VMS Software / Documentation / Gnuplot Version 5.0-2 for OpenVMS

Gnuplot Version 5.0-2 for OpenVMS

Release Notes

Publication Date: September 2025

Operating Systems:: VSI OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.4-2L1 or higher
VSI OpenVMS IA-64 Version 8.4-1H1 or higher
VSI OpenVMS x86-64 Version 9.2-3 Update V1 or higher

Kit Names:: VSI-AXPVMS-GNUPLOT-V0500-2-1.PCSI
VSI-I64VMS-GNUPLOT-V0500-2-1.PCSI
VSI-X86VMS-GNUPLOT-V0500-2-1.PCSI

1. Introduction

Thank your for your interest in Gnuplot for OpenVMS! This release of Gnuplot for OpenVMS is based on the open source Gnuplot 5.0.2 distribution.

Gnuplot is a portable command-line driven open source graphing utility for Linux, OS/2, MS Windows, OSX, VMS, and many other platforms. It was created in the late 1980s to allow scientists and students to visualize mathematical functions and data interactively, but has grown into a general-purpose graphing package supporting both interactive and non-interactive uses.

2. Acknowledgements

VMS Software would like to acknowledge the work of the Gnuplot development team for their on-going efforts in developing and supporting this product.

3. What’s New in This Release

For a detailed description of new features and bug fixes in Gnuplot 5.0.2, refer to https://gnuplot.sourceforge.net/ReleaseNotes_5_0.html.

This release of Gnuplot for OpenVMS includes the following output formats and device types:

canvas	HTML Canvas object
cgm	Computer Graphics Metafile
context	ConTeXt with MetaFun (for PDF documents)
corel	EPS format for CorelDRAW
dpu414	Seiko DPU-414 thermal printer [small medium large]
dumb	ascii art for anything that prints text
dxf	dxf-file for AutoCad (default size 120x80)
eepic	Extended LaTeX picture environment
emf	Enhanced Metafile format
emtex	LaTeX picture environment with emTeX specials
epslatex	LaTeX picture environment using graphicx package
epson_180dpi	Epson LQ-style 180-dot per inch (24 pin) printers
epson_60dpi	Epson-style 60-dot per inch printers
epson_lx800	Epson LX-800, Star NL-10, NX-1000, PROPRINTER ...
fig	FIG graphics language for XFIG graphics editor
gif	GIF images using libgd and TrueType fonts
hp500c	HP DeskJet 500c, [75 100 150 300] [rle tiff]
hpdj	HP DeskJet 500, [75 100 150 300]
hpgl	HP7475 and relatives [number of pens] [eject]
hpljii	HP Laserjet series II, [75 100 150 300]
hppj	HP PaintJet and HP3630 [FNT5X9 FNT9X17 FNT13X25]
jpeg	JPEG images using libgd and TrueType fonts
latex	LaTeX picture environment
mf	Metafont plotting standard
mp	MetaPost plotting standard
nec_cp6	NEC printer CP6, Epson LQ-800 [monochrome color draft]
okidata	OKIDATA 320/321 Standard
pbm	Portable bitmap [small medium large] [monochrome gray color]
pcl5	HP Designjet 750C, HP Laserjet III/IV, etc. (many options)
pdf	PDF (Portable Document File) file driver
png	PNG images using libgd and TrueType fonts
postscript	PostScript graphics, including EPSF embedded files (*.eps)
pslatex	LaTeX picture environment with PostScript \specials
pstex	plain TeX with PostScript \specials
pstricks	LaTeX picture environment with PSTricks macros
qms	QMS/QUIC Laser printer (also Talaris 1200 and others)
regis	REGIS graphics language
sixel	Sixel Graphics
starc	Star Color Printer
svg	W3C Scalable Vector Graphics
tandy_60dpi	Tandy DMP-130 series 60-dot per inch graphics
tek40xx	Tektronix 4010 and others; most TEK emulators
tek410x	Tektronix 4106, 4107, 4109 and 420X terminals
texdraw	LaTeX texdraw environment
tgif	TGIF X11 [mode] [x,y] [dashed] ["font" [fontsize]]
tkcanvas	Tk/Tcl canvas widget [perltk] [interactive]
tpic	LaTeX picture environment with tpic \specials
vttek	VT-like tek40xx terminal emulator
x11	X11 Window System
xlib	X11 Window System (gnulib_x11 dump)
xterm	Xterm Tektronix 4014 Mode

It is anticipated that any Gnuplot features that are currently missing from Gnuplot for OpenVMS will be added in future releases.

