Gnuplot in Action: Understanding Data with Graphs

Summary

Gnuplot in Action, Second Edition is a major revision of this popular and authoritative guide for developers, engineers, and scientists who want to learn and use gnuplot effectively. Fully updated for gnuplot version 5, the book includes four pages of color illustrations and four bonus appendixes available in the eBook.

Purchase of the print book includes a free eBook in PDF, Kindle, and ePub formats from Manning Publications.

About the Technology

Gnuplot is an open-source graphics program that helps you analyze, interpret, and present numerical data. Available for Unix, Mac, and Windows, it is well-maintained, mature, and totally free.

About the Book

Gnuplot in Action, Second Edition is a major revision of this authoritative guide for developers, engineers, and scientists. The book starts with a tutorial introduction, followed by a systematic overview of gnuplot's core features and full coverage of gnuplot's advanced capabilities. Experienced readers will appreciate the discussion of gnuplot 5's features, including new plot types, improved text and color handling, and support for interactive, web-based display formats. The book concludes with chapters on graphical effects and general techniques for understanding data with graphs. It includes four pages of color illustrations. 3D graphics, false-color plots, heatmaps, and multivariate visualizations are covered in chapter-length appendixes available in the eBook.

What's Inside

• Creating different types of graphs in detail
• Animations, scripting, batch operations
• Extensive discussion of terminals

About the Reader

No prior experience with gnuplot is required. This book concentrates on practical applications of gnuplot relevant to users of all levels.

About the Author

Philipp K. Janert, PhD, is a programmer and scientist. He is the author of several books on data analysis and applied math and has been a gnuplot power user and developer for over 20 years.

Table of Contents

PART 1 GETTING STARTED

1. Prelude: understanding data with gnuplot
2. Tutorial: essential gnuplot
3. The heart of the matter: the plot command

PART 2 CREATING GRAPHS

4. Managing data sets and files
5. Practical matters: strings, loops, and history
6. A catalog of styles
7. Decorations: labels, arrows, and explanations
8. All about axes

PART 3 MASTERING TECHNICALITIES

9. Color, style, and appearance
10. Terminals and output formats
11. Automation, scripting, and animation
12. Beyond the defaults: workflow and styles

PART 4 UNDERSTANDING DATA

13. Basic techniques of graphical analysis
14. Topics in graphical analysis
15. Coda: understanding data with graphs