# Using plot() for data refinement only

**URL:** <https://talk.observablehq.com/t/using-plot-for-data-refinement-only/6722>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [June 21, 2022, 10:19am UTC](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/using-plot-for-data-refinement-only/6722 "2022-06-21T10:19:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gustavneustadt](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/talk.observablehq.com/gustavneustadt/32/6653_2.png) [@gustavneustadt](https://talk.observablehq.com/u/gustavneustadt)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 10:19am UTC](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/using-plot-for-data-refinement-only/6722/1 "2022-06-21T10:19:32Z")

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Hi there,

I am having a hard time refining my dataset with d3.group() and d3.rollup() and was wondering if it would be possible to use the easy syntax of the Plot library for grouping and stuff like that on the data records.

I had something in mind like `plot(data, plot.group({y: "count"}, {x: "age", y: ""})).getData()`.

Just a quick idea, maybe I just missed the point completely.

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**Author:** ![Fil](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/talk.observablehq.com/fil/32/207_2.png) [@Fil](https://talk.observablehq.com/u/Fil)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2022, 10:49am UTC](https://talk.observablehq.com/t/using-plot-for-data-refinement-only/6722/2 "2022-06-21T10:49:33Z")

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Sure. You can use _mark_.initialize() to get the computed channels. Here’s a quick example

> **[Read channels initialized by a Plot mark](https://observablehq.com/@fil/read-channels-initialized-by-a-plot-mark)**