diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -113,3 +113,5 @@
 		* deprecate `withTickLabelFormat` for `withTickLabelsFormat`
 		* fix issue #5, interaction of setPointSize and Legends
 
+0.2.3:
+		* add sampleData action to a plot
diff --git a/examples/Test2.hs b/examples/Test2.hs
--- a/examples/Test2.hs
+++ b/examples/Test2.hs
@@ -100,7 +100,8 @@
 --                         barSetting BarStack
 --                         setDataset (Line, mx, [rx])
 --                         setDataset (Line, ts, [ds])
-                         setDataset (ts,[line ds blue])
+                         sampleData False
+                         setDataset (ts,[line ds red])
 --                         setDataset (ts,[impulse fs blue])
 --                         setDataset (ts,[point (ds,es,"Sampled data") (Bullet,green)
 --                         setDataset (ts,[bar (ds,ds+es,"Sampled data") green
@@ -130,7 +131,7 @@
                            withAxisLabel $ setText "amplitude (α)"
                            setTicks Minor (TickNumber 0)
                         -- addAxis XAxis (Value 0) $ return ()
---                         setRangeFromData XAxis Lower Linear
+                         setRangeFromData XAxis Lower Linear
                          setRangeFromData YAxis Lower Linear
 --                         setRange XAxis Lower Linear 0 11
 {-                         withAnnotations $ do
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Defaults.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Defaults.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Defaults.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Defaults.hs
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@
 
 emptyPlot :: PlotData
 emptyPlot = Plot False defaultPlotBackgroundColour defaultPlotPadding NoText (Ranges (Left (Range Linear (-1) 1)) (Left (Range Linear (-1) 1)))
-                 [] BarSpread undefined Nothing []
+                 [] BarSpread True undefined Nothing []
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure.hs
@@ -94,6 +94,9 @@
                                       -- * BarSetting
                                       , BarSetting(..)
                                       , barSetting
+                                      -- * Data Sampling
+                                      , SampleData
+                                      , sampleData
                                       -- * Legend
                                       , Legend
                                       , LegendBorder
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure/Plot.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure/Plot.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure/Plot.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Figure/Plot.hs
@@ -60,6 +60,8 @@
                                            , withAxis
                                            -- * BarSetting
                                            , barSetting
+                                           -- * SampleData
+                                           , sampleData
                                            -- * Legend
                                            , L.Legend
                                            , LegendBorder
@@ -199,6 +201,11 @@
 
 barSetting :: BarSetting -> Plot ()
 barSetting bc = modify $ \s -> s { _barconfig = bc }
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+sampleData :: SampleData -> Plot ()
+sampleData sd = modify $ \s -> s { _sampledata = sd }
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot.hs
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@
         put bb) (A.assocs d)
 
 renderPlot :: PlotData -> Render ()
-renderPlot (Plot b c p hd r a bc d l an) = do
+renderPlot (Plot b c p hd r a bc sd d l an) = do
   tx <- bbCentreWidth
   ty <- bbTopHeight
   (_,th) <- renderText hd Centre TTop tx ty
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
     cairo $ do
       setColour c
       C.paint)
-  renderData r bc d
+  renderData r bc sd d
   renderAnnotations r an
   cairo C.restore
   cairo C.save
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Data.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Data.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Data.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Data.hs
@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@
     | x == 0.0  = 1.0
     | otherwise = x
 
-renderData :: Ranges -> BarSetting -> DataSeries -> Render ()
-renderData _ _  (DS_Surf m) = do 
+renderData :: Ranges -> BarSetting -> SampleData -> DataSeries -> Render ()
+renderData _ _ _ (DS_Surf m) = do 
   (BoundingBox x y w h) <- get
   let r = rows m
       c = cols m
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
     C.restore
     return ()
 
-renderData r bc ds = do
+renderData r bc sd ds = do
   let aos = case ds of
               (DS_Y         os') -> zip (repeat (AbsFunction id)) (A.elems os')
               (DS_1toN abs' os') -> zip (repeat abs')             (A.elems os') 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@
     C.translate (-xmin*xscale) (yminl*yscalel)
     flipVertical
   los' <- configureBars xsc yscl xmin xmax xscale yscalel bc los 
-  mapM_ (renderSeries xsc yscl xmin xmax xscale yscalel) los'
+  mapM_ (renderSeries xsc yscl xmin xmax xscale yscalel sd) los'
   cairo $ C.restore
   when (not $ null ups)
            (do
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@
                C.translate (-xmin*xscale) (yminu*yscaleu)
                flipVertical
              ups' <- configureBars xsc yscu xmin xmax xscale yscaleu bc ups 
-             mapM_ (renderSeries xsc yscu xmin xmax xscale yscaleu) ups'
+             mapM_ (renderSeries xsc yscu xmin xmax xscale yscaleu sd) ups'
              cairo $ C.restore)
              -- could filter annotations as well
   return ()
@@ -267,9 +267,9 @@
                   pair (x:y:xs) = (x,y) : pair (y:xs)
 
