I have trouble with some gnuplot plot command that is taking very long to execute. Basically, when you do the following with a data file:
f(x) = sin(x) # for example!
plot "data" u ($1-f($1)):2
f($1) will be evaluated for each data point that is to be plotted. Now, I have an external function:
a(i) = real(system(sprintf("awk 'NR==1 {print $6}' dos_%i", i)))
where the different dos_1, dos_2, etc. are my data files. This function returns a real number that is read from each file.
The problem is that when this function is used in a plot command, say
plot "dos_1" u ($1+a(1)):2
the function a(1) will be evaluated for each data point, even though it does not change. This can take a lot of time, because it is a function invoking an external command. Now, someone might (rightfully) suggest that if a(1) doesn't change I use a constant:
a1 = a(1)
plot "dos_1" u ($1+a1):2
which will execute considerably faster and give the same results. My problem is that I have to plot many files:
plot for [i=1:agazillion] "dos_".i u ($1+a(i)):2
which never ends.
How do I automatize the storage (and usage) of a function's value onto a static variable (or lighter function), schematically like this:
for [i=1:agazillion] "a".i = a(i) # This doesn't work!!!
plot for [i=1:agazillion] "dos_".i u ($1+"a".i):2 # This doesn't work either!
To complicate things, the latest gnuplot I have access to is 4.4. (Please also suggest solutions that work for later versions but state they only work for later versions).
Ideas?
