easeling

A small graphics device that writes R plots directly as OOXML DrawingML shapes, for use with openxlsx2::wb_add_drawing(). No Cairo, FreeType, fontconfig, or xml2 dependency.

Install

You can install development versions via r-universe:

install.packages(
  "easeling",
  repos = c("https://janmarvin.r-universe.dev", "https://cloud.r-project.org")
)

Or from GitHub directly:

# install.packages("remotes")
remotes::install_github("JanMarvin/easeling")

Usage

easel_dev() opens the device and returns a file path. Draw with any R plotting system, call dev.off(), then hand the file to openxlsx2::wb_add_drawing().

library(easeling)
library(openxlsx2)

f <- easel_dev(width = 6, height = 4)
plot(1:10, (1:10)^2, type = "b")
dev.off()

wb <- wb_workbook()$add_worksheet()$add_drawing(xml = f, dims = "A1")

tinyplot

library(tinyplot)

f <- easel_dev(width = 6, height = 4)
plt(mpg ~ wt | factor(cyl), data = mtcars)
dev.off()

wb$add_worksheet()$add_drawing(xml = f, dims = "A1")

ggplot2

library(ggplot2)

f <- easel_dev(width = 6, height = 4)
print(
  ggplot(mtcars, aes(wt, mpg, color = factor(cyl))) +
    geom_point() +
    theme_minimal()
)
dev.off()

wb$add_worksheet()$add_drawing(xml = f, dims = "A1")

if (interactive()) wb$open()

Notes

• Text uses estimated font metrics, not real font data — layout that depends on precise text measurement (legend spacing, centered labels) may be slightly off, especially with unusual fonts.
• Fonts are referenced by name only, not embedded. The viewer needs the font installed, or it falls back silently.
• Gradient fills (grid::linearGradient()/radialGradient()) are supported; tiling patterns and clip paths/masks are not.