 renderSeries :: Scale -> Scale 
-             -> Double -> Double -> Double -> Double 
+             -> Double -> Double -> Double -> Double -> SampleData 
              -> (Abscissae,DecoratedSeries) -> Render ()
-renderSeries xsc ysc xmin xmax xscale yscale (abs,(DecSeries o d)) = do
+renderSeries xsc ysc xmin xmax xscale yscale sd (abs,(DecSeries o d)) = do
   dat  <- case o of
      (OrdFunction _ f _)            -> do
         (BoundingBox _ _ w _) <- get
@@ -318,52 +318,52 @@
         formatLineSeries lt
         case dat of
           Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
           _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have error bars with line type"
     (DecPoint pt)  -> do
         (pz,g) <- formatPointSeries pt
         case dat of
           Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
           Left (Right (Left ((t',y'),(_,e')))) -> do
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' (y'-e')
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' (y'+e')
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' (y'-e')
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' (y'+e')
           Left (Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,l),(_,h)))) -> do
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' l 
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' h 
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' l 
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' h 
           _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have MinMax data series with point type"
     (DecLinPt lt pt) -> do
        formatLineSeries lt
        (pz,g) <- formatPointSeries pt
        case dat of
          Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
          Left (Right (Left ((t',y'),(_,e')))) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' (y'-e')
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' (y'+e')
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' (y'-e')
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' (y'+e')
 --               error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have single error value with line-points type"        
          Left (Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,l),(_,h)))) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' l 
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' h 
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderLineSample endLineSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz g) endPointSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Bot) endPointSample t' l 
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample pz Top) endPointSample t' h 
          _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have MinMax data series with line-point type"
     (DecImpulse lt) -> do
        formatLineSeries lt
        case dat of
          Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderImpulseSample endImpulseSample t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderImpulseSample endImpulseSample t' y'
          _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have error bars with impulse type"
     (DecStep lt) -> do
         formatLineSeries lt
         case dat of
           Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderStepSample endStepSample t' y'
+            renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderStepSample endStepSample t' y'
           _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have error bars with step type"
     (DecArea lt) -> do
        formatLineSeries lt
@@ -373,21 +373,21 @@
                xmin_ix = findMinIdx (snd t') xmin 0 (ln-1)
                x0 = (snd t') @> xmin_ix
                y0 = y' @> xmin_ix
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing renderAreaSample (endAreaSample x0 y0) t' y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing renderAreaSample (endAreaSample x0 y0) t' y'
          _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have error bars with area type"
     (DecBar bt)   -> do
        (bw,bc,c) <- formatBarSeries bt
        (gw,_) <- formatPointSeries defaultPointType 
        case dat of
          Left (Left (t',y')) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
          Left (Right (Left ((t',y'),(_,e')))) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSampleUpDown gw) endPointSample t' e'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSampleUpDown gw) endPointSample t' e'
          Left (Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,l'),(_,h')))) -> do
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample gw Bot) endPointSample t' l'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample gw Top) endPointSample t' h'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderBarSample bw bc c) endBarSample t' y' 
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample gw Bot) endPointSample t' l'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample gw Top) endPointSample t' h'
          _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have MinMax data series with bar type"
     (DecHist bt)  -> do
        (bw,bc,c) <- formatBarSeries bt
@@ -399,53 +399,54 @@
                rest (m,v) = (m,subVector 1 (dim v - 1) v)
                x0 = (snd t') @> xmin_ix
                y0 = 0
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
          Left (Right (Left ((t',y'),(_,e')))) -> do
            let ln = dim $ snd $ t'
                xmin_ix = findMinIdx (snd t') xmin 0 (ln-1)
                rest (m,v) = (m,subVector 1 (dim v - 1) v)
                x0 = (snd t') @> xmin_ix
                y0 = 0
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSampleUpDown gw) endPointSample (midpoints t') e'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSampleUpDown gw) endPointSample (midpoints t') e'
          Left (Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,l'),(_,h')))) -> do
            let ln = dim $ snd $ t'
                xmin_ix = findMinIdx (snd t') xmin 0 (ln-1)
                rest (m,v) = (m,subVector 1 (dim v - 1) v)
                x0 = (snd t') @> xmin_ix
                y0 = 0
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample gw Bot) endPointSample (midpoints t') l'
-           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderPointSample gw Top) endPointSample (midpoints t') h'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd (Just $ C.moveTo x0 y0) (renderHistSample bw bc c) endHistSample (rest t') y'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample gw Bot) endPointSample (midpoints t') l'
+           renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderPointSample gw Top) endPointSample (midpoints t') h'
          _  -> error "Data.hs renderSeries: cannot have MinMax data series with histogram type"
     (DecCand bt)  → do
        (bw,bc,c) <- formatBarSeries bt
        case dat of 
          Left _ -> error "Candles series requires two data series (MinMax series)"
          Right (Left (t',y')) -> do
-           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
+           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
          Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,e'))) -> do
-           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderWhiskerSample bw bc c False) endWhiskerSample t' e'
-           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
+           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderWhiskerSample bw bc c False) endWhiskerSample t' e'
+           renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
     (DecWhisk bt)  → do
       (bw,bc,c) <- formatBarSeries bt
       case dat of 
         Left _ -> error "Candles series requires two data series (MinMax series)"
         Right (Left (t',y')) -> do
-          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
+          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
         Right (Right ((t',y'),(_,e'))) -> do
-          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderWhiskerSample bw bc c True) endWhiskerSample t' e'
-          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
+          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderWhiskerSample bw bc c True) endWhiskerSample t' e'
+          renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd Nothing (renderCandleSample bw bc c) endCandleSample t' y'
   return ()
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 renderSamples :: Double -> Double 
               -> Double -> Double 
+              -> SampleData
               -> Maybe (C.Render ())
               -> (Double -> Double -> Double -> Double -> C.Render ()) -> (Double -> Double -> C.Render ())
               -> (Bool,Vector Double) -> Vector Double -> Render ()
-renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax s f e (mono,t) y = do
+renderSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd s f e (mono,t) y = do
   (BoundingBox _ _ w _) <- get
   let ln = dim t
       (xmin_ix,xmax_ix,num_pts) = if mono
@@ -455,7 +456,7 @@
                                   else (0,ln-1,ln)
       diff'' = floor $ (fromIntegral num_pts)/w
       diff' = if diff'' <= 1 then 1 else diff''
-      diff = if mono then diff' else 1
+      diff = if mono then if sd then diff' else 1 else 1
   cairo $ do
     case s of
       Nothing -> C.moveTo ((t @> xmin_ix)*xscale) ((y @> xmin_ix)*yscale)
@@ -471,10 +472,11 @@
 
