Feature/docs

docs/cookbooks/analysis.rst

@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ Visualization
 
 If a ``name`` is input into a non-linear search, all results are output to hard-disk in a folder.
 
-By overwriting the ``Visualizer`` object of an ``Analysis`` class with a custom `Visualizer` class, custom results of the
+By overwriting the ``Visualizer`` object of an ``Analysis`` class with a custom ``Visualizer`` class, custom results of the
 model-fit can be visualized during the model-fit.
 
 The ``Visualizer`` below has the methods ``visualize_before_fit`` and ``visualize``, which perform model specific

docs/cookbooks/database.rst

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 Database
 ========
 
-The default behaviour of model-fitting results output is to be written to hard-disc in folders. These are simple to
+The default behaviour of model-fitting results output is to be written to hard-disk in folders. These are simple to
 navigate and manually check.
 
 For small model-fitting tasks this is sufficient, however it does not scale well when performing many model fits to

docs/cookbooks/multiple_datasets.rst

@@ -164,6 +164,11 @@ To fit multiple datasets via a non-linear search we use this summed analysis obj
 
     result_list = search.fit(model=model, analysis=analysis)
 
+In the example above, the same ``Analysis`` class was used twice (to set up ``analysis_0`` and ``analysis_1``) and summed.
+
+**PyAutoFit** supports the summing together of different ``Analysis`` classes, which may take as input completely different
+datasets and fit the model to them (via the ``log_likelihood_function``) following a completely different procedure.
+
 Result List
 -----------
 

docs/cookbooks/result.rst

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ This cookbook provides an overview of using the results.
 
 - **Model Fit**: Perform a simple model-fit to create a ``Result`` object.
 - **Info**: Print the ``info`` attribute of the ``Result`` object to display a summary of the model-fit.
+- **Loading From Hard-disk**: Loading results from hard-disk to Python variables via the aggregator.
 - **Samples**: The ``Samples`` object contained in the ``Result``, containing all non-linear samples (e.g. parameters, log likelihoods, etc.).
 - **Maximum Likelihood**: The maximum likelihood model instance.
 - **Posterior / PDF**: The median PDF model instance and PDF vectors of all model parameters via 1D marginalization.
@@ -98,6 +99,67 @@ The output appears as follows:
     normalization                       24.79 (24.65, 24.94)
     sigma                               9.85 (9.78, 9.90)
 
+Loading From Hard-disk
+----------------------
+
+When performing fits which output results to hard-disc, a ``files`` folder is created containing .json / .csv files of 
+the model, samples, search, etc.
+
+These files can be loaded from hard-disk to Python variables via the aggregator, making them accessible in a 
+Python script or Jupyter notebook.
+
+Below, we will access these results using the aggregator's ``values`` method. A full list of what can be loaded is
+as follows:
+
+ - ``model``: The ``model`` defined above and used in the model-fit (``model.json``).
+ - ``search``: The non-linear search settings (``search.json``).
+ - ``samples``: The non-linear search samples (``samples.csv``).
+ - ``samples_info``: Additional information about the samples (``samples_info.json``).
+ - ``samples_summary``: A summary of key results of the samples (``samples_summary.json``).
+ - ``info``: The info dictionary passed to the search (``info.json``).
+ - ``covariance``: The inferred covariance matrix (``covariance.csv``).
+ - ``data``: The 1D noisy data used that is fitted (``data.json``).
+ - ``noise_map``: The 1D noise-map fitted (``noise_map.json``).
+
+The ``samples`` and ``samples_summary`` results contain a lot of repeated information. The ``samples`` result contains
+the full non-linear search samples, for example every parameter sample and its log likelihood. The ``samples_summary``
+contains a summary of the results, for example the maximum log likelihood model and error estimates on parameters
+at 1 and 3 sigma confidence.
+
+Accessing results via the ``samples_summary`` is much faster, because as it does reperform calculations using the full 
+list of samples. Therefore, if the result you want is accessible via the ``samples_summary`` you should use it
+but if not you can revert to the ``samples.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    from autofit.aggregator.aggregator import Aggregator
+
+    agg = Aggregator.from_directory(
+        directory=path.join("output", "cookbook_result"),
+    )
+
+Before using the aggregator to inspect results, lets discuss Python generators.
+
+A generator is an object that iterates over a function when it is called. The aggregator creates all of the objects
+that it loads from the database as generators (as opposed to a list, or dictionary, or another Python type).
+
+This is because generators are memory efficient, as they do not store the entries of the database in memory
+simultaneously. This contrasts objects like lists and dictionaries, which store all entries in memory all at once.
+If you fit a large number of datasets, lists and dictionaries will use a lot of memory and could crash your computer!
+
+Once we use a generator in the Python code, it cannot be used again. To perform the same task twice, the
+generator must be remade it. This cookbook therefore rarely stores generators as variables and instead uses the
+aggregator to create each generator at the point of use.
+
+To create a generator of a specific set of results, we use the `values` method. This takes the `name` of the
+object we want to create a generator of, for example inputting `name=samples` will return the results `Samples`
+object (which is illustrated in detail below).
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+    for samples in agg.values("samples"):
+        print(samples.parameter_lists[0])
+
 Samples
 -------
 

docs/cookbooks/search.rst

@@ -60,24 +60,30 @@ Output To Hard-Disk
 -------------------
 
 By default, a non-linear search does not output its results to hard-disk and its results can only be inspected
-in Python via the ``result`` object. 
+in a Jupyter Notebook or Python script via the ``result`` object.
 
 However, the results of any non-linear search can be output to hard-disk by passing the ``name`` and / or ``path_prefix``
 attributes, which are used to name files and output the results to a folder on your hard-disk.
 
 The benefits of doing this include:
 
-- Inspecting results via folders on your computer can be more efficient than using a Jupyter Notebook.
-- Results are output on-the-fly, making it possible to check that a fit i progressing as expected mid way through.
-- Additional information about a fit (e.g. visualization) is output.
+- Inspecting results via folders on your computer is more efficient than using a Jupyter Notebook for multiple datasets.
+- Results are output on-the-fly, making it possible to check that a fit is progressing as expected mid way through.
+- Additional information about a fit (e.g. visualization) can be output.
 - Unfinished runs can be resumed from where they left off if they are terminated.
-- On high performance super computers which use a batch system, results must be output in this way.
+- On high performance super computers results often must be output in this way.
 
-These outputs are fully described in the scientific workflow example.
+The code below shows how to enable outputting of results to hard-disk:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-    search = af.Emcee(path_prefix=path.join("folder_0", "folder_1"), name="example_mcmc")
+    search = af.Emcee(
+        path_prefix=path.join("folder_0", "folder_1"),
+        name="example_mcmc"
+    )
+
+
+These outputs are fully described in the scientific workflow example.
 
 Output Customization
 --------------------

docs/index.rst

@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ model and marginalized probability density functions.
 
    overview/the_basics
    overview/scientific_workflow
+   overview/statistical_methods
 
 .. toctree::
    :caption: Cookbooks: