jules](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jules)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 6:55am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/7 "2022-09-23T06:55:11Z")
This currently happens if the limit range is non-zero but tiny, in that case during tick calculation some ranges will have step 0 because of the loss of precision when dealing with Float32, leading to this error. A zero range has special behavior built in, which is why the straight line works…
---
### Author:  [@Gravlax](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Gravlax)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 7:00am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/8 "2022-09-23T07:00:53Z")
@icweaver and @jar1 thanks a lot for the follow up. Since I don’t wan’t to hijack your thread and since my problem may be unrelated, I’ve made a separate thread:
> [@Plotting patches of constant values using Makie](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/plotting-patches-of-constant-values-using-makie/87687):
>
> Dear all, I have an issue when plotting patches with Makie when the field has no spatial variations. I provide a MWE below. The returned error is ArgumentError: range step cannot be zero if v=zeros(nel) (constant data) . However if v=rand(nel) it works. I suspect that using limits=(min\_v, max\_v) is the source of the zero range step (since min\_v==max\_v). Commenting it disables the errors but also the plot (at least in Jupyter). Anyone has an idea of potential workarounds? using CairoMakie us…
---
### Author:  [@jar1](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jar1)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 7:10am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/9 "2022-09-23T07:10:43Z")
I can’t reproduce the error with tiny floats:
```julia
julia> floatmin(Float64) .* [1,2,3]
3-element Vector{Float64}:
2.2250738585072014e-308
4.450147717014403e-308
6.675221575521604e-308
julia> lines(1:3, floatmin(Float64) .* [1,2,3])
```
---
### Author:  [@jules](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jules)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 7:14am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/10 "2022-09-23T07:14:09Z")
Hm probably add a large constant to the y-values to trigger it.
---
### Author:  [@jar1](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jar1)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 7:16am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/11 "2022-09-23T07:16:43Z")
No error
```julia
julia> lines(1:3, floatmin(Float64) .* [1,2,3] .+ 100)
```
---
### Author:  [@suavesito](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/suavesito)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 6:50pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/12 "2022-09-23T18:50:30Z")
I got the error with the following code
```julia
julia> using GLMakie
julia> b = 2.0^(-150)
7.006492321624085e-46
julia> Float32(b) # notice that `b` is the smallest `Float64` such that `Float32(b) != 0.0f0`
1.0f-45
julia> Float32(prevfloat(b)) # here you can see that efectively taking just the previous number bellow `b`, then `Float32(b) == 0.0`
0.0f0
julia> lines([b, b]) # this lines triggers the error
```
As for the error, it is here
```julia
julia> lines([b, b])
Error showing value of type Makie.FigureAxisPlot:
ERROR: ArgumentError: range step cannot be zero
Stacktrace:
[1] (::Colon)(start::Float32, step::Float32, stop::Float32)
@ Base ./twiceprecision.jl:412
[2] get_minor_tickvalues(i::IntervalsBetween, scale::Function, tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, vmin::Float32, vmax::Float32)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:670
[3] (::Makie.var"#1179#1192"{Attributes, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}})(tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, minorticks::IntervalsBetween)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:394
[4] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Makie.var"#1179#1192"{Attributes, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
[5] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[6] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[7] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[8] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[9] update_tickpos_string(closure_args::Tuple{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, tickvalues_labels_unfiltered::Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}, reversed::Bool, scale::typeof(identity))
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:191
[10] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{typeof(Makie.update_tickpos_string), Tuple{Observable{Tuple{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}}, Observable{Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}}, Observable{Any}, Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
[11] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[12] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[13] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[14] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[15] #15
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:393 [inlined]
--- the last 6 lines are repeated 1 more time ---
[22] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Observables.var"#15#16"{Makie.var"#1169#1182", Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
[23] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[24] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[25] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[26] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[27] (::Observables.var"#6#7"{Observable{Any}})(x::Tuple{Float32, Float32})
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:114
[28] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[29] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[30] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[31] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[32] #15
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:393 [inlined]
[33] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Observables.var"#15#16"{typeof(Makie.ylimits), Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32}}}})(x::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
[34] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[35] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[36] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[37] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[38] adjustlimits!(la::Axis)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:977
[39] #1235
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:498 [inlined]
[40] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Makie.var"#1235#1265"{Axis}, Tuple{Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Int64}}, Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32}}}})(x::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
[41] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[42] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[43] notify
@ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 [inlined]
[44] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
@ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
[45] reset_limits!(ax::Axis; xauto::Bool, yauto::Bool, zauto::Bool)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:623
[46] reset_limits!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:547 [inlined]
[47] update_state_before_display!(ax::Axis)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:1351
[48] update_state_before_display!(f::Figure)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/figureplotting.jl:177
[49] update_state_before_display!