4. Requirements

Gnuplot for OpenVMS requires one of the following versions of the OpenVMS operating system:?

VSI OpenVMS Alpha Version 8.4-2L1 or higher
VSI OpenVMS IA-64 Version 8.4-1H1
VSI OpenVMS x86-64 Version 9.2-3 Update V1 or higher

Note the following additional requirements:

Gnuplot for OpenVMS must be installed on an ODS-5 enabled disk.
If you intend to display graphs created with Gnuplot using XWindows, your system must be equipped with a suitable graphics display.
It is assumed that the user has a good knowledge of OpenVMS and of working with data and files in an OpenVMS environment.

5. Recommended Reading

It is recommended that you read some of the excellent tutorials and other documentation available at the Gnuplot web site (http://www.gnuplot.info/documentation.html and http://www.gnuplot.info/help.html).

6. Installing the Kit

The kit is provided as an OpenVMS PCSI kit that can be installed by a suitably privileged user using the following command:

$ PRODUCT INSTALL GNUPLOT

The installation will then proceed as follows (your output may differ slightly from that shown, depending on the platform or other factors):

Performing product kit validation of signed kits ...

The following product has been selected:
    VSI I64VMS GNUPLOT V5.0-2        Layered Product [Installed]

Do you want to continue? [YES]

Configuration phase starting ...

You will be asked to choose options, if any, for each selected
product and for any products that may be installed to satisfy
software dependency requirements.

Configuring VSI I64VMS GNUPLOT V5.0-2

    VMS Software Inc.

* This product does not have any configuration options.

Execution phase starting ...

The following product will be installed to destination:
    VSI I64VMS GNUPLOT V5.0-2              DISK$I64SYS:[VMS$COMMON.]

Portion done: 0%...20%...40%...50%...60%...80%...90%...100%

The following product has been installed:
    VSI I64VMS GNUPLOT V5.0-2              Layered Product

VSI I64VMS GNUPLOT V5.0-2

    Post-installation tasks are required.


    To start gnuplot at system boot time, add the following lines to
    SYS$MANAGER:SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM:

        $ file := SYS$STARTUP:GNUPLOT$STARTUP.COM
        $ if f$search("''file'") .nes. "" then @'file'

    To stop gnuplot at system shutdown, add the following lines to
    SYS$MANAGER:SYSHUTDWN.COM:

        $ file := SYS$STARTUP:GNUPLOT$SHUTDOWN.COM
        $ if f$search("''file'") .nes. "" then @'file'

6.1. Post-Installation Steps

After the installation has successfully completed, include the commands displayed at the end of the installation procedure log into SYSTARTUP_VMS.COM to ensure that the logical names required in order for users to use the software are defined system-wide at start-up.

Users will then be able to use Gnuplot by defining the GNUPLOT foreign command as follows:

$ GNUPLOT :== $GNUPLOT$ROOT:[BIN]GNUPLOT.EXE

6.2. Privileges and Quotas

Generally speaking, no special quota or privilege are required in order to use Gnuplot for OpenVMS. In certain cases. site-specific privileges may be required to output to specific graphics devices.

6.3. Installing in an Alternative Location

By default the software will be installed in SYS$SYSDEVICE:[VMS$COMMON]. If you wish to install the software in an alternative location, use the /DESTINATION qualifier with the PRODUCT INSTALL command to specify the desired location. It is important to note that an additional manual step will then be required to complete the installation. Specifically, when an alternative destination is specified, the start-up and shutdown procedures (GNUPLOT$STARTUP.COM and GNUPLOT$SHUTDOWN.COM) will be placed into a subdirectory [.SYS$STARTUP] residing under the specified destination directory. If you wish to run these files from your standard SYS$STARTUP directory they will need to be copied from the destination subdirectory into your systems SYS$STARTUP directory.

7. Sample Applications

The directory GNUPLOT$ROOT:[DEMO] contains a comprehensive set of example scripts that illustrate many of Gnuplot capabilities. The script ALL.DEM can be used to run many of the provided examples. Note that you will need to set the output device type (using the Gnuplot SET TERMINAL command) before running the example scripts.

For more information, refer to http://www.gnuplot.info/screenshots/index.html#demos.