def testdocs(setting):
    wavelength = np.array([0,2,4,6,8,10])
    flux = np.array([3.,1.5,0.5,1,2,2.5])

    #text from docs
    if (setting=='row'):
        print "each subplot row will share a Y axis."
    elif (setting=='col'):
        print """each subplot column will share a Y axis and the y tick labels 
on all but the last row will have visible set to False."""
    else:
        return

    sharex = False
    sharey = setting

    nrow = 2
    ncol = 3
    fig, axlist = plt.subplots(nrow, ncol, sharex=sharex, sharey=sharey)
    length = len(wavelength)
    for i, axrow in enumerate(axlist):
        for j, axes in enumerate(axrow):
            if (setting=='row'):
                axes.plot(wavelength*(i+1), flux*(j+1))
            else:
                axes.plot(wavelength*(j+1), flux*(i+j+1))

    xtitle = 'foo'
    ytitle = 'bar'
    fig.text(0.5, 0.04, xtitle, ha='center', va='center')
    fig.text(0.06, 0.5, ytitle, ha='center', va='center', rotation='vertical')
    plt.show()