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/figureplotting.jl:173 [inlined]
[50] backend_display(s::Makie.FigureAxisPlot; kw::Base.Pairs{Symbol, Union{}, Tuple{}, NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}}})
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:50
[51] backend_display
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:49 [inlined]
[52] #display#932
@ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:72 [inlined]
[53] display(fig::Makie.FigureAxisPlot)
@ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:66
[54] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[55] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[56] print_response(errio::IO, response::Any, show_value::Bool, have_color::Bool, specialdisplay::Union{Nothing, AbstractDisplay})
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:296
[57] (::REPL.var"#45#46"{LineEditREPL, Pair{Any, Bool}, Bool, Bool})(io::Any)
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:278
[58] with_repl_linfo(f::Any, repl::LineEditREPL)
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:521
[59] print_response(repl::AbstractREPL, response::Any, show_value::Bool, have_color::Bool)
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:276
[60] (::REPL.var"#do_respond#66"{Bool, Bool, REPL.var"#77#87"{LineEditREPL, REPL.REPLHistoryProvider}, LineEditREPL, REPL.LineEdit.Prompt})(s::REPL.LineEdit.MIState, buf::Any, ok::Bool)
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:857
[61] #invokelatest#2
@ ./essentials.jl:729 [inlined]
[62] invokelatest
@ ./essentials.jl:726 [inlined]
[63] run_interface(terminal::REPL.Terminals.TextTerminal, m::REPL.LineEdit.ModalInterface, s::REPL.LineEdit.MIState)
@ REPL.LineEdit ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/LineEdit.jl:2510
[64] run_frontend(repl::LineEditREPL, backend::REPL.REPLBackendRef)
@ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:1248
```
---
### Author:  [@jar1](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jar1)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2022, 7:10pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/13 "2022-09-23T19:10:50Z")
>
>
> Plotting small numbers can cause an error. I get this error fairly often. It com…plicates the construction of complex multi-axis plots when I have to deal with errors popping up in the middle so it would be nice if this could be avoided.
>
> A reproducer was found \[on Discourse\](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/12):
>
> \`\`\`jl
> julia\> using GLMakie
>
> julia\> b = 2.0^(-150)
> 7.006492321624085e-46
>
> julia\> Float32(b) # notice that \`b\` is the smallest \`Float64\` such that \`Float32(b) != 0.0f0\`
> 1.0f-45
>
> julia\> Float32(prevfloat(b)) # here you can see that efectively taking just the previous number bellow \`b\`, then \`Float32(b) == 0.0\`
> 0.0f0
>
> julia\> lines(\[b, b\])
> Error showing value of type Makie.FigureAxisPlot:
> ERROR: ArgumentError: range step cannot be zero
> Stacktrace:
> \[1\] (::Colon)(start::Float32, step::Float32, stop::Float32)
> @ Base ./twiceprecision.jl:412
> \[2\] get\_minor\_tickvalues(i::IntervalsBetween, scale::Function, tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, vmin::Float32, vmax::Float32)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:670
> \[3\] (::Makie.var"#1179#1192"{Attributes, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}})(tickvalues::Vector{Float32}, minorticks::IntervalsBetween)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:394
> \[4\] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Makie.var"#1179#1192"{Attributes, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
> \[5\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[6\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[7\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[8\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[9\] update\_tickpos\_string(closure\_args::Tuple{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, tickvalues\_labels\_unfiltered::Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}, reversed::Bool, scale::typeof(identity))
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/lineaxis.jl:191
> \[10\] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{typeof(Makie.update\_tickpos\_string), Tuple{Observable{Tuple{Observable{Vector{AbstractString}}, Observable{Vector{Point{2, Float32}}}, Observable{Vector{Float32}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Tuple{Float32, Float32}, Bool}}, Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}}, Observable{Tuple{Vector{Float64}, Vector{String}}}, Observable{Any}, Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
> \[11\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[12\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[13\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[14\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[15\] #15
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:393 \[inlined\]
> \--- the last 6 lines are repeated 1 more time ---
> \[22\] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Observables.var"#15#16"{Makie.var"#1169#1182", Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{Any}}})(x::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
> \[23\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[24\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[25\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[26\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[27\] (::Observables.var"#6#7"{Observable{Any}})(x::Tuple{Float32, Float32})
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:114
> \[28\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[29\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[30\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[31\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[32\] #15
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:393 \[inlined\]
> \[33\] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Observables.var"#15#16"{typeof(Makie.ylimits), Observable{Tuple{Float32, Float32}}}, Tuple{Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32}}}})(x::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
> \[34\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[35\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[36\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[37\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[38\] adjustlimits!(la::Axis)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:977
> \[39\] #1235
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:498 \[inlined\]
> \[40\] (::Observables.var"#callback#13"{Makie.var"#1235#1265"{Axis}, Tuple{Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Int64}}, Observable{GeometryBasics.HyperRectangle{2, Float32}}}})(x::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:339
> \[41\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[42\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[43\] notify
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:143 \[inlined\]
> \[44\] setindex!(observable::Observable, val::Any)
> @ Observables ~/.julia/packages/Observables/ynr7h/src/Observables.jl:86
> \[45\] reset\_limits!(ax::Axis; xauto::Bool, yauto::Bool, zauto::Bool)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:623
> \[46\] reset\_limits!