 renderMinMaxSamples :: Double -> Double 
               -> Double -> Double 
+              -> SampleData
               -> Maybe (C.Render ())
               -> (Double -> Double -> Double -> (Double,Double) -> C.Render ()) -> (Double -> Double -> C.Render ())
               -> (Bool,Vector Double) -> (Vector Double,Vector Double) -> Render ()
-renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax s f e (mono,t) y = do
+renderMinMaxSamples xscale yscale xmin xmax sd s f e (mono,t) y = do
   (BoundingBox _ _ w _) <- get
   let ln = dim t
       (xmin_ix,xmax_ix,num_pts) = if mono
@@ -484,7 +486,7 @@
                                   else (0,ln-1,ln)
       diff'' = floor $ (fromIntegral num_pts)/w
       diff' = if diff'' <= 1 then 1 else diff''
-      diff = if mono then diff' else 1
+      diff = if mono then if sd then diff' else 1 else 1
   cairo $ do
     case s of
       Nothing -> C.moveTo ((t @> xmin_ix)*xscale) (((fst $ y) @> xmin_ix)*yscale)
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Legend.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Legend.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Legend.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Render/Plot/Legend.hs
@@ -255,7 +255,7 @@
   return ()
 
 renderLegendEntry :: Double -> Double -> Double -> Double -> TextOptions -> (Double,Double) -> (SeriesLabel,Decoration) -> Render (Double,Double)
-renderLegendEntry wa ha _ h to (x,y) (l,d) = do
+renderLegendEntry wa ha w h to (x,y) (l,d) = do
   renderLegendSample x y legendSampleWidth h d
   pc <- asks _pangocontext
   cairo $ do
diff --git a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Types.hs b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Types.hs
--- a/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Types.hs
+++ b/lib/Graphics/Rendering/Plot/Types.hs
@@ -426,18 +426,23 @@
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+type SampleData = Bool
+
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 -- | a plot 
 data PlotData = Plot { 
-      _border      :: Border
-    , _back_colr :: Color
-    , _plot_pads :: Padding
-    , _heading   :: TextEntry
-    , _ranges    :: Ranges
-    , _axes      :: [AxisData]
-    , _barconfig :: BarSetting
-    , _data      :: DataSeries
-    , _legend    :: Maybe LegendData
-    , _annote    :: Annotations
+      _border     :: Border
+    , _back_colr  :: Color
+    , _plot_pads  :: Padding
+    , _heading    :: TextEntry
+    , _ranges     :: Ranges
+    , _axes       :: [AxisData]
+    , _barconfig  :: BarSetting
+    , _sampledata :: SampleData
+    , _data       :: DataSeries
+    , _legend     :: Maybe LegendData
+    , _annote     :: Annotations
     }
 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/plot.cabal b/plot.cabal
--- a/plot.cabal
+++ b/plot.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name:                plot
-Version:             0.2.2
+Version:             0.2.3
 License:             BSD3
 License-file:        LICENSE
 Copyright:           (c) A.V.H. McPhail 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014