Plotting data vertically with gnuplot

Question

I have a data file with a single column of data. By default, gnuplot renders this on the x-axis from left to right. However, I want to plot this data vertically from top to bottom. How can I do this?

The relevant excerpt from my plot file:

set size 1.0, 1.0
set terminal postscript eps enhanced color dashed lw 1 "Helvetica" 14                                                      
set output "ocean-diffuse.eps"

set autoscale
set xtic auto
set ytic auto
plot '0000086400.dat' using 1 with line, \
     '0000172800.dat' using 1 with line

I've added the plot file but I've not yet found anything in the gnuplot documentation that might help me. I'll keep looking. — hertzsprung
– hertzsprung, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 21:47
the plot command assumes your file has x-values in the first column, and y-values in the second. so one option would be to swap the data in your files. — Paul H
– Paul H, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 21:55
But I only have one column of data (which gnuplot is plotting as y values) — hertzsprung
– hertzsprung, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 21:55
Do you mean plot '0000086400.dat' using 1:0? That uses your single column as x-values and the row number as y-value. — Christoph
– Christoph, Commented Jan 21, 2014 at 22:15

Christoph · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-21 22:25:57Z

2

In order to have the single column used as x-value, use:

plot '0000086400.dat' using 1:0

That uses the row number (column 0) as y-values. Of course you can do any scaling and computation with the row number as

f(x) = x
plot '0000086400.dat' using 1:(f($0))

To have the y-axis reversed, use

set yrange [*:*] reverse

answered Jan 21, 2014 at 22:25

Christoph

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1 Comment

hertzsprung Over a year ago

This does the job nicely! Slightly more succinctly, set yrange [] reverse also works for me.

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