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:547 \[inlined\]
> \[47\] update\_state\_before\_display!(ax::Axis)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/makielayout/blocks/axis.jl:1351
> \[48\] update\_state\_before\_display!(f::Figure)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/figureplotting.jl:177
> \[49\] update\_state\_before\_display!
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/figureplotting.jl:173 \[inlined\]
> \[50\] backend\_display(s::Makie.FigureAxisPlot; kw::Base.Pairs{Symbol, Union{}, Tuple{}, NamedTuple{(), Tuple{}}})
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:50
> \[51\] backend\_display
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:49 \[inlined\]
> \[52\] #display#932
> @ ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:72 \[inlined\]
> \[53\] display(fig::Makie.FigureAxisPlot)
> @ Makie ~/.julia/packages/Makie/Ppzqh/src/display.jl:66
> \[54\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[55\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[56\] print\_response(errio::IO, response::Any, show\_value::Bool, have\_color::Bool, specialdisplay::Union{Nothing, AbstractDisplay})
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:296
> \[57\] (::REPL.var"#45#46"{LineEditREPL, Pair{Any, Bool}, Bool, Bool})(io::Any)
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:278
> \[58\] with\_repl\_linfo(f::Any, repl::LineEditREPL)
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:521
> \[59\] print\_response(repl::AbstractREPL, response::Any, show\_value::Bool, have\_color::Bool)
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:276
> \[60\] (::REPL.var"#do\_respond#66"{Bool, Bool, REPL.var"#77#87"{LineEditREPL, REPL.REPLHistoryProvider}, LineEditREPL, REPL.LineEdit.Prompt})(s::REPL.LineEdit.MIState, buf::Any, ok::Bool)
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:857
> \[61\] #invokelatest#2
> @ ./essentials.jl:729 \[inlined\]
> \[62\] invokelatest
> @ ./essentials.jl:726 \[inlined\]
> \[63\] run\_interface(terminal::REPL.Terminals.TextTerminal, m::REPL.LineEdit.ModalInterface, s::REPL.LineEdit.MIState)
> @ REPL.LineEdit ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/LineEdit.jl:2510
> \[64\] run\_frontend(repl::LineEditREPL, backend::REPL.REPLBackendRef)
> @ REPL ~/.julia/juliaup/julia-1.8.1+0.x64/share/julia/stdlib/v1.8/REPL/src/REPL.jl:1248
> \`\`\`
---
### Author:  [@Gravlax](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/Gravlax)
#### Post date: [October 23, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/14 "2023-10-23T20:15:56Z")
In case this can be useful, here’s another MWE:
```julia
using CairoMakie
let
n = 10
θ = 62.143438338297955*ones(n) #.+ rand(n).*1e-9
f = Figure()
ax2 = Axis( f[1, 1] )
lines!(ax2, θ, 1:n)
display(f)
end
```
By uncommenting the contribution from `rand()`, the problem appears. In my case, this leads to unpredictables crashes in simulations where patterns arise from initially homogeneous fields.
---
### Author:  [@jules](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/jules)
#### Post date: [October 24, 2023, 9:27am UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/aog-range-step-cannot-be-zero/87624/15 "2023-10-24T09:27:13Z")
Makie currently only detects if the limits are zero-width, and in this case will auto-expand them. If you have tiny limits that are effectively zero in Float32, then you get the error when computing ticks (this one could also be improved I guess, but such tiny limits would also lead to projection problems anyway). So your best bet right now is to manually choose appropriate limits when your data range falls below some threshold you define.
> simulations where patterns arise from initially homogeneous fields
Right, but usually from a visualization perspective, it’s important to show the homogeneity, and for that you need larger limits. Otherwise you would stretch any noise floor across the whole axis, leading to misleading graphics anyway. So for animations or so where something arises from zero (or very near zero in your case), I usually choose some limits that are appropriate from the get go.