pgraph(1) compile graphs into pic input

SYNOPSIS

pgraph [ options ] [ filename ... ]

DESCRIPTION

pgraph is a perl script which takes sets of X Y data and generates a (human readable) pic program that will produce the graphed data. The output is designed such that you can save it in a file and tweak it to make it fit your document. Try one and look at the output. The output is actually commented.

The graph is autosized and auto ticked.

The input data format is similar that of xgraph(1), i.e.,

"sloped across
1 1
2 2
3 3
"straight across
1 4
2 4
3 4

CONTROL OPTIONS

You may set the graph title, the X title, and the Y title with the following control sequences in the data stream:

%T Graph title in +4 point font
%X X axis title and/or units in +2 point font
%Y Y axis title and/or units in +2 point font
%fakemax-X <value>     force graph to be that big
%fakemax-Y <value>     force graph to be that big
%fakemin-X <value>     force graph to be that small
%fakemin-Y <value>     force graph to be that small

OPTIONS

-rev
reverse X/Y data sense (and titles). Note this is done after processing any fudging of the input data stream(s) (see -xk, -yk, -logx, etc below).
-below
put data set titles below the graph rather than to the right.
-close
no extra space around the data's endpoints.
-qline
connect the quartile center points.
-grid
dotted line grid marks.
-nobox
no box around whole graph.
-big
make the graph take the whole page, and be about 8 inches tall by 7 inches wide and the title is +8 points.
-slide
make the graph be 4.25 inches square to fit in slides, in a helvetica bold 10 point font.
-small
make the graph be small, 1.75 inches square, and use an 8 point bold font.
-grapheach
draw each data set in its own graph.
-nolabels
no X/Y/Title labels.
-notitle
no Title label.
-nodatal
no data set labels.
-nomarks
do not mark each data point with distinct markers (endpoints are still marked).
-k
print values larger than 1000 as value/1000.
-xk
multiply X input by 1024 (blech).
-yk
multiply Y input by 1024 (blech).
-xm
multiply X input by 1024*1024 (blech).
-ym
multiply Y input by 1024*1024 (blech).
-logx
convert X input into log base 2 of X input.
-logy
convert Y input into log base 2 of Y input.

EXAMPLE

Workstation price performance from a Digital ad. Process with

graph -rev workstations | groff -TX75
%T Workstation Price / Performance, 6/93
%X SPECINT 92 Performance
%Y Price in $1000's
"Dec AXP line
35 5
65 10
78 15
110 70
"Sun SPARC line
25 4
25 8
38 16
48 21
52 23
64 27

QUARTILE FORMAT

Data points are x y1 y2 y3 y4 y5. You get a two lines from the first two y values, a mark at the third, and another line from the last two.

BUGS

-grapheach assumes the set of N graphs will fit on one page.

Since it is just a simple perl script, I tend to be constantly adding one more feature on the fly. Consult the script for the latest set of options. Development is typically done by using the closest set of options to generate the graph, massage the graph to do what you want, then add that set of changes as a new option.

This isn't done as much as I would like. It isn't integrated with the groff preprocessor yet. It doesn't know about .GS/.GE things. I use it to manually generate a pic file and then include that.

I need to include some example data sets with pgraph.