Gnuplot in Action, 2nd Edition

Well-designed graphics are frequently the best way to understand data sets and to communicate results. Gnuplot, the most popular open-source tool to plot and visualize data, has long been the preferred choice for scientists and data analysts for creating publication-quality graphs. The latest version, gnuplot 5, adds further capabilities, including new plot types, improved text and color handling, and support for interactive, web-based display formats. Although gnuplot includes comprehensive reference documentation, it can be difficult to fully master this tool.

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. The book starts with a tutorial introduction for readers new to gnuplot. Next it provides a systematic overview of gnuplot’s core features, and full coverage of gnuplot’s advanced capabilities, such as 3D graphics and false-color plots. Experienced readers will appreciate the discussion of gnuplot’s new features for working with color and customized plotting styles, as well as the hints for improved workflow and user configurations. The book concludes with chapters on graphical effects and general techniques for understanding data with graphs.

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

Table of Contents

Part 1 Getting started
Chapter 1 Prelude: understanding data with gnuplot
Chapter 2 Tutorial: essential gnuplot
Chapter 3 The heart of the matter: the plot command

Part 2 Creating graphs
Chapter 4 Managing data sets and files
Chapter 5 Practical matters: strings, loops, and history
Chapter 6 A catalog of styles
Chapter 7 Decorations: labels, arrows, and explanations
Chapter 8 All about axes

Part 3 Mastering technicalities
Chapter 9 Color, style, and appearance
Chapter 10 Terminals and output formats
Chapter 11 Automation, scripting, and animation
Chapter 12 Beyond the defaults: workflow and styles

Part 4 Understanding data
Chapter 13 Basic techniques of graphical analysis
Chapter 14 Topics in graphical analysis
Chapter 15 Coda: understanding data with graphs

Appendix A Obtaining, building, and installing gnuplot
Appendix B Resources