--- loncom/html/adm/help/tex/Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Gnuplot.tex 2004/06/03 20:30:41 1.3
+++ loncom/html/adm/help/tex/Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Gnuplot.tex 2013/07/13 21:50:50 1.7
@@ -1,24 +1,36 @@
\label{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Gnuplot}
-The \textbf{gnuplot} tag allows an author to design a plot which is created
+\index{gnuplot}\index{plot}\index{dynamic plot}
+The \textbf{gnuplot} LON-CAPA tag allows an author to design a plot which is created
when it is viewed. This is intended for use in homework problems
where each student needs to see a distinct plot. It can be used in
-conjunction with a \textbf{script} tag to generate random plots.
+conjunction with a \textbf{script} tag to generate curve data for random plots.
+If you are using
+static data a dynamically generated plot is not appropriate because of
+the overhead associated with generating the plot. In that case, use a
+picture (see \ref{Authoring_Adding_Pictures}).
+
+The easiset way to create a template for a gnuplot tag is to use the colorful
+problem editor, and select \textbf{GnuPlot} from the \textbf{Insert} dropdown menu.
+Then the boxes may be filled with the assistance of this documentation. By default, only
+the parent \textbf{gnuplot} tag and the child \textbf{curve} tag are created by
+default when the plot is inserted with the colorful editor. Other tags can be
+added to decorate and polish your plot using the \textbf{Insert:} dropdown
+from the colorful editor.
-The following parameters may be set:
+The following \textbf{gnuplot} parameters may be set:
\begin{itemize}
\item \texttt{brief description of the plot}
-This text is used as the \texttt{alt} parameter of the \texttt{img} tag
-used to embed the plot.
+This text is used as the \texttt{alt} value of the \texttt{img} tag
+used to display the plot on a web page.
\item \texttt{background color of image (xffffff)}
-See the section on color selection \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Color_Selection}
+See the color selection section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Color_Selection}
for help on specifying colors.
\item \texttt{foreground color of image (x000000)}
-
-See the section on color selection \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Color_Selection}
+See the color selection section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Color_Selection}
for help on specifying colors.
\item \texttt{height of image (pixels)}
@@ -33,9 +45,9 @@ If the image is transparent the backgrou
\item \texttt{Display grid} ``Yes'' or ``No''.
-\item \texttt{Number of samples for non-data plots} If a \textbf{function}
-\ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve_Function} tag is used to specify the
-\textbf{curve} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve}, this indicates the number
+\item \texttt{Number of samples for non-data plots} If a \textbf{function} tag
+(see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve_Function}) is used to specify the
+\textbf{curve} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve}), this indicates the number
of sample points to use.
\item \texttt{Draw border around plot} ``Yes'' or ``No''
@@ -51,18 +63,30 @@ page, 93 mm.
\item \texttt{Font size to use in TeX output (pts)} The size in points of text
on the graph when it is printed out.
-\item \texttt{Plot type:} ``Cartesian'' or ``Polar''.
+\item \texttt{Plot type} ``Cartesian'' or ``Polar''.
+
+\item \texttt{margin width (pts)} The left, right, top, or bottom margin width
+measured in points.
+
+\item \texttt{Size of major tic marks} The size of the larger tic marks on the
+plot border or axes, measured in graph units.
+
+\item \texttt{Size of minor tic marks} The size of the smaller tic marks on the
+plot border or axes, measured in graph units.
+
\end{itemize}
-The \textbf{gnuplot} tag allows the use of the the following tags:
+The parent \texttt{gnuplot} tag allows use of the following child tags
+(only the \textbf{curve} tag is added automatically when inserting with the colorful
+editor):
\begin{itemize}
-\item \textbf{curve} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve}
-\item \textbf{key} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Key}
-\item \textbf{label} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Label}
-\item \textbf{axes} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Axes}
-\item \textbf{tics} \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Tics}
-\item \textbf{title}, \textbf{xlabel}, and \textbf{ylabel}
- \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Title_X_Y_Label}
+\item \textbf{curve} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve})
+\item \textbf{title}, \textbf{xlabel}, and \textbf{ylabel} (see section
+\ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Title_X_Y_Label})
+\item \textbf{key} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Key})
+\item \textbf{label} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Label})
+\item \textbf{axes} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Axes})
+\item \textbf{tics} (see section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Tics})
\end{itemize}