python - Changing the xlim by date in Matplotlib -

i trying make visually appealing graph in python. using randal olson's example http://www.randalolson.com/2014/06/28/how-to-make-beautiful-data-visualizations-in-python-with-matplotlib/ here , trying make adjustments.

my data simple,

dispute_percentage out[34]:   2015-08-11    0.017647 2015-08-12    0.004525 2015-08-13    0.006024 2015-08-14    0.000000 2015-08-15    0.000000 2015-08-17    0.000000 

the problem data starts loading @ feb 2015, , want start displaying @ april 2015.

here code

from __future__ import division collections import ordereddict import pandas pd collections import counter pylab import *  import datetime datetime  dispute_percentage.plot(kind = 'line') plt.xlabel('date') plt.ylabel('percent') plt.title('percent disputes in fy2015')  # remove plot frame lines. unnecessary chartjunk.     ax = plt.subplot(111)     ax.spines["top"].set_visible(false)     ax.spines["bottom"].set_visible(false)     ax.spines["right"].set_visible(false)     ax.spines["left"].set_visible(false)    # ensure axis ticks show on bottom , left of plot.     # ticks on right , top of plot unnecessary chartjunk.     ax.get_xaxis().tick_bottom()     #ax.get_yaxis().tick_left()      # limit range of plot data is.     # avoid unnecessary whitespace.    datenow = datetime.datetime.now dstart = datetime(2015,4,1) print datenow  plt.ylim(0, .14)     plt.xlim(dstart, datenow)     

the xlim struggling with. i'm getting error

file "c:/mypath/name.py", line 52, in <module>     dstart = datetime(2015,4,1)  typeerror: 'module' object not callable 

if great. input on trying make prettier appreciated.

you need call datetime.datetime.now() parentheses on end, , dstart, need use datetime method of datetime module: datetime.datetime(2015,4,1)

import datetime  datenow = datetime.datetime.now() dstart = datetime.datetime(2015,4,1) 

edit: set xticks first of month (thanks @andykubiak):

firsts=[] in range(dstart.month, datenow.month+1):     firsts.append(datetime.datetime(2015,i,1))  plt.xticks(firsts)