Groups | Search | Server Info | Keyboard shortcuts | Login | Register [http] [https] [nntp] [nntps]

Groups > comp.graphics.apps.gnuplot > #2257

Re: Too many columns in using specification error.

Show all headers | View raw

M Sutton wrote:

> I was recently trying to make use of the ytic() using capability with
> a boxxyerrorbars plot. I get a 'Too many columns in using
> specification' error. Is this a bug?  Gnuplot 4.6.4.

Gnuplot has always had a limit of 7 pieces of information stored per
input datum.  Most plot styles need only 2 or 3 (x, y, and maybe z) but
a few require more.  boxxyerrorbars is the most profligate, requiring
6 input columns.  That still leaves one more that can be used for, e.g.,
variable color.  Unfortunately your plot command tries for a total of
8 columns, with the 8th one being y-axis ticks, and that triggers the
"too many columns" error message.

Now in truth not all of these items need to be stored with the datum.
In particular the axis label ticks, if any, get stored directly to the
axis structure rather than being kept with the input datum.
So in practice the "maximum pieces of information stored" is not really
the same as the "maximum number of input columns".

The good news is that there is code in CVS that is smarter about 
distinguishing between the two limits.  In version 4.6.5, to be
released in about a month, you can have more than 7 input columns
although columns 8 and higher must specify values that are not kept in
the main data array, such as axis tick labels.   So your command works
right now in the development version 4.7 and will also work in 4.6.5
when it is released. 

FWIW, the other plot styles that can run into this limit are 
financebars and candlesticks.
They store x + open + close + high + low + width + color 

	Ethan



> Here is a sample case:
> 
> # test case for too many columns bug for boxxyerrorbars
> 
> xspc = 0.045
> yspc = .48
> plot '-' using 1:2:($1-xspc):($1+xspc):($2-yspc):($2+yspc):3:ytic(4) w
> boxxyerrorbars fs solid fc pal
> .1 1 0 lab1
> .2 1 1 lab1
> .3 1 7 lab1
> .4 1 2 lab1
> .5 1 3 lab1
> .6 1 4 lab1
> 
> .1 2 2 lab2
> .2 2 3 lab2
> .3 2 5 lab2
> .4 2 0 lab2
> .5 2 1 lab2
> .6 2 2 lab2
> e
> 
> 
> 
> Any ideas?
> 
> Mike Sutton

Back to comp.graphics.apps.gnuplot | Previous | Next — Previous in thread | Next in thread | Find similar

Thread

Too many columns in using specification error. M Sutton <suttonm@users.sourceforge.net> - 2014-01-14 19:00 -0500
  Re: Too many columns in using specification error. sfeam <sfeam@users.sourceforge.net> - 2014-01-14 20:16 -0800
    Re: Too many columns in using specification error. M Sutton <suttonm@users.sourceforge.net> - 2014-01-15 18:21 -0500

csiph-web