Re: [Bug #1264105] In currrent CVS version plotting matrix is broken

[Hans-Bernhard B. <br...@ph...>]

Ethan A Merritt wrote:
> On Saturday 22 October 2005 02:55 pm, Petr Mikulik wrote:
> 
> 
>>>> x = $1, y = $2 (autogenerated row and column index of the matrix)

That's indeed at least slightly strange.  It boils down to two 
questions, which are strongly inter-connected:

1) Why not use existing pseudo-column numbers 0 and -1, instead of 1 and 2?

2) Should

1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9

read as 'matrix' be equivalent to a file

1
2
3

4
5
6

7
8
9

read by the ordinary routines, or to

0 0 1
1 0 2
2 0 3

0 1 4
1 1 5
2 1 6

0 2 7
1 2 8
2 2 9

The current implementation seems to be implying the latter format, which 
  in turn makes column numbers 1, 2 a suitable choice.  It effectively 
gives x values $1 = $0, and y vales $2 = column(-1).

> You don't find it confusing that in 2D plots you need to say
>    plot 'data' matrix using ($1):($3)

Well, given the current documentation (as in: lack of) what 'matrix' 
actually means in terms of column numbers, any expectations would be 
wrong by default.

Thus my suggestion is: we make up our mind about the answers to the 
above questions, and add to 'help matrix' accordingly.