F# Interactive Pass ParamArray of Functions - f#

Question

I'm trying to expand on James Hugard's post How do I plot a data series in F#? and I'm running into a glitch when using a variable number of function arguments. If I specifically name out the functions for Hugard's LineChartForm like in this example, the code works as expected when loaded into the F# Interactive Interpreter:
(* This code is based off of a Stack Overflow post by
James Hugard #
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3276357/how-do-i-plot-a-data-series-in-f
*)
module HuggardPlot
#r "System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization"
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting
type LineChartForm( title, minX, maxX, func1, func2) =
inherit Form( Text=title )
let chart = new Chart(Dock=DockStyle.Fill)
let area = new ChartArea(Name="Area1")
(* Add the first plot Hugard style *)
let series = new Series()
do series.ChartType <- SeriesChartType.Line
do for i in minX .. maxX do
series.Points.AddXY(i, func1(i)) |> ignore
do series.ChartArea <- "Area1"
do chart.Series.Add( series )
(* Add the second plot Hugard style *)
let series2 = new Series()
do series2.ChartType <- SeriesChartType.Line
do for i in minX .. maxX do
series2.Points.AddXY(i, func2(i)) |> ignore
do series2.ChartArea <- "Area1"
do chart.Series.Add( series2 )
(* Add area1 to the plot *)
do chart.ChartAreas.Add(area)
do base.Controls.Add( chart )
(* Convenience method to make it easier to plot functions *)
let plotTwoFunctions minX maxX f1 f2 =
let LCF = new LineChartForm("lines", minX, maxX, f1, f2);
LCF.Show();
On the other hand, if I try to use the technique in the Parameter Arrays section of http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd233213.aspx to pass a variable number of functions via a ParamArray with the following code:
(* This code is based off of a Stack Overflow post by
James Hugard #
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3276357/how-do-i-plot-a-data-series-in-f
*)
module HuggardPlot
#r "System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization"
open System
open System.Windows.Forms
open System.Windows.Forms.DataVisualization.Charting
type LineChartForm(
title,
minX,
maxX,
[<ParamArray>] funcs: Object[]) =
inherit Form( Text=title )
let chart = new Chart(Dock=DockStyle.Fill)
let area = new ChartArea(Name="Area1")
do for func in funcs do
(* Add the first plot Hugard style *)
let series = new Series()
do series.ChartType <- SeriesChartType.Line
do for i in minX .. maxX do
series.Points.AddXY(i, func(i)) |> ignore
do series.ChartArea <- "Area1"
do chart.Series.Add( series )
(* Add area1 to the plot *)
do chart.ChartAreas.Add(area)
do base.Controls.Add( chart )
(* Convenience method to make it easier to plot functions *)
let plotTwoFunctions minX maxX f1 f2 =
let LCF = new LineChartForm("lines", minX, maxX, f1, f2);
LCF.Show();
I get an error on line 27 series.Points.AddXY(i, func(i)) |> ignore stating "This value is not a function and cannot be applied" with a red squiggly under "func".
I suspect this has something to do with the fact that I am using [<ParamArray>] funcs: Object[] as a parameter definition to Mr. Hugard's LineChartForm Type.
What should I change [<ParamArray>] funcs: Object[] to so line 27 of the second code example will recognize "func" as a function?

Answer 1

If you want to create a method that takes params array of functions, then you need to define the parameter as [<ParamArray>] funcs: (float -> float)[]. In your original version, the type was Object[] meaning that individual elements of the array were objects - if you change the type of elements to functions, then F# will recognize that you can call them.
However, if you're simply interested in charting F# data, then there is already a good wrapper for the WinForms DataVisualization library called F# Chart and available on GitHub. There is also a comprehensive documentation available on MSDN (if you use the latest version of the library, then FSharpChart has been renamed to just Chart).
To create a plot comparing two functions over a specified range, you can simply write:
let plotTwoFunctions minX maxX f1 f2 =
Chart.Combine
[ Chart.Line [ for x in minX .. maxX -> x, f1 x ]
Chart.Line [ for x in minX .. maxX -> x, f2 x ] ]
This creates two individual line charts (with data generated by the two functions) and then combines them into a single chart using Chart.Combine.