Re: Octave 2.1.63 available for ftp

[Daniel J Sebald]

Stefan van der Walt wrote:

> >  * Matlab-compatible objects
> >    
>
> Does this include user definable classes?  Now that would be
> useful.
>
>  
>
> >  * handle graphics
> >    
>
> I'm all for this.  It's also something the gnuplot people should be
> paying attention to.
>  

Having used handle graphics quite a bit, I never came to be much of an 
advocate.  Following the parent-child-child-child tree seemed so 
tedious.  First identify the handle, then look at those children and 
identify what they are, e.g., and axis, a label, a datapoint.  Then 
identify the properties of what you want to change... whew.  I suppose 
like anything, once you get used to it, perhaps it's easier.

But the versatility of "graw()" is what I like.  In gnuplot, different 
terminal types, useful options beyond what the Matlab graphics syntax 
can provide.  If you are moving gnuplot to a localized, interchangable 
graphics module, I'd wish for keeping the "graw()" command who's new 
meaning would be to issue a command to the graphics engine.  Depending 
upon what graphics engine is being run, the command could be shuffled 
to, say, gnuplot or maybe just discarded.

Now the idea of making gnuplot more "object-like", that's a different 
issue; one that's been discussed on the gnuplot list.  It would help for 
working with plots once they appear on the screen.  For example, could 
zoom all plots, not just the most recent.  Could maybe print a plot to a 
different terminal (i.e., printer, file) without having to reissue all 
the plot commands.  Not a top priority because of the many fixes and 
improvements in gnuplot's operation, but it comes up from time to time.

Dan