Starting gnuplot

 

gnuplot is available for a large number of computers using a variety of operating systems, including IBM-PCs and compatibles, many Unix workstations, Vax/VMS, Atari ST, and Amiga. For the purposes of this document, it is assumed that you are using either a PC (running MS-DOS, MS-Windows 3.1, or OS/2 2.x) or a Unix workstation (running X Windows). It is also assumed that you have gnuplot properly installed on your system. Please refer to the README files included in the distribution for installation instructions.

To start gnuplot under MS-DOS or Unix, just type the command

  gnuplot

You will see the opening message and the gnuplot> prompt. If you get an error message like ``command not found'', make sure that the directory where gnuplot resides is listed in the PATH statement in the file autoexec.bat (for DOS) or the initialization file (for Unix).

To start gnuplot under MS Windows, double-click on the gnuplot icon. The gnuplot window will pop up with menus and buttons along the top, the opening message and the gnuplot> prompt inside the window.

To start gnuplot under OS/2, open the folder where gnuplot is located, and double click on the gnuplot icon. The gnuplot window will pop up with the opening message and the gnuplot> prompt.

The last line of the opening message tells you the ``terminal type'' currently set. For Unix it should be X11, for MS-DOS vgalib (if you have a VGA monitor), for MS Windows windows, and for OS/2 pm. Note: If you are on a PC running Kermit to connect to Unix via a modem, you can type the command:

 
  set terminal kc_tek40xx

if you have a color monitor, or

 
  set terminal km_tek40xx

if you have a monochrome monitor. This will enable you to see the high resolution plot on your PC screen. To restore the screen to text mode, set the terminal type to dumb.

To exit gnuplot, you can type either exit, quit, or simply q.