Re: fileexist(f)

[Ethan M. <merritt@u.washington.edu>]

>
> Based on the discussion: it is fully sufficient to have fileexist()
> for testing whether the given file exist. Nothing more (no pipes, no
> loadpaths). 

I did not conclude that from the discussion I saw.
I think if you have such a thing at all, it must handle pipes
and loadpaths.  Otherwise what is the point of testing?

But I also agree with Hans-Bernhard that such a specialized yet
system-dependent function does not belong in gnuplot at all.
It is sufficient to use whatever system-dependent shell command
matches your use. I gave several examples already.

> > My preferred method of dealing with this issue is to handle
> > missing/empty files cleanly during the plotting process.
>
> Gnuplot support files with palettes as well.

Sorry, I am not understanding you there.
Are you complaining that my missing-files patch doesn't
handle PM3D or other 3D plot modes?  I'd welcome your
help in untangling the code in plot3d.c/graph3d.c so that
missing files can be skipped cleanly.


-- 
Ethan A Merritt
Biomolecular Structure Center
University of Washington, Seattle WA