LyX ⇒ Instant Preview of Tikz/Pgfplots figures from external files

[Deve]

Hi all, I think I best start with what I'm trying to achieve before describing my actual problem(s):

I would like to insert Tikz/Pgfplots figures stored in external files into my LyX document. The figures should be inside a figure float and an instant preview of the Pgfplots figure should be displayed in LyX. Ideally, I'm able to open the Pgfplots file in an external editor, edit and save it, and see the updated preview in Lyx. I have partly achieved the above, but never fully. Here is what I've tried:

• Insert the Pgfplots file via "Insert/File/Child Document...", choose Include Type "Input" and check the "Show preview" box. This works outside the float environment but inside a float, no preview is created.
• Insert the Pgfplots file via "Insert/File/Child Document..." into a preview box which in turn is inside a figure float. This renders the preview but the preview is never updated unless I close the document and open it again.

[Deve]

During writing the above post I came across the solution and thought I would just share it here in case anyone else has the same problem in the future. The trick is to close and reopen the LyX document after inserting the external file for the first time. In detail:

1. Create a figure float
2. Choose "Insert/File/Child Document.."
3. In the following dialog choose the file, the Include Type "Input" and check the "Show preview" box. Press OK.
4. Close the document and reopen it

After some time (depends on the complexity of the inserted figure, I guess), the preview of the figure should appear. You can now click on the figure preview, press "Edit", edit the file and close the dialog, and the updated preview appears (without reopening the document). Perfect!