--- 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	2013/09/09 20:59:44	1.9
@@ -1,24 +1,37 @@
 \label{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Gnuplot}
 
-The \textbf{gnuplot} 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.
+\index{gnuplot}\index{plot}\index{dynamic plot}
+The \textbf{gnuplot} LON-CAPA tag allows an author to design a plot which will be
+created programatically at the time when it is requested for display by a student. 
+This is intended for use in homework problems where a distinct plot should be 
+rendered for each student.  It can be used in 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 ``Adding Picture'' section \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. 
+Thereafter the boxes may be filled using this documentation to assist you. By default, only
+the parent \textbf{gnuplot} tag and the child \textbf{curve} tag are created by 
+when the plot is inserted into a problem using the colorful editor. Other tags can be 
+added to decorate and polish your plot using the \textbf{Insert:} dropdown 
+provided by 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)}
@@ -33,10 +46,10 @@ 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
-of sample points to use.
+\item \texttt{Number of samples for non-data plots}  If a \textbf{function} tag is used
+(see ``Plotting Functions'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve_Function}) to specify the
+\textbf{curve} (see ``Specifying Curves to Plot'' 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 +64,30 @@ 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 ``Specifying Curves to Plot'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Curve})
+\item \textbf{title}, \textbf{xlabel}, and \textbf{ylabel} (see ``Plot Labels and Key'' section 
+\ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Title_X_Y_Label})
+\item \textbf{key}   (see ``Plot Labels and Key'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Key})
+\item \textbf{label} (see ``Plot Labels and Key'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Label}) 
+\item \textbf{axes}  (see ``Plot Axes Details'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Axes})
+\item \textbf{tics}  (see ``Plot Axes Details'' section \ref{Authoring_Dynamic_Plot_Tics})
 \end{itemize}