Re: Expecting all terminals to be the same [was: Re: x11 point symbols]

[Petr M. <mi...@ph...>]

>> plot sin(x) with points 4
>> plot sin(x) with points 8
>
> This proposal may seem charming, but neglects the well-considered
> reasons why gnuplot uses numbered point and line types instead of named
> ones.  The question that this fails to answer is: what is a terminal
> driver supposed to do if I request a named point type that it simply
> doesn't have?  Throw a tantrum, commit seppuku, read my mind, or what?
>
> The single most important design principle of gnuplot has always been
> absolute script compatibility --- scripts were never allowed to just
> fail just because you run them on a different platform's gnuplot, or on
> a different terminal driver.  And where possible, they should generate
> usable output.

In recent years, the tendency goes to compatibility in terminal output. We 
really want this.

Thus yet another missing compatibility are dashed styls -- set terminal 
{no}dashed or set termoption {no}dashed .. and then dashed styles ...

---
PM