Question

I wonder if there is some workaround in Gnuplot to exchange something like

plot  input.dat using ($1/2):($2*2) axis x1y1 w lp

with

plot  input.dat using func1($1,$2):func2($1,$2) axis x1y1 w lp

with

func1(x,y) = x/2; func2(x,y) = y*2;

?

I would like to post-process my input data (line) before plotting.

Answer 1

You can, using syntax very close to what you’ve suggested. Define the functions like this:

func1(x) = x / 2
func2(x) = x * 2

And use them like this:

 plot "input.dat" using (func1($1)):(func2($2))

That knot of parentheses in the plot statement is necessary.

You can define functions of more than one variable:

func3(x, y) = x * y

These are used similarly:

plot "input.dat" using (func1($1)):(func3($1, $2))