From octave-graphics-request at bevo dot che dot wisc dot edu  Fri Feb 25 12:18:30 2000
Subject: Re: gnuplot (Was: Re: New on the list : new plotting tool) 
From: Stephen Eglen <stephen at cogsci dot ed dot ac dot uk>
To: Teemu Ikonen <tpikonen at pcu dot helsinki dot fi>
Cc: Discussion list octave-graphics <octave-graphics at bevo dot che dot wisc dot edu>
Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 18:18:26 +0000 (GMT)


hi,
just a couple of quick points:

 > Ok, what we have here is perhaps a slight dichotomy of the concept
 > 'plotting'. What I mean is that I want to (1) to visualize data, zoom in
 > and out and check some regions more closely and yes, I'd like to be able
 > to do it with a pointy clicky interface. 

Traditionally gnuplot plots haven't been `interactive' in the
sense of zooming in on regions, selecting points etc.  However, this
may be changing, see for example the patches on
  http://www.sci.muni.cz/~mikulik/gnuplot.html

However, once gnuplot becomes more `mousey', I realise that the
interface from Octave will need to be updated to take account of this
extra feedback from gnuplot.


 > When I'm done with my analysis I want to (2) make some publication
 > quality figures which preferably should resemble closely the ones I
 > see on the screen.

If you are going for publication quality plots, I'd always recommend
using the Postscript terminal driver directly, no matter what the
plotting program (gnuplot or otherwise).  Just keep ghostview running
in the background to view your postscript file...


Cheers, Stephen