Merge pull request #2 from MShirazAhmad/copilot/revise-branding-and-add-plugins

Revise ReadTheDocs homepage branding and add complete plugin-system guides

Author: MShirazAhmad

docs/extensions/curvefitting.rst

@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ If your plotted data looks like a line, choose a linear fit. If your plotted
 data follows exponential decay, choose an exponential model. A curve-fitting
 plugin is simply a small file that tells PhysPlot what equation to use.
 
+Where Curve Fits Appear in the UI
+---------------------------------
+
+Discovered curve-fitting plugins are listed in the curve-fit configuration
+window. PhysPlot discovers these files at startup.
+
 Required File Location
 ----------------------
 
@@ -87,7 +93,19 @@ Callable Template
        Returns:
            numpy.ndarray: Model Y values for the input X array.
        """
-       return amplitude * np.exp(-((x - center) / width) ** 2)
+        return amplitude * np.exp(-((x - center) / width) ** 2)
+
+Step-by-Step: Build a New Curve-Fit Plugin
+------------------------------------------
+
+1. Create a new file in ``curvefitting/`` (for example
+   ``curvefitting/12_gaussian.py``).
+2. Add ``DISPLAY_NAME``, ``DEFAULT_LABEL``, ``KIND``, and ``LABEL_MODES``.
+3. For ``KIND = "poly"``, add ``DEGREE``.
+4. For ``KIND = "callable"``, implement ``function(x, ...)`` and optionally
+   add ``INITIAL_GUESS``.
+5. Restart PhysPlot so the new fit appears in the curve-fit list.
+6. Select the fit in the configuration window and apply it to plotted data.
 
 Required Fields
 ---------------

docs/extensions/fileloading.rst

@@ -8,6 +8,17 @@ File-loader plugins convert external data files into a two-dimensional table
 that PhysPlot can display. A loader receives a file path and returns a
 rectangular data array.
 
+Where Loaders Appear in the UI
+------------------------------
+
+Discovered loaders are shown in two places:
+
+- **Settings > File Loader** (menu selection)
+- **Data Loader** dropdown above the **Import Data** button (quick selection)
+
+The selected loader is used when importing files. PhysPlot discovers loader
+files at startup.
+
 Layman Example
 --------------
 
@@ -81,7 +92,31 @@ Minimal CSV-Like Template
            if len(parts) < 2:
                continue
            rows.append((float(parts[0]), float(parts[1])))
-       return np.asarray(rows, dtype=float)
+        return np.asarray(rows, dtype=float)
+
+Step-by-Step: Build a New Loader
+--------------------------------
+
+1. Create a new file in ``fileloader/`` (for example
+   ``fileloader/my_device_loader.py``).
+2. Define a human-readable ``title`` string.
+3. Implement ``load_data(file_path)`` to parse your format and return a 2D
+   array-like result.
+4. Optionally define ``DEFAULT_COLUMN_ROLES`` to pre-assign column roles after
+   import.
+5. Restart PhysPlot so the loader is discovered and added to the menu and
+   dropdown.
+6. Select your loader from **Settings > File Loader** or the **Data Loader**
+   dropdown, then import a file.
+
+Loader Categories
+-----------------
+
+- **General tabular loader**: parse delimited numeric files.
+- **Instrument-specific loader**: skip custom headers/metadata and keep
+  meaningful columns.
+- **Role-aware loader**: also sets ``DEFAULT_COLUMN_ROLES`` for automatic
+  X/Y mapping.
 
 OES HRF Pattern
 ---------------

docs/extensions/functions.rst

@@ -16,6 +16,16 @@ PhysPlot reads the input column as a one-dimensional numeric array, calls the
 plugin's ``transform(values)`` function, then writes the returned values into
 the output column.
 
+Where Functions Appear in the UI
+--------------------------------
+
+Discovered function plugins are available in:
+
+- The top-bar **Functions** menu
+- The transform dropdown in the data-manipulation controls
+
+PhysPlot discovers function files at startup.
+
 Layman Example
 --------------
 
@@ -82,7 +92,28 @@ Minimal Template
        maximum = np.nanmax(values)
        if maximum == minimum:
            return np.zeros_like(values)
-       return (values - minimum) / (maximum - minimum)
+        return (values - minimum) / (maximum - minimum)
+
+Step-by-Step: Build a New Function
+----------------------------------
+
+1. Create a new file in ``functions/`` (for example
+   ``functions/15_normalize.py``).
+2. Define ``DISPLAY_NAME`` for the GUI entry.
+3. Define ``DEFAULT_LABEL`` for generated labels.
+4. Implement ``transform(values)`` and return one value per input row.
+5. Restart PhysPlot so the function appears in the menu and dropdown.
+
+Function Categories
+-------------------
+
+Common categories used by PhysPlot plugins include:
+
+- **Identity/basic**: pass-through operations.
+- **Power/reciprocal**: ``x^2``, ``x^3``, ``1/x``.
+- **Log/exp**: ``log10``, ``ln``, ``e^x``.
+- **Trigonometric**: ``sin``, ``cos``, ``tan``, inverse trig.
+- **Domain-specific**: custom transforms such as baseline correction.
 
 Practical Rules
 ---------------

docs/index.rst

@@ -4,10 +4,44 @@ PhysPlot: Advanced Plotting Made Simple
 .. image:: _static/PhysPlotWide.png
    :alt: PhysPlot logo
    :align: center
-   :width: 420px
+   :width: 620px
 
 PhysPlot is a scientific plotting software with a graphical user interface, designed to produce publication-ready 2D plots. It supports vector and bitmap outputs and allows importing, transforming, plotting, fitting, and exporting datasets.
 
+Branding
+--------
+
+PhysPlot documentation uses the official wide brand asset ``_static/PhysPlotWide.png`` on the home page and follows the project trademark policy for name and logo usage.
+
+Plugin System
+-------------
+
+PhysPlot supports plugin-based extension points for importing, transforming, and fitting data without editing core GUI files.
+
+File Loader plugins
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+- Add ``.py`` files to ``fileloader/`` with ``title`` and ``load_data(file_path)``.
+- The default loader keeps CSV/XLSX/TXT/TSV support.
+- Loaders are auto-discovered and appear in both:
+
+  - **Settings > File Loader**
+  - The **Data Loader** dropdown above **Import Data**
+
+Transform Function plugins
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+- Add ``.py`` files to ``functions/`` with ``DISPLAY_NAME``, ``DEFAULT_LABEL``, and ``transform(values)``.
+- Built-in transform categories include identity, powers, reciprocal, logarithmic, exponential, and trigonometric operations.
+- Functions are auto-discovered and shown in the top-bar **Functions** menu and transform dropdown.
+
+Curve-Fitting plugins
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+- Add ``.py`` files to ``curvefitting/`` for polynomial or callable models.
+- Files are discovered at startup and shown in the curve-fit configuration list.
+- Use this for custom equations and domain-specific fitting workflows.
+
 Project links
 -------------
 

docs/user_guide/data_import.rst

@@ -6,8 +6,20 @@ Supported formats
 
 - ``.txt``
 - ``.csv``
+- ``.tsv``
 - ``.xlsx``
 
+Loader selection
+----------------
+
+PhysPlot uses plugin-based file loaders. You can choose the active loader from:
+
+- **Settings > File Loader**
+- The **Data Loader** dropdown above **Import Data**
+
+Loader plugins are auto-discovered at startup from the ``fileloader/`` folder.
+The built-in default loader keeps standard CSV/XLSX/TXT/TSV import support.
+
 Import steps
 ------------