Re: gnuplot cvs source bug

[Aapo L. <aap...@gm...>]

On Fri, 2005-09-23 at 16:33 +0200, Petr Mikulik wrote:
> > gnuplot> print 1/(5**1)
> > 0
> > gnuplot> print (5**-1)
> > 0.2
> 
> Whether we like it or not, changing it now would break scripts, so we have 
> to accept this behaviour. (Well, it is a FAQ for a long long time.)

Could it be like
  gnuplot> set numbermode floating
or
  gnuplot> set numbermode integer
or
  gnuplot> set numbermode interpreted
where the default would be "interpreted", which would have the current
behaviour.  That way the old scripts wouldn't be broken, and the new
users could be directed to always use numbermode floating.

Gnuplot could even warn every time you try to use integers in
interactive interpreted mode:
----
gnuplot> print 1/2
Warning: Numeric input interpreted as integers.  Consider using "set
numbermode floating" or "set numbermode integer".
----
And of course, scripts would just silently do what they are directed to
do even if "numbermode interpreted" would be used.

						Aapo Lankinen